The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1908-02-13
A STORY OF

He took down a little a lantern,
lighted it, tested it, and put it in his
pocket.
Nov I'm ready. Have we far to
go?"
ooh. no; Just across the street"
Simmonds started with astonish-
ment.
You don't mean the Marathon!" he
said.
Just that"
But Who is it we're going after?"
"A fellow named T'remaine."
"Tremaine!" Simmond's face grew
banker and banker. why, I know
him; he's been in here to see me. He
doesn't seem at all the kind of fellow
who would"
80 ho!' cried Godfrey. 1T was you
who told him about the clippings!"
Simmonds colored to the eyes.
Who told you that" he stamrnered.
N matter; it didn't do any harm;
played right iato our hands. in fact.
But you didn't show your usual per-
spicacity there, Simmonds. That fell
low Is the most remarkable scoundrel
I've ever run across-perhaps It's. just
as well | never met him or he'd have
hypnotiZed me. too. Come along"
Simmonds followed meekly. Evil
IDENTIFY he felt his indiscretion deeply;
thought | didn't think him greatly to
blame. Who, to look at him. would
have conceived any suspicion of Ire
maine? Even yet, 1 found it difficult
to believe him guilty OF any crime; this
chain which Godfrey had so laborious-
~ forged about him-would it really
hold--was 1t really strong in every
link? Or was there some fatal weak
ness in 1T, some unsupported flaw.
Higgins was just shutting the inner
doors. He recognized Simmonds at
once.
Hello" he said; what's UP now?
No more murders, l hope?"
DO o know whether or not Mr..
Iremaine is in his rooms?" asked
Godfrey.
Yes, sir; he went up about an hour
ago"
You have a key to his door?"
Yes, sir"
w want you to go up with us and
open the door"
"Oh, comet" protested Higgins.
mIhats go1ng 1T pretty strong. What's
Mr.. Tremaine done?"
mo matter. There's no use holding
off, Higgins. Simmonds here can place
you under arrest and force you to
CO."
"Well, see here said Higgins, turn
ing a little pale. "if you break in on
him like that, there's apt t. be some
bullets flynn around-he's hot headed,
he Is! | wish you'd excuse me. Here's
the key-why can you open tn door
YOURSELF"
"That'n do" assented Godfrey, and
took the key. Nov, you stay down
here
mo fear" said Higgins mptl
Though" he added gloomily, "mebbe
ia better telephone fer some am
balances"
We went softly up the stair and
down the dimly lighted corridor to ire
names door We could see by the
trDnS0n that thn rnnyp Woe 3,,lr
II want to surprise him." whispered
Godfrey. If he has two or three
minutes warning, he may be able to
get rid of some evidence. He's prob
ably in bed and we must get to the
bedroom door without his hearing us.
How does the bedroom door lie, Les
ter, with reference to his one?"
straight ahead" answered
hoarsely.
That's good; are you ready"
Yes" said Simmonds, and cooked
his revolver.
firmly, glad that it was n stout one.
"All right" said Godfrey, and he
threw back the bolt and opened the
door.
The room was in absolute darkness,
save for he dim stream of light from
frey in the lead.
Have your lantern ready, Sim
monds, he whispered. and | caught
the odor OF heated metal us Simmonds
obeyed the order.
Two. three, four steps we advanced.
feeling our way-taen | heard a star
tied cry from Godfrey-an ~instant's
pause.
Quick. Simmonds. auick." he cried.
In q stifled voice. THE lantern."
Instantly a brilliant band OF light
shot across the room, wavered, wagged
to and fro-then settled upon Godfrey
bending above some shapeless object
on the floor.
What is it," I cried. running to him,
shivering with horror.
It's Tremaine," M he knelt on the
floor and stripped back the clothing
from the breast. He dead" no added
after a momen
Dead? But whya How"
He was In pajamas-I can see them
yet-str'oed blue and white.
Then ! heard Godfrey's voice again.
MY God!" he was saying. with an
accent of utter horror. MY Cod.
Bring the light closer, Simmonds!"
| looked down. too. Tho face was In
bright relief now-but was 1t Ire
maine? Gould it be T~ren,aine? That
staring. distorted thing. with wide open
mouth? Then my eyes fe1! on the hand.
clasped across the breast.
What is it?" I asked again. inart!cu-
lately. frozen with dread. What has
~ilappened??"
Isaw Godfrey stand erect with a sud
den movement Of loathing.
ITS the fer-de-lauce!" he said
hoarsely. He's been bitten by i.. And
It's still loose In the room soniewl1ere."
CHAPTER VI
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