Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-10-06
CHAPTER XYIM.
a NEW TURN TO THE Py1zzrI

q NEW TURN TO THE PUZZLE.
How we got her down, I scarcely
know. l dimly remembered bringing
a chair for Godfrey and holding up the
body for a dreadful instant while he
severed the cord about the neck: but
my first clear recollection is OF her form
upon a bed in the adjoining room, with
Godfrey bending over her and Lucy
kingdom standing by with such a face
OF anguish n despair that, for the
lirst time since l had known her, /
found it in my heart to pity her.
She had snatched up some dark gar
ment and thrown it over her night
dress, and she stood looking down at
the imp form on the bed, with it's hid
eous, staring face, as though struck to
stone. All but her lips-they opened
and shut, drinking the air in gasps. and
Irom moment to moment she muttered
to herself, Il should have known! 1
should have known! 1 should have
known!"
At last Godfrey stood erect and
turned to her, and his face was very
tender.
TITS no USE" he said gently. Per
maps we'd better summon q physician:
but he can do nothing"
For a m she did not seem IN
understand; then she suddenly threw
her black hair out of her eyes and fell
on her knees beside the bed. She
caught n dead hand to her and fon-
died 1t and kissed 1t; while a great
wave OF sobbing swept over her.
i should have known!" she repeated.
I hould have known! 1t was my
fault"
I shuddered. Was 1t her fault? Had
she been false to Marcia Lawrence. and
her sister true, and was this the result
of that ~treachery2
At last she controlled herself and
stood erect, still quivering, but fairly
calm. And some of her old proud, dis
dainful spirit returned to her.
This gentleman I know" she said.
with a little gesture In my direction
after looking at is q moment. You"
she added to Godfrey. Il do not
know"
MY name is Godfrey" he answered.
Tn a friend OF Mr.. Testers"
And what are you doing here?"
Not until then did 1 think OF u
strange appearance, shoeless, covered
from head to foot with yellow clay.
spotted here and there with the blood
which had dripped from my wound
astonishing objects. truly, to burst in
upon a M in the middle OF the
night. Even Godfrey, ready In inyen-
ton as was ever the willy Ulysses.
found himself unable. for the momen
to explain.
81 suppose you were lurking about
the house" she went on, her face dark
ening with sudden anger; Mr.. Lester.
I know, has a fondness for doing that.
No doubt you're also an amateur de-
tective."
But Godfrey had got back his self
possession.
Something OF the kind" be admit
ted good humoredly. I'VE heard YOU
scream and rushed to your assistance"
You were very kind!' she sneered;
then her face changed. THE door was
locked" she said. Il locked II when /
came home. How did you get in?" She
glanced through the dining room and
saw that the oor was still closed.
1T wasn't locke at the time we en-
tered" explained Godfrey coolly. "But
that was nearly an hour ago. We were
not lurking about the house, Miss
Kingdom, when we heard you scream.
We were in the cellar"
He was watching her keenly. but she
showed no sign OF understanding.
Tn the CELLAR" she repeated, and
scanned our soiled clothes. What
were 0 doing there?"
I'VE were making some investiga-
tions." answered Godfrey composedly.
Your sister discovered us there and
took a shot at my friend here and
he pointed TO my bleeding hand.
Luckily her aim was bad. Didn't you
hear the shot?"
NO." she said. staring from one to
the other OF US. her anger and insol-
ence quite gone. IT heard no shot. I
was asleep I'm the bed here-the door
was closed. Why did she shoot at you?
Did she take you for b~urglars?"
NO." said Godfrey, II hardly think
she took us for burglars"
And yet you were burglars-she was
Justified In shooting"
mo doubt OF that Godfrey agreed.
I'VE took the chance. and ara not
complaining
You had no business In the cellar.
You have no business here. You're In