Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-10-04
CHAPTER VI.


and walked over to the station Of the
Elevated for the trip uptown. The
story was written-it would be the
feature of the morning'c paper, and II
would be illustrated "exclusively"-but
he was not wholly satisfied with it
He had accepted the explanation given
by Miss Croydon, yet he felt instinc-
lively that II did not explain-tnat
there was much below the surface OF
which he had caught only the faintcst
glimpse and which he was utterly I'M
able TO decipher. He did not at all be-
iieve-and he took care that the read
ers Of the Record should nave no
cause 70 belieye-that Miss Croydon
was in any way directly connected with
the crime. Indeed. there was every
evidence that she had, in that particu-
lar, spoken the truth.
And in the other particulars? Well,
II was hard to separate the wheat from
the chaff; hard to tell where truth left
off and invention began. some fOunda-
ton OF truth the story must have had,
or it would not have been told so giibly
nor appear so plausible. Indeed, in
two details. IL had been confirmed by
other evidence-they had found the
pipe with which the blow was struck
and the bullet from her pistol en-
bedded In the door.
Below it all. underlying 1t all. the
foundation upon which the mystery
rested was Miss Croydon's motive in
making such an appointment, and,
above all, in keeping it. That was a
thing utterly opposed TO her social
training, to her maidenly instinct-it
was wild, foolish, questionable. She
would feel this more aCutCly than a
man could, and yet it had not been
sufficient to deter her, to hold her
back. What resistless motive was it
that had urged her on? What was the
secret contained in the papcrs she had
hoped to get from Thompson? Cod
frey caught a dim glimpse Of some
thing dark, repulsive, terrible. What
was the secret? An, ne would Rave
known, If Goldberg had only been a
moment later!
AZ TO Jimmy the Dude, Godfrey he'd
MAR aimed a careful reticence, while
commanding SlmmOnds' ~promptnCG3 In
arresting him. Simmonds, no doubt,
believed him guilty; but then Sim
monds lacked imagination. 1t might
be, Godfrey thought a little s~avaSely,
hat he nimsela possessed too much of
1t, but the theory which that grizzled
veteran had built up SO adroiIly did not
in the least satisfy him, 1t was too
prosaic, too matter of fact: reasonable,
perhaps, but not convincing. It re-
duced the mystery TO a mere sordid
crime. Godfrey wanted color i'm his
mysteries-and right there, he re-
minded himself again, was his great
weakness. Yet Jimmy's manner had
mo been that of a guilty man; to be
sure, 1t had changed at the last mo-
raent, at the mention OF Miss Croy-
CONS name. Why? What was this
understanding net of intrigue, woven
in the dark, Involving alike Fifth
avenue and the "Tenderloin'-the Del
roy mansion, the Marathon. Magraw's
gilded saloon?
Pondering his puzzle, with an in
tcnsity that had something poignant
personal in it. ne would have been
sarTi@d past his station but for the
guard, VINO knew him, and who touched
him on the arm. He went mechanical
ly Down the stair and turned up to-
ward the avenue. Still mechanically,
he mounted TO his rooms and opened
the door. A nan who had been sit
ting In a chair before the fire sprang
sIp as he entered.
WHY, Jack!" cried Godfrey, waking
/. sudd My, and he held out his hand
with that fine hcartiness of greeting
(, which is sometimes seen between men.
'Th n, as he caught the others eyes,
his face changed. sit down." he said
gently. It'll I get out OF these damp
togs. Then wen have a talk"
He disappeared into the inner room,
while the younger man sank back into
his chair and gazed gloomily into the
fire. Even strained by emotion as ii
at this moment, his face was
worth looking at-clear cut, square
jawed. ~alert-such as one has come
sof late years. to associate with the
typical college bred American. But
the face was more than merely hand
-some-it was open, ingenious, winning
and looking at IL, one could under
stand without further explanation how
at happened that John 1'olbert Drys-
dale had so many friends and so few
enemies.
Godfrey was back in a moment, drew
UP another chair, and got out tobacco
and piDes-for Drysdale a glossy briar.
consscrated to his service; for HIM
self. a meerschaum OF a deep and ten
der brown, begpeaking years of loving
usage. Not until the pipes were going
nicely did Godfrey speak.
You've heard about II, then?' he
asked.
Il know tina, something terrible has
happene said Drysdale. a little
roafsely. Il don't know wha.-it's be-
You'd imagining, even-at least. beyond
my poor brain. Miss Croydon old me
10 come TO YOU"
All" commented Godfrey. Ibid she
do that"
"Yes-she said you could tell me all
I wished TO know
Where did you see her?'
AT Mrs. Delroy,s. / came straight
here from there"
$50 you were at Mrs. Delroy's?"
and Godfrey unused for a moment. with
eye intent on the fire. but come.
Wen never get the thing Strengthened
out this way. Let's begin al the be-
ginning. Tell me what happened at
Mrs. Delroy's and then I'll All out the
story, IL ] AN. Let me have every de-
tail you can remember"
Drysaale waited a moment to be sure
OF his self control.
Il called at Mrs. Delroy's about 9
o'clock" he began. 'and asked for Miss
Croydon
walt a minute" Godfrey interrupt
cd. II want to ask you a question. !
which Q mustn't be offended at. I'm
asking because Til have to know il
Tn really to help you. Are you and
Miss Croydon ENGAGED to be mar
Tied?" !
Again a minute passed before the
answer came.
Yes" said Drysdale huSkily. at last.
Godfrey silently held out his hand
and gave his companions fingers a
warm pressure.
Now go on" he said.
II was shown into the library"
continued the other, while the maid
- 49, fNr