The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1908-01-24
A STORY OF

'O1ys hIto SIG ulu NOT tuTn IOT a1 ll-
stant-not. indeed. until Godfrey had
closed the door carefully behind him.
4 have seen few women more regal,
more magnificent. yet there was about
her-in her face. in the droop of her
H~gure-such an air of utter misery. of
exquisite suffering. that. after the 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.
Yes. Miss Croydon" replied Godfrey,
more gently perhaps than he had In
tended to speak. "This is Mr.. Lester"
ne added. who has been engaged to
defend Mr.. Drysdale."
She acknowledged the Introduction
with h faintest of bows.
II hope Mr.. Lester will be successful"
In said. in the coolest of tones. One
would have thought her a mere chance
acquaintance of my client.
II saw Godfrey looking at her with
searching eyes. n his face hardened;
1--WE mean to be successful" he aid
curtly. You may as well ask us to
PIT down. Miss Croydon. because our
business here will take some time and
4 am sure 1t will tire you to stand"
she raised her eyebrows with a lit
tie gesture of astonished isdatn.
Really" she began; her her eyes
met his. burning with meaning. oh,
very WE'LL" she said family. n sank
etlIV tue CEhlT nearest neF.
felt my cheeks lush with indigna-
tton at Godfrey's manner; surely this
woman had enough to bear already!
I opened my lips to protest, but he
silenced me with a glance.
Now. Miss Croydon" he continued,
II to speak to you bluntly and
directly. We have beaten bout the
bush too long already. L see that you
are not inclined to deal frankly with
ust-you nave not been ran with us
from the first-you have sought to
Therefore I shall tell you what we al
ready know. in order that you may
realize how useless it is for you to try
to hold us off. We're going to see that
the guilty man Is punished. not for this
crime alone, but also for that other
We're the only witness. You shall not
be permitted to keep him from Justice
q day longer
She raised her head and looked at
MIN. her face white as marble and as
tmnoble; but she did not speak. She
tinued. watching him with starting
eyes. and at one moment l thought
she would collapse; but I did not know
her strength of will.
In the first place." went on Cod
frey evenly, never removing his eyes
- WV nSASN lIlCI lll AllCLIl
1Nrsinnine inyeigled your sister into u
echool-girl elopen1ent and marriage;
she was rescued from him: she thought
MIN dead; h married Delroy: came to
Yori5:: Tremaine followed her and
attempted the extortion of blackmail:
you met him at the Marathon; Will
you were talking Thompson interfered
n Tremaine killed him, escaping be-
fore the officers arrived. You did not
Know Thompson. but you 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 We're in the bed
room. you took those clippings from the
body and hid them under the edge of
the carpet
h breathed a long sigh and sat
erect again.
All" she said with a little smile,
II was beginning to fear you. all that
eeemea so supernatural. But now I
see where your information came
from"
st is correct. then?" asked Godfrey.
e CLEAN of triumph flashing across his
taco.
She glanced at him in surprise.
oh, 1 understand; 1t was merely
theorizing. Well. 1T was very cleverly
done. Mr.. Godfrey
And 1t is correct?" he persisted.
She hesitated yet a moment, but there
was no denying the importantly Of his
gaze.
Yes" n answered: yes"
Godfrey leaned beck in his chair
with q long sign of relief. He had won
ethe battle.
Miss Groydon." he said. I'm going
TO reward you for your frankness BY
telling o something which l had in
tended to keep secret a while longer,
Just TO punish you. Your sister never
was the wife of Tremaine and has
SOfhins g yVhnjnyar fn ron,. fro~, 1,i-,, ~
has no hold or her at all. She has
never been a%nybody's wife but Mr.. Del
roy's."
She was staring at him with widely
opened eyes. her hands clasped above
her heart.
"Oh. II 1t were really so!' she cried.
IF 1t were really sol"
1T ts so."repeated Godfrey, and took
Q little yellow envelope from his pocket.
READ this" and he unfolded a sheet
OF paper and held it toward her.
She took 1t with trembling hand and
read the message written upon 1t; but
seemingly without understanding il.
Its a cable" he explained. from the
Records correspondent at Dieppe. Your
pardon. Lester" he added with a fleet
Ing smile: II forgot to show it to
you on the trip out. Please read it
aloud. Miss Croydon"
'The widow Of Victor Charente.'"
she read I'm a low voice. "'died here
February 81. 1901. Had never married
again" She looked up. her brows still
knitted. "Well?" she asked.
We'll" said Godfrey. Victor Char
ente Is the real name Of Tremaine. He
married that girl many years before
he met your 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 no effort to restrain
them. but only rocked back and forth.
pressing the message against her heart.
THANK God!" she sobbed, THANK
Cod" and then she started up from her
chair. II must tell her." she said, at
once. II you knew how she has suf-
Tered! She must not be left In that
cruel position an instant longer"
Very WELL" agreed Godfrey. I'VE
Will wait for you here"
She disappeared through a door at
the farther n of the room. but in q
moment came softly back again.
She is asleep" h said. 81 will wait
until h wakes. What a Joyful awak-
Ing 1t will bel" and she sat down again.
She wiped away the tears. but her eyes
we're still shining. Godfrey gazed at
her with a face full Of emotion.
Nov. Miss Croydon" he began.