Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1907-10-04
CHAPTER VII.
A GLIMPSE AT A SKELETON.


Godfrey smoked for a momen in sill
cnCe. The story he had just heard
needed digestion. 1t shed a new light
upon the problem-a light at the same
tire Illuminating and C~onfusing-a
light. indeed, which served only to dis
close new depths of mystery. So Miss
Croydon's story had been true in an
other particular. Her sister had been
cognisant of her errand; she had not
approved of 1t; che had tried to hold
her back; but the stronger nature had
oycrriden the weaker one. The elder
woman had tried to shield the younger
one, had even lied for her-she had
known, then, that the errand was one
that could not be explained; she, with
her experience of the world, had real
lied. perhaps more strongly than her
sister, it's compromising nature. What
was the secret which those papers
guarded
Drysdale hitched impatiently in his
chair.
'Out with it. jim" he said. Don't try
10 soften i'll can stand it | guess.
The only thing l can't stand is this
suspense"
I'm not going . soften it," God
frey assured him, and he rapidly out
lined the tragedy of the evening, while
his companion listened with Mortified
attention. Godfrey watched him as he
Sdt Starring h4lo the hie Win
face.
q" Don't make it blacker than it is,
Jack he said, at last. Personally, l
don't believe they've got the right man,
bat I'm sure of one thing-Miss Croy-
don had no hand in it,"
"Oh, l know she didn't" Drysdale
burst out. 1T isn't that. Don't you
sect isn't that But what took her
to that house? why should she go
there alone, at night, TO meet a drunken
brute? Answer me that Jim Godfrey.
l don care a hang for all the rest"
Godfrey's face hardened as he turned
back to the fire. That was the very
question to which he himself had been
striving vainly all the evening to find
an answer.
"Of course, Jack" he said slowly, II
can't tell you just what her whole pur-
pose was. / don't know the secret Of
the papers she hoped to get-it's a fam
lily secret-and lone OF our business.
But one things certain-whateVer it is,
there's no cause for you to worry about
IT."
And why not?"
why, don't you see, Jack? If Mrs.
Deiroy knew her sisters errand 1t could
have been no questionable one-no vul-
gar intrigue-nothing that would touch
her in any degrading w~ay-probably
nothing that would touch her at all.
CIlt dotSH ' COlliilS lllllISS III that SOTl
10 one sister. nor ask advice about
them. To be sure, she didn't heed the
advice-but at the very worst, all she's
been guilty OF Is an indiscretion. That
l think any man would be glad to for
give"
Drysdale drew a deep breath of re-
lief.
"Of course" he assented quickly.
and that" continued Godfrey earn
estly, lis all you need to know. / be-
lieve she tells the exact truth when
she says she tried to save Thompson's
life. Therefore. you may go back to
her tomorrow without the need Of ask
ing a single question. Depend upon 1t,
she'll explain 1t all in time. Show her
now that you trust her-that's the least
you can do-yes, n the most you can
do to help her."
Il WILL" agreed Drysdale instantly.
you've taken a great load off my
heart. old man."
You hadn't faith enough. Why, one
needs only to look at her to see tina
she's above suspicion. / don't think
you quite appreciate her. Most men
would be glad to get a woman like
that on any terms"
Continued Next Weekly