Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1905-10-12
Mrs. E. Bagot Harte.

he muttered to himself, as his eyes
studied the quickly advancing woman
with considerable interest.
"I've just come upon murdered
woman's body!" she exclaimed breath
lessly.
"A what?" he gasped.
"a murdered corpse!" ayerred Mrs.
Mordan, who was of Irish origin. Its
this boys mother, too-Im sure Of it!
The poor lamb actually wants to go
on sitting beside it. I'll never forget
the job | have had to get him away.
Oh, lor', I'm all a-shaking and a-shiv-
ering!"
"And it's enough to put anyone that
way if what you say is true"
'True?" repeated Mr. Mordan, in
dignantly. IF you doubts my word
you can step up and see for yerself
and I'd be much obliged to you if you'd
carry back my parcels and big bas-
ket that you'll come upon close be-
side the body"
"All right! III carry them back, if
you'll just hold these reins for me-
The mare'll stand steady enough
Don't take no offense when tells you
that as womens sayings aren't be-
lieved in overmuch it's just as well
should take a look at the body-or
whateyer's gived You a fright-before
we drive away"
Yes; and don't forget my parcels"
was the reply. Particularly anxious
was Mrs. Mordan not to fetch them
herself. "But just step back first"
she added, IAN lend me hand with
this boy. The poor child's off his
head a bit from what he's SEEM
Quickly woman and child were in
stalled in the cart with the mans help,
then as quickly he was making his
way through the wood to the spot
where poor Margarets body lay ex-
posed.
A glance into the shallow pit sufficed
to tell him that Mrs. Mordan had
spoken truthfully, and the next instant
he was gathering up her belongings
and making his way back to the cart
with all possible speed. =
"Well?" she asked was I mis-
took?"
.sssLor', no!'' he calculated. in an ave-
stricken voice. But | wish you'd
been! There's no doubling that it's
murder, and it was not done yester-
day nor the day before either; SO the
sooner the police are on the track Of
the man who did it the better for
the safety of everyone hereabouts, es-
pecially the women
With the last word Hicks sprang
into the cart and began to drive at
full speed towards the village of Ar
lington. Meanwhile, Mrs. Mordan
took up the thread of conversation,
explaining In the language of a volu-
able woman why she had wandered
from the path through the wood,
where she had been, and all other de-
tails in connection with her morn
ing's work.
Yes, yes" agreed Hicks, who want
ed to hear more about the tragedy
ana less about Mrs. Mordan person
ally. "You were saying just now as
how you'd had glimpse at the
5corpse's face" he continued. Speak
ing as well as you can, will you just
give me int, priyate-like, as to who
you think she may be-"
Il don't know; can't guess. Should
MT think that she belonged to here
abouts. Leastways, I've never to my
knowledge set eyes on her or this child
before
..Nor I, reither! what'll you do
with im?''
81 Give him to the police to take
charge Of until his rightful owners
step forward and obtain him. My:
won't it be nervous work for us all
at night, until the guilty villain is
III the lssIlt;5 81 justice Not woman
will go out by herself after dark for
many a long day. know shan't!,'
Here Mrs, Mordan concentrated her
attention upon putting Harry to rights
and then trying to hush him off to
sleep. He had ceased now to cry
mournfully for his mother.
In half an hour the cart drew no
opposite the police station, and all
alighted without a seconds delay.
A murder case! The inspectors at
tention became at once riveted on
Mrs. Mordan's agitated, rambling in
formation. Nothing that could rouse
him to energetic measures, nothing
that added to the ghastliness of the
situation did she omit. She rushed
on, talking excited1y, and growing
more and more graphic every mo
ment. More than once the inspector
glanced toward the silent Hicks. and
always received an affirmatiye look
which echoed Mrs. Mordan's state.
meEts.
And now that have told you .ey-
erything, sir. she said, In summing.
up voice. T hope youth lose no time
in laying your hands on the murderer
or niurderera. as the lives Of honest
folk wont be safe whilst him or them
B as did the crime remain at large. All
4 hope IS that It WON be brought home
to anyone as, lives in this village,
whore was born and I. SIS
Not an instant,s delay will occur
before people are on their track, y In
Sterrupted the inspector. who knew
Mrs. Morian, and wholesome fear