Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-08-08
CHAPTER xXu-mont;nuedN

W ~ eIutn. he cOnfeSSeS his guilt.
CHAPTER XXII-(Continued.1
say" continued Luke quietly,
that Philip was killed by the thrust
OF a sharp dagger or stiletto, right
through the neck. Well, where is that
aagger? Have they found it? Or
Then as Colonel Harris was still ST.
lent he reiterated once more:
Did Sir Thomas tell YOU If they had
found the weapon?"
And Colonel Harris nodded and muir
INJURED:
Yes"
Actually found the weapon?" insist
ed Luke
YES"
'Where?"
"Behindw the railings-in Green Park
close to Hyde Park corner"
was 1t a stiletto? Or a dagger? Or
what?"
1t was a stick with a dagger fitting
into 1t. A s~nakewood stick. 1t was
covered with mud and-other stains."
There was silence in the room now
Tor the space of a few brief seconds.
A silence solemn and full of meaning.
questions and nswer between Colo
ne Harris and Luke, Louisa had kept
her eyes fixed upon the younger mans
face and sunlight Indifference at pos
sible danger alternating with impati-
ence at the singular obstinacy Of his &C
cusers. Throughout this time the face
she knew so we'll, mirrored that perfect
calm which she understood and ad-
mtred, since it was the reflex of a
calm. u%ntroubled soul.
But now there came a change in the
face; or rather not in the face but in
at Colonel Harris's last words: a
change so subtle. so undetermined, that
She was quito sure her father had not
perceived 1t. But movement there was
none; one mere, almost inperceptible.
culver OF h eyelids-nothing more.
The mouth beneath h slight fair
moustache had not trembled, the brow
remained smooth. the breath came and
vent as evenly as before.
But the change was there, neverthe-
less! The gray tint just round the eyes,
the stony loo in the pupils themselves
a tiny speck OF moisture round the
Wtng OF each nostril. Colonel Harris
had not looked at Luke whilst he spoke
OF the stick. He was staring straight
In front of him, hardly conscious Of the
silence which had cast q strange and
mystic spell on these three people
anding here. in the banal atmosphere
OF a London hotel.
It was Luke who broke the silence.
He said quite quitely asking the ques-
lions as II 1t related to a most trivial.
most indifferent matter:
Did Sir Thomas show you the
stick?
The colonel nodded in acuuiescence.
1T was my stick. I suppose?
The query was 30 sudden, so unex-
pected that Colonel Harris instructive
~ uttered an exclamation OF amaze
men
Luke! BY God, man! Are you
mad?"
Louisa said nothing. She was trying
to understand the MISUNDERSTANDING.
Luke almost smiled at the other mans
bewildermeEt.
mo, sir" 10 said. mot mad I think.
I only want to know how I stand"
How you stand. man?" calculated
hemence. Great Heavens. don't you
realize that here is some damned con-
Spiracy as mysterious as it is damn
able. and that you will have to look this
seriously in the face. II you don't wish
to find yourself in the lock before the
next four nj twenty hours?"
II am" replied Luke simply. Cooking
the matter squarely in the face, sir, but
! don't quite see how I can avoid staad-
ing in h dock as o say, before the
next four and twenty hours. You see
I had ~quarrelled with Philip, and my
stick-which contained a d~agger-was
found In the park. covered with mud,
az o say. and other stains"
But hang 1t all, man, you did not
murder your cousin"
This was not a query but an asser-
ton. Colonel Harris's loyalty had not
wavered. but he could nj contrive to
keep the note Of anxiety out Of his
voice; nor did he reiterate the asser-
ton when Luke made no answer to It.
Once more the latter passed his hand
over the back Of his head. You know
that gesture. It IL 30 English! and al
ways denotes q certain measure Of per-
~turbati0n. Then he said with seeming
i~rrelevance:
'I suppose I had better 90 now.
His eyes sought Louisa's, trying to