Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-03-09
CHAPTER N1X.-(Continued.)

uneasy that l made q trlp 10 the lop
OF the ladder to take a look over
Elmhurst. But everything appeared as
usual. Perhaps Swain was right-per-
haps it was Silva who was using every
minute to increase his Influence, but
what could l o So long as he COM
mltted no overt act, there was no eX-
cuse for interference. AS Swain had
said. there was nothing that l could
do but watch.
Two hours later. just as l was get
ting up from d dinner to which,, in my
~perturbed condition, l had done smal
justice, l heard a ring at the bell, and
presently Mrs. Hargis entered to tell me
that there was a gentleman asking Tor
me. L Went u to meet him, and was
astonished to find that it was Sim
mondS.
Il don't wonder you're surprised"
he said, as we sat down. Fact is, Pm
surprised myself, for l don know x
actly what Pm to do u here. But
Swain. after he got back to his cell,
something dreadful was going TO hap
pen - Miss Vaughan if h stayed
in the | ouse with those Hindus. In the
end, he got me kin of scared, too, and
made me promise to come out and help
you keep watch. ! went down to the
Record office and had a talk with God
frey before l started ! half expected
him to laugh at me; but he seemed to
think I'd better come. The fac is"
concluded Simmonds, shifting his cigar
to h other side of his mouth, he was
80 serious about 1t, that ] brought two
men along. One Of them is patrollins
the road in front of the house, and the
other the road along the side. I've ar
ranged for two others to relieve them
at midnight. Now. what's it all about.
anyway"
Well l said, in the first place,
neither Godfrey nor l believes that
Swain s%trangled that man"
Il can hardly believe it myself"
agreed Simnonds, for he seems a nice
young Teller: but it's a clear case;
there's the motive, he was on the
ground, and there's the finger prints.
How can you explain them away"
Il can't explain them away. But,
Just the same. Godfrey believes the
murder a committed by one of those
Hindus."
II intimated something of the sort
to me- said Simmonds; but there's
no evidence against hen
No" L conceded; that's what we've
got to find"
are We going To lock for it?"
There's only one place to ooh FOR
1t, aud that's in the house where the
murder was committed. l only wish
we could get Miss Vaughan out of it
that would give us q freer hand
W 1isbt - NV ilisAllS AN AoNt
girl, anyway"' demanded Simmonds.
Il should think she'd jump at a chance
to get away"
so should but she isn't reason
able. just now. / can't make her out.
Perhaps she'll come around in "A day
or two, but meanwhile, if she should
happen to need help, | don't see how
your men out on the road, on the other
side of a 12-foot wall, could do any
good"
Simmonds rubbed his chin thought
fully.
What would you suggest" he asked
at last.
why not put them i'll the grounds,
as soon as it is dark, and let them con
ceal themselves near the house? They
a get over the wall on this side. We
have ladders. Besides" ] added, lit
would be a great mistake to give Silva
any reason to suspect he's being
watched. He'd see the men out OF the
road, sooner or later; but they could
keep out of sight among the hrub-
berry"
Simmonds considered his for a mo-
ment.
Il don't know but what you're right"
he agreed, at last. Well ran it
that way, then" and he went away
presently to call in his men. He soon
came back with them, md gave them
careful n detailed instructions as to
L ia Inc "dllLeO. lltGEu 10 90, DWELLING
especially upon the Importance of their
Keeping carefully concealed. Then we
got the ladders and put them in place.
3 careful not to touch the top of
the wall" cautioned them; there's
broken glass on top, and the merest
touch may mean q bad injury"
When you get down on the other
side" Simmonds added, tai down the
ladder and hide 1t In the shrubbery at
the foot OF the wall. Somebody might
see 1t If you left It standing there. But.
for heavens sake, don't get mixed up
so you can't find it again. Be back
here at 11:30, n your relief will be
ready. You've got your whistles?
Well, blow them good and hard if
there's any trouble. And be mighty
careful not to let any one see you. or
you may get snake bit"
The men mounted the ladder, crossed
the wall and disappeared on the other
side. and Simlnonds and / turned back
to the house. / felt as though a great
load had been lifted from my shoul-
ders. With those W. men SO close
at hand. surely nothing very serious
could happen to Miss Vaughan.
SimInonds and / spent the remainder
OF the evening in discussing the case,
but neither Of us was able to shed
my new light upon it. Shortly after
IL. the two men who were to form
the relief arrived, and Just as we
started for the wall, Godfrey drove In
front Of h highway. 1t needed but
a moment to tell him OF our arrange
ments, which he heartily approved. He
Joined us and we We're soon at The
foot of the ladder. While we waited.
Simmonds gave the new men the same
minute Instructions he had given the
others. and presently we heard a slight
scraping against the wall and the men
who had been on duty o 1t.
They had nothing of especial inter-
est to report. The yogi and Miss
Vaughan had taken q stroll through
the grounds early in the evening, and
my heart a as the detective added
that they seemed to be talking earnest :
ly together. Then they had reentered
the house. and Miss Vaughan had re-
manned in the library looking at a book.
while her companion passed on out of
sight. At the end of an hour, she
had closed the book, shut and locked
the outer door, and turned out the
light. Another light had appeared
shortly afterwards in a room upstairs.
1t. too. had been extinguished half an
hour later. and the detectives pre-
stunned that b a gone to e Afte:
that the house had remained in com
pletc darkness. The servants had spent