The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1922-05-12

had come TO her when the servants
had told her Of what was going on
a fancy that Uncle Benny had come
back-was banlshed instantly.
Alan led her into the room across
from the library.
you shouldn't have ONE in" he
said. Il shouldn't have let you In;
but-you saw HIM"
yes"
"Do you know him?'
"KnOw him?" She shook her head.
81 mean, you've never seen him be-
fore?"
"No."
ellis name Is Luke-he speaks Of
himself by that name. Did you ever
hear my father mention Il man named
Luke?"
"NO; never"
Luke'S voice cut suddenly their con-
versation; the doctor probably had
given him some stimulant.
"Where'sh Ben Corvet?" Luke de-
manded %arrogantly of the doctor.
You 20 get Ben Corvet! Tell Ben
Corvet I want drink right away. Tell
Ben Corvet l want my thousan' dol
lar J!
Constance turned swiftly to her
maid. go out to the car and wait
for me-" she commanded.
Luke's mufled, heavy voice went on
moments while he fought for breath
interrupted It.
you hear me, you d-n Injin!
You go tell Ben COrvet l want my
thOuSan' dollars, or l make 1t two mex
time! You hear me; you go tell Ben
Corvet. You let me go, you
d-n "Injln!"
Through the doorway TO II library
back upon the couch Luke fought him
furiously then, suddenly as he had
stirred to strength and fury, Luke col
lapsed again. His voice went on a
moment more, and rapidly growing
weaker:
you tell Ben Corvet I want my
money, or I'll tell. He knows what
I'll tell. . You don't know, you
Injin devil. Ben COrvet knows,
and | know. Tell him I'll tell
I'll tell I'll tell ~ The
threatening voice stopped suddenly.
Constance, very pale, again faced
Alan. "Of course, | understand" she
said. uncle Benny has been paying
blackmail to this man. For years, per
haps. :" She repeated the word
after an instant, in a frightened voice,
"Blackmailn'
"Won't YOU please 20, Miss Sher-
rill?" Alan urged her. ut was good
Of You 10 come; but you mustn't stay
now. He's-he's dying, of course"
She seated herself upon n chair.
Tn going TO stay with YOU" she said
simply. 1t vas not. she knew, TO share
the waiting for the man in the next
room to die; in that, Of itself, there
could be nothing for him TO feel. 1t
was to be with him while realization
which had come to her was settling
upon him, Generalization of what
this meant TO him. He was realizing
that, she thought be had realized it |;
it made him, at moments, forget her
while, listening for sounds from the
other rOom, he paced back and forth
beside the table or stood staring
away, clinging to the portieres. He
left her presently, and went across the
hall to the doctor.
rs he dead?" Constance heard him
ask.
Not yet" the doctor answered but
it won't be long, now"
There's nothing you can do to make
him talk-bring him to himself long
enough so that he will tell what he
keeps threatening to tell?'
The doctor shrugged. "How many
times, do you suppose, he's been drunk
and still not told? C0ncealment IS his
established habit now. It's an inhibi-
ton even In wandering, he stops short
Of actually telling anything"
Alan came back to Constance. Out
side, the gray of dusk was spreading,
and within the house 1t had grown
dark. Ii was very quiet In the library (;
she could not even hear Luke's breath
ing now. Then the doctor came out to
them.
"It's Over,' he said to Alan. There's
a law covering these cases; you may
not be familiar with 1t. I'll make out
the death Certificate-pneumOnia and
a weak heart with alcoholism. But the
police have to be notified at once; you
have no choice as to that. I'll look
after those things for you, If you
want"
THANK you If you will" Alan ven
with the doctor to the door and saw
him drive away. Returning, he drew
the library portieres; then, coming
back to Constance, he picked up her
muff and collar from, the chair where
she had thrown them, and held them
out 10 her.
"Youll go now. Miss Sheriff." he
said. Indeed, you mustn't stay here
your cars still waiting. and-yOu
mustn't stay here in this house ~
won't YOU come over home with