Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-10-06
CHAPTER XVII.
. TRAGEDY UNFORESEEN.

"NsAe akANS oSsSSS NAA<.
Is a 1000 times worse than / imagined!
Here, Lester, hold the light. III un-
the face" n thrusting the torch
into my hands, he attacked the loose
earth at the other end Of the grave.
], too, moved somehow to the other
end. and threw the light down into the
shallow hole. Godfrey worked with
desperate energy, hurting the dirt right
n left l watched the flying hands
in such an agony Of horror as i hope
never again to experience; stared down
into the deepening hole, with the cold
sweat starting out across my forehead
at the thought of what any instant
might reveal.
Again Godfrey dropped to his knees,
and l was conscious Of a face growing
beneath his hands, almost as If he were
calling it out Of the darkness. Clearer
and clearer it grew, as he brushed
away the clinging clay; then he stood
erect with a little sigh Of mingled hor-
ror and satisfaction.
Staring up at us was a face-not a
woman'S face-not Marcie Lawrence's
face-but a mans face, ford, heavy
JoWled, with a black mouStache; dead,
yet not calm in death, but contorted by
q hideous g%rimace, as though c~huckling
with satisfaction.
Miss Lawrence may, indeed, have
sailed on the Umbria," murmured God
frey, after q moments silent contsm-
plation OF the CHASTITY countenance.
She had every reason to fiee-to the
earth's end, If possible. For she left
her husband herel"
] could find no word to answer; my
throat was dry, contracted; / felt that
I was s%uffocating. So this was the
secreti Nc wonder we had not guessed
it!
"One can easily build up the story"
went OF Godfrey, In a voice carefully
lowered. She came here called by the
note, desperate, ready for anything
ready ever to kill the devil who'd writ
ten it. Fol- he was a devil, Lester
look at his face!"
1t was in truth, repellant enough
doubly r~epellant now with that trium-
plant leer upon it-coid and hard, with
cruel lines about the mouth; a bloated
face, too, marked by dissipation and
bestiality. l suddered at the thought
that Marcia Lawrence may have once
been IN his power-that he had tried
to drag her down from her sweet girl
ish innocence
He deserved it," said hoarsely.
II deserved it-and more!"
Yes" agreed Godfrey. mo doubt he
did. If she was ever in his hands. she
must have suffered the torments of
hell"
He fell silent a moment, staring down
at the face.
But / n understand" I burst out,
forgetting for a moment to lower my
voice; i can't understand"
Godfrey laid his hand sternly upon
my lips.
Neither do l." he said; but don't
shout like that"
The words recalled me suddenly to
a sense of our danger.
we better oct p,lt nP tHfc - ,rl,;.
pered.
"Yes-and as soon as we car. Well
have to call in the police. Besides"
he added grimly, I've got to get off
the story and it's getting late."
The story I echoed, suddenly sick
at heart.
80 far as 1 know it, Lester. There
be no doubt about this body, /
s~uppose?"
A curious sound behind me, as of
a dog painting for breath, sent a sud
den chill through me. / raised the
torch and sent a beam of light
sweeping about the cellar. 1t rest
Cd for an instant on a face peering
at US around a corner Of the wall-a
face so distorted, so demoniac, that 1t
seemed scarcely human. Then there
was a flash Of fame, a report, and
the torch crashed from my hand,
while a gust of acrid smoke whirIed
into my face.
I felt Godfrey clutch me and pull
me down beside him into the half
filled grave; | even fancied that I
touched the staring face which lay
there. In an agony of horror 1
struggled to free myself, to stand
erect, ready TO bravo any danger
rather than that, but he held me fast.
STEADY, Lester, steady" he
1rpn hnr md I lnnuv +Iot - IN
his revolver in his hand.
Don't do that" / gasped. Don't
do that! You've no right to dc that!"
Il have The right to defend myself"
retorted Godfrey grimly, and waited,
his muscles tense.
But she did not fire again. Instead.
there was a long, unbroken silence,
during which, 1t seemed to me I could
feel my hair whitening on my head. I
also became conscious of a singing
numbness in my right hand. Minute
after minute passed, and still no
sound came from the outer cellar. 1
felt hat If the silence endured a
moment longer, ] should Shrek aloud.
Lie still" whispered Godfrey, at
last. "and I'll try to find the torch.
Did she hit you?"
My hand feels numb"
Let me See" and l felt his fingers
touching it softly here and there. TITS
Just a scratch, | think. But wait till
I find the torch"
I heard him cropping about for IT;
then for a time all was still again.
Suddenly, from an angle of the wall,
a shaft Of light shot about the cellar.
1t was empty.
"All right, Lester said Godfrey's
voice. Lets have a look at the
hand
I got up unsteadily and went TO
him. A moments examination showed
that my wound was indeed only a
scratch. The bullet had grazed the
back OF the hand and struck the wrist
bone a CHANGING blow.
We'll have II dressed as soon as
we cam" said Godfrey. And now the
next thing is to get out of this place
alive. Our enemy is probably lying
In wait for us with a loaded gun at
the top of the stairs. BY the way, I
caught only the merest glimpse OF the
face. Did you recognize itT"
Yes" ! said; 1T was the elder
Miss Kingdom"
Godfrey gave q little whistle.
TT looked positively devilsh," he
said. 1T gave me the worst scare