Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1907-10-05
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
A GLIMPSE AT A SKELETON
Godfrey smoked for moment In ST.
ence. The story he had Just heard
needed digestion. 1t shed a new Light
upon the problem--a light at the same
| time Illuminating and confuslng-a
| light, indeed, which served only 70 dis
/ close new deptha Of mystery. So Miss
/ Croydon's story had been true in an
| other particular Her sister had been
cognisaRt OF her errand she had not
| approved Of II; she had tried to hold
her back; but the stronger nature had
! overriden the weaker one. The elder
| woman had tried to shield the younger
one, had even lied for her-she had
known, then, that the errand was one
| that could not be explained; She with
| her experience Of the world had real
ized. perhaps more strongly than her
I sister. its compromising nature. What
was the secret which those papers
! guarded
Drysdale hitched impatientIy in his
chair.
out with It. Jim" he said Don't try
| to soften it-I can stand II / guess.
The only thing l can't stand is this
suspense
I'm not going to soften It" Cod
! frey assured him. and he rapidly OUT
| lined the tragedy OF the evening, while
his companion listened with hor1ihed
]
sat staring into the fire with hagEard
face
Don't make 1t blacker than it is,
Jack. he said at last. Personally.
don't believe they've got the right man,
but I'm sure OF one thing-AIiss CrOy-
don had no hand In H.
"Oh, I know she didn't" Drysdale
| burst out 1t isn't that. Don't you
see-it isn't that But what took her
| 70 that hOuse2 Why should she go
| there alone, at night, TO meet a drunken
/ brute2 Answer me that jim Godfrey.
/ don't care hang for all the rest"
Godfrey's face hardened as he turned
back 10 the fire. That was the very
question 10 which he himself had been
striving vainly All the evening to find
an answer
"Of course. Jack. he said slowly. L
can't tell you just what her whole pur-
pose was. I don't know the secret OF
the papers she hoped to get-it's fam
lily secret-and none Of our business.
But one things certain-whateve It is
there's no cause for you 10 worry about
It,"
And why not2"
Why don't you see. Jack? II Mrs.
Delroy knew her sister errand it could
have been no questionable one-nO vul-
gar intrigue that would touch
her In any degrading way-probably
nothing that would touch her at ali
70 ones sister. nor ask advice about
them To be sure, she didn't heed the
advtce-but at the very worst. all she's
been guilty Of is an indi5cretion That
/ think any man would be glad to for
give"
Drysdale drew deep breath Of re-
lief
"Of course" he assented quickly.
And that" continued Godfrey earn
estly, rs all you need 10 know I be-
lieve she tells the exact truth when
she says she tried to save ThOmpson's
life. Therefore, you may go back TO
her tomorrow without the need of ask
ing a single question. Depend upon it,
she'll explain IT all in time Show her
now that you trust her-that's the least
you can do-yes, and the most you can
do to help her"
Il viii, agreed Drysdale instantly.
You've taken a great load Of my
heart, Old man
You hadn't faith enough. Why one
needs only to look at her to see that
she's above suspicion. l don't think
you quite appreciate her. Most men
would be glad 10 get a woman like
that on any terms
Continued Next Week)