The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-05-02

Mr.. Royce!" she cried. Mother"
They stopped and turned toward her,
lust as a heavy spar crashed to the
deck before them.
CHAPTER XIV.
TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN
g. 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
IN and under the boats and behind fun
lels, and ventilators, but could dis
cover no sign of anyone. When l got
pack to the promenade { little crowd had
gathered. attracted by the noise cf 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 lashed that extra
spar there just before we sailed, and /
Know 1t was well fastened" g+
I took a look at the lashings. They
had not been cut, as expected to find
hem, but had been united. Martigny
nad doubtless worked at them while
Ne sat there talklng-he was too clever
an artist In crime to do anything so
GluInSy as 10 cut the ropes. .....
Well. luckily, there's no damage
lone" observed Mr.. Royce, with affect
I'd lightness, though it was a close
shave. II Miss Kemball hadn't called
60 us, the spar would have struck us
Nquarely." s-. ' @
Mrs. Kemball closed her eyes with a
giddy little gesture, at the vision the
words called up and the officer
:rowned in chagrin and perplexity Just
bIaVN In, 49,
stepped aside for a consultation, in
yoices so low that only an excited word
Of French was now and then audible.
turned to Miss Kemball who was
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
Gaming over the spar--a mere shadowy
hgure--but / know could not be mis-
aiken"
I nodded. II don't doubt 1t in the
'east. But don't tell your mother. 1t
will only alarm her needlessly. Wen
:alk 1t over in the morning" $751;.
She said good night and led her
mother away toward their stateroom
| went at once in search Of the ships
doctor, and met him at the foot Of the
saloon staircase.
How is Martigny, doctor?" 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
The ship posted there. A moments in
Bpectton of II showed me how easily
Martigny had eluded pursuit-he had
only to walk twenty feet, open a door,
Ind get into bed again. But, evident
ly. even that small exertion had 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 Kemball, she closed her
book, and turned to me with very
determined air. ."..
OF course, Mr.. Lester" she began,
If you think any harm can come from
telling me, l don't want you to say q
word; but really think l am entitled
TO an explanation"
80 do l." 1 agreed. you've proved
yourself a better guard than l. I'd
forgotten all about Martigny-I was
thinking, well, of something very diff
ferent-I had no thought of danger"
Nor had l." she said quickly. But
[ CHANGED to look up and see that dark
dgure bending over them, and / cried
Out, really. before / had time to think
--lnVOluntarlly.'
1T was just that which saved them.
IL you'd stopped to think, it would have
oeen too late"
"Yes--but, oh, could think after
wards! I'd only to close my eyes, last
aight, TO see him there yet, peering
down at US, waiting his opportunity.
And then, OF course, puzzled more or
less over the whole thing"
You sha'n't puzzle any more" I
a nNah hnV fx. L.
that there was no one near. Then, be-
ginning with the death of Hiram Hol-
laday. laid the case before her, step
by step. She listened with clasped
hands and intent face, not speaking till
{ had finished. Then she leaned back
In her chair with a long sigh.
Why. it's horrible!" she breathed.
Horrible and dreadfully puzzling. You
haven't told me your explanation yet,
Mr.. Lester"
Il haven't any explanation" / said
helplessly. I've built up half a dozen
theories, but they've all been knocked
20 pieces, one after the other. / don't
know what to think, unless Miss Holla-
day is a victim of hypnotism or demen-
tia OF some kind, and that seems alb
surd." ..r....
Sometimes she's nice and at other
times she's horrid."
1T recalls DIR. Jekyll and Mr.. Hyde,
doesn't it?"
Yes, it does; only, as I say, such an
! explanation seems absurd
She sat for moment with eyes in
wardly intent. s."
There's one theory which might ex-
| plain it--part OF it. Perhaps IL wasn't
| 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 OF
her there, in that place, with Martigny
for her jailer."
But she wasn't there!" / protested
I'VE saw her when we gave her tn,
money. Royce and / saw her--so dit
! Mr. Graham"
.sYes-~-in darkened room with {
I ha adnpa about her foreheadt so hoa "a,