The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1915-01-21

tyro." / said, dirty.
It's long odds that the great un-
known WILL Godfrey retorted. and babe
me good bye.
Except for that chance meeting, / saw
nothing OF him, and in this / was dis
appointed, for there were many things
about the whole affair which I did not
understand. In fact, when / sat down
OF an evening, n lit my pipe q
began to think it over, I found that !
understood nothing at all. Godfrey's
theory held together perfectly, so far
as l could see, but it led nowhere
How had Drouet n Vantine been
Killed? Why had they been killed?
q word. what was all this mystery
about? Not one OF these questions
could I answer; and h solutions ]
guessed, 1t seemed so absurd dismissed
them In disgust. In the end, I found
that the affai was interfering with
mind, turning my face resolutely away
from it whenever it tried to break into
my thoughts.
But though I could shut 1t u Of my
waking hours successfully enough,
could not control my sleeping ones, and
my dreams became more and more hor-
ribie. Always there was the serpent
with dripping fangs, sometimes with
Armand's head, sometimes with a face
unknown to me, out hideous beyond de-
scription; It's Shiny body glittered with
inlay and arabesque; It's scaly legs We're
curved like those of the Boule cabinet;
sometimes the golden sun glittered on
Its forehead like a great eye. Over
and over again I saw this monster
Stay Its three victims: and always,
when that was done. it raised its head
and glared at me. as though selecting
me for the fourth . But / shall
not try to describe those dreams, even
yet l cannot recall them without 3
%shudder.
1t was while 1 was sitting moodily
In my room one night, debating
whether or not to go to bed; weary
to exhaustion and yet reluctant to re-
sign myself to a sleep from which !
knew I should wake shrieking. that a
knock came at the door-a knock ]
recognized; and I arose joyfully to
admit Godfrey.
I could see by the way his eyes were
shining that he had something I'M
usual to tell me: and then. Is he looked
at me. his face changed.
What's the matter. Lester?" he de-
manded. You're looking tagged out.
Working too hard?"
TITS not that" / said. II can't sleep.
This thing has upset my nerves.. Cod
frey. I dream about it-have regular
nightmares"
He sat down opposite me. concern
and anxiety in his face.
THAT Won't do" he protested. You
must go away somewhere-take a rest,
and a good long one"
"A rest wouldn't do me n good. as
long as this mystery is unsolved," l
said. ITS only by working that I can
keep my mind off of it."
We'll" he smiled. Just to oblige
you. we will solve it first, then"
DO you mean you know"
A II krn ~ nho. tho Gr1ot L.
and I'm going to tell you presently.
Day after tomorrow-Wednesday-Tn
know all the rest. The whole story
will be in Thursday mornings paper.
Suppose you arrange to start Thurs
day afternoon"
l could only stare at him. He smiled
AS he met my axe
You're looking better already he
said. as though you were taking a
little more interest in life" and he
helped himself to a cigar.
Godfrey" I protested, II wish you
would pick out somebody else to prac-
t1ce on. You come up here and explode
q bomb Just to see how high I'll Jump.
It's amusing to you, no doubt. and
perhaps a little Instructive; but my
nerves won't stand it."
My dear Lester" he broke in, chat
wasn't a bomb; that was a simple
statement Of fact"
Are you s%erious7"
GerIectly So.
But how do you know"
Before 1 answer any questions. l
want to ask O one. Did you, by any
chance. mention me to the gentleman
known to you as M. Felix Amman ?"
Yes" answered. after a moments
thought; 81 believe T did. T was tell
ing him about trying to find the
secret drawer-I mentioned your name
and he asked who you We're. I told
him you were a genius at solving mys-
teries.
That" he said. explains the one
thing l didn't understand. Now go
ahead with your questions."
You said a while ago that you would
know all about this affair day after
tomorrow"
Yes"
How do o know you will?"
because | have received a letter
which sets the date" and he took from
his pocket a sheet Of paper and handed
1T over to me. Read It'll"
The letter was written in pencil. in a
delicate n somewhat feminine hand.
on a sheet Of plain. unruled paper
With an establishment which increased
with every word. l read this extraor-
binary epistle:
My Dear Mr.. Godfrey: