Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-05-23

other woman, 1T only remains to pick
up the pieces. miss. If man had done
it--but, there, pick up the pieces You
will have to make your tale good to
Master Lindstrom afterward."
/ went down On my knees and helped
Anne, the annoyance her incredulity
had caused me forgotten. She wat 10
shaken that 1 heard the bits of ware
in her hand clatter together. When
we had picked UP all, even to the small
est piece, l rose, and the duchess re-
turned to the former subject. You
Il see you will. Then the sooner the
better. Have you got ii about you?"
No. 1t is in my bedroom" l an
swered.
II held it away there. and i must
fetch it. But do you think" / con-
tinued, pausing as / opened the door
for Mistress Anne to go out with her
double handful of fragments, ''it is alb
solutely necessary TO read ii, ms .ady?''
Most certainly" she answered,
gravely nodding with each syllable, II
think so. ] will be responsible" And
Master BERTHE nodded also.
so be IT," 1 said reluctantly.
to fetch the letter. my bedroom be-
ing in different part of the house.
only connected with the main build
Ing by covered passage, when
our host returned. He told us that
he had removed a boat and l staid
awhile to hear If he had anything to
report, and then, finding he had not.
went out TO go TO my room, shutting
the door behind me.
The passage l have mentioned which
was merely formed of rough planks.
was very dark. AT the nearer end was
the foot of the staircase leading to the
upper rooms. Farther along was
door In the side opening into the gar
den. Going straight out of the lighted
room, | had almost to grope my way.
feeling the walls with my hands. When
l had about reached the middle. I
paused. 1t struck me that the door into
the garden must be open, for felt a
cold draft of air strike my brow and
saw, or fancied saw, slice of night
SKY and the branch of tree waving
against II. | took a step forward.
slightly sh.vering in the night air as
l did so, and had stretched out my
hand with the intention Of closing the
door when dark form rose suddenly
close to me, | saw knife CLEAN in the
starlight and the next moment I reeled
back into the darkness of the passage.
a sharp pain in my breast.
| knew at once what had happened
TO me and leaned a moment against
the planking with sick faint feeling
saying to myself. Il have il this time!'
The attack had been so sudden and un-
expected, / had been taken so COM
pletely off my guard, that | had made
no attempt either to strike or to clutch
my assailant, and | suppose only the
darkness of the passage saved me from
another blow. But was one needed?
The hand which l had raised in
stinctively to shield my throat was wet
with the warm blood trickling fast
down my breast l staggered back to
the door of the parlor. cropping blindly
Tor the latch, seemed TO be an age find
ing 1t, found 1t at last and walked in.
The duchess sprang up at sight of
me. What" she cried, backing from
me- what has happened?"
Il have been stabbed" said, and
| sat down.
1t amused me afterward to recall
what they all did. The Dutchman
stared; my lady screamed loudly; Mas
ter BERTHE whipped out his sword. He
could make up his mind quickly enough
at times.
Il think he has gone" said family.
(Continued Next Weekly