Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-05-03
XIV.


Just as a heavy spar crashed to the
aeck before them.
CHAPTER XIV.
TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN
ONE.
. understood in a flash, what had hap
pened, and sprang up the stair to the
lpper deck, determined to have 1t out
With our enemy, once for all. |
searched it over thoroughly, looking
m and under the boats and behind fun
lels, n ventilators, but could dis
V no sign of y o When / got
back to the promenade !: little crowd had
gathered, attracted by the noise of the
falling spar, which a dozen members
# the crew were busy hosting back
INTO place.
II do not see now those lashings
could have worked loose said the Of
icer in charge. I'VE dashed that extra
spar there just before we sailed, and /
know ii was we'll fastened"
l o a look at the lashings. They
had not been cut as | expected to find
hem, but had been united. Martigny
had doubtless worked at them while
Ne sat there talking-he was too clever
an artist in crime to do anything SO
clumsy as to cut the ropes.
We'll, luckily, there's no damage
lone" observed Mr.. Royce, with affect
I'd lightness, though it was a close
shave. If Miss Kendall hadn't called
to us, the spar would have struck us
squarely."
Mrs. Kendall closed her eyes with a
giddy little gesture, at the vision the
words called up and the officer
'rowned in chagrin and ~perpleXity. Just
then the captain came up, and the two
Slenne0 aside for n concentration in
yoices so low that only an excited word
Of french was now and then audible.
F. turned to Miss Kendall, who vas
leaning against the rail with white
Sace and eyes large with terror.
But 1T was not an accident, Mr..
Lester!" she whispered. Il saw q man
'eaning over the spar-a mere ShadoWy
hgure-but | know | could not be mis-
aiken"
/ nodded Il don't doubt it in the
east. But don't tell your mother. 1t
will only alarm her needlessly. Wen
.alk it over in the morning.
She said good night and led her
mother away toward their stateroom.
[ went at nee in search of the ships
doctor, and met him at the foo of the
saloon staircase.
How is Martigny, doctor?" I asked.
Worse, / fear" he answered hur-
.iedly. He has just sent for me-
Which room has he?"
He's in 375; an outside room on the
upper deck" and he ran on up the stair.
| went forward to the smoking room,
and looked over the colored plan of
he ship posted there. A moments in
spectton of 1T showed me how easily
Martigny a eluded pursuit-he had
only TO walk twenty feet, open a door
and get into bed again. But, evident
ly, even that small exertion a been
too much for him, and | turned away
with the grim thought that perhaps our
enemy would kill himself yet.
When | sat down, next morning, be-
side Miss Kendall, she closed her
book, and turned to me with q very
determined air.
O course, Mr.. Lester" she began
If you think any harm can come from
telling me, | don't want you to say a
word; but | really think / am entitled
to an explanation"
$50 do l." | agreed, You've proved
yourself a better guard than l. I'd
.orgotten all about Martigny-I was
thinking, we'll, of something very diff
ferent-I had no thought of danger"
MOI had l." she said quickly. But
[ CHANGED to look up and see that dark
hgure bending over them, and | cried
cut, really, before | nae time to think
-involuntarily."
1T was just hat which saved them
If you'd stopped to think. it would nave
oeen too late"
"Yes-but, oh, | could think after
wards! I'd only to close my eyes, last
night, TO see him there yet, peerine
down at us, waiting his opportunity
And then, of course, / puzzled more Oh
less over the whole thing"
You sha'n't puzzle any more,'
said, and looked o to make certain
that there was no one near. Then. be.
ginning with the death of Hiram Hol-
laday. | laid the case before her. steI
by step. She listened with claspec
hands and intent face, not speaking til
[ had finished. Then she leaned bach
In her chair with a long sigh.
why, it's horrible!" she breathed
Horrible and dreadfully puzzling. Yor
haven't told me your explanation yet
Mr.. Lester"
nelplessly. I've built up half a dozer
theories, but they've all been knocked
20 pieces. one after the other. I DON
know what to think, unless Miss Holla.
day Is a victim of ~hypnotism or demen-
tia of some kind, and that seems ABB
surd."
sometimes she's nice and at othe,
times she's horrid."
1T recalls DR.. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde.
doesn't it?"
Yes. IL does; only, as l say, such al
explanation seems absurd"
She sat for a moment with eyes in
wardly intent.
There's n theory which might ex.
plain it--part Of it. Perhaps 1t wasn'l
Miss Holiday at all who returned from
Washington Square with the new maid
Perhaps II was the other woman, and
the barred windows were really to keeI
| Miss HOlladay a prisoner. Think n,
her there, In that place, with M~artigny
for her ~jaiier."
But she wasn't there!" I protested
I'VE saw her when we gave her the
money. Royce and I saw her-so die
Mr.. Graham"
"Yes-in a darkened room with q
bancage about her forehead; SO hoarst