Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-07-18
CHAPTER X1x-(Continued.o

N1X-(Continued.)
He looked the part and always acted
1t, and fewer blunders had ~undoubted-
ly been committed in the detective de-
partment Of the metropolitan police
since Sir Thomas Ryder took the guild
ing reins in hand.
II suppose" he said at last, that
you've some to see me about this de
Mountford business"
Il 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 tsp"
Colonel Harris did not reply imme-
diately; for one thing, he did not know
exactly how to put his w fears and
anxieties into words. They We're so
horrible and so far fetched that to tell
them plainly and badly to his brother
1nlaw, to this 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 a pair of eyes hich
seemed to be twinkling with humor.
Humor at this moment? Great heav-
ems above!
81 WISH" he blurted out somewhat
bit. Tom. Hang it all, man. all this
officialism makes me dumb"
Don't said Sir Thomas, dryly, "let
it do that. Will. aud the speakers
eyes seemed to twinklaeven more mer-
rily than before.
well, then, tell me something about
Luke"
Luke de Mountford," unused the
other, as il the name recalled some dis
tan impression.
Yes, Luke de Mountford, who is en-
gagged to Louisa. your niece. man, and
drivel these newspapers talk and 1
couldn't bear it longer; so Nv
come to You. Tom. and you must tell
me what truth there is in the drivel
and that's all I want to know"
Sir Thomas Ryder seemed. whilst
the otiieT mus Voluply. 70 nave
more than had originally been his in
tention. Anyway, he now said with
abrupt directness:
IF, my good Will, by 'drivel' you
mean that in the matter of the assas-
sination Of Philip de Mountford. in a
taxicab last night grave suspicion rests
on his cousin, Luke. then there's a
great deal of truth in the ORWELL
Colonel Harris received the sudden
blow without much apparent emotion.
He had been sitting in an armchair
with one hand buried in his trousers
pocket, the other holding a cigar.
Now he merely glanced down at the
ciagr for a moment and then conveyed
It to his lips.
WHAT" he asked. docs that mean,
exactly?"
THAT unless Luke de Mountford will,
within h next 4S hours. answer GER
he has done hitherto. he will be arrest
ed on a charge of murder.
THAT is impossible" protested Col
onel Harris, hotly.
Impossible? Why?"
"Because-because-hang 1t all, man,
you know Luke de Mountford: Dc you
believe for a moment hat he would
commit such a dastardly crime? Why
the boy wouldn't know how to plan
such villany, let alone carry 1t
through"
sMy dear win." rejoined the other,
quietly, the many years which I have
spent at this desk have taught me
many things. Among others. I have
learned that every mar Is more or less
capable Of crime; 1t only depends what
the incentive-the temptation, II you
like to call 1t so-or the p~rovocation
happens to be-"
"But here there was no provocation,
NO temptation, no."
felt rather than saw his brotherinlaW's
eyes in their framework Of wrinkles