Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-10-24

future from this moment appeared -
an absolute blank. She had not begun
to env:sage the possibility Of going
back to the hotel, having utterly failed
In accomplishing that which h had
set mind n heart to do: the throwing
OF the first feeble ray OF light on the
impenetrable darkness Of Luke's sup
posed guilt. She certainly had not en-
visaged the going to bed tonight, the
F Fianins up a9 t smotsep a, the. w be-
Its thousand and ono trivial tasks and
Incidents, all the while that she had
failed III doing that which alone could
prevent The awful catastrophe OF to-
morrow!
Luke standing in the dock, like q
common criminal!
"Tll just see about getting . cab,
DEAR" said her uncle kindly.
The first of those thousand and one
trivialities which would go on and on
from now onward in endless monotony.
whilst Luke prepared for his trial, for
his condemnation. perhaps for death.
1t was indeed unthinkable. No WON
der that her mind rebelled at the task.
refusing all thoughts, remaining like
q gray, blank slat from which every
impression OF past and future has been
wiped
Sir Thomas Ryder went out Of the
room. and Mr.. Warren went with him.
They left tho door ajar, SO she could
hear them talking in the hall. MI.
Warren said:
Don't go out, Sir Thomas. It's q
horrid night. Fletcher will get you .
cah."
And Sir Thomas replied: THANK
you"
Won't you" said the younger man.
wait in the library?"
He had apparently rung a bell. for
h man servant came into the hall and
was duly told of to whistle for q cab.
I'D rather go into another room. for
q moment. Mr.. Warren, II I may" said
Sir Thomas. There are Just one or
to YOU"
Certainly. Sir Thomas" replied Mt.
Warren with alacrity.
The two men ven together into tho
dining room. Louisa by shutting her
eyes could almost see them sitting
there in the stately and gloomy room.
which n knew so we'll. She could
call to mind the last occasion on which
she had lunched there, with Lord Rad
clyne and Luke and Edie and Jim.
II was the day on which the impOster
first forced his way into the house.
Louisa had a clear vision Of him even
now, just as h had seen him stand
ing that day in the hall, before his
interview with Lord Radclyfre. Parker
was helping him with his coat and
Louisa had seen his face; the brick
layers son who had come forward with
his marvellous array OF lies, and who
had been so implicitly believed. that
he himself had to pay for his lies with
a most horrible death.
For hat death noM-and because of
the impenetrable mystery which the
imposter had taken with him to his
humble grave-Luke stood in danger Of
being punished with death that was
even more horrible than that caused
by a stab in the neck under cover Of
darkness and of fog
Inc N chance that there had been
OF finding a clue to the mystery had
been dissipated by the silence Of the
sick man up stairs. The hand Of death
was upon him too. He also would lake
the secret OF the bricklayer's son., si-
lently with him to the grave.
Louisa's eyes. vacant and fearless,
aimlessly round the room.
Dr. .Newington' was sitting at the desk,
writing either a letter or a prescrip-
ton which APPARENTLY required a con-
siderable amount of thought. He
seemed deeply absorbed in what he
wrote and from time to time referred
to a small notebook which he took
out OF his pocket.
The scratching OF his style
against the paper was the
only sound that struck Louisa's ear.
the rest of the house seemed
lonely and still. Only from far away
came the shrill %screeching of the cam
whistle.
Louisa rose and went to the door,
peeping out into the hall. 1t was de-
serted and the dining room door was
shut She slipped out into the hall.
Or. Newington apparently did not
trouble himself about her. Very softly
she closed the library door behind her.
Then she ran swiftly up stairs.