Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-04-17
CHAPTER vi.
In the Shadows.

listened to stephen wardour's words What
new complication was here? Perhaps he
pose to help save his daughter from being
punished for the self-confessed crime.
Yet, still he did not seem to be aware Of
the step that Ruby had taken; that she was
even then confined In the jail with himself,
sef-accused Of Paul Ernsclife's murder.
determined to discover Il Stephen wardour
knew of his daughters whereabouts
.Wardour, said, STOPPING over him,
you are not quite right in your head. The
loss Of blood has exhausted you. and the
before l examine into this strange assertion
which you have just made to me, want to
ask you, where Is your daughter Do you
He shook his head feebly
do / known he asked In husky whis-
P Ps MS ssas YIN aid "a never
what they do to me. tell you. doctor. that
gal was the light g my eyes; but. she is
gone her nv s poor little tie GAL Hno~ "na' 'oe
Suppose | can set your mind at restr
| asked eagerly what Il ! can tell you,
well and has not left Grand Isle, as you be-
lieve. She sent you message to tell you
that she had found place at the hotel as
There. are you better satisfied nowY'
Am 1? Why, doctor, that's the only thing
to keep me alive. Can man live, leastways
on this earth, with his heart, his soul, his
body gone from his sight forever? Tell me,
swear to me, that it's all true, that she is
safe, ana you're not a sayin all this Jis
.'She is safe, swear it, wardour.'
He uttered glad cry. / realized, looking
shs pale as that this
worIa-stained heart for his only child
you my word. And now. wsrdour. just lie s as
quiet as you can. ! am going to get you
out Of this uncomfortable fix, and you must
not talk"
n xorr~ TO &nrl., kr~o
truth, the whole truth, about Paul Ernscline,
I'll never get no better. say, doctor, kin
man live with a weight like hundred
way | feel when remember 1 saw Paul
Ernscline kill himself Yet, here am, In the
qrod, for the murder, and heaven only knows
the law Is done with the case. Now listen,
If you will, for I must speak.
II went over to Dead Mans Point to meet
Ernsclifte ! had an appointment with him
me there; twas about my little gal. Ems
cliffe had been coming to my house day arter
MtS she S sns he
too. But right in the midst o it ali heard
sdy Up at the e him. s pu as
cused him o. it. Twas in a public place,
and he told me he wouldn't talk to me then,
Point. / went there, and found him waitin'.
We had some words. He offered me money
me and he said let Ruby marry somebody
wasn't too good for the likes O. him. /
thrOwed the money back into his face. No
man could pay me for my girls broken heart,
mad. as mad as man kin be, pushed the
boat on, and rowed some distance, half q
mile maybe. away from the Point. when all
the boat and looked with Ri all my eyes and I'd
my sight Is powerful good yet, doctor, saw
Paul Ernscliffe lynn on the beach ! knowed
taken his own life. l didn't care: I hated
him and hoped he was dead-dead as a
herr herri1 e.. Il. wouldn't go back to him Let
the wust Of my sin. Doctor Dorrance, for
let fellow Greater die. without goin' to his
Killed himself the bullet ps found in his body
fitted his rifle exactly; the reason why he
committed suicide. i don't know, doctor.
whole TRUTH n and dru nothn but the
help me G0&!'
glanced up and saw Jack Duane jotting
down In his notebook swiftly, silently, stem
uttered. Jacks eyes met mine over the top
of the notebook, and there was a perplexed
look upon his. handsome face.
motioned him to be silent. Ny patient was
sinking to sleep and ! was desirous that he
ing to call again during the day, took my
departure. l went back to the hotel and
found everything In statu quo.
then learned TO my CONSERVATION that IL
was expected that l would accompany the
body of Ernsclife to New Orleans that night.
Colonel Lyell. as the oldest friend of the
deceased had been deputed to take charge,
and must do my share of the honors to
the dead man. Esme was no worse; War
dour decidedly better; so my patients would
not detain me, and we would be back In two
or three days time on the return boat.
felt no anxiety over Esme. She might lie
In the same state for days; there were sim
pie remedies prescribed. and Mrs. Lyell was
an excellent nurse, and old Doctor Barton,
though confined to his own room, across the
hall, was accessible. There was no help for
1t. we must 60. I had been virtually set
aside. by the public as the dead mans best
friend. and although the role was a disa-
greeable one to me, felt actually averse to
refusing. Duane, too, expressed desire to
accompany He had been duly presented
to Colonel Lyell and recognised as the detec-
tive in charge Of this case, whose Importance
Jack Duane did not realize then.
The body, which had been embalmed, was
borne to the boat Colonel Lyell and Jack
Duane had also gone on board. I ran up
to my room to get my handbag. A thought
struck me and I opened the door OF small
closet beside the fireplace In my room. Ny