The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-10-04
CHAPTER VI.
FROM A NEW A,

~ was Jig past IIllulllSIL Wncn COD
fey dropped from the top of the Rec
ord building in the express elevator
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 1T
would be illustrated "exclusively'-but
ne was not wholly satisfied with 1t,
He had accepted he explanation given
by Miss Croydon, yet he felt instinc-
lively that 1t did o explain-that
there was much below the surface of
Shich he had caught only the ~faintest
glimpse and which he wau utterly I'M
0eve-and he too care thai the read
yrs OF the Record should have no
cause to believe-that Miss Croydon
vas In any way directly connected with
The crime. Indeed. there was every
evidence that h had. in that particu-
Jar. spoken the truth.
And in the other particulars? Well.
i was hard to separate the wheat from
The chat; hard to tell where truth left
on and invention began. Some founda-
lion OF truth the story have had,
7r 1t would not have been told so glibly
nor appear so plausible. Indeed. In
TWO details, 1t had been confirmed by
other evtdence-they had found the
pipe with which the blow was struck
n the bullet from her pistol en-
oedded in the door.
Below 1t all, underlying it all, the
foundation upon which the mystery
rested was Miss Croydon's motive in
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 acutely than a
man could, and yet 1t had not been
sufi1cient to deter her. TO hold her
back. What resistless motive was 1t
that had urged her on? What was the
secret contained In the papers she had
hoped to get from Thompson? God
Trey caught a dim glimpse of some
hing dark, repulsive, terrible. What
was the secret? All, he would have
known, If Goldberg had only been a
Momen later!
AS to Jimmy the Dude. Godfrey had
maintained a careful reticence, while
commencing Simmonds' promptness in
arresting him. Simmonds, no doubt,
believed him guilty; but then Sim
monds lacked imagination. 1t might
De, Godfrey thought a little savagely,
mat he himself possessed too much OF
Y. but the theory which that grizzled
veteran had built up so adroitly dill not
N the least satisfy him. 1t was too
prosaic, too matter. Of fact: reasonable,
perhaps. but not convincing. 1t re-
suced 3 mystery to a mere sordid
mysteries-ands right there, he re-
minded himself again, was his great
weakness. Yet Jimmy's manner had
not been that of q guilty man; to be
sure " had changed at the last mo-
tnent, at the mention Of Miss Croy-
aon's 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
s.lded saloon?
Pondering this puzzle, with an in
tensity that a something poignant
carried past his station but for the
guard. VINO knew him. and who touched
him on the arm. He went mechanical
iy down the stair and turned UP to-
ward the avenue. Still mechanically,
he mounted to his. rooms and opened
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. "tu1 1~getss out OF these damp
toys. Then We'll 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 it
was at this moment. his face was
worth looking at-clear cut, square
3awed. alert-such as one has come
of late years, to associate with the
typical college bred American. But
the face was more than merely hands
some--lt was open. ingenious, winning
and looking. at it. one could UNDER
EHu Nd yHy{fh0S1t rsvRtHAv N~~1~~@Al-- L-..
It happened that John Tolbert Drys-
Gale had so many friends and SO few
enemies.
Godfrey was back ip a moment, drew
up another chair. and got out tobacco
and pipes-for Drysdale a glossy briar.
consscrated to his service; for him
self, a meerschaum Of a deep and ten
der brown. ~bespeaking years II loving
usage. Not until the pipes were going
nicely did Godfrey speak.
you've heard about 1t. them" he
Y know that something terrible has
hoarsely. Il don't know wha.-its be-
yond imagining, even-at least, beyond
my poor brain. Miss Croydon told me
to come to you"
'Ah!" commented Godfrey. Did she
.Yss-she said you could tell me all
Where did you see herr"
!. a Mrs: Delroy's. I came straight
here sfrom there"
$50 you were at Mrs. Delroy.s?"
and Godfrey unused for a moment, with
eyes intent on the ire. "Bnt come,
we'll never get the thing Strengthened
out this way Let's begin at the be-
ginning. Tell mo what happened at
Mrs. Delroy's and then I'll ali out the
story. II I can. Let me have every de-
tail you can remember"
Drysdale waited q moment to be SURF
Of his self control.
y called at Mrs. Delroy's about .
O'clock" he began. land asked for Miss
wait a minute" Godfrey interrupt-
ed. 81 want to ask you a question.
which you mustn't be offended at. I'm
asking because I'll have to know II
I'm really to help you. Are you and
Miss Croydon engaged to be mar
ried?'
Again . minute passed before the
Yes" said Drysdale huskily, at last.
Godfrey silently held u his hand
and gave his companions fingers a
WA m nrosa,,ro