The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1906-07-06


known that this would happen. have
known in my inmost soul that heaven
would not forever wink at murder.
my uncle met with foul play. How he
met with 1t and in what guise, only
the murderer knows. This discov-
cry is the first link OF chain which
will drag the blood-guilty to the gal
lows. I have waited In the certainty
that It would be made, and have felt
lately that the time was near at hand"
He spoke as If he was communing
with himself, and though his glance
was directed full on Truscott, he
seemed to look through and beyond
him, rather than to meet his eye.
Upon my word" thought Truscott,
to himself, this is rather an eerie
sort Of gentleman"
"Will you tell me where and how
the body came to be found?' Brang-
wyn asked, as If suddenly waking
from dream.
Truscott told the story, as 1t was
set forth in Billery's manuscript, but
more tersely, and without ornament.
Brangwyn listened In dead silence,
with now and then a nod of the head
which seemed to indicate a mental
check of details as they succeeded one
another. He drew q long sigh when
the story was over, and held out his
gloved hand to Truscott in farewell.
"You may know some day to what
extent I am indebted to you, Mr..
Truscott," he said, as he shook hands
Just one point before go. l under
stand that no one but this fellow Bill
lery has yet identified the body, and
that as journalist he has kept his
own counsel for professional reasons" :"
THAT is so," said Truscott.
"And l suppose that for profession
al reasons you would prefer that /
should make no motion in the matter
until your news has become common
property"
Il should certainly prefer that"
Truscott answered; "and l am obliged
to you for thinking of it,"
1T will not be long to watt" said
! Brangwyn, in the same strange. in
ward tone with which he had spoken
earlier. 1T will not be long to wait"
He reused himself again and side
| by side with his companion, walked to-
| ward the house. AS he passed into the
| breakfast room he looked at Billery
with an expression of disdain Reach
ing the hall he took his hat from the
table on which he had placed it on his
| entrance.
"You will hear from my agent early
in the week." he said at parting. "It
will be more needful than ever now
that should be within easy reach Of
London"
Truscott opened the door for him
and watched him as he walked to the
gate. In spite Of the pallor and the
expression of long-endured suffering
in his face, he walked with resolute
and elastic step. He passed out of
sight, and Truscott closed the door
and went back to his study, where.
feeling himself no longer capable of
repose. he attacked a great stack of
correspondence, and read and wrote
until the announcement of dinner
brought his labors to a close.
The summer night had fallen and
the full moon was rising over the riv-
er meadows when he sat with slipper
ed feet, racing through the latest edi-
| tons OF the evening papers. Each and
all had a fac-simile paragraph headed
| 'Gruesome Discovery" but there was
no hint OF the Identification of the
body OF Aloysius Brangwyn the elder.
There was nothing In the details given
to set the Sunday issues on the trail.
and he experienced the satisfaction
which all journalists feel in the excln.
sive possession of striking news. He
was sure of gigantic boom" on
Monday. and he owed 1t to Billery, who
was still audibly choking in the next
| room. The ties Of old association
which bound him to Billery were
strong, and Truscott, although unemo-
tional and undemonstrative, was capa-
BILE OF real friendship. He was plan
ming ways and means of being of per-
manent help to his old comrade, when
that victim of circumstances over
1 which he had exercised no control be-
gan to give signs of return TO COLI
sciousness The listener heard him
stumbling about among the fire irons,
and, taking box OF matches from the
little smokers table at his elbow,
walked into the breakfast room and
lit the gas.
Oh said Billery. with a simnlta-
neous yawn and shiver. I'm here,
am /? ! beg your pardon, Reggy. l
nope haven't been much of a nui-
| sance to your"
You've been quiet enough" said
Truscott. Go into the next room and
drink cup Of strong coffee. That
Will help you to pull yourself togetL-
err
Billery stood there, hang-dog, puffed,
ashamed, with his eyes on the carpet,
his hair in wild disorder. his shabby,
cheap suit OF reach-me-d downs all wrin-
kled-a deplorable figure.
Td better 90 home" he said.
Go into the spare room. said
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