The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-09-07
CHAPTER xIlI-(Continued).

tiss at once and the rest would be in
his, hands. My connection with the
case would end. And yet, it was not
without a certain regret that would
irelinquish it--for had hot: solved the
mystery; that was. IL anything. more
lmpenetrable than when l mad first APP
preached 1t. Godfreys specious theory
which l had myself at first believed
Il put aside, for, even from the broken
sentences which had ifallen from Mrs.
Lawrence's lips, could see that 1t
was not the right one. If Marcia Law
renee had fed in order to protect the
memory of the dead, there could be
no question. Of q living husband. But
though l rejected that explanation,
| 1t was evident that with the data at
hand, l. could form no adequate. one
to replace II.
1 went over In my mind every phase
Of the affair from first to last; en-
deavored to sift out the significant IN
cidents and to reject the immaterial;
| tried to weld them into a compact
mass, but they would not be welded.
There was nothing to connect them,
no common thread upon. which they
could be strung; all that / had in my
possession was a bundle Of facts which
seemed to be fatty self contradictory.
| remembered Mrs. Lawrence's as
tonishment when l had mentioned the
existence of the letter. What had she
said? II thought 1t was that woman!"
Which woman? Evidently the elder
Kingdom, since she had at once sent
for her. That had been my suspicion
that 1t was she or her sister who
had betrayed the secret. Yet the let
ter would seem to prove that II was
some one else. And 1t struck me as
significant that at no time had Mrs.
| Lawrence appeared to suspect the
maid. 80.
| Was there really any connection,
! wondered, between that old tragedy
In Mrs. Lawrence's life and this in the
life of her daughter?'.I reviewed again
the story DIR. Schuyler had told me.
How the lives Of the Endicotts and
the Kingdoms. and the Lawrences had
linterwined. got out my notebook and
sketched "a rough table showing their
| relationship.
AS / gazed down at this, two names
seemed to stand out more wildly
than all the rest. ! closed my eyes
and called before me the faces Of two
either of them In the life-of one,
had only a photograph; Of the other
| l had seen only crude portrait in
the parlor of the Kingdom cottage
but they had somehow assumed for
me personalities distinct and vivid
Marcia Lawrence and Ruth Endicott
the tragedy of fate linked them to-
gether. Beautiful, young. accomplished
reared amid gentle surroundings, both
had tasted the bitterness of life. From
the very house whence Marcia Law
renee fed. Ruth Endicott had started
on her hopeless search for health.
The train slowed up for Jersey City
and in moment was rolling under the
great shed. Twenty minutes later
1 y
| had gone out for lunch--which re-
minded me that Il had missed mine
again-but he came in almost imne-
| 1iately. =:
"Well?"- he cried, as he crossed the
threshold and came forward with ex-
pectant face.
You'd better wire Curtiss to come
back" said.
| you've news for him." ~.
| / nodded.
Il knew you'd have" he said ex-
ultantly, and drew pad Of telegraph
forms toward him and wrote a rapid
message. "Curtiss is staying at lit
tie place on Jamaica bay. He was
! afraid to go any farther away sup
pose. He ought to be here In an hour y
he added, and called boy and gave
1 him the message.
| Then he swung around to me again
'"Now, let's have the story" he
prompted. Il know there's a story"
Yes" I said; there's a story.
was just" -
The door burst open with a crash
and in came Burr Curtiss himself
II couldn't stay away any longer"
he cried. II was eating my heart out
Have you any news?"
| sit down, .,Curtiss, and pull your
self together" interposed our, junior
catching him by the arm. "This won't
Il 4.aEf ira %. "
must have met the boy.
| Il believe did knock over young
ster just outside the door.
well, there's no damage done,
guess. Since you're here, Lester, you
Can go right ahead with the. story"
| But one thing first" Interrupted
our client. Did you find out where
she went, Mr.. Lester?"
| NO." l answered. But I have. q
message from her."
THANK God" he murmured and
sank back In his chair. Il guessedi what
his fear had been-that Marcia law
renee was no longer among the liv-
| ing.
Looking at him closely was
| shocked at" the change a single day
mad wrought in, him.. His eyes, were
| bloodshot from want Of sleep, his face
pale and drawn, his hair and beard
unkempr. In a word, no had ceased
to be the handsome well groomed mar
F, the world knew as Burr .Curtiss.
+" related my doings briefly, includ-
ing only the essential points. Then
placed the message in hts ,hands. He
| read t., his face quivering.
But this tells us nothing" he said
hoarsely, cooking up at me with piteous
eyes. . -
Except that she was In New York
| this morning-and wants, to fight. hel
battle out. by herself"
| Curtiss was on his feet, his face livid
But she shan't fight II out by her
SELF" he cried. do you think I'm such
| a coward as that-to stand back, moi
offering to help?"
Perhaps you can't help" 1 inter-
Don't talk nonsense" he retorted
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Les
| ter, but Pm overwrought-I cam,
choose my words. Eut tits nonsense
love her-of course can help Don't
you see, it's not herself she's thinking
| dishes trying to spare me-"
I nodded. Perhaps it was for his
| sake that Marcia Lawrence had taken
that wild step. That would be like a
woman.
"You may be right" I said. "Td
| never thought of that solution. but Mrs
Lawrence's last words to me would
| seem to point that way. She said tina,
] the matter would rest in your hands
| that II would be for you to choose. after
| you'd heard the story"
| at don't W. IN haor