Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-10-19

lived.'
"He'd never been here before, them"
Evidently not. And he didn't know
the kingdoms address until he got
here"
No. agreed Godfrey; mo. Well.
you've evidently done everything that
could be done. Mr.. Haynes. Perhaps
something more will come ont at the
inquest. 1t opens at 10 O'Clock. doesn't
it,"
Yes; here are YOU subpoenas," and
ne handed us each II paper.
Very WE'LL" said Godfrey. WEN
be present. OF course. Where will it
be heidi
II thought it best to hold it right
here answered Haynes. Il want the
jury TO be on the scene"
But Won't it disturb Miss King
dom"
Not at all. There's Il large front
room Which will answer ~nicely-and
III have the police keep everybody out
VINO hasn't some business there. Here's
Inc room.' and he opened Il door and
led the way into the room beyond.
1T was the one into which Miss King
don had shown me on the morning of
my memorable interview With her, and
lhvoluntarily my eyes sought the por-
trait ON the wall opposite the front
windows. 1t was still there-as al
Turing. astonishing. compelling as ever.
Indeed. as l gazcd at it now it seemed
even more striking than it had when
l saw it first.
Look at that" 1 said, turning 10
Godfrey. but there was no need for
me to call his attention to the por-
trait. He had already seen it, and was
gazing at it in rapt admiration.
Whose is it?" he demanded at last.
WHO painted lt""
l pointed to the name scrawled i'm
the corner.
Ruth Endicott,'" he read slowly.
Well. and who was she?'
That's her portrait 1 said. "Does
1t remind o OF any ne""
He looked at it for a in
silence: then he shook his head.
NO, l can't say that it does. But
who was Ruth Endicott?'
Nobody in particulars distant rel.
atlve OF the K~ingdons?"
Godfrey gazed at me sceptically.
"Really?" he asked.
Really. This was the last picture
she patnted-of herself. You see how
crude 1t is
"Crude-yes: but it's got power, Les
ter. The wonan's there, somehow.
looking right out of the canvas. Did
she de-"
Yes; 30 years ago." and 1 told him
the little knew of Ruth Endicott and
her history.
He listened without comment. his
eye still on the h%ewitching face gaz-
ing down from the wall at us.
Well. it beats me-" was his only
remark when I had ended, and with
y visible effort he tore himself away
from the portrait. and turned to the
oroner. who had been waiting pa
tiently until our inspection of the
painting was ended. Us this where the
inquest will be held?'
Yes. sir: IN have some chairs
hrntr fn II vryp.pk N--A ----- p---
IN have to adjourn it, of course, un-
til Miss Kingdom can give her testi-
mony.'
Godfrey nodded.
Yes. you'll have to do that. Well,
you may depend Upon us-but 1 doubt
II our evidence will go very far toward
solving the mystery"
II the town had been glowing the
night before over the disappearance Of
Marcia Lawrence. it was fairly blaz-
ing now over this new mystery. In
fact. the one had quite eclipsed the
other. and l was nightly relieved to
find that no one suspected any relation
between them. I bought copies of both
the local papers and observed again
their prodigal use of black type and
exclamation points. Eac of them de-
voted the whole front page to the case,
without, however. throwing any new
light upon 1t. On another page, one
of them stated in a few lines that
nothing further had Deer heard from
Miss Lawrence: the other contained
no reference whatever to the Law
renee affair. n had apparently for
gotten all abou 1t.
Could any good come of reviving it?
Why need DR.. Schuyler interfere at
all? If it vas Marcia Lawrence who
was insane. the law could not touch
her. whatever she had done. Harriet
Kingdom was dead. and the obloquy
OF the crime could do her no injury.
Resides. whoever had fired the shot
Then. suddenly, I remembered the
revolver. That was going to prove an
awkward piece Of evidence. Godfrey
a suspected instantly who it's owner
was; and he certainly would permit
no sentimental considerations to inter-
fere with placing the whole truth be-
fore the public.
But perhaps I was mistaken. after
all. Granted h a Marcia Lawrence
q been subject to spells Of derange-
ment. that was nj proof that she had
committed the crime. It might be. In
| deed. that that very infirmity was the
cause of her flight. She may have be-
lieved herself cured and accepted Cur
tiss in good faith. only to discover at
the last ONE that she was no
| cured; or the impulse to fight may
have seized her during a sudden aber-
ration caused by the excitement of her
kindred was. as I knew, one of the
most COMMON symptoms Of such de-
rangement. Was this the key to the
mystery? Was this the explanation Of
her flight?
It was with my mind in this tumult
that I approached DR.. Schuyler's house
that evening n rang the bell. He