Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-03-11

tiItS DLlI'l Tic bOtN W $780,
on, the groom bound for Deanminster
passed them driving the dog-cart, n
Major Jcn stopped the man TO tell him
that at all risks he was to bring back
Or. EtwaId with him. Jaggard Won
dered at this, for Maurice-pOor lad
was beyond all earthly aid-but Jen
was thinking of a certain person who
might have committed the crime, and
he wished for the aid of DR.. EtWald to
capture that person. In the mean
time the necessities of the case alled
for the immediate removal of the body
to "Ashantec." 1t was a melancholy
procession which bore the body up to
the house, and behind came Major
Jen bowed to the ground with sorrow.
In due time Etwald arrived, for the
| groom had been fortunate enough to
find him at home. On hearing of the
affair he expressed the deepest con-
Germ, and, putting all other business on
one side, he came back to "Ashantee"
in the dOg-cart. Before seeing Jen, he
went UP to Aylmer's room and exam
ined the body of the unfortunate young
a Having satisfied himself so far
as he was able he came down to the
library, where Jen awaited him.
We'll, Etwald," cried the Major,
when he saw the tall form of the doc
tor at the door, have you seen him?'
Il have seen it," corrected Etwald,
with professional c2lmness, the poor
fellow is dead, Major-dead from
blood-pOisoning."
Il knew it; I guessed 1.-THE devil
stick"
THAT may be-" rejoined Etwald, TAX
ing a seat, but I cannot be sure. You
see neither you nor I 10Y anything
Of the poison which was in the han
die of that African instrument. 1t
But what are you talking off" broke
in Jen. i~mpetuOusly. You say that
my poor boy died from blood-poison-
ing. How else could he have come by
that, save through being touched or
struck with the devil-stick? No one
in the neighborhoOd was likely to pos
sess any weapon likely to corrupt the
blood. If Maurice had been stabbed,
or shot, I could understand the crime;
but as it is. the person who stole the
devil-stick must have killed him"
And who stole the devil-stick? o"
asked Etwald, coolly. IF forget not.
'i''Jo , y !" INV liS liz ollltl ddS IL
l did. l was no friend of the dead
man.; / did not like him, nor he me.
We Doth loved the same man
were rivals. What then so easy as for
you to say-for a jury to believe-that
| had stolen the devil-stick and killed
Mr.. Aylmer, so as to get him out of
the way"
Il never thought of such a thing"
nrntpSta6 len II do NOT ,Snoc 1-,,, ~
Then whom do you suspect?' ask
ed Etwald, fixing his dark eyes on the
Major.
"Dido-the negress of Mrs. Dali
las"
THAT is ridiculous. The commits
sion of a crime presupposes a motive.
Now what motive had Dido to kill
your lend?
She hated Maurice, and she did not
want him to marry Miss Dallas"
Neither did l, if l remember right
ly.' said Etwald, dryly. By the way,
1 suppose you will have a detective to
sift the affair to the bottom? Mr.. Sar-
by is in the city. Why not wire him."
IF I thought that But" added
Jen. breaking off, how do you know
where David isl"
OH" rejoined Etwald, quietly, MIR.
Aylmer told me so tonight"
"No-night," echoed Jen, starting I'D.
You saw Maurice to-night!"
certainly. About at hour and a half
before he was murdered. At my house"
replied the doctor, with great deliber-
alton.
$50 it was you whom he went to see
on business to-night?'
Il don't know if you call it bust
ness. l asked Mr.. Aylmer to call and
see me, and sent the message by that
tramp named Battersea."
Il remember his coming. Go on,
please"
Mr.. Aylmer called, as I said" con-
tinued Etwald. And then I told him
that Miss Dallas was i'll from being
prevented by her mother from seeing
MIN. That l was sorry for the poor
young lady, and that l gave up my DO
sition as a rival. In fact" added the
doctor, 4 advised Mr.. Aylmer to see
Miss Dallas and marry her as soon as
he could"
But why did you wish to act in this
generous manner?"
For the very simple reason that
Miss Dallas is of a delicate and ner-
Vous constitution" said Etwald. eff
she does not marry Mr.. Aylmer, with
whom she is in love, she may die. I
quite forget that I should speak in the
past tense now, Major. Mr.. Aylmer is
dead. and Miss Dallas may pine away
or grief. 1t was to prevent such a ca
tastrophe from occurring that l sur
rendered my claim to her hand"
very generous of Won iodaa1 ,, eoil
Jen, ironically; but I do not see whv
you should behave in such a noble
manner when You were so much in
love with the girl
1t is for that reason that I changed
my mind. AS you know. 1 have been
attending upon Mrs. Dallas this week.
n l saw plainly enough that my
case was hopeless; that the girl wa
dying to marry Aylmer. Besides" add
ed Etwald, carelessly, the mother was
not on my side"
She wants Isabella to marry Da-
vid.'
SO 1 hear; and he is in town. as
Mr.. Aylmer told me to-niyht. Rut
what are o going to do about the
matter, Major?"
Give notice to the police
There will be a post-morten, os
course, said Etwald. carelessly.
NO, no, l hope not" cried len
Mortified at the idea.
6ut there must be-" insisted Ut
valid, cruelty. "Aylmer died of no,son