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

Nemesis.
When Nevins saw Grayton sing to
the ground with q moan and roll over
on his side, he was seized with sud-
den horror. He had nev realized
the awful nature of his deed until it
was done. Unprincipled as he was.
he had never dreamed. even in his
worst moments, Of staining his hands
with such a crime. The temptation
had come to him suddenly and unex-
pectedly. He found himself at bay.
The thing he had plotted for and
worked for four months was in danger
Of being taken from him. Nor was
that all; he might ind himself in
prison on a charge Of felony. There
appeared to be only one way to es-
cape. There was no time for reason
or argument. He must make his
choice that instant.
What followed seemed almost as vi
real to him as it did to Grayton when
be recovered consciousness. Then as
In q flash the whole horror Of the
thing dawned upon him. The drip
ping knife was still in his hand. and
ct his feet the body Of the mar he had
aurdered.
His first impulse was to fling the
knife from him into the furze and
heather. but q moments reflection
suggested danger in such q course.
The knife might be found and identi.
aed. SO he stopped and stabbed 1t
he felt sure every trace OF blood was
removed then slipping 1t into his pock-
st he cast one hurried glance at the
motionless body Of Grayton and plung-
cd forward into the darkness. He was
not troubled about the fog now. He
was thankful for it. It seemed a kind
OF protection. He thought he knew
pretty well the direction he wished to
60. and he hurried forward with bent
ahead and In the main with unseeing
oyes-
He made . number Of mental cal
culations a. he stumbled his trackless
way across the furxe and heather.
There seemed ample time to clear out
a the country before any inquiries
were made. His movements had
been so erratic and uncertain Of late
hat his absence q few hours longer
than usual would cause nj alarm to
Mrs. Dyer. As for the curate. he was
ct everybody's beck and call. and fire.
Quently sat up q whole night with
uome sick p%arshioner. Hence 1t
MOuid be noon next day before their
absence would be remarked upon. BY
the time Blight got his slow wits to
work the afternoon would be we'll on
IT. way. Indeed, before st. Chloe dis
covered anything serious had happen
d he might. be safe in London.
He grew Z little more cheerful as
these conclusions shaped themselves
IN his mind. He was half disposed
70 turn back to st. Chloe and spend
the night in his own bed. He was by
no means sure It VA not the safest
thing to do. II he had been sure
that 0rayton had taken nobody into
his confidence he would not have hest.
tated . second, but there was the bare
possibility-thosgh It was by no
aeans probabls-that there were
other people on his track, and. II 90.
the so1uer he showed . clean pair Of
heels Dc better.
He had still two hours grace before
he last train for London left Cligger
Jnnction. Taking Z bee line across
The country no ought to be able easily
- cover the distance In that time. At
ony rate he could make the attempt.
NJ telegraph wires would be at work
during the night. and before day broke
- might have deposited the box with
Lord Richard Grovely, and got q hum
Ared or two perhaps on account.
He gave up all idea nov Of hiding
the box and returning for It ct . late
date. The killing Of Grayton had
sehanged the entire s~ituation-for that
,tnrayton was dead no had no doubt
whatever. His only course was to get
elean away - quickly = possible.
The farther he advanced. the more
dinicult became the way. He struck
Z line OF "shoading" heaps that more
chan once threw him nat on his face.
He resented this very much. Tor he
knew It would give him . soiled and
6iehevelled appearance. and that he
vas anxious, for obvisns reasons, to
avofd.
The fog. instead Of clearing. seemed
20 rot more dense. The spongy brack-
On and heather appeared to have
given place to loose rubble. He was
walking along . ridge Of some kind;
the ground sloped on either Size Of
him. Suddenly blackness that was
blacker than the night yawned at his
INT. He tried to draw back. but was
too late; with I cry that was half
curse. half prayer. he clutchsd wildly
at nothing. There VA m awful mo-
So