Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-04-17

scene. woman was kneeling beside the
for whose sake would have imperiled my
to my face; the creamy complexion had
blanched to a deathlike pallor her golden
hair had come Infastened and fell, fell In wayy
bowed with grief, and In her eyes, fixed upon
my face, was mute look of horror, horror
unutterable horror too deep for words.
l came to the side of the PROSTATE body,
and STOPPING, began to examine the wound.
There was no hope of saving him. He was
dead, stone dead the bullet had passed di.
rectly through his heart and he had died
his pocket on the side upon which he fell,
had been broken. And as turned the body
the ses
above. l saw that the hands of the watch
had pointed to a quarter past six when the
ism of the watch was stilled forever. So!
He had met his death at a quarter past six.
1t was now nearly nine. Mechanically.
notebook. while we all stood huddled to-
gether by the light Of growing bullseye
Silence, deep. unearthly silence, as
stopped once more over that which had been
Paul Ernseliffe, and carefully noted every
broken by the sound Of suppressed sobbing.
as Esme crouched upon the sand beside the
dead man, her face hidden In her hands.
her. She must have loved him dearly. All.
well! had said In my madness two hours
ago that / could make any sacrifice for her
sake to win her love, yet sometimes even a
superhuman sacrifice may be In vain.
My brain was dizzy, and grew faint. My
about to fall Someone had gone for the
nearest coroner, and we must not remove the
body until a hasty inquest should be held;
and half paraiyzed. All at once. far away,
50 i seemed voice reaehed my and
new arrival upon the scene.
Slowly his words reached my brain and
aAre you sure - / heard as in dream.
Yes, sir; sure's shootin' y came the an
swer And then with fearful effort l
stealing over my senses and benumbing my
faculties. | pulled myself together and list
Eyes, sir, l can sweart to it,, the man
was repeating In a scared sort of voice, with
a frightened glance at the dead body. Il
over TT" to Dead Mans Point to meet Mr.. Paul
Ernsciffe. The man said he had business
with Mr.. Ernscliffe, important business.
the Ellen, and / seen him pull out from
shore and head toward Dead Mans Point at
halfpast five this evenin'. It's good fifteen
half-past six he came back lookfn pale and
all broke up, ! asked him II he seen Mr.;
and he said to mind my own business; that
Ernscliffe was a villain and deserved to be
tween the two, sir and--and-the man amt
got the best reputation in these parts Name.
Sir? Yes, slr-Steve-S Steve Wardour, fish
s SIR. YOU see. wardour's got dausSter%
is, too. Well, I've been a,thinkin' that this
quent of late-to the Wardours' cottage,
means-and l know little Ruby set great
store by him In short. sir. she loved him to
dofr ion "a In a mi
tleman like Mr.. Ernsclife, to trife with an
innocent girl. Whatever. there was between
with a swift glance in the direction Of Esme,
but / know little Ruby Wardour has left
home, and nobody seems to know where the
child has gone. She's only seventeen, and as
mo wonder the father was half crazy over
it; and l think that's the mission he had
Is true. then the world is well rid Of man
"But / thought soon as I heard of his
death, that twas my duty to tell all l know
about the hard feelin's Steve had for the dead
man. He'd be arrested anyway, and l want
provocation to punish this man. And Mr..
Ernsclife was uncommonly ugly to poor old
Steve, and treated him with contempt. And
this man, he only done what any other father
In his place would have done. That's all
have to say. gentlemen. II can help you In
The new arrival, tall, solemn looking In
dividual. dismsunted from his horse and
slowly. approached the spot where the body
and an impromptu inquest prepared to take
place. 1 drew Colonel Lyell aside.
Colonel" said, quickly, you had better
remove your daughter. This Is no fit scene
for her."
'.You are right. Dorrance." he returned.
looking quite humble for the first time In his
pompous career.
Then he went to where Esme crouehed
upon the sand beside the body Of the man
who had been her lover.
Daughter !" Colonel Lyell lifted her to
her feet. Come with me, dear. This is no
place for you"
She made no resistance. and so. half lead
ing half carrying her, he took her back to
the hotel.
Once out of sight. the inquest began, and
was brought to close.
Paul Ernscliffe had come to his death from
the effects of bullet hole In his heart, a
rifle bullet which was found to exactly ft
his own rifle.
Continued on page z.