The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-12-10
CHAPTER XIV.
THE YELLED LADY.

THE YELLED LADY.
There were three persons in the car
fiage. Mr.. Hornblower sat with his
were on the opposite seat. Both were
dressed in black and heavily yelled, but
there was about them the indefinable
distinction of mistress and maid. 1t
would be difficult to tell precisely in
what the distinction consisted, but 1t
was there.
Mr.. Hornblower glanced behind me
as l entered.
You spoke of a witness" he said.
He is at the Vantine house. / ex-
planned and sat down beside linn.
This is Mr.. Lester" he said, and
the yelled lady opposite him, whom l
had known at once to be the mistress,
inclined her head a little.
Those were the only words X
The carriage rolled out to
and then turned northward, making
such progress as was possible along
that crowded ~thoroughfare. l glanced
from time to time at the women up
posite, and was struck by the contrast
in their behavior. One sat quite still,
her hands in her lap, her head bent,
admirably self contained; the other
was restless mi uneasy, unable to con-
troll a nervous twitching of the fingers
I wondered why the maid should seem
more upset h her mistress, and de-
cided finally that her uneasiness was
merely lack of breeding. But the con-
trast interested me.
At Tenth street the carriage turned
westward again, skirted Washington
square,, turned into the venue and
stopped before the Vantine house. Mr..
Hornblower assisted the women to
| alight and I led the way up the steps.
| But as we reached the top n came
upon the funeral wreath on the door,
the yelled lady stopped with a little
exclamation.
Il did not know" she said quickly.
Perhaps. after all, we would better
wait. l did not realize
There are no relatives to be hurt,
madame" 1 interrupted. AS for the
lead man, what can it matter to him.
and I rang the bell.
Parks opened the door and nodding
to him, l led the way along the hall
and into the ante-room. Godfrey was
awaiting us there and l saw the flame
Of interest which leaped into his eyes
as MI. Hornblower and the two yelled
women entered.
This is my Witness" I said to the
former. "Mr. Godfrey-Mr. Horn
blower"
Godfrey bowed and Hornblower re.
garded him with a good humoree
IF I were not sure of Mr.. Godfrey's
discretion" he said, Il should object
But l have tested it before this ant
know that it a be relied upon"
There is only one person to whom
I yield precedence in the matter o
discretion" rejoined Godfrey, smlln'
back at him, and that is Mr.. Horn
blower. He is in a class quite by him
SELF"
"Thank you" said the lawyer am
bowed gravely. =.
During his interchange of compli
ments, the woman I had decided wa
the maid had sat down. as though he
legs were unable to sustain her, an
was nervously clasping and unclasp
ing her hands; even her mistres
showed signs of Impotence.
THE cabinet is in here" 1 said, an
led the way into the inner room, tn
two men and the yelled lady at M
heels.
It stood In the middle Of the foo.
lust as 1t had stood since the night {
the tragedy, and all the lights we1
going. AS 1 entered, l noticed Godfrey
gauntlet lying on a chair.
lis it the right one, madame?' aske
A She gazed at it a moment, her hanc
4 pressed against her breast.
1 "Yes!" she answered, with a gas
I that was almost a sob.
1 I confess T was astonished. l ha
I never though 1t could be the right on
even now I did not see how 1t cou
possibly be the right one.
4 "You are sure?" 1 queried i~ncredulou
"Do you think I could be mistaken
such a matter, sir? l assure you tht
this cabinet at one time belonged
me. You permit me?' she added, al
took a step toward 1T.
"One moment, madame I interpose
"I must warn you that in touchil
that cabinet you are running a gre
risk"
"a great risk? she echoed. looking
me.
"a very great risk, as I have point
out to Mr.. Hornblower.I have reason
believe that two men met death VIII
irving to open that secret drawer
Il believe Mr.. Hornblower did t
me something Of the sort" she mi
INJURED; "ont of course that is all
mistake"
Then the drawer is not guarded
p~oison?' I questioned. ;,
by poison" she repeated blank
and carried her handkerchief to /
lips. II do not understand"
I knew that my theory was cola
ing, utterly, hopelessly. l dared I
look at Godfrey.
rs there not, connected with I
drawer I asked, "a mechanism viii
as the drawer is opened, plunges
poisoned fangs into the hand VIII
opens it?"
mo, Mr.. Lester she answered,
constituent in her voice. g" assure
there is no such mechanism"
clutched at a last straw, and a SO
one it was!
1.-THE mechanism may have b
placed there since the cabinet pas
from your possession 1 suggested.
THAT is, perhaps. possible
agreed, though I saw that she was
convinced.
cat any rate, madame" I said,
would ask that. In opening the draw
you wear this gauntlet" and pic
up Godfrey's gauntlet from the chall
which it lay. "It is needless that