Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-09-14

people at Sydenham. One da. out IN
country Ian I met Theresa Wright, mel
old maid. She told me all ABOUT hei'
about him, about everything. 1 ten you,
gentlemen, X nearly drove me mao. Inns
drunken hound, that he should dare &c
raise his hand to her, whose boots ne was
not worthy TO lick! / met Theresa again
Then met Mary herself-and met mel
again. Then she would meet me no more
But the other day l had a notice tha'
I was 10 start on my voyage WITHIN d
week and T determined that ! would see
her once before | left. Theresa was al
WAYS my friend, for she loved Mary an0
hated this Villain almost as much as !
did From her l learned the way or the
house. Mary used to sit up reading In mel
own rtfle room downstairs. | crept round
there last night ard scratched at the WIN
dow. AT first she would not open 10 me-
but in her heart | know that now she loNeF
me. ana she could not leave me III inc
frosty night. she whispered to me 10 c2iht
round TO the big front window, anu ]
found il open before me, so as to let me
into the dining room. Again 1 heard from
her own liDs things that made my blooo
boil, and again l cursed this brute, whq
mishandled the woman | loved. well
gentlemen. / was standing with her just
inside the window. in all innocence as Goo
IS my nudge, when he rushed IKE a nau'
man into the room, called her the Nltesi
name that a man could use to a woman
and welted her across the face win tie
stick he had in his hand ] had sprung lol
the poker and it was a fair night betWee '
us. See here. on my arm, where his hrsl
49,. r,1l . Vvbn, it yVlC my t1In ana i
went through him as if he had been a rot.
ten pumpkin. DO you think was sorry!
Not L. 1t was his life or mine, but fai
more than that. 1t was his life or hers
for how could ! leave her in the power q
this mailman? That was how l KILLED
him. Was / wrong? Well, thea, what
would either Of you gentlemen have done
if you had been in my position?
She had screamed when he struck her.
and that brought old Theresa down froll
the room above. There was a bottle o.
wine on the sideboard, and | opened il
and nourcd Il little between Mary's lips,
for she was half dead with shock. Thei
l took a drop myself. Theresa was as coz
as ice, and it was her plot as much
mine. We must make 1t appear thai
burglars had done the thing. Therest
kept on repeating our story 10 her mlss
tiess, while ! swarmed up and cut the
rope Of the bell. Then l dashed her IL
her chair, and frayed out the end Of the
rope to make 1t look natural, else they
would wonder how in the world a burglar
could ave got up there TO cut 1t. Then }
gathered up a few plates and pots of sill;
yer, TO carry out the lea of robbery, AM
there i left them, with orders to give tn
alarm when l had a quarter of an hours
start. ! dropped the silver into the pond,
and made OFF for Sydenham, feeling tina!
for once in my life L had done a real gooC
nights work. And that's the truth and
the whole truth, Mr.. Holmes. if 1t costa
me my neck"
Holmes smoked for some time in silence.
Then ne crossed the room, and shook oui
visitor by the hand.
That's what l think said he. Il
know tina every word IS true, for you
have hardly said a word which l did not
know. No one but an acrobat or a sailor
could nave got up TO that bell rope from
the bracket, and no one but a sailor coulo
have made the Knots with which the cord
was fastened to the chair. Only once haG
this lady been brought into contact with
sailors, and that was on her voyage, ano
it was someone of her own class of lifet
since she was trying hard to shield him,
and SO showing that she loved him. You
see how easy it was for me to lay my
$1,000 N-'OAa ~ 49, S'S~
the right trail"
Il thought the police never could have
seen through our dodge"
And the police haven't, nor Will they,
TO the best of my belief. Now, look here.
Captain Croker, this is a very serious
matter, though | am willing to admit that
you acted under the most extreme provo
cation to which any man could be su6A
Jected. l am not sure that in defence OF
x.Atir ifn yn,tr natsc, will NOT no nrn-
ounce legitimate. However, that is Tor
a British jury to decide. Meanwhile l
have so much sympathy for you that, IL
you choose to disappear in the next TWEEN
ty-four hours, j will promise you that nc
one will hinder you
And then it will all come out"
Certainly it will come out"
What sort of proposal is that to make
q man? / know enough of law to under
stand that Mary would be held as ac-
complete. Do you think l would leave her
alone TO face the music while | skunk
away? No, sir, let them do their worst
upon me, but for Heavens sake, Mr..
Holmes, find some way of keeping my poor
Mary out OF the courts"
Holmes for a second time held out his
hand to the sailor.
Il was only testing you and you ring
true every time. Well, it is a great respon-
sibility that take upon myself, but ]
AVE given Hopkins an excellent hint, and
IL he cant avail himself Of 1t / can dc
no more. See here. Captain Croker, wen
do this In due form OF law. You are the
prisoner. Watson, you are a British jury,
and | never met a man who was more
eminently fitted to represent one. L am
the judge. Now, gentlemen OF the jury,
you have heard the evidence. Do you tino
the prisoner guilty or not guilty.
Not guilty, my lord" said l.
"Vox populi, voX Del. You are acquitted,
Captain Croker. So long as the law does
not find some other victim you are safe
from me. Come back TO this lady In q
year, and may her future and yours JUS
tify US in the judgment which we have
pronounced this night