The Wagner post. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-current, 1912-06-14

IF he is found ~guilty-English JUS
tce is no respecter OF persons"
How AWFUL
And t~ittle-tattle, senselcss talk. in
sane remarks. were waited on the
grimy wings OF the fog. They pete-
trated everywhere. in the labhies az
the theaters, the boudoir OF
n the smoking room of my lord.
They penetrated to the magnificent Q
ception rooms of the Danish legation
and Louisa heard the remarks even
before she knew the fun details Of the
story. Louisa had a well trained con-
tralto voice and had been asked TO
sing, in the course of the evening
Just as she stood in All outer room Sc
Letting her music. she heard q group
of idlers-men and women-talking
over the mysterious murder in the taA-
icab.
They had at first been unconscious
of her presence. she had her back
toward them, turning over the leaves
of her N Suddenly there was q
hush in the conversation; n of the
chatterboxes must have pointed her out
10 the others.
Whereupon Louisa. serene and srnil-
ing, a roll of music in her hand joined
the merry group.
Please" she said. "don't step, j
have heard nothing Yet. And of course
/ want to Know"
One of the men laughed and the la
dies murmured silly nothings.
OH" said some one, lit mayn't he
true. Such lots OF wild run1ors get
about"
What asked Louisa placidly,
"mayn't be true? Some one said lust
now that Philip de Mountford has been
murdered
Well" mur1nured one al the ladies'
they 4 it was Mr., de Mountford but
they can be sure. can they"
The group vas disso.Ning almost. II
seemed, as il it had vanished into tbir
air. When Louisa first heard them
talking there were about a dozen men
and women a brilliant throng of gaily
plumaged birds: now the ladies remem-
bered that they wanted TO hear the
latest infant prodigy who had been en-
gagged to entertain the guests ut the
post-dinner reception tonight. n the
men too, feeling uncomfortable and
awkward, made good their escape.
People-the pleasure lowing people of
today-haye 40 use for latent tragedy.
Excitement, yes; and drama; but only
from the secure distance of a private
seat an an Old Bailey trial. The muir
der of Philip de Mountford couId he
discussed with quite an amount of en-
joyment between a dinner party and q
ball supper. but not in Louisa Harris
presence. BY Cad too much OF a good
thing you know.
Within q very few minutes Louisa
found herself almost alone. just the one
or two near her to whom she had d.
rectly spoken and-fortunately-olo-
mel Harris in the doorway. come to o o
for his daughter.
THE infant with the violin he said
as soon as he caught sight of Louisa,
lis just finishing his piece. poor little
rat! You promised o would SIM
4 nnx+ m. II-Ha. El va ,-ntp ynf ~
Il was just making q selection when
| you came. father. What would you like
me to sing?"
With an unexpreSsed sigh Of relief
the last two of the original group OF
gossips dwindled away into the recep-
ton room beyond. congratulating them
selves on having successfully engi-
neered their exit.
"Dooced awkward. don't YOU know
J Miss Harris asking questions
/ Il suppose she doesn't realize
She will soon enough 49,
She ought to have broke Of her en-
gagement long ago
isn't it AWFUL thing
Louisa. left alone with her father
could allow her nerves TO ease thcil
fearful tension. she had no need tC
hide from him the painful culver Of hel
lips. or the anxious frown across hel
brow.
do YOU know she asked. anything
about this awful business. father"
There's a lot of gossip. he replied
his voice was not only gruff but hoarse
which showed that he was strangely
moved.
But" she insisted. some truth il
the gossip"
They say Philip de Mountford ha'
been murdered"
who says so?"
Some people have come on from TIT
theaters, and men from the clubs. Tbs
streets are full of it-and evening pa
pers have brought out midnight edi
tions which are selling like hot cakes.
And do they say taat Lake ba'
killed Philip de Mountford"'
"No"-with sore hesitation-nthe.
don't say that"
But they hint at IL"
Newspaper tittle-tattie.'
How much is actual fact? ?"
Il understand he explained. tina
at Q O'Clock or Whereabouts. TWO me
in evening dress haired a passing taxi
cab lust outside the Lyric fheater II
Shaftesbury avenue and told the a
feur to drive to Hyde Park corner. jus
by the ratings of the Green Park. TIL
driver drew up there and one OF tn
two men got out. AS he reclosed tn
door of the cab he leaned toward tn
interior and said eheerfuily. "Siong ol'
man. See you tomorrow Then n
told the chauffeur TO drive on 10
ICromweil Road opposite h museum
and turning on his heel disappeared il
the fog. When the chauffeur drew vi
for the second time no n aiighte'
from the cab. So he got down from hi
box and opened the door"
''The other man." murrnured Louis
vaguely. was in the cao-deadi"
That's about it,
Witt his throat cut from ear 10 ca
by a sharp instrument which NIGH
have been a skewer."
"You have heard il all them
mo, no. she said hurriedly-
The room was swaying around her
the furniture started hopping an
dancing. Louisa. who had never faint
ed in her life. felt as if the oor wa
giving way under her feet. MeTnor
was unloading one of her storehouse:
looking over the contents of n hide
cell, wherein she had put away
strange winter scene In Brussels. a tax
icab. the i1l-ligbted boulevard. tn
chauffeur getting down from his DO
and finding a mar crouciled in tn
farther corner of the cab-dead-wit
his throat pierced from ear to ear b
an Instrument which might have bqp