The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-07-18

In fact we see Sir Thomas Ryder-a
hard disciplinarian, a hide and tape
bound offclal-freely transgressing
prescribes. He was sitting in his
private office with his brotherinlaw
giving away secrets that belonged not
to him but to his department, conniv-
Ing through the words which he spoke
at h fleeing from justice of a crlmi-
nal who belonged not to him hut to
the state.
He was making the case against
Luke de Mountford to appear as black
as It was in effect. SO that Colonel
Harris and Louisa might take fright
n induce the unfortunate man to
realize his danger in time and to shrink
from facing the of his
own terrible deed.
But Colonel Harris-with the obsti-
macy of those who throughout life have
never led but have always been ruled
would not see the case through his
b~rotherinlaw's spectacles. He chung to
MS w reputation of the possibility
OF Luke de Mountford's guilt. He be-
haved quite unconsciously, just as
Louisa would have wished him to be-
have, had she been present here to
prompt him.
To Sir Thomas most convincing ex-
pose of the situation he lent an atten-
tive car, but h shrug of his shoulders
When the other man paused to take
breath was In Itself. q testimony of
loyalty to Luke's cause.
Hang 1T all, man," he said, you are
not going to sit there and tell me that
Luke de Mountford-the man whom I
myself would have chosen as a sonin-
law had Lou not forestallcd me-that
Luke would commit a deliberate muir
der? In h name Of common sense,
Tom. why it's u~nthinkable! Do you
mean TO a that you actually believe
that Luke. after he left that God
forsaken club. Joined his cousin again
got int a taxicab with him, and poked
him through the neck whilst the man
was looking another way
Roughly speaking" assented Sir
Thomas, Il believe that's what hap
pened."
And you call yourself a shrcwd de-
tective!" exclaimed Colonel Harris
holly. "And you hold the lives of men
practically in h hollow Of your hand!
Why man! have you forgotten enc
thlng%' he continued, his gruff voice
assuming a note of triumph, the most
important in all this damnable bust
ness?"
What have I forgotten, WHIP asked
the other not at all ruffled by the gall
Ian coloneIs sudden o. of contempt.
A1o "SdDCIi, lOIu! az
II haven't forgotten the re-
joined Sir Thomas calmly.
oh, yes, you have! Do you moan
to tell me that Luke de Mountford
h~ab1tually walks about the streets OF
London with an Italian stiletto in his
was with a thing of that sort tina the
murder was committed. Or according
to you did Luke escort Louisa to q
dinner party with the avowed intention
at the back Of his mind of committing
a murder later on if occasion offered?
Did he bring an Italian stiletto from
home when he came to meet his fiancee
at the Langham hotel, or did he buy
one on the way to the Veterans club?
Which of these cock-and-bull theories
do you hold, Tom?"
Neither" admitted Sir Thomas with
a placid smile.
Then concluded Colonel Harris
c~ontemptuously, "you think tina Luke
was-as I adm the habit Of carrying
an Italian stiletto in his trousers pock-
ETY."
No. rejoined tho other. still un-
rufled, but I know that Luke de
Mountford is in the habit Of carrying a
snakeWood walking stick, which he
once bought-years ago-somewhere
abroad, and the top of which contains
the body OF the stick. And what's
more you know that stick too, Will:
you nave often seen it. Are you pre-
pared to swear that Luke hadn't 1t
with him last night?"
He hadn't it with him
You are prepared to swear to that:'
insisted the other earnestly.
Colonel Harris was silent. For the
first time since the beginning of this
long interview he felt as if all the
blood in his body was r%eceding back
to his heart causing it to peat so wild
ly that he thought it was about to
choke him. The color fled from his
cheeks and the cigar dropped from be-
tween nerveless fingers. Swift as light
ming a recollection came ack to him
"a vision Of Luke entering the sitting
room Of the LanGham hotel with his
coat on and his hat and stick in the
left hand.
But he would not give in even now
not on such paitry surmises. Any
number Of men he knew carried sticks
that contained weapons OF seif-defense.
He himself possessed a very murder
ous-looking swordstick which he had
once bought in Paris. He fought down
this oncoming attack Of weakness, and
blamed himself Severely for it too. It
savored Of disloyalty to Louisa and to
| Luke. He stopped and picked his cigar
up and looked his brotherinlaw boldly
in the face.
IT wouldn't" he said, swear either
way, whether Luke had his stick with
him last night or not. Z know that
stick, of course. have got one very
like 1t myself"
$50 have l." rejoined Sir Thomas
with his placid smile.
CONTINUED Next Weekly