Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-09-21
CHAPTER XIV.
A BATTLE OF WITS.

A BATTLE OF WITS.
saw the swift spasm of hatred
whlch crossed ner face, as she recog-
nlzed me: I even fancied that her An
ger tlghtened c%onvulsively upon the
trigger, and I braced myself for the
shock. But she did not fire. Instead,
she lowered her pistol with q grim
little laugh.
looking at mo. her lips curving ma
liciously.
Yes" 1 answered. who did you
think it VASE"
oh. don't know. A burglar, per-
haps."
You seem to have been prepared for
him."
II always carry this pistol when 1
so back and forth through the grounds
at night"
And know how to use 1t, 1 dare
say"
self" NA0 NY
Tn sure Of it. Do you often go
back and forth at night"
cts sometimes late when / get
through here"
But this time." I pointed out, you
weren't leaving the house-you were
returning to It."
is that any of our business" III
asked. her ewes beginning to CLEAN.
Perhaps not" l admitted.
And yet you're capable of making
a mystery out Of it." she sneered.
Let me relieve our mind-I'm stay
ing with Mrs. Lawrence. She sleeps
padiy and wishes me near her"
And your exits and entrances are,
suppose, usually by the window"
It's the most convenient way"
MIRO In oA <1~n~rp< 4Aa~1A 49,
to your leaving 1t open?"
II don't leave it OPEN"
You did just now"
she locked at me a m without
replying. then laughed a short, little
laugh of mingled amusement and vex-
alton.
TN leave you to puzzle It out. I
think" she said. You're 80 ingenious.
you'll surely hit upon the explanation.
scarcely expected to see you here
again. she added. You Thought It
worth while to return?"
Yes there are one or two points
which are not quite clear"
AND you expect to make them SOP
she asked. with a hooking smile. "How?
BY lurking around the house like a
thief. and following women?"
There was something in her tone. her
look. her attitude. which caught my
attention-a sort Of confident triumph.
as OF who plays for a higher stake
and wins. She was no longer anxious
day before-nay. that very morning.
She thought 1t safe to iout me openly,
SO you convinced Mrs. Lawrence
that you n your sister were not
do that"
Guilty Of what?" she demanded.
flushing darby.
"CuiIfv ne co,,oipr Mt. y.......
flight" ! answered bluntly. "Of wreck
ing her life."
do you believe that?"
Il know ft!"
She laughed s%cornfully.
You know a great deal, Il seems"
More than you think" l retorted.
She flushed again. and bit her lips
to restrain their trembling.
Though there's one thing I don't
KNOW" I went on. determined to strike
hOms, IL I could. Il can't imagine why
Miss Lawrence should have chosen
your house as a place OF refuge. She
must know that you hate her-that you
waited. like a snake In ambush. for the
moment when the blow would pierce
most deeply: she must see that you
are using her to avenge yourself
A sharp click interrupted me. and
found myself In darkness. I heard the
closing Of a door. the turning OF q lock,
Wnen, after a moments cropping alonR
the wall. / found the electric button
and switched on the light again, I saw
that the door leading from the library
to the hall was closed. I tried TIT
was locked.
"Good night, Mr.. Lester called q
low mocking voice from the other side.
please turn of the light before you
20. and close the window after you,
Another thing-Td advise you not I'd
disturb my sister again tonight: II
would really not be safe. And I hope
you'll let me know when you succeed
In clearing up those little points YOU
were speaking of-I'm immensely in-
terested In them"
She laughed again, and I heard her
footsteps die away down the hall.
Feeling absurdly foolish. I switched
on the light. and left the house. Plainly,
Lacy Kingdom had ceased to fear me.
She believed that she had won the
fight. that her position vas impregn-
able. Either she thought that Marcia
Lawrence had escaped. that we had moi
traced her to tho Umbrte. or she knew
that the telegram was . blind. and that
We had been misled BY Il. Which ~
right. I wondered. And ohe must have
come on well, too. In that interview
with Mr.. Lawrence. which I would
have Owen GO much g have overheard