Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-02-10
ond place, I won't have her tortured"

oAAS PhASS. L " l Ild IcJ glUIC
She wouldn't be tortured"
Look around at these reporters and
these photographcrs, and then tell me
h wouldn't be tortured,'
"How do you know her evidence
won't help you?"
How can it,"
1T will confirm your story"
Can Ii explain away the finger
prints?"
AT the words. I suddenly realized
that there was one person within strill-
ing distance of the murdered man
whose prints we had not taken-his
daughter. Not that they were neces-
Sary
DR.. Human appeared at h edge of
the lawn and beckoned. AS 1 arose
from my chair, Swain gave my arm a
last savage grip.
"Remember!" he said.
But / kept my lips closed. If Miss
Vaughan really loved him, and could
help him, l would not need to urge her
to the stand
Goldberger joined ne and together
We followed Hinman into the house
and up the stairs. He opened the door
at the stair head. waited for us to pre-
cede him, followed us into the room,
and closed the door gently.
MISS Vaughan was hair sitting, half
reclining in a large chair. The blinds
were drawn and the room in semi
darkness, but even in that light / could
see how changed she was from the girl
of whom | had caught a glimpse two
days before. Her face was dead white,
as though every drop of blood had been
drained from it; her eve were heavy
and puffed. as from much weeping, and
it seemed TO me that there still fingered
in their depths n shadow of horror and
shrinking fear.
This is Mr.. Goldberger," said the
doctor, and this is Mr.. Lester"
She Inclined her lead to each of us,
as we took the chairs the doctor drew
up, and l fancied that her cheeks
flushed a little as her eyes met mine.
Il have explained to Miss Waugh
m" the doctor continued, that an in
curry Is IN progress, as the law re-
cures, 10 determine the manne of her
fathers death, and that her story of
what happened that night is essential
to it,"
ut will, at least, be a great help to
u.s. said ~GoldberGer gently, and | saw
how deeply the girls delicate beauty
appealed to him. 1t was a beauty that
no pallor could disguise, and Goldberg
ers temperament was an impression
bic me.
Il shall be glad 10 tell YOU air |
know" said Miss Vaughan, but 1 fear
it will not help o much.''
Will you tell us something, first, of
your fathers mental state?" | suggest
ed.
For many years. she began, IA
tller q been Il student of mysticism,
merely a student. l mean by that, that
he approached the subject with a de-
tached mind and with no interest in it
except a scientific interest"
Il understand" l said. And that
had changed recently?"
1T his changed completely in the last
few months. He became a disciple, a
convert anxious to win other converts"
"A convert to WHAT"
T Hinduism-to the worship OF
silva"
That is the cult to which Francisco
Silva ~belongs?"
Yes; he is a White Priest of silva
And this change in your father has
been since the coming of this
Yes"
DO You know anything of him."
Only that he is a Very wonderful
man."
You know nothing of his past?"
No"
Did your father wish you to become
a convert?"
Yes. he desired 1t deeply
"A Driestess Of silva, I believe it i,
called.'
Yes"
And the yOpi also desired itpA
He believed II would he ;. erno+ doc
tinv mi he urged only foT ~, 81.
Tiers sake"
$50 Won determined tc annea, IN Mr.
Swain :"
The color deepened in her cheel,,
again.
Il decided TO ask his advice" she
said.
please tell lis what happened that
I cNpDinT'