The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-10-03
CHAPTER vi.
LIGHT FROM A NEW ANGLE.

Elevated for the trip uptown. The
story was written-it would be the
feature OF the morning'c paper, n 1t
would be illustrated "exclusiyely"-but
he was not wholly satisfied with 1t.
He had accepted the explanation given
by Miss Croydon, yet he felt instlnc-
lively that 1t did not explain-that
there was much below the surface of
which he had caught only the faintest
glimpse and which ne was utterly un-
able to decipher. He did not at all be-
lieve-and he took care that the read
ers OF the Record should have no
cause TO believe-that Miss Croydon
was in any way directly connected with
the crime. Indeed, there was every
evidence hat h had, in that particu-
lar, spoken the truth.
And in the other particulars? Well,
Il was hard to separate the wheat from
the chaff; hard to tell where truth left
Off and invention began. Some founda-
tion Of truth the story must have had.
or 1t would not AVE been told so glibly
nor appear so plausible. Indeed, in
two details, 1t had been confirmed by
other evidence-they had found the
pipe with which h blow was struck
n the bullet from her pistol am
bedded in the door. "@
Below it all, underlying it all, the
foundation upon which the mystery
rested was Miss Croydon's motive in
making UGH an appointment, and,
above all, In keeping ii. That was a
thing utterly opposed to her social
training, to her maidenly instinct--it
vas wild, foolish, questionable. h
would feel this more acutely h a
mar could, and yet 1t had not been
sufficient to deter her, to hold her
back. What resistless motive was 1t
that had urged her on2 What was he
secret contained In the paper she had
hoped to get from Thompson? Cod
frey caught a dim glimpse Of some
thing dark. repulsive, terrible. What
was the secret? All, he would have
known, If Goldberg had only been a
moment later!
AS to Jimmy the Dude, Godfrey had
maintained a careful reticence, while
commencing Simmonds' promptnecs in
nrresting him, Simmonds. no doubt,
believed him guilty; but Their Sim
monds lacked imagination. It might
be, Godfrey thought a little savage1y,
that he himself possessed too much Of
IT. u the theory which that gri7zled
veteran had built up so adroitly did not
In the least satisfy him. 1t was too
p~rosaic. too matter of fact; reasonable,
perhaps, but not convincing. 1t 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
not been hat of a guilty man; to be
sure, IL had changed at the last mo-
ment, at the mention of Miss Croy-
wide stretching net of intrigue. woven
in the dark, Involving alike Fifth
N and the "Tenderloin'-Athe Del
roy mansion, the Marathon, Magraw's
gilded saloon?
Pondering this puzzle, with an in
tensity that had something poignant
and personal In II, he would have ibeen
carried past his station but foy the
guard. who 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 man who had been sit
ting in a chair before the fire sprang
up as he entered.
why, Jack!" cried Godfrey, waking
suddenly, and he held out his hand
with that fine heartiness of greeting
which Is sometimes seen between men.
Then, as he caught the others eyes,
his face changed. "Sit down." he said
gently, till get out of these damp
togs. Then we'l have a talk"
He disappeared into the inner room,
while the younger a sank back into
his chair and gazed gloomily into the
fire. y Even strained by emotion as It
was at this moment, his face was
worth looking at-clear cut, square,
sawed, alert-such as one has come
I of late years, to associate with the
typical college bred American. But
the face was more han merely hand
some-it was open, ingenious, winning
-an looking at 1t, one could under
stand without further explanation how
IL happened that John Tolbert 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 pipes-for Drysdale a glossy briar,
consecrated to his service; for him
self, a meerschaum of a deep and ten
der brown, bespeaking years of loving
usage. Not until the pipes were going
nicely did Godfrey speak.
You've heard about 1t, them" he
asked.
II know that something terrible has
happened" said Drysdale, a little
hoafsely. II don't know what-it's be-
yond imagining, even-at least, beyond
my poor brain. Miss Croydon told me
to come to you
'Ahl" commented Godfrey. did she
do that?'
"Yes--she said you could tell me all
! wished TO know"
Where did you see her?'
A Mrs. Delroy's. I came straight
here from there"
$50 you were at Mrs. Delroy's %
and Godfrey unused for a moment with
eyes intent on the fire. But come,
Wen never get the thing Strengthened
out this way. Let's begin at the be-
ginning. Tell me what happened at
Mrs. Delroy's and then I'll fill out the
story. II i an. Let me have every de-
tail you can remember" Z.
Drysdale waited a moment to be sure
OF his self control.
Il called at Mrs. Delroy's about Q
o'clock he began, "and asked for Miss
Croydon
Wait a minute" Godfrey interrupt
ed. II want to ask you a question,
which you mustn't be offended at. I'm
asking because I'll have to know if
I'm really to help you. Are you and
Miss Croydon engaged to be mar
ried2"
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"