The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-01-02

my uOOT L pauSO0 n mOInenl, lHSil Il
crossed the hall n knocked at Ire
names. door. Perhaps Cecily had for
given me, and in an evenings talk l
ought surely to be able to find out
something more. T.
But It was not Cecily, It was Tre-
maine himself who opened to me. I,
"Oh, Mr.. Lester" he cried, with hand
outstretched, how are you? l wanted
to see you've been listening for your
step. o must join US here this even
ing"
IL shall be glad to-" I said, returning
his clasp, all my suspicious melting
away, reduced to absurdity, at sight of
him. But why so particularly this
evening""
Because we've planned a little cele-
bration. Cecily is going away-
Going away?"
"Yes-back to st. Pierre to get my
house in order-but I'll tell you at !
merits to be served here in an hour.
You will Gomez
Certainly 1 wiIl." I assured him, and
FASTENED over to my room to dress.
He was awaiting me when I knocked
an hour later; a table had been set
with three places.
Come In" he said. Dinner will be
here directly. I thought It safer to have
the celebration here because-weil,"
and he nodded significantly toward the
inner TOOTH. .."
"Cecily?" I questioned.
'Yes-she takes 1T to heart more
than you'd believe. But she'll get over
1t In a day or two"
When does she cave"
I'm the morning early, by the fruit
boat. And, by the way, I want you to
go down with me to see her Off. h
appreciate It,"
"Why, certainly-but isn't it rather
sudden"
Tn a way, yes. You see, I've ar
ranged for a committee from New York
to go down to Martinique and look over
the ground, and l want to take them
before they have a chance to cool off.
I've got to get my house there in order
and engage some servants, for that will
be our headquarters, and IL Cecily
doesn't leave by the boat tomorrow, she
can't go for ten days. Ten days from
now I'm going to nav the committee
ready to sail. and when l get them to
Martinique, I'm going to give them a
sample of Creole hospitality. l wish
you could come" he added warmly. I'd
like to have you"
"There's nothing I'd like better" l
said, suddenly conscious of how l had
slandered him in my thoughts. But
fear it isn't possible just now"
We'll, some day l shall have you
there, and I warn you l Shan't let you
go in a hurry. Come in" he added, in
response to a knock at the door.
Two walters entered, and in a mo-
ment the dinner was served.
That will do" said Tremaine, press
ing q coin into the hand of each OF
them. Well attend to ourselves. Send
up in an hour for the dishes. ! thought
that was best" he added. as he closed
the o O after them. w can talk
freely now"
He stepped to the inner door.
"Cecily!" he called.
She appeared in 4 moment, with eye
lids 4 little puffed n red, bat on the
whole In mucn better spirits than l had
expected. She was arrayed in all her
finery-she had put on every piece OF
jewelry, I think-and she paused in the
doorway TO throw me q courtesy. Ire
maine took her hand and led her to a
seat, with a grace worthy OF the Grand
MOnarque.
Sec the spoiled child" he said,
laughing across the table at her, a mo-
merit later. Shes been making herself
miserable for nothing. In two weeks,
W. shall be together again at Fond
Core"
She answered his laugh with a thin
smile, and shot me q glance pregnant
with meaning, l knew she meant that
her prophecy had come VI
He brimmed her glass with wine.
Drink that" he said. 7 our meet
ing in two weeks"
ITO our meeting in two weeks!" she
repeated ironically, and drained the
glass.
But in q few moments the mood
passed and she became quite gay. No:
till then did it occur to me that Ire
maine had made no reference to the
tragedy at Edgemere. Then l caught
myself just in time, for I remembered
suddenly that l was not supposed to
know he had been there.
8 you. have been successful"
asked finally.
Yes. I believe so. I've succeeded in
interesting some capitalists. Richard
D"lrOy-pCrhaps you know him >"
No; only by reputation"
lie has helped me greatly"
You got through, then, sooner than
Z you eXpeCted?"
"Yes-I thought it would take a week
at least. Mr.. DelTOy had arranged thai
the conference should take place at his
country house near Babylon. We fin
ished the details yesterday. and" he
added, after the faintest hesitation, IAN
extremely unfortunate event occurred
there last night which made any furth-
err stay impossible dare say you saw
an account of ii in the evening pa
peTs?"
"Oh. yes: that murder and robbery.
The evidence seems to point very
strongly toward a young fellow named
Drysdale."
Very strongly" he agreed, nodding
with just the right degree OF concern,
although I'm hoping that he MAJ be
able TO prove himself not guilty. An
amlable young fellow-somewhat i'm
pulsive and hea~dstrong-but let US not
TALK about It. It's too unpleasant.
This evening we must be gay"
! There is no need for me to detail
what we did talk about, since it in
no way concerns this story; but I have
never seen Tremaine to better adVan-
taSc. lie was the UneXceptionable gen
t~len.an, the man OF the world who had
Travelled far n tasted many things,
2 brilliant and witty talkcT-a person
ality in a word, on the whole 50 fascin-
atinE and impressive that long before
the evening was over / had dismissed
as ridiculous my vague susniCiOuS of
an hour before. The story that God
frey had built up, was, / reflected. wholly
hypothetical, timsy with the flmsiness
which always attaches TO Circumstan-
tial evidence. l knew how 4 Jury look
ing at Tremaine, would laugh at it. No
lawyer would risk his reputation with
such q c"Ee, no magistrate would allow
1t 10 proceed before him. WHY. for all