The Irish standard., 1911-08-12

PIeIty girl, WulLer IMAM ner 1atlSr-
and it seems that the mans fears had
some justification. It appears that
Cayley had come out there, blind
drunk, with . couple Of troopers, who
deserted that same night, and man.
handled the old man. The girl joined in
her fathers accusation, at least she
didn't deny anything.
"Cayley was away on scout duty at
the time when the man came in-the
thing had happened some days prior.
just before he started out. 1t came
like thunderbolt out of clear sky,
for everybody liked Cayley and
thought him an exceptionally decent,
clean sort Of chap, though he and
Hunter both were drinking good deal
just then. Poor Hunter was all
broken up about 1t. Everybody be-
lleved that he really knew some in
eliminating facts against Cayley, but
he never would speak.
"As for Cayley himself, he made no
defense whatever. He denied he did
it, and that was all. There wasn't
any real corroborative evidence
against him, 30 the court-martial dis
missed the case as not proved. But
he wouldn't testify himself, nor have
single witness called in his behalf,
and he resigned from the service then
and there, and disappeared, SO far as
I know, from the world. l heard he
had a ranch down somewhere in New
Mexico, near Sandoval, l think the
place was" =.
His father saw quick Tightening in
the girls horror-stricken eyes at the
sound of the name, which evidently,
in some way, helped corroborate the
story to her, but he did not question
her about it.
There was silence after that,
while the three out there on the Au-
roras deck looked blankly into each
others faces.
~~-a. The silence was broken at last, by
none Of them, but by a hail from the
shore. "Ahoy, Aurora!" cried Che
voice.
Mr.. Fanshaw answered with wave
of his arm. That's Donovan" he
is it?" he cried.
will you send dinghy for me.
please7"
The boat was dispatched at once,
. and while they waited, Mr.. Fanshaw
Borrowed Jeanne's held-glasses for a
look at the man who had hailed them.
"He's In a hurry" said the old gentle
man. He looks If he had news Of
one sort or another" They all had
felt 1t in the mere timber of his voice
something urgent; something omin-
GUS.
It seemed an interminable while be-
fore the returning boat came along
side the foot of the accommodation
ladder. When the newcomer appear
ed at the head Of it, his face had
plainly written on 1t the story of
some tragedy.
What is it," Jeanne asked, not
very steadily. "Oh please don't try to
break it to me! Tell me. just as you
do the others"
TITS nothing concerning you, miss,
not especially, mean; nothing to do
with your father" Then he turned to
Mr. Fanshaw, II found Mr.. Hunter
sir" e'7f
"Dead?" The tone in which Dono'
van had spoken made the question
hardly necessary
Eyes, sir. His body la lodged deep
down in one of the ice assures in the
glacier. l could see it perfectly,
though I couldn't get down to it,
Tom Fanshaw covered his face with
his hands for moment. Then he
looked up and asked, steadily: HE
slipped, suppose?"
At the same moment his father
asked: do you think we shall be
able to recover the body?"
Donovan answered this question
drst.
I'VE can try, sir, though I've not
much hope Of our succeeding"
Then, after moments hesitation
he turned to the son.
mo, sir, he didn't fall; at least II
wasn't the fall that killed him.
found this in cleft in the Ice neal
by. 1t must have been driven clear
through his throat, sir"
He held out, in a shaking hand, {
long, slim ivory dart, sharp almost al
steel could be, ana stained DroWl
with blood. "He was murdered, sir.
Donovan concluded simply.
"Give me the DART" the old gentle
man demanded. As he examined 1t
his fine old face hardened. do yo'
see?" he asked, holding 1t out to hi
son. There Is no notch in the en'
for a bow-string, but 1t will lie YER
truly in the groove of that throwing
stick that Jeanne brought aboard tn
yacht this morning."
Then he turned to the girl. I'm
afraid your visitor last night was n
vision, my dear, after all"
But the girl was looking and point
ing skyward.
CHAPTER v.
The Dart.