Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1908-02-14
THE MARATHON MYSTERY
A STORY OF MANHATTAN.
BY BURTON Z. STEVENSON
Author Of ~The Holiday Case" Cadets of Gasoony," Etc.

probably have done il had that quiv-
ering silence endured u moment
longer.
"Simmonds gave me your lantern
said Godfrey. with an admirable calm
ness. Lester. have your cane ready
He threw q broad band of light upon
the carpet, and keeping carefully with
in this path, approached the door, felt
for the electric button, and switched rs
the lights.
Half blinded for an instant we stood
staring at zach other, at the floor = = =
For Gods sake" gasped Simmonds,
hopping the sweat from his face, what
is it?"
ITS a snake" said Godfrey tersely.
The deadliest in the world. If you
don't believe me, look yonder," and he
pointed to the huddled mass on the
loor.
/ did not look; | was afraid to:
/ had already seen too much. L was
grateful when Godfrey jerked down
a curtain and threw it over the body.
Then he gave Simmonds the lantern
and closed the door, which we had
left open when we entered.
Now" he continued sharply, there's
no use in giving way to our nerves.
We're in no danger, but that snake is
hid around here somewhere and the
first thing for US to do is to find it.
Were there two snakes, Lester?'
NO" | answered, as a~rticulately as
/ could, Il think not; l never saw but
one"
Y thought YOU said Cecily took that
n with her"
5 she did-wait; I didn't see it.
She had a cover over the cage"
Godfrey's face paled suddenly.
Good God" he murmured.
a giddiness seized me; / clutched at
a chair for support.
1t had been no accident; she had
left Fe-Fe behind to avenge her-and
what "a vengeance! She had not
laughed and forgotten.
Then, IN a flash, / understood that
last strange scene-the change in Ce-
oily. as she stood watching us from the
deck of the receding boat, the press
ing against the rail, the frantic eff
fort to shout a message to Tremaine-
she had relented, she did not wish to
kill him. she loved him yet. But Of
that warning he had caught only a
single word .
THE bed" 1 cried. THE bed!"
Right" agreed Godfrey incisively.
and walked to the bedroom door. In
an instant. the inner room was ablaze
with light. He armed himself with one
of Tremaine's canes, and together we
approached the bed.
Ready, now" he said, and with a
sudden movement, stripped back the
covers. But there was nothing under
them.
The pillow, perhaps" he said, and
turned it over.
There was n quick movement, n soft
Kissing, "a vicious head raised itself.
TWO eyes Of orange fire glared at
/ heard the swish of Godfrey's cane
and the head fell. Te-Fc would work
no more evil.
And then. as | looked more closely
at the coils, ! perceived something else
there-something bright, irridescent,
glowing
Godfrey lifted the mangled body with
the end Of his cane and threw il into
the middle Of the bed. Then he bent
over and picked up-the necklace.
Il was sure we would find il here"
he said. But look at it-isn't it
beautiful"
II was more than that, it was SUI
perb. Not dead-white, now. but warm,
full of life " was it the salt bath.
or was il that the cloud had been re-
moved forever from it's owners life?
As l looked at it, there seemed to be
something unearthly in its beauty-it
seemed TO be rejoicing.
ne snake uil Hilll PROBABLY, 6uueQ
Godfrey thoughtfully, las he thrust
the necklace under the pillow. 1t was
a fitting punishment"
1T was greater than he deserved
l protested hoarsely. HE was not the
man to meet a death like that"
"A man! He was a vampire!" said
Godfrey sternIy. He lived on the lives
Of others. Don't let your sentimental
ism blind Lester"
40 49, - III ~ a
A hot resentment of fate was sweeping
over me: / realized that, down al
the bottom of my heart, l had never
really believed in Tremaine's guilt
even now, i hardly believed in it.
Godfrey turned TO Simmonds, who
stood contemplating the scene with
staring eyes. his lantern stin open in
his hand.
It's hard luck. Simmonds," he said
You're not going to get the glory
after all. But who could have fore
seen a thing like tlis?"
Simmonds opened his mouth and
shut it again, without uttering Z
sound.
You'd better notify the coroner,
continued Godfrey, and, 1 uppos t.
be strictly regular, I'll have to turf
this necklace over TO you for the night
Guard 1t well. Simmonds; it's worth Z
hundred thousand dollars.
What" stammered Simmonds. Is
1t the-the-the-
Yes, it's the Delroy necklace. You'll
have to go with us to Babylon in thu
morning, to attend the inquest. / fame,
there'll be something of a sensation
when we produce the necklace there
Ell. LESTER" and he laughed a grim lit
tie laugh OF anticpatory triumph.
Then he glanced at his watch.
81 must be going" he said. I've go
to fire this story down TO the office
What n scoop IL will be! Till tomor
row, gentlemen"
heard his footsteps die out aloni
the hall; then a sudden horror of tn
place seized me; a deadly loathing
and l CROPPED my way blindly from tn
room.
THE END.