The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1916-02-10

ond place, won't have her tortured"
she wouldn't be tortured"
Look around at these reporters and
these photographers, and then tell me
she wouldn't be tortured"
How do you know her evidence
won't help your
How can it?"
1T will confirm your story"
Can 1t explain away the finger
prints?"
At the words, suddenly realized
that there was one person within strik-
ing distance of the murdered man
whose prints we had not taken-his
daughter. Not that they were neces-
sary
DR.. Human appeared at the edge OF
the lawn and beckoned. AS I arose
from my chair, Swain gave my arm a
last savage grip.
Remember" he said.
But / kept my lips closed. II Miss
Vaughan really loved hirn, and could
help him, would not need to urge her
to the stand!
Goldberger Joined me and together
we followed Human 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 half sitting. half
reclining in 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
or whom l had caught a glimpse two
days before. Her face was dead white,
as though every drop OF blood had been
drained from it; her eyes were heavy
and puffed, as from much weeping, and
1t seemed to me that there still fingered
in their depths a shadow of horror and
shrinking fear.
n be-
doctor. and this Is Mr.. Lester"
She inclined her head to each of us,
as we took the chairs the doctor drew
up, and ] fancied that her cheeks
flushed little as her eyes met mine.
Il have explained to Miss Waugh
an" the doctor Continued. that an in
quiry is in progress, as the law re-
quires. to determine the manner of her
fathers death, and that her story Of
what happened that night Is essential
to it,
1T will, at least, be a great help to
US. said Goldberger gently. and 1 saw
how deeply the girls delicate beauty
appealed to him. 1t was q beauty that
no pallor could disguise, and Goldberg
er's temperament was an impression
able one. .'...
II shall be glad to tell you all 1
know" said Miss Vaughan, but fear
1t will not help you much"
will you tell us something, first, Of
your fathers mental staten l suggest
ed.
For many years." she began, ia
| Their had been a student OF mysticism,
and until quite recently he remained
merely a student. mean by that, that
he approached the subject with a de-
tached mind and with no interest in 1t
except a scientific interest"
Il understand" said And that
had changed recentlyT
1T his changed completely in the last
few months. He became a disciple, a
convert anxious to win other converts"
"A convert to what?"
! ITO 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 man.?
Yes"
DO you know anything OF him."
only that he is very wonderful
man."
You know nothing of his pastT'
NO"
Did your father wish you to become
a convert?"
Yes. he desired it deeply"
"a priestess of silva. I believe 1t Is
called?"
Yes"
And the yogi also desired it?"
He believed 1t would be a great des
tiny. But he urged only for my ia
Tiers sake"
so you determined to appeal to Mr..
| SWAIN"
The color deepened in her cheeks
again.
Il decided to ask his advice" she
said.
please tell us what happened that
evening""
Mr.. Swain met me at the arbor In
the corner Of the grounds, as had
asked him to. and convinced me that
my fathers mind had given way UNI
der his long study Of the occult. We
decided that he should be placed in a
sanatorium where he could have prop
err attention. and Mr.. Swain was to
make the necessary arrangements. All
l would have to do would be to sign
some papers. We were just saying
goodnight. when my father appeared
at the entrance Of the arbor."
This was about midnight, was II
not?"
YES"
why did you choose that hour for
! the meeting?"
AT that hour my father and the yogi
| were always engaged IN invoking an
astral benediction."
of the words, paused a little at them.
The doctor and Goldberger were hope
| lessly at sea- After all, the words
were a very good description of the
weird ceremony
well" said, and after your
father appeared, what happenedT'