Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-06-17
CHAPTER tcontinued.)

The lawyer did 49, speak.
Il mean,' Angel went on calmly,
''since | saw the hat you put down on
a dusty table in my chambers-when
you murdered Connor."
"Oh, you found him, did you-I
wondered" said Speeding without
emotion. Then he heard a faint
metallic click, and leapt back with his
hand in his pocket.
But Jimmy's pistol covered him.
He paused ir~resolutely for one mo-
ment; then six men flung themselves
o him, and he went to the ground
fighting. Handcuffed, he rose, his non
chalant self, with the full measure OF
his failure apparent. He was once
again the suave, smooth man Of old,
Indeed, he laughed as he faced Angel.
"A good end" he said. You are a
much smarter man than l thought you
were. What is the charger"
Murder said Angel.
You will And a difficulty In proving
It," SPEEDING answered coolly, land as
It is customary at this stage OF the
proceedings for the accused to make
q conventional statement, / formally
declare that / have not seen Conner
for two days"
Closely guarded, he walked to the
door. He passed Kathleen standing In
the vestibule, and she shrank on one
side, which amused him. He clam
bered into the car that had brought
him. followed by the policemen, and
hummed a little tune.
He leaned over to say a final word
to Angel.
You think l am indecently cheer
full" he said, but / feel as a man
knowledge that before him lies the
sound sleep hat will bring forgetful-
ness,
Then. as the car was moving off, he
spoke again
"Of course l killed Connor-it was
inevitable"
And then the car carried him away.
Angel locked the door of the deposit.
and handed the key to Kathleen.
Il will ask Jimmy to take you
home" he said.
What do you think of him?" said
Jimmy?
Speeding? oh, he's acted as
thought he would. He represents the
very worst type Of criminal In the
world; you cannot condemn, any more
than you can explain, such men as
that. They are In a class by them
selves-nature's pervcrsities. There is
a side TO SPEEDING that is particularly
pleasant
He saw the two off, then walked
slowly to the city police station. The
inspector on duty nodded to him as he
entered. -
I'VE have put him in a special CELL"
he said.
HAS he been well searched?"
Yes, sir. The usual kit, and a re-
volver loaded in five chambers"
Let me see it," said Angel.
He took the pistol under the gaslight.
One chamber contained an empty shell,
and the barrel was foul. That will
hang him without his confession, he
thought. -. a.
"He asked for a pencil and paper"
said the Inspector, but he surely does
not expect bail"
Angel shook his head.
NO, should imagine he wants to
write TO me-"
a door burst open, and a b~areheaded
JailCr rushed in.
There's something wrong in No. d."
he said. and Angel followed the in
spector as he ran down the narrow
corridor, studded with iron doors on
either side.
The Inspector took one glance
throcgh the spyhole.
I gran the doori" he said quickly.
7 With a jangle and rattle Of bolts, the
door was opened. SPEEDING lay ON his
back, with a faint smile on his lips;
his eyes were closed, and Angel, thrust
ing his hand into the breast of the
stricken man, felt no beat of the heart.
Run for a doctor!" said the in
Bpector-
Its no use." said Angel quietly,
.''the mans dead
On the rough bed Law a piece of pa
per. 1T was addressed in the lawyers
bold hand to Angel Esquire.
The detective picked 1t UP and e
1t.
Excellent Angel the letter ran.
s'the time has come when / must prove
for myself the vexed question of i'm
mortality. l would say that / bear you
no III will, nor you companion, nor the
charming Miss Kent. / would have
killed you all, or either, OF course, but
happily my Intentions nave not coin
cided with my opportunities. For some
time past / have foreseen the posi-
bility Of my present act, and nave worn
on every suit one button, which,
colored TO resemble its fellows, is In
reality q skilfully nodded pellet OF cya-
hide. Farewell"
ANGEL looked down at the dead man
at his feet. The top ~cloth-covered but
ton on the right breast had been torn
away.