Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-07-06
once" and without another word she sped
across the grass IN the direction of the

1 ddfcH l tell the girl myself, nut u
CHASTITY crime has been committed. Farm
err Talbot is murdered. He was found shot
through the back ten minutes ago. Go
now, my boy, and comfort tina poor girl
as best you may"
Leonard staggered forward a pace or
two, then without a word, broke away
from Sir Samuel and hurried off in the
direction Alice had taken.
About half way to Talbot's farm, Hor-
ton, the police sergeant of Cherry Linton.
came suddenly round a bend IN the road
and came fact to face with him.. Horton
looked white. either from exertion or ex-
element. and he halted in front of young
Chadwick.
Mi Chadwick. 1 AVE painful news for
you. III is my duty to arrest you on sus-
picion Of having shot Mr.. Talbot"
AS Leonard was about to speak. he
added quickly:
For Gods sake, sir, say nothing, or
whatever is said may be taken in evidence
agatnst you. Come quietly with me, and
may this shadow pass as quickly as II has
descended on you"
Outside the little rural police station a
crowd of villagers had already assembled.
and when Horton with his prisoner was
preparing to cross the threshold, a woman,
pale as death. broke from among their
ranks. With eyes glazed with horror. she
gave one anguished glance at Horizons
prisoner, murmuring:
Leonard, Leonard. how could you have
done this:" She then tottcred forward and
fell in q dead faint at his feet.
The case as II stood for the prosecution
was perfect when Leonard Chadwick was
formally committed for trial AT the next
ass;zes. MOI a single link I'm the chain of
evidence was missing to brand him as the
author of the crime.
A witness had sworn on oath that at
1850 to the minute on the morning OF May
Is he mad seen from the o tne deceased
and accused together engaged in what
seemed to be- q violent alteration just in
side the drive leading to Talbot's farm.
W other important witnesses deposed
to seeing from the same position at about
1918 q prostrate body lying across the
drive.
Climbing over the gate. they were
shocked to find 1t was Farmer Talbot him
self bleeding p~rofusely from a gunshot
wound in the back. Bending over and en-
deavoring to lend him every aid. they dis
Of Leonard Chadwick" Before further as
sistance could be procured life had be-
come extinct.
The medical evidence went to show that
the fatal injury had been caused by a
partly spent Martini-Henry rife bullet.
which had entered the center of the back,
and finally lodged in the upper regions of
SAAN - - "6o L0I SbAC
to ave been se~lf-infiicted
There was no direct evidence whatever
In connection with the crime. 1t was pure
ly circumstantial. No one actually raw 1t
committed. yet not the slightest doubt ex-
listed in any ones mind that Chadwick
was the murderer.
There was the quarrel for the motive,
the startling. discriminating admission of
the dying man. the poignant fact that
Chadwick's was the only rifle of that par-
ticular make able to be traced in Cherry
Linton.
The day he was committed for trial she
left the court house. her eyes burning
with an unnatural brtlliance. She was
convinced that he was falsely accused.
and thercupon determined to move heaven
and earth itself to prove it.
The fact that she was only a frail w0-
man did not deter her In the least, the
cncrmity of the difficult task had no ter
ror for her. She undertook to u%nravel, I'M
aided, a mystery hat would nave taxed
the powers OF the keenest and most exper-
fenced detective.
For two whole days she wandered up
and down the route Leonard had traversed
on the day of the tragedy. examining
every inch of the ground, In the dim hope
of discovering a clew that would lead to
the real truth. But no success attended
her efforts.
go GAAS AAAOA ASstA5 VI NAlS III Noy GA kAS0
suddenly occurred to her, and her heart
began to beat with a new found hope. To-
day was Saturday. 1t was only q tiny
glimmer-a chance in a million of 1t ever
leading to a correct solution. but 1t be-
came indelibly imprinted In her mind and
she would see it through.
She accordingly made her way to the
place where her ather's body had been
found, and seating herself on a rustic
bench in u little alcove AUDITING on the
carriage drive. took up her curious vigil.
Straight In front several fields stretched
for two miles. terminating at the richly
wooded estate of Sir Samuel Barnes. Ac-
cordfng to the evidence that had been
forthcoming. Leonard. 1t was suggested.
must have fired the shot from some posi-
ton In these fields and then walked across
to the left, and 30 regained the road the
led directly to the gate where she met aim
on that fatal day. So that actually the
firing point of the new range was to the
extreme left of where she was sitting, and
the targets far distant to the right.
Straining her ears and laboring under
strong mental excitement. she was at last
rewarded. She distinctly heard the sound
Of distant firing. Shooting had commenced
at Sir Samuel's. as was customary every
Saturday at noon.
Alice left her seat and swiftly ran along
the drive, fully conscious Of the fact that
II her idea were correct she was running a
great danger, and perhaps her own life
would pay the forfeit. Now and then she
stopped and bent low over the ground,
watching and waiting for a sign. Would
1t never come?
At last, just as she was beginning to de-
spair. something Kissed quite close to her
and crashed into the bark of an oak tree
by her side.
With a scream of triumph she lung her
self on her hands and knpeS and o1Naal,,
examined a small hole hat had been bored
in the tree. She then fumned To her feat