Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-09-08
CHAPTER xI-(Continued).

Knocked at the DOR in the middle OF
the night"
YES" I admitted, fascinated by her
burning gaze, 'it was l."
why did you do that7"
ST don't exactly know" I answered
lamely, not daring to tell the truth. Il
was passing the house n saw a
light"
"Where?" she demanded. her face
contracting in a quick spasm
Tn the window yonder." and ! heard
her deep breath Of relief. II thought
perhaps It was Miss Lawrence"
"It was l." she said, and l saw she
was visibly forcing herself to go on.
81 had been putting away some fruit
In the cellar. Your knock at that hour
startled me-"
quite naturally" I assented. Il won
der ct myself now for knocking"
"How did you happen to be passing
the house at that timer" she asked sud-
denly.
I'D been awakened by a bad dream
and found / couldn't go to sleep again.
SO decided to walk a little. / walked
In this direction, / suppose, because l
was thinking about Miss Lawrence"
She was looking at me keenly, but
saw that 1 spoke the truth and again
gave a quick sigh Of relief.
Miss Lawrence was not here then7'
j QUESTIONED, uSClQll5 " pSSOiiiS tiS
inQuisitor in my turn.
ooh, no; she had left several hours
earlier. l was lion in the house
which rendered your knock all the more
| disuuieting. My sister remained with
Mrs. Lawrence last night and she
rose to Indicate that my audience was
at al end.
/ rose somewhat reluctantly. / felt
that she could tell me so much more,
% che urnrrl1 It uyaS ~nrOVOkinR TO be
| go near success, and yet not to succeed.
'Tm sorry / said, that you refuse
10 tell me where Miss Lawrence mas
gone. I don't believe you're acting
wisely-nor is she in running away.
She should be brave enough to stay and
face Mr.. Curtiss. He has a right
"There are others who have rights
she cried, her self control suddenly
deserving her. There are others who
have waived their rights, and torn
their hearts, and withered In silence"
She stopped abruptly, and | saw the
tremor which swept through her as she
controlled herself.
THAT is an" she said more calmly,
but with working face. Your parrot
like talk for Mr. Curtiss' rights pro-
voked me-" and she moved toward the
door.
L paused for q last glance at the
portrait, and again l was struck by It's
| likeness 10 some one L SllcW'
THAT is q most remarkable picture
7 said. 9Th person who painted 1t
seems TO have been clumsy enough,
and yet there is something vital and
| ,bewitching about ii"
There was a signature scrawled in
one corner, and l bent closer to de-
cipher it.
"It was painted by a cousin OF mine"
said Miss Kingdom indifrerently.
And suddenly the scrawl became in
t~elligible.
ruth Endicott' 1 read, with a
quick glow of interest.
what do you know Of herr she de-
manded, looking at me sharply.
Nothing" | answered, as inditEer~
emily as | could. only, should be
interested to know how she developed.
She seems to have had great talent"
THAT was the last picture she ever
panied" said Miss Kingdom shortly;
then ner eyes famed suddenly and he
face darkened, as she stepped close to
the portrait and stared at it. she was
beautiful-beautiful!" she murmured
hoarsely, and l knew that Ruth Endi-
colts last painting had been a portrait
of herself.
And yet It was scarcely a portrait
either, for the features were barely
indicated. But. gazing at it, one saw
q woman there--a woman real and
yital-and knew instinctively that she
was beautiful. 1t was what / sup
pose would be called an impression
istic picture, but 1t deferred from most
impressionistic pictures in showing
Imagination In the artist instead of
demanding 1t from the observer.
But why should that pictured face
seem SO familiar? Not in lineament,
but in poise and expression 1t recalled
some one vividly. There was no
doubling the resemblance, but grope
in my memory as l might, a could not
place II.
When you are quite ready" said
Miss Kingdom, in a voice quivering
with impatience. I shall be glad TO
show you out"
/ turned to n her glazing at me
almost like a beast at bay. With an
imperious gesture, which checked on
my lips any questions I would have
asked, she led the way out into the
hall.
You are at liberty to search the
house." she said coldly, intercepting
the glance / shot about me, IF you
doubt my statement that Miss Law
renee is pr longer here"
The thought flashed through my
mind that would welcome a chance
to take a look into the cellar, and In
spect the fruit which 1t had taken
hours to arrange. but I did not dare
suggest II.
mo" I protested; II believe you"
and in another moment I was IN the
street.
Godfrey was awaiting me.
Weir" he asked.
Not therO," I said.
but abe was there?"
YES; 1t was there she took refuge
you were right about that; but she
left late last night. / don't know how
or where. Miss Kingdom refused tc
tell me-"
He pondered this an instant with
half closed eyes.
'I don't think she can slip through
our fingers" he said. at last. Every
one about here know her."
III she took the train" I suggested
"the agent may remember.
YES" he agreed. And by the way
he added suddenly, 1T was a letter
which caused all this trouble"
"A letter."
Eyes; a special delivery letter. II
wan delivered at 11:15 o'clock yester-
day morning. The boy mounted the
steps and was going TO ring the bell
when Miss Lawrence herself. who was
Just starting up the stairs, saw him
ard came to the door, which was open