The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-10-26

I babe Godfrey goodbye. and took .
weary in body and spirit. But a bath
and dinner improved both. and at 8
o'clock was ringing at Mr.. Roycs's
door, for knew how anxious he would
be to hesr my story. and besides, I
owed him some reparation for leaving
him alone at the office.
He opened the door himself, and his
face frightened at sight Of me.
why, Lester!' he cried. and shook
hands warmly. Come In. I'm mighty
glad to see you."
II thought you'd like to hear about
It," I said.
! "o Or. course 7; ! shall. 1t was like you
II wanted to talk it over with you.
It may help to etraighten things out.
! was afraid there wouldn't be time at
the office"
1--WE are rushed there and that's
fact. Suppose we go up to
there. Though" he added, as he led
the way up the stair. I'VE. could do
that anywhere tonight. I'm keeping
bachelor hall. That affair at Eliza
beth so upset my wife that she's gone
away to the mountains to get braced:
up. Here we are."' and he threw open
a door.
| 1T was d CHEEKY room, where he had
gathered together the impedimentai
which had marked his progress
through bachelordom, mementoes of
his college days and such other pos
sessions as were peculiarly his.
Now" he said, when We were set
tied. lets have the story. OF course
I've read the papers. but I hope you
SO I told 1t step by step, while he
listened silently. save for an OCCASION
l. al exclamation of establishment.
Its the most remarkable thing
| ever heard" he said, when I had fin
ished. IT don't wonder that you be-
nection with the Lawrence affair.""
1T was certainly a remarkable COIN
cidence that they should happen to-
| gether as they did"
And the first affair is as deep a
mystery as ever"
Godfrey says it's deeper than ever.
I showed him Miss Lawrence's photo
| graph as we came in on the train to-
gether. and after he'd. looked at 1t, he
| said it was the strangest puzzle he'd
ever encountered. It's absolutely upex-
| plainable."
Mr.. Royce smoked for moment in
| silence.
"Of course there must be some ex-
| planation," he said. land an adeQua te
| one. Marcia Lawrence wouldn't have
run away without good and sufficient
reason"
mo-" agreed. "but there's one
thing Observation-Disclosures the reason, 1t
isn't Of nature to render the mar
riage impossible. She was probably
overwrought when she wrote that note
to Curtiss-something had upset her so
suddenly and completely that she
couldn't see clearly"
| How do you know that2"
| Don't YOU remember her mothers
last, words to me? She said it would
be for Curtiss to decide"
| Yes. remember. And / think
there's no Question as to what his de-
mo" I agreed. Most men would
be glad: to get Marcia Lawrence upon
any terms"
mot Curtiss-but then he's desper-
| ately in love. Maybe he'll be willing
to recede a shade or two from his
| IDEAL -
"He won't. have to recede," I assert
ed confidently. She's spotless, what
ever the secret"
II hope so." agreed our junior slow
ly. "Well, they'll have to fight it out
together when they meet on the other
side. If were Curtiss. I'd be mighty
shaky about that meeting"
| ''And Il. OF c5urse.".I added, 1.-The
| whole mystery hinges. on that letter
from New York. Godfrey imagined he
knew the contents, but the event
showed how wide he was Of the mark.
He had a theory that the letter was
written by a dtsreputable, Matchmaking
| husband Of the girl. whom she'd be-
levcd dead. That was his theory from
the first-the only possible explanation,
he called 1t. Then. when he found
| that picturesque stranger had asked
| the way to the Kingdom cottage he
| Immediately concluded that the letter
| had appointed a rendezvous, and that
Miss Lawrence had kept it. All of
which was afterward shown to be mere
| moonshine.' ,.- -.
mot the first part of it," Mr.. Royce
objected. There's been nothing to dis
prove that
"Nor anything to prove it,"
| "True-but 1t has certain specious-
| ness" ::
| "Yes--all Of Godfrey's theories have
| that. Do you remember what a perfect
one he built up in the Holiday case,
! and how IL fell to pieces? Well,
believe this. is wilder yet. A look at
Miss Lawrence's face will show you
she hasn't any past of that kind. God
| frey himself admits that now"
| My companion ran his fingers saw
| agely through his hair.
| <routtcual Naxt UaaL