Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-08-04

mo, sir" he answered. with a stare
OF surprise. II didn't see any stranger
about the whole morning-nobody I
didn't know"
| confess I was rather disappointed;
I had hoped that my shot would tell.
And you heard no unusual noise-no
scream, nor anything OF that sort?"
mo, sir; though l was so busy and
worried ! a T say l wouldn't have
heard a caRnon-shot."
"When did you learn that something
vas wrong?"
II heard Mrs. Lawrence asking II
anyone had seen her daughter, Then
she sent some Of the servants to look
for her"
What time was that?"
About 10 minutes after I had spoken
to her."
"Yes-what Them"
We'll, / didn't pay much attention at
first; but when the bridesmaids came
they raised such a hullabaloo that I
couldn't help but take notice"
VIVA did Mira. Lawrence do?"
why, she tried to quiet them-I
must say she was the coolest one In
the house-except one."
who was that?"
Miss Lawrence's maid. She Just
sat there on the stairs and glowered
and grinned and chewed her nails and
ACNS w q "OIu. BIG BaN0 LIE lIiS
creeps. ! could swear she knew all
about 1t and was glad Of It,"
l repressed a chuckle Of satisfaction.
Here was better luck than I had ex-
pected.
How was Miss Lawrence dressed
when you saw herr" I asked.
"All in rastly white. / judged 1t was
her wedding dress"
And you say she seemed quite as
usual2"
Yes, sir; only, of course. excited, as
any woman would be-though calm,
too, n with a sort Of deep glow IN
her eyes when she looked at you. I
can't describe It, sir; but I remember
thinking that the man who was to get
her was a mighty lucky fellow. Did
you know her, sir?"
NO" / said; i've never seen her"
"Ah." he added, closing his eyes for
an instant, IF you'd seen her then,
you'd never forget 1t. 1 never will. l
never saw another woman to touch
herr" and he turned away TO his work,
with the vision he had conjured up
evidently still before him.
As I started along the hall I saw
through the open front door a mail
carrier coming up the walk. l hastened
to meet him-this was another fortu-
nate chance.
How many deliveries DO YOU make q
day out here?" I asked, as he came UP
the steps with a bundle Of letters in
his hand-I could guess the belated
congratulations which were among
theml
"Only two-morning and afternoon"
he answered.
What tim in the morning?"
About 9 O'Clock. usually"
1T vas about that time this morn
ingY"
Eyes, sir: maybe 10 minutes after
nine"
WHO took the matl?"
II put 1t in the box here In the vesti-
bule. as I always DO" he said, and
suited the action to the word.
I watched him as he walked away.
So II had not been a letter which had
caused Miss L~awrence's sudden panic.
That reduced the possibilities to two.
Either she had received a visitor or a
telegram. I must endeavor TO-
A voice at my elbow aroused me.
Mrs. Lawrence wishes to see you,
sir" II said.
/ turned. to find standing beside me
the woman who had brought the note
to Mrs. Lawrence in the library-the
woman whose attitude of malignant
triumph had so startled me. l blessed
the chance which made it possible for
me to question her alone.
VERY WELL" I said. Are you Mrs.
Lawrence's maid?"
mo. sir; I'm Miss Marcia's maid"
"Ah!" I said, and permitted my
self to look at her more closely. She
was a woman apparently somewhat
over 80. She had very black hair and
| eyes, and her face, while not actually
repellent, had In It q certain fierce
ness and hardness far from attractive.
A. fiery and emotional nature was evil
dapf IN ovary lima pf if-a Sfntstar no
ture, too, It seemed to me-and l re-
membered her as I had seen her stand
ing in the library door, exulting I'm an
others misery. I pictured her as the
decorator had described her, sitting on
the stair, grinning and biting her nails
in a kind of Internal triumph. Why
should Miss Lawrence have chosen
such a woman to attend her? As
looked at her, ! saw the folly Of at
tempting to win her CONFERENCE.-THE
| whip was the only weapon that could
touch her-and 1t must be welded
mercilessly.
Mrs. Lawrence wishes TO see you"
she said again, and l fancied there was
defiance in the yes she turned upon
me for the merest instant.
TN a moment. Was It you who found
the note your mistress left for Mr..
Curtissf"
yves. sir" and she glanced at me
again, this time with a quick sus-
picion.
TT was on her dressing-table. I be-
lever"
Yes, sir"
How did you happen to find it?"
II just happened TO see 1t. sir"
TT was lying in plain sight?"
Yes, sir"
Not concealed In any way-nothing
lying over it?"
She hesitated an instant, and shot
me another quick glance before she
answered.
II believe not, sir" she said at last.
"Of course 1t wouldn't be concealed -
I said, seassuringly. Miss Lawrence
probably left II where she thought ii
would be NOSE quickly seen, don't you
think so?"
Yes, sir; I suppose So"
And her dressing-table was a very
conspicuous placer"
Yes, sir; very conspicuous"
In that case" I said slowly, III
seem most peculiar that the letter
wasn't discovered at once"
She flushed holly under my gaze and
opened her lips to reply. but thought
better of II and started hastily up the
stair. | followed her In silence; but /
had mgnrh to think about What ron