The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-09-13
CHAPTERfII.
A I'm wEp

SimmondS had dropped on one lsEee
beside the body. He was up again in
an instant.
n need for an ambulance" he said
tersely. He's dead"
The words seemed to rouse the girl
from the ecstasy of horror which pos
sesseu her. and she buried her face in
her hands, shuddering convulsively.
ward. and led her gently to a chair.
Perhaps you don't remember me.
Miss Croydon" he said. "Godfrey's my
name-it was only the other night at
Mrs. Delroy's l met you. 1t was Jack
Drysdale who introduced me-yo know
I'm an old friend of his"
Yes" she indistinctly. ~
remember quite
An exclamation from Simmonds in
terrupted her. He lrad picked up a
small, p~earl-handled revolver from the
floor in the corner.
is this yours, miss?" he asked.
She nodded family.
He snapped it open and looked lat the
chambers. One had been discharged.
He. shifted at the barrel, then held 1t
out to Godfrey. The odor of burnt,
gunpowder was plainly discernible.
Godfrey's face hardened as he turned
Ito the jantor. who had regained his
breath n stood staring on the
threshold.
My friend" he said, shut the door
He stopped as he heard the tramp OF
heavy feet approaching along the cor
ridor.
Wait" said simmonds. There come
my men. I'll be back in a minute"
Godfrey nodded CURLY. and waited
until Sim1nonds closed the door after
aim.
Now. Miss Croydon" he said. tell
me quickly how 1t happened. 1 can't
help you unless / know the whole story.
and | want to help YOU"
The g~entleness of his voice, the quiet
assurance of his manner, the encourag-
ing glance, combined to calm and
strengthen her, She sat up, with an
! effort Of s%elf-control. and clasped her
alands together in her lap.
There isn't much to tell" she began.
striving to speak steadily. II came
here toto keep an appointment"
She stopped, her voice dying away, un-
able to go on.
with this mani" asked Godfrey.
WHO is he?"
II don't know" and she cast a hor-
rifed gance at the huddled form. II
never saw him before"
Then 1t wasn't he you came here to
meet?"
"No-that is--it may have been"
And again she stopped.
Miss Croydon" said Godfrey, gently
yet clearly. Il can't help you unless
a you Ie 4ulle lldIh "lll me, ana l lear
i you are going to stand in need of help.
Did you kill this man."
MOI" she cried. "Oh, no."
Her face was in her hands again and
she was trembling; it was impossible to
doubt that she spoke the truth.
Then who did?"
There was no answer, only q dry.
4 conVulsive sobbing.
AS Godfrey paused to look at her,
the door. opened and Stmmonds came
in. he closed it and snapped the lock.
There's a policeman outside and one
tat each landing" he Wen
look things over here. and then search
the building. First. let's look at the
body"
1t was lying partly on its back, partly
on it's right side, with its legs doubled
under it. The face was a bearded one,
rough. coarse, and q little bloated-not
a prepossessing face under any circu1n-
stances. and actively repulsive now,
with it's gaping mouth and widely
staring eyes. 1t was tanned and
scanned by exposure to wind and rain
and there was a deep scar across the
left temple.
Between so and GO years of age re-
marked Godfrey. "Pouf. smell the
Then. looking into the staring eyes,
he uttered a sudden exclamation.
See there, ~Simmonds, how the right
pupils dilated. DO you know what that
means2"
simmonds sh ,ok his head.
mo l can't say | do"
1T MEANS" said Godfrey, that
somebody hit this fellow "a hard blow
on the left side of the head and pro-
duced a h~eEaorr3age of the brain"
~SilnInonds gave a little low whistle.
THAT could hardly have been her
and he nodded toward the girl. who
had regained htr self-control and was
leaning a~nXiously forward, eyes and
ears intent.
NO. of course not. Let's see if he
was really shot"
They stripped back the shirt from
the breast. A little blood was still
yelling from a wound just over the
heart.
That's what sid the business" OBJ
served Simmonds. and at close range,
too: see there and he pointed to the
red marks about the wound. He
wasn't shot frorn the corner, that's
sure. Let's see he's got in his
pockets"
The examination was soon made.
There. were only a pipe, a knife, a
package of cheap tobacco, a handful OF
loose coins. and an old pocketbook con-
tanning. a little roll of newspaper clip
pings and a receipt for a months rent