Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-03-29

another week there would be a place
vacant. He would ask me to draw up
the lease. Meanwhile, time hung rather
heavy on his hands.
Though / do not quarrel with that"
he added, sitting in my room one even
ing. ut is necessary for me that !
take life easily. l have a weakness of
the heart, which has already given me
much trouble Besides, I have your
companionship, which is most welcome,
and for which l thank you. I trust
Mees-Mees-what you call-Holladay
is again we'll"
we haven't heard from her" l said.
She Is still at her place in the coun-
try"
"oh, she is doubtless well-in her /
take such an interest-you will par
don me If i weary you"
Weary me? But you don't!"
Then 4 viii max bold TO ask you
have you made any-what you call
theory Of the crimc?"
mo" l answered.; that Is, none be-
yond was in the
iilogitlmate daughter theory. l sup
pose you saw it. That seems to fit the
case"
He nodded meditatively. yet l like
to imagine how Monsieur Lecoq would
approach 1t. Would he believe il was a
murder simply because it so appeared?
HAS 1t occurred to you that Mees Hol-
laday truly might have visited her
father and hat his death was not a
murder at all, but an accident"
AN accident? ?" I repeated. How
could 1t be an accident? How could a
man be stabbed accidentally In the
neck? Besides, even If 1t were an ac-
cident, how would that explain his
daughters rushing from the building
without trying to save him, without
giving the alarm? If 1t wasn't a muir
der, why should the woman, whoever
she was, be frightened? How else can
you explain her fight?"
He was looking at me thoughtfully.
All that you say is YER true" he said.
1t shows that you have given TO the
also have a fondness for crimes OF
mystery and he smiled at me. us it
not SO, Mistair LESTER"
Il have never suspected It," I laughed,
until this case came UP, but the mi
crobe seems to have bitten me"
"Ah. yes" he said doubtfully, not
quite understanding.
And I've rather fancied at times"
| admitted, that 1 should like TO AXE
a hand at solving Though, Of course,
L never shall. Our connection with
the case Is ended"
He shot me a quick glance, then
lighted another ~cigaret.
Suppose it were assigned to you to
solve it," he asked, how would you
set abou it?"
I'D try to find the mysterious wom-
an"
But the police, so 1 understand, at
tempted that and failed" he objected.
How could you succeed?"
"Oh, l dare say, ! shouldn't succeed"
l laughed. his air striking me a little
more earnest than the occasion de-
manded. Il should probably fail, just
as the police did"
I'm France" he remarked, 'it is not
IN the least expected that men Of the
Law should"
Nor Is it here" 1 explained. "Only.
OF course, a lawyer can't help it, some
times; some cases demand more or less
detective work, and are yet too deli
cate to be entrusted to the police"
1T is also the fault OF police that
1t Is too fond of the newspapers, of pos
ing before the public-it is a fault Of
human nature, is it not?"
You speak English so we'll, Mr.. Mar
tigny,' l said. that 1 have wondered
where you learned It,"
Il was some years in England-the
business of wine-and devoted myself
seriously to the study Of the language.
But | still find IL sometimes very diff
ficult to understand you Americans
YOU speak so much more rapidly than
the English, and so much less distinct
ly. You have a way OF running your
words together, of dropping whole
syllables-'
Yes" 1 smiled. land that is the very
thing we complain of in the French"
"Oh, u elisions are governed by
well defined laws which each one COM
p~rehends. while here
Every man is a law unto himself.
Remember, it is the land of the free"
And the home of the liCpnGa 10 II
not?" he added, unconscious of irony.
yes, l decided, l was very fortunate
in gaining Martigny's acquaintance. OF
course, after he opened his business.
he would have less time TO devote TO
rse; bat, nevertheless, we would nave
pleasant evenings together, and I
looked forward to them with consider
able anticipation. He was interesting
in MISUNDERSTANDING, with that
tolerance and good humor, which
] have already mentioned. and which
vas of the most striking character
istics Of the nan And then-shall I
admit it, was lonely, too. sometimes.
and l welcomed a companion.
IT was Monday, the fourteenth day
of April. and we had just opened the
office, when a clerk hurried in with a
for Mr.. Royce.
Ihere Il man out mere VINO wants
see you at once, sir" he said. HE
his names Thompson, and that
he's Miss frances Holidays butler
Our junior half started from his chair
In his excitement; then he controlled
himself, and sank back into it again.
Show him in" he said. and sat with
his eyes on the door, haggard in appear
pltiful in eagerness. Not until
moment had / noticed how the
past week had aged him and worn him
work, Of course, might ac-
count for part of 1t, but not for all. He
almost Ill.
The door opened in q moment, and
4 gray-haired mar OF about sixty en-
He was fairly gasping for breath
and plainly laboring under strong emo
We'll. Thompson" demanded Mr..
what's the trouble now?"
Trouble enough, sir" cried the 9TH !
ar. My mistress has been made away
vita, sir, She left town just ten days
for Belair, where we were all wait
Ing for her, and nobody has set eyes on
since, sir"
Nnr+,nued Nex% wock \