The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-12-25

he was, and that all his eaxing and
whistling were in vain, he made his
way rapidly across the bracken and
heather, and came at length upon Bill
rushing madly to and fro on the edge
of a pit, barking and bowling more
furiously than w
Clement stood for a moment on the
edge of the pit, and then rushed away,
and an hour later all the disengaged
men In St. Chloe were on their way
to Penny Downs with ropes and wind
lass and all necessary apparatus.
Such wild excitement was scarcely
ever known in st. Chloe as on that
evening. The swiftness of a terrible
judgment, instead Of subduing and So
bering the people, made them hilari-
Gus. The vindication of justice and
right furnished them with a theme for
thanksgiving.
At Mawgan Chase the excitement
vas even more intense than in the
village. The silver box was in Glenn
ent's possession. He being a magis-
trate was held to be the proper person
to keep it until the owner turned up.
Mr.. Jackson was nearly as wildly ex-
cited as the others. The mild mys.
terry surrounding Miss West and her
possession was on the point of being
cleared up.
Clement saw a telegram to Marion
as early as possible in the name of his
sister, and urged her to start at once
for Cornwall. He was afraid to send
it in his own name lest she should
become suspicious and take fright.
Two hours later a reply wire was
handed in to Esther.
"Will arrive by $50 train tomorrow
morning.-Marion West"
To Clement the tension had become
almost painful. He tried his best to
sit still and carry N a conversation
with Esther and Mr.. Jackson about
things in general, but half this time
he did not hear what was said to him.
Two thoughts were uppermost in
his mind. The first was that in a few
hours he and Marion West would be
under the same root again; the Sec
ond was, that il there was any mys-
terry hidden away in 'the long-lost box,
1t was On the point Of being revealed.
What the clearing up Of that mystery
might mean to him he little guessed;
had he known he might have been less
anxious for the fateful hour to arrive.
He slept very little that night, and
such sleep as he had came in brief
snatches and was disturbed by riii.
culous dreams.
He did not 60 to meet her next
morning; he thought it would be pol.
icy to keep out OF her sight until she
was actually in the house. He knew
that in any case she would enter it
with great difidence, and Even reluc-
child she was. Moreover, Esther knew,
even II Mrs. Mawgan still remained
in ignorance of the fact. He was half
afraid that when she reached the sta
ton she would insist on going straight
to st. Chloe.
Mr.. jackson offered to fetch her
from the station in his motor car if
Esther would accompany him. Esther
hesitated for a moment. She had been
a good deal In MI. Jackson's company
during the last few days, and she was
conscious Of the fact that his atten-
tons had become more marked than
at the beginning.
Her brother, however, quickly de-
cided the matter.
you must go, Esther" he said,
with an emphasis on the must" 1T
will seem a cold welcome indeed II
only strangers are there to meet her."
II thought, perhaps, you would CO."
she said, hesitatingly.
Il cannot very WE'LL" he replied,
quickly. Indeed, 1t Is next to impos-
sible. Besides, the morning air will
do you good, and I want to have a
talk with Bice before she arrives"
Bice, It should be said. was the local
solicitor.
Clement counted the minutes from
the time the motor car left the door.
The night train was generally we'll up
to tima-as. INDEED, 1t ought to be. for
a considerable margin was allowed for
delays.
(1e Re continusd.)