The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1907-05-24
The Holiday Case|
BY BURTON E. STEVENSON. &
Cor wight, ,@a. by Henry tIolt & c. szr1asaraaza@
BY BURTON E. STEVENSON

/ sieur Holiday He leaguea-oh. that.
OF ruiilioaS-and his daughter-my
daughter. monsieur-Was living stlA.
From that moment he was Ike a man
possessed. At once he formed his plan.
bGildius l know not what hopes on
IL. He drilled us fos two years
six months TO Lopdres that we might
better learn. Day after day. we took
our lessons there-aiways IL always
English. Cecilo learned ver' We'll,
monsieur: but l not $ we'll, as you
can see--I was too old Then. at last,
We canae TO New York n my daugh-
ter-this one-was sent to see Monsieur
Holiday, while l was directed that l
write to Celeste-to Madenaoiselle Hol-
lady. She came that YER afternoon
she continued. and l told her that 1t
was l who was her mother. He was
pers of adoption. She could not be
convinced. He talked to her as an an
gel-oh. he could seem one when he
chose-he told her that l was in pow
erty-he made her 10 weep which was
what he desired. She promised to
bring Us money; she was YER good;
my heart Went Il to her. Then, just
as she had risen to start homeward,
in Celeste came. crying sobbing,
stained with blood
She shuddered and clasped her hands
before her eyes.
But you have said it was not muir
der, madame" 1 said to the younger
mi
Nor was It," she cried. Let me
tell you. monsieur. I reached the great
building which my husband had pointed
out to me; l went up in the lift: 1
entered the office, but saw no one. 1
Went on through an open door and
1D, ~ No. 81 -,@, l~-J- r
inquired If Mr.. Holiday was there.
The old man glanced at me and bowed
toward another door. I saw it was
a private Office and entered 1t. The
door swung shut behind me. There was
another cid mar sitting at a desk
sharpening a pencil"
lis it you, Frances?' he asked.
"No,'" 1 said. stepping before him
1t is her sister. Monsieur Holla-
day!'
HE stared up at me with such a
looG of dismay and anger on his face
that 1 was fairly frightened; then, in
the same instant, before 1 could draw
his face grew purple, monsieur. and
he fell Onward on his desk, on his
hand, on the knife. which was clasped
in it. l tried to check the blood, but
1 could not. it poured forth in such a
stream. l knew not what to do; 1 was
distracted ana III Il frenzy, 1 leIl the
place and hurried to my lodgings. That
is the truth, monsieur, believe me-"
II Go believe YOU" / said; and She
turncd again to the window to hide her
tears.
1T was then" went on her mother.
that that man yonder had another in
spirafion. Before it had been only
what you call-blackmail-a few
thousands, perhaps a pension; now it
was something more-he was playing
for a greater stake l do not know
all that he planned. He found Celeste
suspected of having killed her father;
he must get her release at any cost;
Yes" 1 cried. Yes, of course; I
see. Miss Holiday under arrest was
beyond his each"
Yes" she nodded. so he wrote a
note-oh, you should have seen him
In those days. He was like some fur
set free, Celeste cid not come to us
as she had promise. We saw that she
suspected Us that she wish to have
nothing more to co with US; so Victor
commanded that l write another letter
impioring her, offering to explain"
She stopped a moment to control her
self. "Ah, when | think of it. She
came monsieur. We took her gown
and put 1T on Cecile. She never left
the place again until the carriage stop
ped to AXE her to the boat. AS for
us-we We're his slaves-he guided each
step-he seemed to hin of everything
-to be ready for everything-he plan
ned and planned"
There was no need that she should
tell me more-the whole plot lay bare
before me-simple enough now that I
understood it, and carried out with
what consummate finish!
Zone thing MORE" I said. The
gold"
She drew a key from her pocket and
gave 1t to me.
1T is in Il box upstairs" she said.
This is the key. We have lot touched
it,"
l took the key and followed her to
bound with iron. with steamship and
express labels fresh upon it, stood in
one corn Il. I unlocked it and threw
back the lid. Package upon package
lay in it, just as they had come from
the sub-treasury. / locked the box
again, and put the key in my pocket
OF course" l said, as l turned tc
go, Il can only repeat your story to
my companion. He and Miss Holiday
will decide what steps to take. But
am sure they will be merciful.''
They bowed without replying, and
went out along the path between the
treas. leaving them alone with theil
dead.
And it was of the dead 1 thought las
and more sorrowfuIly; q man of char
acter, OF force. of fascination. How
could nave liked him!
CHAPTER XIX.