The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-11-21
CHAPTER II.
al Know the Man,

Mr.. Slater, when that gentleman, I'M
der this renewed excitement, has
tily left us.
j.. Il want to feel sure of myself" he
explained. "Can you bear the strain
of waiting around a little longer.
Laura?"
Eyes, 1 can bear it. Don't you think
the man we saw had something to do
with this? Don't you believe"
Hush! What are they saying over
there? Can you hear?"
mo. And ! cannot bear to look.
Yet don't want to go away. It's all
SO dreadful"
Its devilish. Such a beautiful
girl! Laura, l must leave you for q
! moment. Do you mind"
mo, no; yet"
1 did mind; but he was gone be-
fore could take back my word
Alone, felt the tragedy much more
than when he was with me. 1 drew
back against the wall and hid my
eyes, waiting feverishly for Georges
return.
He came, when he did come, in
some haste and with certain marks
| of increased agitation.
| Laura" said he, Slater says that
we may possibly be wanted and pro-
poses that we stay here all night. l
] have telephoned and made it all right
at home. Will you come to your
room? This is no place for you"
Nothing could have pleased me bet
| ter. But could not go without cast
Ing another glance at the tragic scene
| | was leaving. A stir was perceptible
there, and was just in time to see
Its cause. A tall, angular gentleman
was approaching from the direction
of the musicians gallery, and from
the manner of all present, as well as
from the whispered comment of my
husband, I recognized in him the spe-
cial official for whom all had been
waiting.
"Are you going to tell him?" was
my question to George as we made
our way down to the lobby.
THAT depends. First, am going
| to see you settled in a room quite
remote from this business
II shall not like that
II know, my dear, but it is best"
I could not gainsay this.
Nevertheless, after the first few
! minutes of relief, l found it very
| lonesome upstairs.
I was still struggling with this feel.
Ing when the door opened, and George
came in. There was news in his face
as I rushed to meet him.
"Ten me-tell," begged.
He tried to smile at my eagerness,
but the attempt was CHASTITY.
1--WE been listening and looking"
said he, land this is all l have learn.
ed. Miss Challoner died, not from
a stroke or from disease of any kind,
but from a wound reaching the heart.
No one saw the attack, or even the
approach or departure of the person
inf1icting this wound. If she was killed
! by pistol-shot, it was at a distance,
and almost over the heads of the per.
sons sitting at the table we saw
there. But the doctors shake their
heads at the word pistol-shot, though
they refuse to explain themselves or
to express any opinion till the wound
has been probed This they are going
to do at once, and when that question
Is decided, may feel it my duty to
speak and may ask you to support my
story"
I'VE can never make them under
stand how he looked
mo. 1 don't expect to-"
"Or his manner as he fed"
Nor that either.
1--WE can only describe what we saw
him do
That's ALL"
"Oh, what an adventure for quiet
people like US! George, 1 don't be-
lieve he shot her."
HE must have"
But they would have seen-have
heard-the people around, 1 mean"
$50 they say; but l have a theory
but no matter about that now I'm,
going down again to see how things
have progressed. I'll be back for you
later Only be ready"
IN naII nOur or an nOur-l never
knew which-George reappeared, only
to tell me that no conclusions had as
yet been reached; an element of great
| mystery involved the whole affair, and
the most astute detectives on the
force had been sent for. Her father,
who had been her constant compan-
ion all winter, had not the least sug.
gestion to offer in way of it's solu-
ton. To no living being, man or
woman, could he point as possessing
any motive for such deed. She had
been the victim of some mistake. his
lovely and ever kindly disposed
daughter, and while the loss was IRE
parable he would never make it unen-
durable by thinking otherwise
Such was the fathers way of look.
ing at the matter, and / own that II
made our duty trifle hard But
Georges mind, when once made. up,
was persistent to the point Of OBJ
stinacy, and while he was yet talk
Ling he led me out of the room and
down the hall to the elevator
"Mr. Slater knows we have some
thing to saw. and will manage the