The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-06-20
THE HEART OF A WOMAN
BY BARONESS ORGY.
Author Of "The Scarlet Pimpernel" "Psttieoat Rule" Etc.

The man who hailed the cab in
1 could help YOU IL l knew"
I'll have his description properly
written out. my lord, and bring 1t to
you in the morning"
Cant you tell me now? Every mo-
nlent lost is irretrievable in cases like
these" ~. -
II am afraid. my lord, that I cannot
tel you definitely now. There's q dense
fog outside-and-"
The chauffeur's descriptions are
vague" i~nterposed Lord Radcliffe with
a sneer. "the eternal for in
competence"
> my lord!' protested the man.
A right! all right No offense
meant ! assure you. You must pardon
an old mans irritabilty--the new You
have brought me does not make for
evennoss OF temper. / rely on your de-
partment to clear this matter up with
he least possible scandal" ,.. ,
II am afraid that scandal is inevita-
BILE" ~retorted the officer dryly, for he
still felt sore at Lord Radclyffe's ILL
tempered thrust. we shall have to
rake up a great deal OF what might
be unpleasant to many parties"
Why should IL be unpleasant"
I'VE shall have to know something
of h murdered mans past. OF his as
sociates before-before he was able TO
establish his claim to your lordship's
consideration" .
II have no doubt that the late Philip
de ,Mountford had many undesirable
associates in the past" remarked Lord
Radclyffe CURLY. a
The silence which followed was tan
tamount to a dismissal. The officer
rose to 60. He felt nettled at the old
mans obvious sneers: they had been
like q cold douche over his enthusiasm,
for the case had already drifted into
his hands and 1t promised to be the
most interesting and most sensational
criminal case of modern time. -.
You have not" he said before TAX
ing his leave, told me, my. lord, what
you wish done about the body"
Surely" replied Lord Radclyffe
ENORMOUSLY, 'it is too tate now 70
make any arrangements. What is the
timer" .
Half past 10, my lord"
Surely tomorrow morning we can
discuss all that" "a
Just as you wish, of course" q
Tomorrow moring-as early as you
like. My servants will be at home then
the house will be ready-and / can
make arrangements--or else we'll wait,
as you say. until after the inquest"
The sound Of a bell broke the silence
"You must excuse me-" said his lord
ship dryly, my servants are out, and
there's some n Mt the front door,"
II q hear footsteps below stairs,
my lord" remarked the officer.
a"Ah, I believe you're right. Those
two blackguards must have come home
and / didn't know IT.. They do pretty
much as they like"
Shutting, uncertain footsteps were
heard across the hall. The officer said
hurTiedly:
zone more thing, my lord-you will
pardon my asking but-you had not
thought ~of-er-offered a reward?"
What for?"
THE apprehension OF the murderer,
or useful information that would lead
to conviction"
"Oh! All, yes: a reward by all
meaus! OF course I'll give a reward
to stimulate incompetence, eh?"
What will you lordship make it"
asked the officer, determined this time
to show no resentment.
"Two hundred-hve h~undred-have
what you ltke-so long as you get that
brute"
Five hundred, my lord, would stimu-
late us all"
Every WE'LL" said Lord RadcIyfre
briefly. Good evening""
Good evening, my lord. And to-
morrow morning we'll be ready for the
body to be taken away, il you wish it.
Bot the inquest will be the day after,
so perhaps it might be best to wait
until then. At the ~coroner's court,
Victoria, my lord-South Kensington,
you know-everything will be all right.
Good evening, my lord"
The Two men took their leave, glad
enough TO have lone with the %unpleas-
ant interview.
AS they walked to the door that gave
from tho library on the hall 1t was
opened from the outside, n q seedy
Hooking man, dressed in shabby eve
ming clothes that bore many traces of
past Iibations, walked unceremoniously
midway into the room.
will you see Mr.. Luke de Mount
ford?" he muttered addressing his mas
ter.
Certainly not" replied his lordship.
IT'S much too late. Ask Mr.. Luke to
call again tomorrow. And you and
your wife can go to bed"