The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1922-06-08


become very low, now ceased. she
was speaking to Alan of his father-a
father whom he had never known, and
whom he could not have recognized by
sight until she showed him the picture
a few weeks before: but she was
speaking Of his father.
"lr. Sheriff. didn't feel that 1t was
necessary for him to do anything, even
though he thought that?
IF Mr.. Corvet was dead, we could
do him no good, surely. by telling this
to the police; IL the police succeeded
In finding out all the facts, we would
be doing only what Uncle Benny did
not wish-what he preferred death to.
We could not tell the police about II
without telling them all about Mr.. Cor
vet, too. So father would not let him.
self believe that you had been attacked
to be killed. He had to believe the
police theory was sufficient"
Alan made no comment at once.
"WassaQuam believes Mr.. Coryet is
dead" he said finally. "He told me so.
Does your father believe thatT"
IL think he la beginning to believe
IT."
"Pve not told any one," he said, now
watching her, how l happened to be
out of the house that night. | followed
Wassaquam did not know his name.
He did not know Mr.. Corvet was gone
for he came there to see Mr.. Coryet.
He vas not an ordinary friend of Mr..
Corvet's; but he had come there often.
Wassaquam did not know Why. Was
saquam had sent the man away, and
l ran u after him but l could not
find him."
He stopped an instant, stud ing her
THAT was not the first IA who camt
TO the house." he went on quickly, as
she was about to speak. II found o
man in Slr. Coryet's house the first
night that | spent there. Wassaquam
was away, you remember, and | was
alone In the house"
"A man there In the house?' she re
peated.
"He was going through Mr.. Corvet'i
things-not the silver and all that, bu'
through his desks and files and cases
He was looking for something-some
thing which he seemed to want very
much when / interfered, II greatly ex
cited him. / frightened him. Ii,
thought | was a ghost"
"A ghost. Whose ghost2"
He shrugged. IL don't know SON,
npn ,rbnpa hn GAan,nl 70 hasa Enpxrp
pretty well-and whom Mr.. Corve'
knew, he thought"
"Why didn't you tell us this beforeT
"At least-I am telling you now
Miss Sheriff.. | frightened him, ant
he got away. But l had seen him
plainly. l can describe him.
You've talked with your father of the
possibility that something might hap.
pen to me such as, perhaps. happened
to Mr.. Corvet. If anything does hap
pen to me. a description of the man
may . prove useful"
Then clearly and definitely as he
could, he described Spearman to her
She did not recognize the description
he had known she would not. Had not
Spearman been In Duluth? Beyond
that, was not connection of Spearmar
with the prowler In Corvet's house the
one connection Of all most difficult fol
her to make?
They were silent as they went on to-
ward her home. He had said all he
could. or dared to say TO tell her that
the man had been Spearman would not
merely have awakened her incredible
ty: II would have destroyed credence
utterly. A definite change In their re.
lation to one another had taken place
during their walk. The fullness, the
f%rankness Of the sympathy there hao
been between them almost from then
first meeting, had gone; she was
quite aware, he saw, that he had not
frankly answered her questions; she
was aware that In some way he had
drawn back from her and shut her