Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-10-06
truders. / don't wish you here. ! In

w. SSNS
sist that you leave"
I'm a moment" said Godfrey.
"At once!" she cried, flushing darkly
again. "Or Ill compel YOU to-" and
b made a motion toward the pillow
OF the bed.
"Oh, no, you won't, Miss Kingdom"
protested Godfrey easily. We won't
consent to be shot at any more to-
night. We have some business here.
and We're going to stay till It's com
pleted. Since you didn't hear h shot,
will you kindly tell us what II was
shall be glad to be Of service to you.
fear you're going to stand In need
Of us before long"
She hesitated, still looking at him;
but there was no resisting the stern
kindness Of his eyes. nor doubling that
his warning was in earnest.
II came home about half an hour
ago." she began. "or perhaps it's long
er than that
WAS your sister expecting your" !
NO; / a intended to stay with
Mrs. Lawrence all night. But I found
wasn't needed. and SO came home"
Tho side door was unlooked?"
Yes, and that surprised me for a
moment"
Was your sister here at the timer"
"She was in the yard-she came in
a moment later"
Godfrey and I exchanged a glance.
which Miss Kingdom intercepted.
Wasn't she IN the yard?" she de-
manded. What is this mystery"
Wei tell you in q moment" said
Godfrey; but please let us hear your
story first. You had been. o say,
at the Lawrence house?"
Yes; Mrs Lawrence has been very
nervous since Marcia disappeared. /
q been sitting with her until she
went to sleep. I met Mr.. Lester there
earlier in the evening" she added. and
cast me a half-mocking glance.
Yes, he told me-" said Godfrey.
He's been having an exciting time to-
night. Were you with Mrs. Lawrence
last night2"
Yes; spent the entire night with
her"
Again we exchanged a glance.
And 0 say that you expected to
stay there again tonight2"
Yes. but my sister hasn't been well
for the past two days. go. as soon as
Mrs. Lawrence fell asleep and / found
she wouldn't neod me. I hurried home.
I found Harriet very nervous n ak
cited. and finally persuaded her to take
a soothing draught and go to bed. /
was SO tired hat I fell asleep almost
at once. and l knew nothing more un-a
til I was awakened by what seemed to
be a kind OF drumming on the head
board
She stopped, s~huddering. We, too,
had heard that drummingi
Yes" said Godfrey. Your bed, I
see, Is backed against the closet paTti-
Tonight against 1t. It no doubt
makes a kind OF sounding-board."
II suppose that's 1t. / felt for Har-
riet and found she wasn't there. That
startled me wide awake. Again I heard
that drumming. and sprang out OF bed,
lighted the lamp, and rushed to the
closet to find that she mad"
The words ended in a sob, which she
tried In vain to repress. Godfrey BENT
again over the figure on the bed.
"She used what is evidently a cur
tain cord" he said. Don't look at her,
Miss Kingdom. The death is an easy
one, whatever 1t may appear"
But why did she do it2" demanded
Lucy Kingdom. Why should she get
up in the middle Of the night. like that,
and hang herself? What impulse
She stopped suddenly, regarding US
fixedly, her face livid, her eyes agleam.
1T was you'll" she cried hoarsely,
pointing an accusing finger-she heard
you in the cellar-you frightened her
you drove her to til"
That's nonsense, Miss Kingdom"
broke in Godfrey sternly, land you
know IT! How could we drive her to
suicide?"
"What was ii, then?' she demanded.
i've had enough Of this mystery"
Godfrey looked at her keenly.
You really don't known"
She shctk her head, staring muteIy
up at him, fascinated by the purpose
in his face
she was deeply devoted to Miss
Lawrence, wasn't she? 2"
Yes"
More devoted than your
A sudden flush overspread Lucy
Kingdoms face, giving place in a mo-
ment to deadly pallor.
Perhaps she admitted hoarsely.
But that had nothing to do with It.
| That was no reason!"
mo-" assented Godfrey; mot in tt
| self. But 1t was at the bottom OF tt
for 1t led to something totally unfore-
SEEN"
She shook hersek together.
You're speaking in riddles" she said.
TITS scarcely fair"
Pardon me" said Godfrey instant
Iy. Il don't want to be unfair. Come
with me and I'll show you the cause OF
this act. Bring the lamp, Lester"
Together we crossed the kitchen to
the door which gave entrance to the
| cellar stairs. 1t seemed to me that Miss
Kingdom shrank back a little as she
saw where we were taking her. But II
may have been only my fancy. Ger
tainly she followed promptly enough
| when Godfrey started down.
At the loot he paused.
you've not been down here for some
days, / take IT, Miss Kingdom" he
asked.
Continued Next Week,
A Famous Race.
From the Travel MaRaZina-