The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-07-25

ness
Lets hope so. sir" rejoined Luke
dryly.
HAS Uncle Ryder told you anything
fresh, father? Anything that we Cont
yet know"
Colonel Harris did not reply and
Louisa knew hat there was something
that Uncle Ryder had said, something
awful, which had caused her father
to wear the troubled look which had
terrified her the moment he came in.
Something awful-which would affect
| Luke.
Wont you tell us, father" she said,
what Uncle Ryder told you? Luke
! ought to know"
"Oh, rejoined Luke, there's no hurry
I'm sure. Colonel Harris will tell me
presently. Lou, you were coming to
the park this morning. 1 suppose we
can't go to h Temple garden show
very Well"
Not very well, 1 think" she replied,
but III come for a walk after lunch
with pleasure. Father must tell us now
What Uncle Ryder said"
Then as Colonel Harris still seemed
to hesitate, she became more insistent,
and her voice more firm.
Father, DEAR" she said, IT must
know as well as Luke"
The old man took a turn up and down
he room, with hands behind his back
He would not look either at Louisa or
at Luke, for 1t would be easier to tell
them everything without meeting their
eyes. And he had to tell them every
thing. To her as well as to him. 1t
was no longer any use trying to avoid
the subject, pretending hat it was
trivial, unworthy of discussion.
Facts had to be faced at last. like
of campaign decided On in the event of
mOmentary defeat.
Ryder" he began quite abruptly at
last, had the hall porter of that con
founded club up to his room while I
was there, and questioned him before
me-"
H could" suggested Luke, "only
the story which we ali know
already. I denied seeing Philip
at the club or quarreling with him for
a matter of that. Hang it all, T have
often quarreled with him before"
YES" rejoined the colonel, they've
out the old servants of your
able stories of quarrels."
Exaggerated, 1 expect. But what of
and that hall porter didn't mince
matters, either. damn him"
Philip" remarked, Luke dryly
shouted pretty loudly. I did not"
THE porter said that when you left
the club you had murder in your eye"
Possibly"
You had overheard Philips last re-
mark to the porter?"
'4es-something about Fostering
beggars. I was ready to make him
swallow his words, but + loathe a, scene
before people like those who frequent
the Veterans club
l wish to goodness you had gone
FOR him then and there
'Why?"
This accursed business would not
nave occurred"
oh, yes 1t would-sooner or later"
what makes you say that?'
Philip must have had an enemy"
Who murdered him last night, YOU
-hink?"
An enemy" assented Luke, who
evidently laid in wait for him and muir
1ered him last night. 1t is bound to
out at the inquest"
About this enemy?" queried Colonel
Harris vaguely.
Why, yes" rejoined Luke a little i'm
,atiently, Surely the police have made
,ther Investigations. They are not just
astening on me mi on no one else"
Gould you," asked Louisa, "help the
police in that, Luke?"
No. he replied, IT know absolutely
lothing about Philip or about his past
ife." ~
Did Lord Radclyffe?"
81 don't know"
He has been questioned, has he not?"
He is too i'll to see any one. Doctor
H~ewington declares that he must not
to see any one His condition
S critical. Moreover, he is only partly
onscious."
But"
There's Philips lawyer, Davies
luke; "the police ought to be in COM
a%unication with him.. It is positively
iculou the way they seem to do
in the way Of proper investiga-
ion, but only make up their minds that
have killed my cousin. Why! they
n even seem to trouble about the
veapon with which the murder was
ommitted."
'The weapon-?"
The ejaculation, spoken hardly above
whisper, had come from Colonel Har-
is. Once more the old man felt-as he
lad done in his brotherinlaw's office
every drop Of blood in him had re-
'eded back to his heart, and that he
would choke If he attempted to utter
word.