The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-12-30

What kind OF a freak dress Is this,
anyway" he asked.
It's robe" said Godfrey. MT.
Vaughan was a mystic"
"A what?" d.
"A mystic-a believer in Hinduism
or some other Oriental religion"
Did he dress this way all the timer"
I believe so. 1t is probably the
dress OF his order"
Goldberger rolled the robe up care
fully. and said nothing more; but 1
could see from his expression that he
had ceased to wonder why Vaughan
had come to a strange and violent
end. Surely anything might happen to
mystic! Then he placed the blood
stained handkerchief In another envel-
ope, and finally put his hand in his
pocket and brought out half a dozen
cigars. ..r.
Now" he said, lets sit down and
rest awhile Simmonds tells me 1t was
You who called him, Mr.. Godfrey. How
did you happen to discover the crime %
The question was asked careiessly,
but could feel the alert mind behind
1t. knew that Godfrey felt II, too,
from the way in which be told the
story, for he told 1t carefully, and yet
with an air Of keeping nothing back.
OF the mysterious light he said moth
ing, but, starting with my finding Of
the letter and summoning Swain to
receive 1t, told OF the arrangements
for the rendezvous, dwelling upon II
lightly, as a love affair which could
have no connection with the tragedy.
He passed on to his own arrival from
the city, to SWANS return from the
rendezvous, and finally to the screams
which had reached US, and to the dis
covery we had made when we burst
into the house. a..
Il summoned DR.. Human imme-
diately," he added, "for Miss Vaughan
seemed to be In q serious condition;
then called Simmonds, and suggested
that he stop for you,. Mr.. Coroner, for
knew that the case would interest
you. DIR. Hinman arrived perhaps
half an hour ahead of you, and had
Miss Vaughan put TO bed at once. And
l guess you know the rest" he con-
cluded.
We had all listened intently. 1 was
pretty sure that Simmonds would make
no differences which Godfrey wished
to avoid; but feared the more pene-
trating mind of the. coroner. His. first
question proved that was right to
do SO.
Where is this man SWAMI" he
asked.
He was suffering from the shock. "
said Godfrey" and Lester and DR..
Human took him over to my place
anu put HlLIl 10 'Deu. lnaL s Wnere they
were when you got here"
He seemed to be suffering from a
slight concussion," Human ex-
planned. There was a swelling on
one side of his head, as though some
one had struck him, and the pupils of
his eyes were unsymmetrical. He had
also a cut on the wrist" he added,
after an instant's hesitation.
"Ah!" commented Goldberger, with
glance Godfrey Ia1
bleeding?"
HE cut himself when crossing the
wall" Godfrey explained; "a mere
scratch, but believe 1t did bleed a
good DEAL
"Ah!" said Goldberger again; and
then he turned to the doctor. Did l
understand you to say that he went
to sleep?"
He certainly did. gave him a good
strong opiate to make sure of IT."
DO you think he'll sleep till morn
ing?"
Hell sleep nine or 10 hours, at
least"
"Then that's all right" said Gold
berger. and settled back in his chair
again. But didn't anybody live in
this house except that old man and
his daughter? Aren't there any
servants?"
There must be, some somewhere
about" answered Godfrey, to whom the
question was addressed: but Lester
and looked through the lower floor
and part OF the upper one and didn't
find any. There's a bell there by the
door, but nobody answered when |
rang. We didn't have time to go all
over the house. We did find one thing,
though" he added, as if by an after
thought.
what was that?
rooms upstairs"
Goldberger sat up and stared at him.
AN adept?" he repeated. Whats
that?"
An expert in mysticism. 1 Judge
that Vaughan was his pupil"
do you mean he's a Hindu" asked
the coroner, as though that would ex-
plain everything.
But Godfrey was having his revenge.
Il don't know whether he's Hindu
or not" he said, airily. 81 didn't get q
very good look at him."
What was he doing?" Goldberger
demanded.
He was just sitting there"
Again Goldberger stared at him, this
time suspiciously.
But, good heavens, mani" he cried
THAT was three or four hours ago!
You don't suppose he's sitting there
yeti"
Yes" said Godfrey, drily, II think
he is" -" 49,.
Goldberger's face flushed, and he
sprang to his feet impatiently.
Show me the ROOM" he commanded.
Glad to-" said Godfrey laconically,
and led the way out into the hall.
The whole crowd tailed along after
him. AS rose to follow, saw that
the outside world was turning grey
with the approaching dawn.
The nurse, hearing our footsteps on
the stairs, looked out in alarm, and
held up a warning finger. Godfrey
paused for a word with her.
How Is she?" he asked.
Sleeping quietly" said the nurse;
but please don't make any more noise
than you can help" .'.*.
I'VE won't" Godfrey promised, and
crossed the hall to the door leading
into the little entry. Then he paused
and looked around at Goldberger.
Better go slow here" he cautioned.
The adept has a pet cobra"
"A shaker"
The deadliest snake in the world"
Goldberger drew back a little, as
did all the others.
II don't think it will bite us,
fhnnuhu oddad GnAfrau ohaarR,II,y