Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-12-07

UuISl lTIepItSSlUly lIOul MOre tudu one
woman before him brought him to
himself. With a CHASTITY look on his
bloated features he scanned for one
moment the row of deeply shocked
faces before him. then tottered back
out of sight and fed toward the stair
case. All thought that an end had
come to the narrowing scene. and
minister and people faced each other
once more, when. loud and sharp from
above, there rang down the shrill cry
Of delirium. this time in articulate
words which even the children could
understand.
Break it open, I say! Break it open
and see if her heart is there!!'
1t was too awful. Men and women
and children leaped to their feet and
dashed away into the streets. uttering
smothered cries and wild calculations.
In vain the clergyman raised his voice
and bade them respect the dead. for
the rooms were well nigh empty be-
fore he had finished his appeal. Only
the least of the children remained.
Soon these. too. were gone, and the
casket was refastened and carried out
by the shrinking bearers, leaving in
those darkened rooms a trail Of DESC
lation which was only broken from
time to time by the now faint and
barely heard reiteration of the name
of her who had just been borne away.
Lila, Lila!"
Sweetwater. however affected by this
scene in the funeral chamber. had not
lost control Of himself nor forgotten the
claims of duty. He noted at a glance
whose lead he had been following was
as much surprised as the rest at the
nature of the interruption-which he
had possibly anticipated and for which
he was in some measure prepared-he
was of all present the most deeply and
peculiarly impressed by it.
Sweetwater took occasion likewise
while the excitement was at its height
to mark what effect had been made or
the servants by the action and conduct
Of young Cumberland.
1t was not so easy to determine as
the anxious detective might wish.
Only n of them showed a simple
any possibility of doubt, the cook. She
was a Roman Catholic and was sim
ply Mortified by the sacrilege Of which
she had been witness. There was no
installing her feelings. But those Of
the other two women were more COM
pick.
So were those Of the men. Zadok
specially watched each movement of
his young master with open distrust
and very nearly started upright in his
repugnance and dismay when that in
truding hand fell on the peaceful brow
of her over whose fate to his own sur
prise he had been able to shed tears.
And the women! Might not the
same explanation account for that Gu
rious droop Of the eye with which the
two younger clutched at each others
hands to keep from screaming and
interchanged whispered words which
Sweetwater would have given consid-
cradle out of his carefully cherished
hoard to have heard.
1t was impossible to tell at present,
but he was confident that it would
not be long before he understood
these latter at least. He had great
confidence in his success with women,
homely as he was. He was not SO
sure Of himself with men, and he felt
that some difficulties and not a few
pitfalls lay between him and, for in
stance. the uncommunicative Zadok.
"But I've the whole long evening be-
fore me-" he added in quiet ~consola-
ton to himself. "It will be a pity if
I can't work some of them in that
time"
Plans had been made for carrying
the servants to the cemetery, and.
despite the universal disturbance con
sequent upon these events. these plans
were adhered to. sweetwater watch
ed them all ride away in the last two
carriages.
This gave him the opportunity he
wanted. Leaving his corner, he look
ed up Hexford and asked who was
left in the house.
CDR. Perry. Mr.. Clifton, the lawyer:
MI. Cumberland. his sick sister and
the nurse"
"Mr. Cumberland! Didn't he go to
the grave?"
did you expect him to after that?"
Sweetwater's shoulders rose. and his
voice took on a tone of indifference.
"There's 10 telling. Where is he
now. do you think-upstairs?
Eyes. 1t seems he spends all his
time in a little alcove opposite his sis
ter's door. They won't let him inside
for fear of disturbing the patient, so
he just sits where I've told you, doing
nothing but listening to every sound
that comes through the door,"
where's his room? In sight Of the
alcove you mention?"
"No; there's a partition or two be-
tween. If you go up by the side stair
case you can slip into it without any
one seeing you. Coroner Perry and
MI. Clifton are in front"
SIS the side door locked?"
"No."
Lock it. The back door, of course.