The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-07-07

n Engine SIFuCk the LIT
Then a reckless look crossed his
face. He called UP once more the OLD
smile. mot q thing" he insisted
Nothing whatever. It's a little cold
outside tonight. Perhaps" he added
with a restless laugh, his eyes wander
ing over the gay faces all about, some
ones walking over my grave"
oh exclaimed his friend. "Are
you superstitious?'
NO." returned Seagrue, almost
fiercely, "only tired Of the world and
everything in it. Where is HELENE"
She's in the library" said his com
panion. You're awful late. Let's g
and find her."
She would have led him into tie
library. He stopped on the threshold
and refused to enter. He saw. as in
a vision, what others-now that the
room was filled with laughing men and
women-did not see. He saw mid
night within it and his own accom-
plices in a death grapple with an old
"a He saw that old man laid out
. few moments later on a couch, . doc
tor bending anxiously Ove him to DO
tect a heart beat. And he saw the sur
geon's face as he looked UP and grave
ly said: General Holmes is dead"
Despite his reckless bravado, Z
shudder gripped him for an instant
again. He shook 1t off aud braced
himself with angry resentment. No
he said brusquely, Il won't go in there
too much Of a crowd for me. I'll
try the reception ROOM" Turning, he
encountered Rhinelander. The two
men greeted each other briefly.
R%hinelander spoke with kindness to
his nephew. He tried to tell him that
he wanted him to do differently. He
assured him that neither he nor Helen
cherished any lasting resentment for
what had gone before and now that
they two were the winners, they meant
to BE- generous to the losers and &c
him IN especial.
4 am wiling declared RLineland.
er, and think that Helen will stand
with me in it, to give you IN interest
in the mine-it is big enough to make
a dozen millionaires. Make a mar
Of yourself, Earl. that's all we ask.
Well do the rest"
Seagrue regarded him with an OK
preston SO terrible that it shocked
Rhinelander, but what was passing
through Seagrue's mind. he could not
tell.
Tomorrow" Seagrue muttered, like
n hardly in possession of his senses,
mot tonight-I'n talk to you tomor.
row. Where's Helen?"
She left here this moment for the
conservatory with George Storm"
Seagrue took a step forward, as il
to 60 to her. Then he stopped and
turned away. Someone took Rhine
lander's attention and he lost sight
of his nephew, but the woman who
had first spoken to Seagrue afterward
related what she saw. Seagrue looked
once more toward the library. He di.
rected his steps toward 1T. On the
threshold he halted abruptly again,
as IL rudely checked by an unseen
hand. He looked about as IL he saw
and heard what others did not see and
hear. Then, shaking himself loose
from the seeming clutch OF invisible
fingers, he took q determined step,
strobe into the library as one who
accepts a challenge, walked defiantly
through the room and out Of the French
doors he himself had opened on a mid
night to . murderer.
He disappeared from sight in the
shrubbery OF the garden and walked
some distance before he encountered
those whom he had gone out to meet.
Even the two hiding men saw the emo
ton under which he was laboring. He
told them what he had seen, told them
OF Storms escape, the thwarting OF
his plans, and with oaths gave them
orders as to what to do End how to
do It. He trembled with furious en-
as he spoke on. And when
the coast is clear" he exclaimed, at
last, I'll drop my handkerchief"
Turning on his heel, he left them. The
murderers looked uncertainty at
each other. Something Of his uneasi-
ness communicated itself to them.
In the conservatory, Helen and
Storm were c%onversing with guests.
The guests left the room as Seagrue
came in and he returned. somewhat
Btihly. the greeting OF Helen and Storm.
Storm, resolved wv to be generous
his enemy, stepped to the punch
bowl and 0llinx glasses. crossed the