Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-05-24
The Holiday Case
BY BURTON e. STEVENSON.
mmxmz-znuc Copyright 1906. by Henry Holt & &C. -
uzzuzzus Copyright. 1903. by Henry Holt & Co mmEswrzzm


| sieur Holiday. HI learned-oh, that
he was YER rfch-what you call a mar
Of millions-and his daughter-my
daughter. monsieur-was living still.
From that moment he was like a man
possessed. At once he formed his plan,
building / know not what hopes on
it. He drilled us for two years
In speaking the English; he took us for
six months to Londres hat we might
better learn. Day after day, we took
our lessons there-always and always
English. Cecile learned YER well,
monsieur; but l not so well, as you
can see-I was too old. Then, at last,
we came to New York n my daugh-
ter-thls one-was sent to see Monsieur
Holiday, while / was directed that l
write to Celeste-to Mademoiselle Hol-
lady. She came that YER afternoon"
she continued. and l told her that 1t
was i who was her mother. He was
with me and displayed to her the pa
pers of adoption. She could not be
convinced. He talked to her as an an
gel-oh, he could seem one when he
chose-he told her that l was in pow
erty-he made her to weep, which was
bring us money; she was YER good;
my heart went out TO her. Then, just
as she had risen to start homeward,
in Celeste came, crying sobbing,
stained with blood"
She shuddered and clasped her hands
before her eyes.
But you have said it was not muir
der, madame" / said to the younger
| woman.
Nor was IT," she cried. Let me
tell you, monsieur. l reached the great
building which my husband had pointed
out to me-; l went up in the lift; L
entered the office, but saw no one. I
1r,f nn thrAy,rh on Ann- lA,. ~
saw an old man sitting at a desk. /
inquired If Mr.. Holiday was there.
The old man glanced at me and bowed
toward another door. | saw it was
a private Office and entered 1t. The
door swung shut behind me-. There was
another old man sitting at a desk
sharpening a pencil
lis it you, Frances?' he asked.
NO." l said, stepping before him.
Tt is her sister, Monsieur Holla-
day!'
He stared up at me with such a
look Of dismay and anger on his face
that / was fairly frightened; then, in
the same instant. before l could draw
breath. before | could say another word,
his face grew purple, monsieur, n
he fell forward IN his desk, on his
hard, on the knife, which was clasped
in 1t. / tried to check the blood, but
| could not, ii poured forth in such a
stream. / knew not what to do: / was
distracted and in a frenzy, / left the
place and hurried to my lodgings. That
is the truth monsieur, believe me-"
Il do believe YOU" / said; and she
turned again to the window TO hide her
tears.
TT was then" went on her mother,
that that man yonder had another in
spiration. Before 1t had been only
what you cail-blackmail-a few
q 80. nn air ~-. a
was something more-he was playing
for a greater stake. | do not know
all that he planned. He found Celeste
suspected of having killed her father;
he must get her release at any cost;
SO he wrote a note
Yes" / cried. Yes, Of course: 1
see. Miss Holiday under arrest was
beyond his reach"
Yes she nodded. so he wrote a
note-oh, you should have seen him
in those days. He was like some fur
ious Wild beast. But after she was
set free. Celeste did not come to us
as she had promise. We saw that she
suspected us that she wish to have
nothing more to do with US; so Victor
implor!ng her, Offering to explain"
She stopped a moment to control her
self. "Ah, when / think Of it. She
came, monsieur. We took her gown
and put 1t on Cecile. She never left
the place again until the carriage stop
ped TO take her TO the boat. AS for
us-we were his slayeS-he guided each
step--he seemed TO think of everything
Ito be ready for everything-he plan
ned and planned
There was no need that she should
tell me more-the whole plot lay bare
before me-simp!e enough now that /
understood it, and carried out with
what consummate finish.
"One thing more" / said. The
gold"
She drew a key from her pocket and
gave 1t to me.
1T is in a bcx upstairs she said.
This is the key. We have not touched
it,
/ took the key and followed her to
the floor above. The box < heavy oak
bound with iron, with ,mslip and
express labels fresh u.i IT, stood in
one corn r. ! unlocked Il M threw
back the lid. Package lton package
lay in it, just as they had como from
the sub-treasury. | locke the box
again, and put the key in my pocket.
"Of course" l said. as / turned to
go, Il can only repeat our story to
my companion. He and Miss Holiday
will decide what steps to take. But /
am sure they will be merciful."
They bowed without replying, and l
went out along the path between the
trees, leaving them alone with their
dead.
And it was of the lead l thought last
and more sorrowfully; a man of char
acter, of force, OF fascination. How I
could have liked him!
CHAPTER XIX.
THE END OF THE STORY.