Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-01-27
CHAPTER XIV.
THE FINGER n

A shiver ran through the crowd, like
a gust Of wind across a field of wheat.
The words, "Mahbub is Thuggee."
seemed to reno the veil which obscured
the tragedy. Surely it was clear
enough, now; here was a man killed by
Thuggee'S peculiar method. and here
was the thug. 1t was as simple as two
and two.
Every eye was on the bare legged
Hindu, impressive as ever, staring
straight before him. The camera man
hastily pushed in fresh plates n
trained their machines upon him. Two
policemen edged close to his side.
But Francisco Silva looked about
him with %scornful eyes, and presently
he opened his lips as though to speak,
and then he closed them.
~Goldberger seemed perpleXed. He
looked as though. while rolling smooth
ly along the road toward a we'll UNI
an unforeseen obstacle. h pos
sibility of Mahbub's guilt seemed
to interfere With some theory of
his own. He called Simmonds and
the district attorney TO him, and
they exchanged a few low words.
Then he turned back to the witness.
II should ike to question your at
tendant," he said. will you trans
late for ne? | have not been able to
find a Hindu interpreter"
Silva bowed his consent.
ASK him. please where he spent
Thursday night
There was a brief interchange be-
tween Silva and Mahhub, then the
former turned to Goldberger.
TT was as / thought" he said. He
spent the night in the worship of the
attributes of Kali"
The coroner opened an envelope
which lay on the table at his elbow and
took out a piece of knotted cord.
Ask him if he ever saw this before
he said, and passed it to the witness.
Il notice that it is stained" said
Silva, looking at it. Us it with
blood?"
Yes"
Then Mahhub will not touch it. For
him to do SO, would be to defile him
self"
He doesn't need to touch it. Show
it to him"
Silva spoke to his servant, holding
up the cord. The latter glanced at it
and shook his head. Without a word,
Silva handed the cord back to the
coroner.
Are there any further questions ?'
he asked.
Goldberger pulled at his moustache
impatiently.
There are a lot of questions I'd like
to ask" he said, but 1 feel a good
deal as though l We're questioning the
Sphinx, Isn't it a little queer that
a thug should be so particular about
a few bloodstains?"
Il fear that o are doing Mahhub
an injustice in your thoughts Silva
said gravely. you nave heard GER
tain tales of the Thugs. perhaps
tales distorted and magnified and un-
true. In h old days, as worshipers
OF Kali, they did, sometimes, offer her
a human sacrifice; but that was long
ago To SAL a man is a Thug is rot
to say he is also a murderer"
1T will take more than that to con-
Wet him, anyway" assented Gold
berger, quickly. That is all for the
present. professor" I bit back a smile
at the title which came SO uncon-
sciously from Goldberger's lips.
Silva bowed and walked slowly away
toward h house, Mahhub following
close behind. At a look from Sim
monds, two of his men strolled after
the strange couple.
Goldberger stared musingly after
them for a moment. then shook his
head impatiently. and turned back to
he business IN hand.
Will Mr.. Swain please take the
stand" ne said: and Swain took the
chair. Now, Mr.. SWAIN" G%oldberger
began. after swearing him. please tell
us, in o own way, OF what part
you had in the incidents of Thursday
night"
Swain told his story much as he had