The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-07-11
CHAPTER xK-(continued.)

He looked the part and always acted
1t, n fewer plumbers a undoubted-
1y been committed in the detective de-
partment of the metropolitan police
since Sir Thomas Ryder took the guild
ing reins in hand.
Il suppose" he said at last, that
you've some to see me about this de
Mountford business"
IT have" replied Colonel Harris,
simply.
We'll it's not a pleasant business"
II know that. The papers are full
Of it, and it's all a COMPOUNDED dam
nable business, Tom, and that's all
about it."
Unfortunately it's not all about it,.
rejoined Sir Thomas, dryly.
That's what Louisa says: Women are
so queer about things of that sort, and
the papers are full Of twaddle. She is
anxious about Luke"
Il don't wonder"
But it's all nonsense, Isn't it?"
"What is?"
diately; for II thing, he did not know
exactly how to put his own fears and
anXieties into words. They were SO
horrible and so far fetched that to tell
them plainly n badly to his brother
inlaw, to his man with whom he was
soberly smoking a cigar In a sober
looking Office, whilst hansoms and taxi
cabs were rafting past in the street
below within sight and hearing, seemed
little short Of idiocy. He was not a
man Of deep penetration-was Colonel
Harris-no great reader Of thoughts or
of character. He tried to look keenly
at Sir Thomas shrewd face, but all he
was conscious Of was a network OF
wrinkles round q pair Of eyes which
seemed to be twinkling with humor.
Humor at this moment? Great heav-
ems above!
II wish,' he blurted out somewhat
GROSSLY, at last, you'd help me out q
bit, Tom. Hang it all, a all this
officialism makes me dumb"
Don't" said Sir Thomas. dryly, "let
it do that, WILL" nj the speakers
eyes seemed to twinkle even more mer-
well. then, tell me something about
Luke
Luke de Mountford." unused the
other, as if the name recalled some dis.
tant impression.
yes, Luke lie Mountford, who is en-
gagged to Louisa, your niece, man, an6
she's breaking her hear with all the
drivel these newspapers talk and
couldn't bear it any longer; SO I've
come to you. Tom. and O must tel
me what truth there is in the drive
n that's all I want to Know
Sir Thomas Ryder seemed, willis
h other thus talked volubly, to hav
suddenly made up his mind to say
more than had originally been his in.
tentfon. Anyway, he now said with
abrupt dtrectness:
"If, my good VIII, by 'drivel' 70,
mean that in the matter of the assas.
| s1nation Of Philip de Mountford. in E
tax1cab last night grave suspicion rest:
on his cousin. Luke. then there's {
great deal of truth in the drivel."
blow without much apparent emotion
He had been sitting in an armchair
with one hand buried in his trouser.
pocket. the other holding a cigar.
Now he merely glanced down It tn,
1t to his lips.
"What?' he asked, does that mean
exactly?"
That unless Luke de Mountford will
within the next 48 hours, answer Ger.
tain questions more satisfactorily tina,
he has done hitherto, he will be arrest.
ed on a charge Of murder.
That Is impossible" protested Col
oncl Harris, hotly.
Impossible? Why?"
MISUNDERSTANDING it all, mar
you know Luke de Mountford. Dc yo,
believe for a m that he woult
commit such a d~astaydly crime? VIII,
the boy wouldn't know how to plai
such vi'lany. let alone carry /
through"
My dear WILL" rejoined the other
QGAStiy, Inc many years which l hav
spent at this desk have taught m,
many things. Among others, I hav,
learned that every man is more or les
capable OF crime; it only depends wha
the incentive-the temptation, If 70,
like to call 1t so-or the pr~ovocatiol
happens to be-"
But here there was no provocation
no temptation, no
Colonel Harris paused abruptly. H,
felt rather than saw his brotherinlaw'
eyes in their framework OF wrinkle
resting with obvious sense OF amuse
mcnt upon his wrathful face. No temp
tarion? And What of a peerage and
fortune lost, hat could only be re
gained by the death of the intruder
No ~provocation? And wha of tn
brother and sister turned out of tn
old home? The good. simple-minde,
man had sense enough to see tina
here. if he wished to speak for Luke
he was on tlc wrcng track.
What questions" he said abruptly
docs Luke not answer satisfactorily :?
Hoy he spent certain hours of yes
terday evening"
He was dancing attendance upo,
.Oh ~ hap uy.,1 x-