The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-11-06
CHAPTER xX-(Continued.)

@@ j OhOuiu NlLuh ~, ALhCSu. DoSo
Blight know"
We'll, as likely as not he don't.
You don't think as it's a police affair,
I hope?"
Il think 1t a very serious matter
. very serious matter indeed. l will
e Blight at once" and without an
other word she hurried out of the
postofice.
The three women looked at each
Then Mrs. Dyer calculated, Il wonder,
now" and took her departure.
Mrs. Tamblyn and Miss Ladda con-
versed in low Zones and with troubled
faces for sometime longer.
Blight was sitting OF a low stool
busily engaged in mending shoes
when Esther Mawgan pushed open
the door of his cottage. He started
to his feet in a moment on catching
sight of her, and his ruddy face be-
came almost crimson.
She was too anxious, however, to
notice his confusion.
do you know" she said. speaking
rapidly. that Mr.. Grayton has been
missing since yesterday afternoon
well, miss, l did hear that he'd
been staying up with somebody as
vas sick. or something of the kind"
Blight answered, in his best non.
committal style.
Il fear 1t is not that at an" she in.
corrupted. suddenly. "You see, Mr..
Nevins is missing also, and that looks
very suspicious"
"Why so, miss?" and Blight rubbed
his chin complacently.
"Sit down again and let me tell you
everything" and Esther dropped into
the nearest chair and took a long
breath.
Blight listened to her story with
out emotion. 1t was unprofessioEal
In a member of the force to get ex-
cited over anything; Esther was al
most angry with him that he treated
the matter so i~ndifferently. In truth,
however, Bill hit was much more I'M
pressed than he chose II reveal.
Directly Esther had / nen her de-
parture he donned his uniform, buck
led on his belt in a great hurry, and
started out to interview Mrs. Tam
blyn and Mrs. Dyer. Half an hour
later all st. Chloe was seething with
excitement. Bands Of young men
searched the coast In all directions.
Any one who could throw a ray OF
light on the mystery was listened to
with absorbing interest. Esther Nav
ran was questioned and cross-Ques-
toned by those who could gain an
audience-to such an extent that she
hardly knew If she was awake or
dreaming. Mrs. Tamblyn showed
symptoms of hysteria.
BY 3 o'clock Blight was in possess
sion of an important clue. The rifed
trunk had been discovered in Penny
Perth with Mrs. Dyer's hammer and
ehisel lying by it's side.
Blight, accompanied by q dozen
fishermen, hurried away at once to
view the w~reckage. This done,
Blight's Official reserve suddenly left
him. For . moment he forgot that he
was a policeman. The secret was
more than he could keep 1t expand
ed ike yeast III uiS uoSo"' ~
his reserve In twain.
cts Just thi sway" he said, taking
Oh his helmet and wiping his Tore
head with 4 red pocket handkerchief.
ssThat purity American maid as was
wrecked in the Nebraska and stayed
n the Chase was called West. Her
vallyables, including q silver box
we're packed in her late fathers
trunk. which pore the letters r. w.
Here they be. which all OF you can see
Tor yourselves. l mean the letters
not the vallyables. Well. soon after
Ahe wreck Nevins turns up-he calls
hfsself Nevins, maybe that amt MS
real name; anyway. ne turns up
nretends he's in search OF 'ealtn, ano
amends all Of his time a-watchin' and
a.searchin' along the coast. But you
KNOW his story. Howsoever, Mr. cray
ION wrote to the owners OF the MP
ma rot Z letter from EN- YESTERDAY
-ornin. that there weren't no Robert
uahstar on board. He showed the
setter to Miss Mawgan. and h ad'
vised him to tell me and the
suard. hut he said ned see Nevlns
6-et ana advise i'm to clear out. Well
& called at Mrs. Dyer's-Nevins was
at Called again after dinner. Nev
ans had been home, changed MS
~In4hes which was soaked
s.ten Mrs. Dyer's hammer and chiseI
and gone out again. Five minutes
later Grayton was seen crossin, the
enuare at 4 great pace, since wnen
oohody ,as seen him or heard Of him
Now. gentlemen, what's the miner
ence?"
This question opened the Hood gates
~ talk IA 4 moment, and Tor several
minutes everybody labored IA ram 70
Get Z hearing. The more imaginative
began to construct romances CON
rounded Of mystery and crime. Ine
slow-witted saw only vulgar Inert.
The legally wise were ready with al
Kinds Of suggestions for the capture
Z the thief.
might got ! hearing again after
n 1lpBseeaI minutes of tumult. ..