Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-03-25
CHAPTER X1.-(Coptipued.)

1 >oAfs1
closed the window boited and barred
the shutters, and then hastened back
to the death-chamber, where he rams
the bell. In n few minutes the foot
man. f-dressed aud ~half-asleep
made his appearance; then came the
policeman, hastily, from the kitcheh;
finally, as the bell still continued ring
ing, all the other servants, male and
female, poured into the room. a SIN
gle glance showed them what had oc-
curred-the insensible JaSgard, the
empty bed. the open window. A Babei
of voices ensued. "Silence, all OF you,
cried Jen, authoritatively. We must
act, not talk. Two Of you take Jasga
to his room. Tell the groom to ride at
once for DIR. Etwald and Inspector
Sampson" he added, turning TO the
policeman, who was stolldly staring al
the empty bed, rouse yourself. TAKE
lanterns, and search for footmarks.
There must have been more than one
person to carry off a dead body.
These directions were obeyed at
once. The house. the grounds, the
whole wild night with it's driving tenn
pest became radiant with light ana
alive with terrified men. That a hu-
| man being should be murdered Was
| sufficiently ghastly without this crown
| ing horror OF a missing body coming
after, Every man looked on his fel-
low with suspicion; in the yellow light
Of the lanterns, dimly through the
| steady %downpour of the rain, could De
seen pallid faces and scared express
sions. And while the men-folk secured
the house, the park. and the adjacent
lanes e%nvironing "Ashantee,' the le-
male servants, unnerved n hysterl-
cal, crowded together in the kltchen'
whispering over hastily prepared tea.
1t vas a wild night, and ull or 'the
vague horrors of death and mystery.
Etwald came Immediately In COM
pany with Arkel, whom this last extra
ordinary event took entirely by sur
prise. He questioned Sampson-he
searched the chamber of death. stepped
out of the window and. across the lawn
towards the belt of laurels which d.
vided the lawn from u winding and
t~ortuous lane. This, a ~tenebrous path
way even in the MONDAY. slipped eel
like through darkling trees to emerge
into the high-road a quarter of a mile
away. Arkel was so long absent that
Jen could only surmise that he had
gone into this outward darkness; and.
on the Inspectors return 1t appeared
that the Major was right in his con-
jecture. Furthermore, Arkel brought
back certain news.
without doubt h body was
out through the window he said to
Jeil. The faower-bed beneath the lat
tice is trampled down. 1t was carried
across the lawn-for I could see by
the light of the lantern the footmarks
four feet-and through the bushes
into the lane. The way can be raced
easily enough TO that point; but 1t Is
too dark to note any further sign"
Nothing more car be don tonight"
Jen, gloomily. The men have re-
turned dead tired, but they ave seen
nothing and no n
I'VE must question your servant"
said Arkel. HE was stunned. l be-
2"
II can't say. / haven't examined him
Stunned or drugged. I suppose
And where is MI. Sarhy?" asked the
as they turned to leave the
room.
MI. Sarby went out as soon as we
iscovered the loss. and he has not yet
returned"
was he with you when you made
the ~discoyery?"
mo. He had retired to bed" rejoin-
ed Jen. but as soon as I saw what
had taken place I called him Up. and he
umped through he window to see If
he could espy any traces of the rob-
hers, Then the came. and /
sent for you"
Inspector Arkel left the room with
the Major to seek out Jaggard. and. IL
possible, to learn from him what had
occurred. But this they were unable
to do. The man had been stunned by
a blow on the head. and was quite in
sensible,
And yet he was q strong man."
said Etwald. when he conveyed this
intelligence. He must have been
taken by surprise"
.Undoubtedly." asserted Jen. read
fly. Blu he must also rave been
asleep, else he would nave called out
as the men burst through the window"
How do you know there were more
than 2" asked Etwald. in a testing
tone.
because Maurice was an unusually
heavy man." replied the Major. "and he
could not have beer carried OF unless
by two men. There may have been
three for all I know. But what Is the
meaning Of 1t all p cried Jen. in bewil-
dered dismay. why was the poor
lads body stolen"
"Resurreotionists!" suggested Arkel;
whereupon Major Jen shuddered.
Don't even hint at such a thing he
cried. vehemently. 1T would be too
terrible: and. at 1t happens. quite un-
b~elievable. It Is incredible that such
! thing could occur nowadays"
TT IL Incredible that such a thing
- the theft of a body should occur
said Etwald. dryly. yet 1t has taken
place. But where 10 Mr.. Sarby? 1
should think that he would be present
60 aid on"
Jen was just about to repeat his
fei9ned explanation regarding David's
absence. when the door opened and the
young man. wet and exhausted, entered
the room To give him his cue. the
Major spoke TO him at once.
you are just. In time, David, an !
WAs telling these gentlemen about you
hunt after these wretchea Did o see
anyone!
n ~ nothing said David. YEARLY.
= am quite puxxled."
And no WONDER. said Etwald.
soountlne on events on his hngers. THE
oevil-etick. the murder. the theft OF
Eehe body. This u = catalogue Of hor-
ltHrR man. mtghk do wCrsem thai
sUE1easA 0teey on ehsse things"
- agrse with you!- remarked ~
1890