The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-09-12
II.
A TANGLED WEB.

A TANGLED WEB.
Simmonds had dropped on one knee
beside the body. He was up again in
an instant. '.r
"No need for an ambulance" he said
tersely. He's dead" 81
The words seemed to rouse the girl
from the ecstasy of horror which pos
sessed her, and she buried her face in
her hands, ~shuddering convulsively.
Godfrey caught her as h swayed for
ward, n 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. Defroy's / met you. II was Jack
.Drysdale who introduced me-you know
I'm an old friend Of his"
Yes" h murmured ihdistinctly, ~
remember quite"
An exclamation from Simmonds in
~terrupted her. He had picked up a
small, pearl handled revolver from the
loor In the corner.
Us this yours, mlss?" he asked.
She nodded family. ..'
He snapped 1t open and looked at the
chambers. One had been discharged.
He shifted al the barrel, then held it
out to Godfrey. The odor OF burnt
g~unpowder was plainly d~iscernible.
'Godfrey's face hardened as he turned
to the ~janitor, who mad regatned his
breath and stood staring ON the
Threshold.
my friend" he said. "sh4t the door
He stopped as he heard the tramp OF
heavy feet approaching aloag the cor
ridor.
Wait" said Simmonds. There come
my men. I'll be back in a minute"
Godfrey nodded CURLY, and waited
until Simmonds closed the door after
him.
Now, Miss Croydon" he said, tell
me quickly how 1t happened. / can't
help you unless / know the whole story,
and l want to help YOU"
The gentleness of his voice, the quiet
assurance of his manner, the oencourag-
ing glance, combined to calm and
strengthen her. She sat mn, with an
effort of self-control, and elasped her
hands together in her lap.
There isn't much to tell" h began.
striving to speak steadily. II came
here to-to keep an appointment"
She stopped, her voice dying away, I'M
able to go on.
With this MANI" asked Godfrey.
who is hep"
81 don't know" n 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, II can't help you unless
you're quite frank with me and 4 fear
you are going to stand In need Of help.
Did you kill this mann"
Mol she cried. "Oh, no."
Her face was in her hands again and
she was trembling; 1t was impossible to
doubt that she spoke the truth.
Then who did?"
There was no answer: only a dry,
cOnvufsiWe sobbing.
As Godfrey paused to look at her,
the door opened n Simnonds came
In He closed 1t I'M snapped the lock.
There's a policeman outside and one
at zach landing" he announced. We'll
look things over here. n 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 1t. The face was a bearded one,
rough, coarse, and a little bloated-not
a prepossessing face under any circum-
stances, n actively repulsive now,
with its gaping mouth and widely
staring eyes. IT was tanned and
scanned by exposure to wind and rein
and there was a deep scar across the
left temple.
Between so and so years Of age" re-
marked Godfrey. "Pouf! smell the
whisky"
Then, looking into the staring eyes,
he uttered a sudden exclamation.
See there, Simmonds, how the right
pupils dilated. Do you know what that
means?"
Simmonds shook his head.
mo, 1 can't say I To-.
1T MEANS" said Godfrey, that
S~oV,aahnAu htf fhio PallnuF N hnr5 Alouy
on the left side of the head and pro-
duced a hemorrhage Of h brain"
Simmonds gave a little low whistle.
That could hardly have been her."
and he nodded toward the girl. who
had regained her self-control and WIS
leaning a~nxiously forward, eyes and
ears intent.
mo. 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 did the business" OBJ
served Simmonds, land at close range,
too; see there n he pointed to the
red marks about the wound. He
wasn't shot from the corner, that's
sure. Let's see what 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 p~ocketbook con-
tanning a little roll OF newspaper clip
pings and a receipt for a months rent
for suite II made out TO III. Thomp-