The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-09-19
CHAPTER xxx1I1-(continued.,

This last question came abruptly, in
harsh. trenchant tones, altogether diff
ferent to those Of her smooth c%ontralto
voice. He turned his eyes away from
her face, and looked down at his
hands, which were clasped in front of
him.
Because" he replied without the
slightest hesitation, Il cannot face what
lies before me If l remain"
why not?"
FOR many reasons. There's Uncle
Rad to consider first and foremost, then
Eide. and Jim. and Frank"
What have they to do with it?"
Everything. After the evidence at
the inquest today a warrant will be out
for my arrest within the next few
hours"
What Of it,"
-The evidence against me is over
whelming. 1 should be tried, perhaps
hanged, for murder, at best sent to pc
nal servitude for life. I cannot chance
that. I must think Of Uncle Rad, OF
IEdie, of Jim and of Frank"
You have yourself to think Of first
and foremost"
WELL" he retorted simply, Il have
thought Of myself, and / do not see how
with my own dagger-stick brought uE
in evidence against me, and my III
feeling t~oward-toward the dead maj
so well known. l can possibly escape
condemnation"
He spoke in UGH even and perfectly
natural tones, that just for a moment
st was a mere flash-Louise wondered
IL he were absolutely sane. 1t seemed
impossible thai any man could preserve
such calm in face of the most appalling
fate that ever threatened human being
She, too, like the Indifferent, hide
bound official this afternoon was seized
with an irrepresslve deslre 10 pleah
through that surface of Ice. The outel
covering must be very thin, she
thought: her presence must lave melted
all the coldness that lay mmedlatelS
below the surface. Without saying an
other word, quietly and simply she
came down on her knees. Her skirts
had not swished as she did so, not Q
sound from her revealed the movement
When he ooked up again, her lace was
on a level with his. n her eyes-those
great luminous eyes that shed no tears
at moments such as thls-lookec
straight into his own
for PHYS sake, Lou" he said, don't
make a dwelling coward Of me now
And he rose, pushing his chair aside
leaving her there, kneeling beside tht
desk, humbled and helpless. And ne
retreated within the shadoW of tn
room.
Luke" she said, imploring him.. "yot
are going to tell me all that troubles
Nothing" he replied CURLY. troubles
me. o are wasting your
you know. And I have a train tt
catch" r
you are not going, Lulse?"
Indeed I am"
You condemn yourself Tor a crime
which you have not committed"
IT am already as good as condemned
But I do not choose to hang for tn
murder of the Chaplain bricklayer'i
son."
He laughed. 1t almost sounded like
a natural laugh-would have done so
no doubt, to all ears except hers. Their
he added dryly:
such a purposeless crime too
Fancy being hanged for killing Pau
Baker"
Luke" she sal simply. you don
seem to realize how you are hurting
mel"
One ejaculation, my God!" escaped
him then. He stood quite still, in tn
shadow, and presently his hand wan
dered with the old familiar gestur
down the smooth back of his head
She remained on her knees and afte
awhile he came back to her. and sa
down on the chair beside the desk. hi
ayes on a level with hers.
Look here, Lou" he said quietly
II have got to go and that's all abou
It I have got to. do you understand