The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-08-31
THAT AFFAIR AT
ELIZABETH 4. By ssss IS: ss;s:s:ea. =.

N = H0lIodty \
Now York-Hsnry Hon co-asM

IL seems incredible, doesn't II!
asked Godfrey, smiling at my bewild-
Incredible? Why, it's more than
that--it's--it's--I don't know any word
strong enough to describe it. Godfrey,
what. is this secret?' -
Il know what II isn't"
We'll. what isn't 1t, then?"
1T isn't about Curtiss. We've looked
into his life--I just got report from
pelaney-!and he's as straight as
And the. women?'
with the women it isn't so easy.
You see, they were in Europe for six
them. However. we're on their track,
and have hopes"
"Hopes?"
:"Of proving my theory the right one.
Depend upon 1t, Lester, there's either a
lover or a husband in the background
somewhere"
But again remember the photo.
graph.
"A lover. perhaps" admitted. "but
not husband, Godfrey. here's no
stain like that on sher-there's no stain
at all nnon shes + Is spotless-lu stake my
He was gazing at me curiously. :.
You seem mighty certain about it,"
he commented.
|, For an instant, had an impulse to
show him the photograph. But ]
stIffed It,.
II am certain" I answered lamely.
Certain your theory's all wrong"
Well, I'm going to stick to 1t tin i
find q better one."
Are you going to make 1t public?"
mo, not till we've something more
to back it, We've wired our European
correspondents TO look up the record
nh
Wen wait till we get reports from
them. which will be tomorrow or the
day after. Let's see IL we can find out
which way Miss Lawrence went last
night."i
We had reached the hotel. and, as
he spoke Godfrey turned into 1t.
The ticket agent boards here" he
said, land took care to make friends
with him. l thought perhaps he might
be able to help me. All, there he is
now. Wait a moment"
He hurried forward and intercepted
a we'll dressed man who was just
| leaving the office. saw them stop for
q moments low-toned conversation;
then Godfrey turned back towards me.
NO" he said, mo luck. Miss Law
renee bought no ticket at the station
| here last night. nor did either OF the
| from 8 till midnight. But he suggests
| a very simple way in which she could
| have escaped notice. had she wished
| She had merely to enter the train
without buying a ticket and pay her
fare. direct to the conductor Pm in
clined to think that's what she did
providing. of: course, that she left town
at ALL" ~:
II think SHE'S left" said; .and
that's no doubt the way she did it."
| Now, I'll have to say good bye" he
added. -. II don't think shall stay
here much longer-the case isn't worth
it.. Wien do,you go back?" ~
~ cont Know yet | answered
1--WE got 10 have something TO take to
Curtiss l can't go back empty rand
ed" -.
TN let YOU know IL hear anything"
he said. Our corresI ondent here will
be. on the lookout for Developments
| My sympathes are all with Curtiss /
WANG to help you."
| Thank YOU" said. Good bye"
| l watched him for moment, as he
| hurried down the street; then turned
back towards the Lawrence house. Yes.
Godfrey evidently wished to help me:
and yet. while, he had given me- lot
Of what he called Interesting informa-
ton" and had treated me to no-less-
interesting theory, he had only made
the mystery more impenetrabfe than
ever. y"
Beg narGon, sir" said voice, and
somebody ran into me.
| glanced up to see that 1t was a
pert Hooking boy, wearing a cap with
E"W. H." on-the front. We were just at
the Lawrence gate.
/ "All right" said. mo. harm done.
1 and entered.
Noe. til. was half way up the walk,
did 1t Occur 20 me that the boy had
probably come out Of the gate--that he,
had brought message-from whom
| I.ranE the bell and a girl admitted
me; but 1t was not Lucy Kingdom,
whom had hoped to see. She showed
me into the library, and took my card.
Il She must have met her mistress in the
i hall. for II was only a moment before
the rustic of approaching skirts an
nounced her. AS she entered, I noticed
with a quick leap Of the heart that she
j held crushed In her hand a sheet of
yellow paper.
Good morning. Mr.. Lester" she said
: quite composetiy, and it was evident
that she. had. entirely conquered the
agitation WHICH had racked her the
evening before. "Sit down, please, "
and she herself sank into a chair
1--WE been thinking over what you said
to me yesterday afternoon" she con
tinued, and l believe that you were
right. Mr. Curtiss unquestionabiy has
the right to know what IT Is That takes
his promised wife away from him, and
to decide IL he shall permit it to take
her away forever"
"Then it's not impossible that she
should be his wife?' questioned
quickly. Your. daughter was mis-
taken"
"She perhaps thought 1t impossible a,
first; but I don't see 1t so. She has
been moved, / should say, by SENSE
of faithfuIness to the dead. I don't
lthink-I can't think-that he will take
lit so seriously as she does. He vii
look at 1t from a mans point Of view;
! he won't shrink from II as she did: be-
sides, he'll see that II is no fault in her
that she's just as she always was
sweet, pure and lovable. She herself
will take II less seriously when she has
time to think II over"
: Yes" I agreed. striving to concea
from her the fact that / did not In the
least understand. mo doubt OF that
!. The first shock when she read the let
ter"
: THE letter." she broke in Which
. letter."
J But / thought you knew!".
II know nothing of any letter" she
, said, her face suddenly white.
Yesterday morning" l said. Just a:
Miss Lawrence was going upstairs after
looking at the decorations, a boy came
to the door with special delivery let
, ter from New York. 1t was ADDRESSED
| to her-marked Important, read a