The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-10-03
VII.


Godfrey smoked for a moment In sill
ence. The story he had Just heard
needed digestion. 1t shed q new light
upon the problem-a light at h same
time illuminating and co~nfusing-a
light, indeed, which served only to dis
close nov depths OF mystery. So Miss
Croydon's story had been true in an
other particular. Her sister had been
cognisant OF her errand; she had not
approved of 1t; 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
ICED, perhaps more strongly than her
sister. its compromising nature. What
was the secret which those papers
guarded.
Drysdale hitched impatiently in his
chair.
"out with it, Jim he said. Don't try
to soften It'll can stand 1T l guess
The only thing l can't stand is this
suspense" .......
I'm not going to soften it," God
frey assured him, and he rapidly out
lined the tragedy OF the evening, while
his companion listened with Mortified
attention. Godfrey watched him as he
sat staring into the fire with haggard
face.
" Don't make 1t blacker than it is,
Jack he said, at last. Personally, I
don't believe they've got the right man,
but I'm sure of one thing-Miss Croy-
don had no hand in it."
"Oh, 1 know she didn't" Drysdale
burst out. 1T isn't that. Don't you
see--it isn't that! But what tool her
to that house? Why should she go
there alone, at night, to meet a drunken
brute? Answer me that Jim Godfrey.
I don't care a hang for all the rest"
Godfrey's face hardened as he turned
back to the fire. That was the very
question to which he himself had been
striving vainly all the evening to find
In answer.
'Of course, Jack" he said slowly, "I
can't tell you just what her whole pur-
pose was. / don't know the secret OF
the papers she hoped to get-it's a fam
lily secret--and none of u business.
But n things certain-whatever II is,
there's no cause for you to worry about
It."
And why not?"+ '.r. 80
why, don't you see, Jack? If Mrs.
Delroy knew her sisters errand 1t could
have been no questionable one-no vul-
gar intrigue-nothing that would touch
her in any degrading way-probably
nothing that would touch her at all.
One doesn't confide things OF that sort
to ones sister, nor ask advice about
them. To be sure, she didn't heed the
advice-but at the very worst, all she's
been guilty of Is an indiscretion. That
/ think any man would be glad to for
give" .
Drysdale drew a deep breath of re-
lief.
"Of course" he assented quickly.
And that" continued Godfrey earn
estIy, '1s all you need to know. l 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 1t,
she'll explain II all in time. Show her
now that you trust her--that's the least
you can do-yes, n the most you can
do to help her."
81 WILL" agreed Drysdale instantly.
you've taken a great load off my
heart, old man."
You hadn't faith enough. Why, one
needs only to look at her to see that
she's above suspicion. I don't think
you quite appreciate her. Most men
would be glad to get a m like
that on any terms"
Continued Next Week.)