The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-10-12
CHAPTER xx-(continued)

have dragged him by his legsg
"She might have done anything, IN
her excitement" / persisted doggediy.
You cant reason about what a wo-
man would do under such circum-
stances"
Perhaps not" Godfrey admitted
but Haynes was struck with the ldea.
too, that Harriet Kingdom must have
had an accomplish. He believes, Oh
course that the accomplice was her
sister let him keep on oeiieving 81
she can clear herself easily enough
when the time comes; but just at pres
ent / want him to think he knows the
whole story
yes" / agreed, that's the best
keep the bomb from bursting as long
as you can"
Pm not keeping It from bursting:
but I can't explode it until l get 1t
properly charged. I see you're hoping
/ never WILL
mot with that charged" said fer
vently.
."Well, we won't talk about 1t now"
said Godfrey, smiling at my earnest.
ness. After the coroner had looked
over the ground and got his data, we
logged the body upstairs and examined
it, 1t was that OF a man of about 30,
well-preserved, but showing marks of
dissipation. The tip of the little finger on
his left hand was missing, as Clemly
had said. From his complexion, hair.
and general appearance. l should say
that he was undoubtedly an Italian.
I've already told you how he was
killed."
And you couldn't identify him?"
mo"
Nothing In his ciothes-no letter,
or anything Of that sort?"
mot a thing. There was some loose
money in the trousers pockets. knife,
q small comb. and a few other odds
and ends, but no watch nor pocket
book, nor papers. However, l believe
there had been. ! fancied that the in
side pocket Of the coat had been turned
out and then hastily showed in again.
One Of the vest buttons was unbuttoned
and the lower left hand pocket of the
vest certainly showed that watch had
been carried in it,"
you mean these things had been
removed2'
Il certainly do
But what was the motive Of it alp"
/ demanded. desperately.
Il don't know; l can't see clearly;
but I'm sure of one thing. and that is
that it will lead back to Marcia Law
renee"
Il don't believe it," 1 retorted. Il
don't"
The door opened and the clerk came
in.
Somebody wants you at the phone,
Mr.. Lester" he said; long distance"
and he led the way to the booth.
1t was Mr.. Royce and not until that
moment did l remember that my abb
sence from the office was unexplained.
II was a little worried at first" he
said in answer to my question. but
when l saw that special from Eliza
beth in the Record this morning,
began to understand, especially when
/ called up your landlady and found
you'd left the house in hurry last
night after getting a telegram"
Yes. 1t was from Godfrey"
Whats up? The clerk down there
told me this morning that you'd come
in about daybreak looking like you'd
been digging a sewer, and that po-
liceman was guarding you In your
room"
yes, was suspected of murder for
a while, but I'm not under guard any
longer. I'll get back to the office as
soon as I can"
"Oh, take your time--Tm getting
along fairly well. or course I've read
the papers--there's no connection be-
tween this affair and that other one,
is there Lester?"
Godfrey thinks so," I answered,
glancing around to make sure that the
door of the booth was securely closed.
HE thinks the dead man was Miss
LIS husband and half believes she
killed him."
could hear Mr. Royce's inarticulate
exclamation Of disgust and anger.
But OF course that's all moonshine,'
/ added. ~
"Moonshine! I should say so! Now,
Lester, want you to stay there till
you get this thing Strengthened out, il
only for Curtis sake. know you can
prove that any such theory as that is
all bosh."
'Pll try to-" answered him, and
hung up the receiver; but confess
that / was not at all sure of my ability
to accomplish the task.
AS ] left the booth. the clerk came
toward me.
There's a gentleman inquiring for
you. Mr.. Lester" he said. He was here
about noon for you. but wouldn't have
you disturbed. He's over here in the
parlor, waiting for you."
/ followed him to the door of the
| parlor
"This is Mr. Lester" he said to a
white haired old man who was pacing
| nervously up and down and left us
alone together
For moment did not recognize
him, then as he came forward into the
| clearer light, l found myself looking
! down into the fact of DR.. Schuyler.
MY dear Mr.. Lester" he said, ad-
vancing with outstretched hand, II
| hope you will pardon this intrusion"
Its not in the least an Intrusion
I said. honestly glad to see him.
THANK you. Let us sit down over
| here by the window. IL you will. i do
| not wish to run any risk Of being over
! heard" and he glanced about anxiously.
| AS / looked at him more closely, /
| saw that he was laboring under some
| deep trouble or anxiety. His face was
| pale and haggard and he fingered his
| glasses with a nervousness which ]
| knew was not habitual.
1.-The truth Of the matter is" he went
| on, that feel the need of advice-legal
| advice. / have friends here, OF course,
| to whom / could have gone; but i was
| told that you were interested In this
| case, and from what l saw of you the
| other evening. felt that l should like
| to lay my difficulty before you. 1t is.
| as / said, a purely legal question. or
should not have felt the need Of any
| earthly counsel"
l thanked him for his confidence and
begged him to continue.
"As / understand the law" he went
on, IAN insane person cannot be pun
| ished for a crime"
NO" / said. except by being con-
fined in an asylum until cured-and
even that Is largely discretionary"
And what. in law, Is considered in
sanity--what Is the test for it?''
inability to distinguish right from
wrong Is the usual test. No man IL
excused from responsibility for .