The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-01-23

udy. anu she dlu not turn IOT hi Ah-
stant-not. indeed, until Godfrey had
cloged the doc carefully Behind him.
/ have seen few women more regal,
more magnificent. yet there was about
her--4n her face, in the droop OF her
f~igure-5such an air OF utter misery. or
exquisite suffering. that. after h first
moment, one forgot to admire her in
the desire to be Of service.
you wished to see me?" she asked,
In q low voice.
Eyes, Miss Croydon" replied Godfrey,
more gently perhaps than he had In
tended to speak, This is MI. Lester.
he added, who has been engaged TO
defend Mr.. Drysdale."
She acknowledged the introduction
with the faintest OF bows.
II hope Mr.. Lester will be SUCCESSFUL,
she said, In the coolest of tones. One
would nave thought her a mere chance
acquaintance OF my client.
/ saw Godfrey looking at her with
searching eyes. and his face hardened.
I'VE mean to be successful he said
CURLY. You may as well ask US TO
cit down. Miss Croydon. because our
business here will take some time n
I am sure 1T will tire you to stand"
She raised her eyebrows with a lit
tie gesture of astonished disdain.
Really" she began; then her eyes
met his. burning with meaning. "Oh,
very well" she said family, and sank
into. the chair nearest her.
I felt my cheeks flush with indigna-
ton ut Godfrey's manner; surely this
woman had enough to bear already!
I opened my lips to protest, but he
eilenced me with a glance.
NOW. Miss Croydon he continued,
In the same coldly imperative tone,
II Intend to speak to you bluntly and
directly. We have beaten about the
fhfyah TIM lnaCRr unlpaaAr ~ oaaW thar VIM
are not inclined to deal frankly with
us-you have not been frank with US
from the first--you have sought to
blind us. to throw US Off the track.
Therefore I shall tell you what we al
ready know In order that you may
co hold US of Were going to see that
h guilty man is punished, not for this
crime alone. but also for that other
one at the Marathon, OF which YOU
were the only witness. You shall not
be permitted to keep him from Justice
q day longer"
She raised! her head and looked at
him. her face white as marble and as
immoble: but she did not speak. She
grew llvid and more llvid as he con-
tlnued. wgtching him with starting
eyes,, and at one moment / thought
she would collapse: but / did not know
her strength, of will.
I'm the first place." went on God
frey evenly, never removing his eyes
from hers. I'VE know that this man
Tremaine inveigied you sister into a
schoolgirl elopement n marriage:
she was rescued from him; she thought
him dead: she married Delroy; came to
New York; Tremaine followed her and
attempted the ~extortion OF blackmail:
you met him at the Marathon: while
you were talking Thompson interfered
and Hfran1nfna kfllaA him noNn MING h.
fore the officers arrived. You did not
know Thompson, but o saw Sim
monds and me take out his pocketbook;
you heard me read a line or two from
n OF a packet of clippings We found
there. and while we were in the bed
body and hid them under the edge of
the carpet v
she breathed a long sigh and sat
erect again. O. "
':Ah.'' she said with a little smile,
II was beginning to fear you, all that
seemed so supernatural. But now I
see where your information came
from"
1T Is correct. them" asked Godfrey,
a CLEAN Of triumph flashing across his
face.
She glanced at him In surprise.
"Oh. I understand; 1t was merely
theorizing. Well, it vas very cleverly
done. Mr. Godfrey
And 1t is ~correct2' he persisted.
She hesitated yet a moment, but there
was no denying the importantly Of his
gaze.
Yes she answered: yes
Godfrey leaned back In his chair
with q long sigh Of relief. He had won
che battle.
Miss Croydon" he said. I'm going
10 reward you for your frankness by
fallfncr Won oOTanfhfnor avvhfOh r hal ln-
tended TO keep secret a while longer,
just to punish you. Your sister never
was the wife OF Tremaine and has
nothing whatever to fear from him. he
has no hold on her ut ali. She has
never been anybody's wife but Mr.. Del
Toy's."
she was staring at him with widely
opened eyes. her hands clasped above
her heart.
"Oh. IL 1t were really soH' she cried.
IF It were really sol"
st is So" repeated Godfrey, and took
q little yellow envelope from his pocket.
Read this" and he unfolded a sheet
Of paper and held ii toward her.
She took 1t with trembling hand and
read the message written upon It.; but
seemingly without understanding IL.
Its n cable" he explained, from the
Records correspondent at Dieppe. Your
pardon, Lester" he added with a fleet
ing bHlne. A IOrROI 10 snow IL to
you on the trip out. Please read Il
aloud. Miss Croydon"
THE widow OF Victor C~harente.'"
she read in O low voice, died here
February q. 1901. Had never married
again" She looked up, her brows still
knitted. "Well?" she asked.
"Well.'' said Godfrey. Victor Char
ente is the real name OF Tremaine. He
married that girl many years before
he met you sister. She was his egal
wife. Your sister never was. She was
never the legal wife OF anyone except
Richard Delroy."
She Understood now, and the glad
tears burst forth understandable. In
deed she made nc effort to restrain
them, but only rocked back and forth,
pressing the message against her heart.
THANK Cod" she sobbed, Thank
Godi" and then she started up from her
chair, II must tell her. she said, 'at
once. If you knew how she has suf-
fered! She must not be left In that
cruel position an instant longer"
Very WELL" agreed Godfrey. I'VE
will walt for you here"
She disappeared through a door at
the farther end OF the room, but in a