Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-05-13
BY tho Author Of
"Tho Mystery OF q Hanson Cab." Etc

evil done by Dido and EtwaId seemed
likely to fall upon their innocent heads.
still, there is hope" said Isabella.
w will speak to Major Jen. and ask
him to send the police after this
wreached oman.
This opinion was at once acted upon,
and a messenger was sent to "Ashan-
tee" but Major Jen was from home,
and it was not till 6 o'clock that he
presented himself at THE Wigwam'
and heard the story of Dido's flight.
But she can't be very far away
said Jen, hopefully. II saw her in
Deanminster, and thought she had
gone there with a message from you.
But ever if we had forced her into
court, she would not have given evil
dence against the holder of the Noodoo
Stone" Pr
Dat sol" said a hoarse voice at the
door.
The three people turned, and saw
Dido, with an expression of triumph
on her dark face, enter the room.
Dido" cried Isabella you did not
run away"
NO, missy, I tell de truth against
dat man"
But the Voodoo Stone" said Jen,
wondering what she meant.
Dido opened her clenched fist. The
Foodoo Stone lay in the palm of her
hand.
How she became possessed of the
Voodoo Stone, Dido refused to say.
Jen had learned from Inspector Arkel
hat Etwald wore the talisman on his
wa~tch-charm, and he wondered in what
fashion Dido had contrived to penetrate
into the prison and to obtain it from
the doctor. The whole result of the
trial lonanlal ,,rDr tho Transfer Of tho
stone. If Etwald kept it, Did would
not dare to give. evidence against him,
and so, in the absence of discriminating
details, he would go free. AS it was,
the stone was now in the possession of
Dido, and for some reason, which Jen
was unable to fathOm, she was quite
content to betray her share in the plot.
BY changing hands the Voodoo Stone
had transformed Dido into a traitress.
However, as the advantage derived
from the transfer was all on the side
of the prescription, Jen did not think
it wise to inquire too closely into the
means which Dido had employed to re-
gain the talisman. He saw nothing of
David, who pointedly kept out of his
way. He made no inquiries of Dido
and simply informed the Inspector that
the negress was ready to explain Ell
wald's secrets, without telling him why
she was willing to do so.
When the trial came on, and after
the evidence had been given, everyone,
without exception, looked upon the
prisoner as guilty, and they considered
it futile when David Sarby rose. to de-
liver his speech for the defence. Tbs
young man was ever paler han usual,
and when he rose laid down the devil
stick. at which he had been looking,
When on his feet he glanced round the
court and caught the gaze of Isabella,
who was staring eagerly at him. Then
he turned to his client. DR.. Etwald
smiled coldly on his counsel. David
~shuddered, and picking up the devil
stick, spoke sharply and to the point.
MY lord, and gentlemen of the jury
You have heard the evidence. which
makes out that my client is guilty.
That evidence is wrong, as can be
proved by one witness. l am the wit
ness. In my rooms there is lying a
confession, signed and witnessed,
which sets forth that l am the guilty
person. 1t was l, not Etwald, who
murdered Maurice Aylmer. Yes. 1
was in love with Miss Dallas, and
therefore was jealous of Maurice. I
knew that Did possessed the devil
stick-and l bribed her to give it TO
me. / pretended to go to the city on
the night of the murder, but, instead
of doing so, 1 remained in the grounds
of Mrs. Dallas. where 1 obtained the
devil-stick from Dido. I saw Maurice
meet with Miss Dallas. l saw them
kiss and part. Inflamed by jealousy,
l rushed after hin and met him on the
road. He turned in surprise, and flung
out his arms to keep me off. The dew
il-stick, with it's poison-fang protrud-
ing. was in my grasp, and in throwing
out his arm / wounded him in the palm
of the hand, thus
David took the devil-stick firmly in
his grasp and compressed the handle
At once the iron tongue, with it's drop
of venom. appeared. With the sharp
point he made IN irregular wound Oh
the palm of his hand, and cast the
devil-stick or the table before him. A
moment afterwards, amid the silent
horror Of the crowded court, he eell
down-dead.