The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-10-10
.old RadclyneYr he eiaculated.

N(QAAM &c 4LC a4 HILL NAtAAAl
ever since Luke was a tiny boy. There's
no one in the world for whom he cared
as he cared for Luke, and the affection
was fully ~reciprocated. My belief Is
that Lord RadcIyffe knows more about
Luke than any one else In the world
bat old Rad Is very Ill Just now,
unfortunately"
ut would kill him" she retorted, 81
anything happened to Luke. whilst ne
was being coddled up as ain invalid.
almost as a prisoner. m no news al
lowed to reach him."
Sir Thomas was silent for O moment,
obviously buried In thought. That he
was still incredulous was certainly APP
parent to Louisa's representative per-
'ceptions. but that he meant to be OF
help to her, in spite OF this incredulity
was equally certain. Therefore she
waited patiently until he had collected
his thoughts.
We'll. my dear" he said at last. 'Tll
tell you what I will do. Tomorrow
morning I'll go and see II / can have q
talk with old Rad"
risSsaS,' she h-ske e
gravely, Luke will be dragged before
the magistrate---the first stage OF that
awful series OF humiliations which you
yourself say, Uncle Ryder, that no man
who IL innocent can possible endured"
II know, my dear" he said almost
apologetically. but I don't see now
how that be avoided" "
night"
Tonight" he exclaimed. "why, it's
nearly 10 o'clock"
In matters Of this sort, time does
not count"
But old Rad is an invalid"
III may be a dead man tomorrow. II
he hears that Luke-Luke, who was
the ann1o 0f hiQ axro xuhn o. fha Aaar
TO his name and title, Is being drag
ged in open court before a police mag
istrate, charged with an abominable
crime
But the doctor, I understand. has
forbidden him to see any one"
X think that the matter has passed
the bounds OF a Doctors orders. !
would go and force my way into his
presence without the slightest scruple.
know that any news that he may
CLEAN about Luke, within the merit few
days, will be far more fatal to him.
than the few questions which I want
to ask him tonight"
'"That may be. my dear" rejoIned Sir
Thomas dryly, but this does not APP
ply to me. Old Rad is a very old
friend Of mine. but IL I went with you
on this errand tonight. / should be GO
ing not as a friend, but In an Official
capacity, and as such ! cannot do It
without the doctors permission"
Very well then" she said quietly,
We'll ask Doctor Newington's permits
sion."
For a little while yet Sir Thomas
Ryder seemed to hesitate. Clearly the
girls argument. her simple conviction,
and her latent energy had made a
marked impression upon him. He was
no longer the sceptical hide-bound Of
HRfnle 70 fhA u r1An a Ia q the rAakln~.A 1880
tearing away at the letters Of red tape.
All the old instincts OF chiyalry which
at times might be dormant In the heart
or an English gentleman-but which
are always there nevertheless, hidden
by the mantle OF convention
had been, aroused by Louisa's attitude
toward the man she loved, and also by
the remembrance OF Luke's bearing
throughout this miserable business.
After all what the girl asked was not
SO very difficult OF execution. There
are undoubtedly where the usual
onyenttonal formulas of etiquette
must give way to serious e~xigencies.
there was unanswerable logic m
Louisa's arguments; at any time
In the near future that old Rad
-eather through his own obstinacy.
servant--got hold of a
the suddenness OF the blow which he
would receive by learning the terrible
news without due preparation, would
inevitably prove fatal to him. Sir
Thomas Ryder prided himself ON being
a diplomatist OF the first water; he did
believe that he could so put the neces-
sary questions to Lord R~adclyfEe, with
regard to Luke, that the old man
would not suspect the truth for q mo-
mem. The latter had, OF course, known
OF the murder before he had been
stricken with Illness: he had at the
time answered the questions put to him
by the police officer, without seeming
TO be greatly shocked at the awful
occurrence; and It was not likely that
he would be greatly upset at q pro-
fessional visit from an old friend, who
at the same time had tise unrayeling
the murder mystery at heart.
All these thoughts mirrored them
selves or Sir Thomas wrinkled face.
He was taking no trouble TO conceal
them from Louisa. Soon she saw that
she had won her first victory, for her
uncle now said with sudden determine
ton: f
We'll, my dear, you have certainly
got on the right side Of me. Your
aunt always said you had a very per-
suasive way with you. I'll tell you
what we will do. 1t is now a quarter
to ten--late enough, by Jingol Wen
SCI tlNU Ouu VI lhOS6 COUIOQQuSQ LaAlS
and drive to DR.. Newington's. I'll see
him. You shall stay In the cab and
IL I car get his permission, we'll go and
have q talk with old Rad-or rather
I'll talk first and you shall pretend that
joint visit ID only q coincidence.
As a matter OF fact he knew all about
the murder before he got III, and he
think 1t at all unnatural that
/ have obtained special medical per-
TO question him myself on the
subject. Then you must work in your
questions about Luke as best you can
afterward. Is that agreed, now?"
Indeed Ii Is, Uncle Ryder said
Louisa. az she rose from her chair,
with a deep sigh OF infinite content
ment. Thank you," she added gently,
and placed her neatly gloved hand
upon his arm.
With a kind, fatherly gesture. he
gave that little hand an encouraging
pat. Then hs ran the bell.
IA taxi-quickly," he said to his
man. my. fur coat and my hat. I am
going out" , ID.
Louisa had gained her first victory.
She a put forward neither violence
nor passion in support OF her argu-
ments. Yet h had conquered because
she believed. +
A few moments later she and Sir
Thomas Ryder were on their way to
Dr. Newington's in Hartford street.
CHAPTER XXxvu.
-.