The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1910-03-24
The Mystery Of 5
BLACK Mountain 5
s kicw tie PerpetratOr of !
) a Murder Was Discovered. !
: BY JOHN LOUIS BERRY. =
BY JOHN LOUIS BERRY,.
1909. by American Press
Association.

the stormy sky. There was a wide
cash in the head. Beside the body lay
the brutal Implement of the hideous
deed-an az.
phil" cried Jack in horror stricken
tones, bending down and feeling the
heart. My God. he is dead!'
Dead" repeated Clare. land you
killed him"
II! Why. Miss Fleming. you must
be .nad. swear
She held up her hand. mot another
word. Please see me to the edge of the
wood"
Jack Lawrence was held for the muir.
der.
One afternoon a week before the day
of the trial Jack was surprised by a
visit from Clare Fleming.
I'm going away she explained.
and | didn't want to leave without
saying goodby."
THANK yon." he answered quietly.
DO you still believe me guiltyw
"Don't ask me, please"
He sighed heavily.
rs there anything can do for
you?" she asked eagerly.
Yes. Try To believe that I'm inno-
cent. Will you try. Clarew =
Yes. Jack; I'll try-with all my
soul"
Thank you. You didn't see me strike
him with the Ak, did you?"
mo" She was silent a moment, gaz-
ing at him steadily. '"Tell me. are you
innocent or guilty?"
innocent, so help me God"
She held out her hand. Il believe
you" she said. then. ashamed of her
tears, hurriedly left him.
Out in the street she met her uncle,
Judge Hughes.
I'm OH my way to reserve your
berth, my dear he said. 1.-THE train
has changed time, and
But I'm not going away-just yet"
she interrupted.
You don't say so. Well. if you're
not the most %notionate young lady
But she laughed and FASTENED past him.
Reaching Dizzy Lodge, the Hughes
home. she ordered her pony saddled
and Don a galloping up Black
mountain. She did not draw rein until
arriving at Piney Bills cabin. The Old
man was hard at work chopping wood.
Good afternoon" she said gracious
ly. I've heard that you're the only
person in the county who believes Jack
innocent of the murder"
Bill did not respond with much aiac-
rity. Because of this handsome. dash
ing young woman one of his boys vas
dead and the other was virtually con
demned to die. !.
We'll. Mr.. Bill. that's a mistake"
she continued good humoredly, for
here's another who believes him limo
cent"
Bill gave his AK a rest. Your he
queried increduiously.
Come. now" she said briskly, dis
mounting. Lets go to the place where
poor Phil me- his death and talk 1t
over. Maybe we can reach some cons
clusion."
''Do you remember the exact spot"
Bill asked doubtfnlly.
Yes. The tree was struck by light
ming"
..I'rapS Phil was struck too" be
ha zarded. With sublime hope.
She shook her head. mo; it was
thai horrible AK. Somebody killed him
with that. and you aud must tind
u who it was.
In a few moments they were stand
ing on the fatal spot. The tree had
been struck by lightning. as Glare had
said. and was now Il partly burned and
shriveled selnbiance of Its former
kingly self. The two friends of the
accused examined the surroundings
carefully. but found nothing that led
to a clew. There seemed to be only
hopeiessness ahead.
The day Of the trial came. The pros
ecution then called its first and only
witness. Glare Fleming. She told a
simple and straightforward story OF
how on the afternoon Of the picnic she
and the murdered man had met the
accused and of how when she and
Phil were hurrying home in the rain
and darkness Phil had been struck on
the head with an az, thereby killing
him.
The defense began the cross exam
nation.
you were with Mr.. Hastings at the
time he met his deathY'
EYES,
did he cry out7"
HE simply fell to the ground"
did you see the murderer do the
deed?"
mo"
did you see the accused anywhere
nearw
mo-
did you suspect him then Of the
murder 2"
YES"
"Why?"
"Because"-she h~esitated-"o OF their
quarrel In the afternoon
And You left the body and went to
hunt for him?''
Not for him-simply for help. lost
..M N1A&M 49,