The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-01-08

heaven II earth to flnl out wac had
been back Of the abduction. Let her
make her accusations. He was out
of it.
"Mademoiselle," said the great po-
liceman soberly, this 10 a grave &C.
c~usation to make"
II make it, nevertheless" replied
| Nora. She sat stifTly in her chair, her
| face colorless. dark circles under her
eyes. She never looked toward Court
landt.
But Monsieur C%ourtlandt has Of
fered an alibi such as we cannot L.
more. More than that. his integrity
is vouched for by the gentleman at
his side, whom doubtless mademoi-
selle recognizes"
Nora eyed the great man d%oubtfully.
What Is the gentleman to your
she was Intercepted.
Absolutely nothing" contemptu.
ously.
The minister inspected his rings.
He has annoyed me at various
times" continued Nora; that Is all.
And his actions on Friday night war.
rant every suspicion have enter
tanned against him."
The chief Of police turned toward
! the bandaged chauffeur. You recog.
nize the gentleman"
mo, monsieur, ! never saw him Be.
fore. 1t was an old man who engaged
me-"
Go on"
He said that mademoiselle's old
teacher vas very Ill and asked for ~.
sistance. l. left mademoiselle at the
house and drove away. l was hired
from the garage. That is the truth.
monsieur"
Nora smiled disbelievingly. Doubt.
less he had been paid we'll for that
lie.
And your" asked the chief Of No.
rais chauffeur.
He is certainly the gentleman. mon.
sieur. who attempted to brtbe me"
That is true" said Courtlandt with
utmost calmness.
"Mademoiselle. II Monsieur Court.
landt wished, he could accuse you OF
attempting to shoot him."
ut RAJ an accident. His sudden ap.
pearance in my apartment frightened
me. Besides, l believe q woman who
lives comparatively alone has q legal
and moral right to protect herself
from such unwarrantable i~ntrusions.
/ wish him no physical injury. but ]
am determined to be annoyed by him
no longer"
The minister's eyes sought Court.
landt's face obliquely. Strange young
man. he thought. From the expires.
sion Of his face he might have been Z
spectator rather than the person most
vitality concerned in this little scene.
And whats pair they made!
Monsieur Courtlandt, you will give
me your word of honor not to annoy
mademoiselle again."
Il promise never to annoy hel
again"
For the briefest moment the blazing
blue eyes clashed with the calm brown
ones. The latter we're first to deviate
from the line. It was not agreeable
to look into a pair Of eyes burning
with the hate Of ones self. Perhap.
this conflagration was intensified BY
the placidity OF his gaze. II only there
had been some nign OF anger, Of con
tempt. anything but this incredible
tranquility against which she longed
to cry out! She was too wrathful tc
notice the Quickening throb OF the
veins on his temples.
"Mademoiselle, l find no case
against Monsieur Courtlandt, unless
you wish to appear against him for his
forcible entrance to your apartment
Nora shook her head. The chief Of
police stroked his mustache to hide
the fleeting smile. A peculiar case
the like Of which had never before
come under his scrutiny! "Circum
stantial evidence, we know, points tc
him; but we have also an alibi which
IL incontestable. We must look else
where for your abductors. Think;
have you not some enemy? Is there
no one who might wish you worry
and inconvenience? Are your asso
ciates all loyal to you? Is there any
jealousy"
(TO BE CONTINUED)