Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-12-14
CHAPTER x.
HELEN SURPRISES swEETwATEp

@&HE servants returning from the
funeral drove up just as
Sweetwater reached the lower
floor. He was at the side door
when they came in. and a single
glance convinced him that all had
gone off decorously at the grave and
that nothing further had occurred dur
ing their absence to disturb them.
he followed them as they filed away
into the kitchen and. waiting till the
men had gone about their work. turn
ed his attention to the girls, who
stood about very much as if they did
not know just what to do with them
selves.
"Sit, ladies'" said he, drawing up
chairs quite as if he were doing the
honors of the house. You're all up
set, you are, by what Mr.. Cumberland
said in such an unbecoming way at
the funeral. He'd like to strangle Mr..
Ranelagh! Why couldn't he wait for
the sheriff? It looks as if that gen
tleman would have the job, all right"
"Oh, don't!" walled out one Of the
girls. the impressionable. warm heart
ed Maggie. 1.-THE horrors Of this
house will kill me. I can't stand it a
minute longer. I'll go-In go to-mor-
row.
"You won't; you're too kind hearted
to leave Mr.. Cumberland and his sis
ter in their desperate trouble" Sweet
water put in, with a decision as sug-
gestive Of admiration as he dared to
assume.
Her eyes filed. and she said no
more. Sweetwater shifted his atten-
ton to Helen. Working around by
her side. he managed to drop these
words into her ear:
"She talks most. but she doesn't feel
her responsibilities any more than you
do. I've had my experience with wo-
men. and you're Of the sort that
stays"
She rolled her eyes toward him in a
slow, surprised way that would have
abashed most men.
II don't know your name or your
business here" said she, ''but l do
know that you take a good deal upon
yourself when you say what l shall
do or shan't do. I don't ever know
myself"
With the most innocent air in the
world he launched forth in a TRADE
against the man then in custody, as
though his guilt were an accepted fact
and nothing but the formalities Of the
law stood between him and his final
doom. 1T must make you all feel
queer" he wound up. Ito think you
have waited on him and seer him
tramping about these rooms for months
just as if he had no wicked feelings
in his heart and meant to marry Miss
Cumberland-not to kill her."
:" 'Oh. OH" Maggie sobbed out. And
a perfect gentleman he was too. l
can't believe no bad Of him. He was
not like Her breath caught and so
suddenly that Sweetwater was always
convinced that the more cautious Helen
had twitched her by her skirt. Like
like other gentlemen who came here.
It was a kind word he had or q smile.
II She made no attempt to finish,
but bounded to her feet, pulling up
the more sedate Helen with her. Lets
CO." she whispered. I'm afeared of
the man"
The other yielded and began to cross
the floor behind the impetuous Mag.
gle.
Sweetwater summoned up his cour.
age.
Zone moment" he prayed. Twill
you not tell me before you go whether
the candlestick l have noticed ON the
dining room manteI is not n of a
pair?"
Eyes: there ere two-once," said
Helen. resisting Maggie's effort to drag
her out through the open door.
"once." smiled Sweetwater; .'by
which you mean three days ago"