The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-10-05
CHAPTER XVIII.
A NEW TURN TO THE P1yzzI,E.

A NEW TURN TO THE PUZZLE.
HOW we got her down, L scarcely
know. l dimly remembered bringing
chair for Godfrey and holding up the
BODY for 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 Iucy
kingdom standing by with such face
or anguish and despair that, for the
f1rst time since l had known her, L
found 1t 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 limp FORM on the bed. with its hid
eous, staring face, as though struck to
stone. All but her lips-they opened
and shut. drinking the air in -asps, and
from moment to moment shc nuttered
10 herself, u should have !<nown! I
should have known! l should have
known"
AT last Godfrey stood erect and
turned to her, and his face was very
tender.
IT'S no use" he said gently. Per
haps we'd better summon a physician.
but he can do nothing"
For moment she did not seem to
understand; then she suddenly threw
her black hair out of her eyes and fell
on her knees beside the bed She
| caught one dead hand to her and fon-
died 1t and kissed 1t; while q great
wave of sobbing swept over her.
Il should have known!" she repeated,
Il should have known! 1t was my
fault
Ishuddered. Was it her fault? ?, Had
| she been false to Marcia Lawrence. and
her sister true, and was this the result
OF that treachery?
At last she controlled herself and
stood h,,t 60
| calm. And some of her old proud, dis
dainful spirit returned to her.
This gentleman / know" she said,
| with little gesture in my direction,
after looking at us a moment. You"
she added to Godfrey. Il do not
know"
my name is Godfrey" he answered.
I'm friend Of Mr.. Testers"
And what are you doing here?"
Not until then did I think of our
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 woman in the middle of the
night. Even Godfrey ready I'm inyen-
ton as was ever the willy Ulysses.
found himself unable. for the moment,
to explain.
II suppose you were lurking about
ening with sudden anger; mr. Lester,
I know. has a fondness for doing that.
No doubt you're also an amateur de-
Elective"
But Godfrey had got back his self
possession.
ted good humoredly. We heard you
scream and rushed TO your assistance"
You were very kind!" she sneered;
then her face changed. The door was
locked" she said. II locked ii when
came home. How did you get in?" She
glanced through the dining room and
saw that the door was still closed.
TT wasn't locked 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.
In the cellar" she repeated, 40
scanned our soiled clothes. 'Wht
were you doing there?"
I'VE were making some investiA y
| tions," answered Godfrey composcdM
| Your sister discovered us there az
took a shot at my friend here" ann
| he pointed to my bleeding han&
Luckily her aim was bad. Didn't y0(,
hear the shot?" "a So
mo-" she said, staring from Pne S<o
| the other of us. her anger andktnsSl&
ence quite gone. II heard no] lot.
was asleep in the bed here dof1
was closed. Why did she shoot XQ}
Did she take you for burglafs<
| NO" said Godfrey, II hardly TIM
she took us for burglars.,' "a reM
| And yet you were burgAr9<bhe was
| Justified In shooting" tT
"No doubt of that" Cooley agreed
I'VE took the chance, nd are not
complaining" xxfX x
you had no busin1egs in the cellar
You have no DusInss9 acre; You're In