Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-12-10
CHAPTER XIV.
Fl L LADY.

THE YELLED LADY.
riage. Mr.. Hornblower sat with his
back to the horses and two women
were on the opposite seat. Both We're
dressed in black and heavily yelled, but
there was about them the indetinable
distinction of mistress and maid. 1t
would be difficult to tell precisely in
what the distinction consisted, but it
was there.
Mr.. Hornblower glanced behind me
as | entered.
You spoke of a Witness" he said.
He is at the Nantine house." l ex-
planned and sat down beside him.
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 spoken.
The carriage rolled out to Broadway
and then turned northward, making
that crowded thoroughfare. | glanced
from time to time at the women OPP
posite, n was struck by the contrast
in their behavior. One sat quite still,
her hands in her lap. her head bent,
admirably self c~ontained; the other
was restless and uneasy, unable to con-
troll a nervous tWitching of h fingers.
l wondered why the maid should seem
more upset han her mistress, and de-
cided finally hat 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 int the avenue and
stopped before the Vantine house. Mr..
Hornblower assisted the women to
alight and | led h way up the steps.
But as we reached the top and 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. | did not realize $ "
There are nc relatives to be hurt,
madame" [ interrupted. LAS for the
dead man, what can it matter to him.
and | rang the bell.
Parks opened the door and nodding
to him. | 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 mis- eyes,
as MIR. 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 humored
mile.
Il l were not sure of Mr.. Godfrey's
discretion he said, Il should object.
But ] have tested it before this and
know that it can be relied upon"
There is only one person to whom
/ yield precedence in the matter of
discretion" rejoined Godfrey, smiling
back at him, and that is MIR. Horn
blower. He is in a class quite by him
self"
Thank you," said the lawyer and
bowed gravely.
During this interchange of compli-
ments, the 1 had decided was
the maid had sat down, as though her
legs were unable to sustain her, and
was n~erVously clasping and unclasp-
ing her hands; even her mistress
showed signs of Impotence.
The cabinet is in here" I said, and
two men and the yelled lady at my
heels.
1t stood in the middle of the floor.
just as it had stood since the night of
the tragedy, and all the lights We're
going. AS l entered, / noticed Godfrey's
gauntlet lying on a chair.
rs it the right one, madame?"I asked
She gazed at it a moment, her hands
pressed against her breast.
"Yes!" she answered, with a gasp
that was almost a sob.
/ confess l was astonished. l had
eve though it could be the right one;
even now l did not see how it could
possibly be the right one.
You are sure?" l queried ~incredulous-
ly.
DO you think I could be mistaken in
such a matter. sir? / assure you that
this cabinet at one time belonged to
me o permit me?" she added, and
took a step toward it.
One moment. madame" I interposed.
81 nc tt-n ,-, n, <l~N -, IL
that cabinet you are running a great
risk"
"A great risk? she echoed, looking at
me
"A very great risk, as / have pointed
out to Mr.. Hornblower.I have reason to
believe that two men met death while
trying to open that secret drawer"
Il believe Mr.. Hornblower did tell
me something of the Sort she muir
INJURED; but of course that is all a
mistake"
Then the drawer is not guarded by
%poison?' l questioned.
by poison she repeated blankly,
and carried her handkerchief to her
lips. 81 dc not understand
/ knew that my theory was COLLAPSE
ing, utterly, hopelessly. 1 dared not
look at Godfrey.
rs there not, connected with the
drawer I asked, "a mechanism which,
as the drawer is opened, plunges two
poisoned fangs INTO the hand which
opens it?'
mo, Mr.. Lester" she answered. as
constituent in her voice. Il assure you
there is no such mechanism"
l clutched at a last straw, and a sorry
one it was!
The mechanism may have been
placed there since h cabinet passed
from YOU possession / suggested.
That is, perhaps. possible she
agreed, though / saw that she was un-
convinced.
AT any rate, madame, I said, 81
would ask that. in opening the drawer,
you wear this gauntlet" and 1 picked
up Godfrey's gauntlet from the chair on
which it lay. 1T is needless that you