Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-06-26

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clear Mary that's all ask" he said
shortly. Instantly the girls hand was
on his arm and her eyes looked up into
his troubled face in love and sympathy.
"Oh, Bruce. DEAR" she exclaimed
softly, nobody believes you or Mary
had anything to do with it,"
Nobody that knows us, Of course"
said Argyle gravely. But what about
the people that read the newspapers
and don't know us? How is Mary?"
'She's wonderful." breathed the girl.
1.-The way she keeps up! I'd go out OF
my mind. But she's so strange, Bruce.
She hasn't said a word about your
father since l came. She simply won't
speak Of it."
Bruce nodded. staring thoughtfully
straight out before him.
"Mary's always like that" he said.
"She ley talks about the things that
are way deep down in her. The old
mar knew it. And he liked her for it,
I guess. He could quarrel with me, but
he could never get a rise out Of Mary.
She just simply kept quiet and-got her
own way with him. He never forgave
me for refusing to marry her, but he
never quarreled with her for refusing
to marry me-"
The girl vehemently possessed herself
of his hand. Pm glad she refused"
she whispered. Bruce slipped his arm
about his sweetheart's waist and kissed
the top of her head.
"She understood about you, Man, he
said gently. from the first. And she
us with him. If he'd lived she'd have
brought him around. He probably
cared more for her than for anything
else in the world. It's been that way
ever since she was a little girl-ever
since she came here to live"
He broke off and drew away from
the girl as Il woman of about forty-fve,
breathing audibly and plainly very ner-
vous and excited, sort of swarmed into
the library. She was a highly respect
able, if not highly intellectual, woman
whom the elder Argyle had retained as
a companion to his adopted daughter.
Good morning. Bruce" she painted,
busting over to a window and closing
it violently. Il didn't know you were
here. Finley tells me that man-that
detective-Kayton is coming"
Yes" nodded Bruce. Mrs. Wyatt
rolled her eyes. She was evidently in
a chronic condition of excitement over
something that had happened or in agi-
tation over something that was likely
to happen.
II think you're perfectly right" she
declared. tanning herself with a maya
zine. Il mean to say those police de-
tectives aren't getting anywhere. Here
it's a whole week and we don't know
any more than we did at first"
well, this kayton is a wonder"
said Bruce, preparing to leave. He'll
find some clew that all the other de-
tectiyes have missed. I've got to go
now. Nan. The lawyers have sent for
me. I'll be right back"
Mrs. Wyatt sighed gustily and gazed
about her as Bruce disappeared.
You know. Miss Thompson" she
said, this has been my home for TWEEN
ty years, ever since Mary was taken
into the family, but it never will be
again. l mean to say 1 never could
feel at home in Il house where there'd
been u murder. l suppose Pm peculiar,
but l neyer-but it doesn't make any
difference whether the room is opened
or locked up. I can't go by without
feeling it. Do you understand what l
mean? l suppose" another sight
suppose Mary'll sell the place. Have
you heard anything about it,"
"Oh. no" exclaimed the gill hastily.
WELL" Mrs. Wyatt pursed her lips
and breathed even more rapidly.
what do you think of the will?"
Miss Thompson looked uncomfort-
able. II think it's very unjust, of
course" she replied reluctantly. Mrs.
Wyatt shook her head. darkly.
MIR. Argyle was a very strange man.
l don't want to say anything disagree
able about the dead. but it's certainly
hard to understand how a man could
cut his own son off without a cen and
leave a fortune to a girl who is in no
way related to him.
II don't believe Mary will let the
will stand" inter- %ed Miss Thomp-
son. with the manller Of one anxious
to turn a d~isagreeable conversation.
Miss Thompson, I'd say that, too,
but money changes people so. I mean
to say-take a perfectly fair minded
person like Mary, generous to a fault,
and you never can tell what money
will bring out in them-do you know
what | mean""
Miss Thompson was spared the pain
of a further discussion Of the subject
by the temperance of Finley with the
announcement that the detectives had
come. Miss Wyatt said she supposed
they might as we'll come right in.
Hadn't we better go?' suggested
Miss Thompson after Finley had de,
parted with the instructions.
"Yes-yes." agreed Mrs. Wyatt,
Fastening toward the door. 81 don't
want to see him. l mean to say-Tve
seer enough detectives during the past
week to last me the rest of my life"!'