Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1922-06-08

talk into the swollen whisky-soaked
hulk Of the man dying now on the
lounge.
For his state that day the man
blamed Benjamin Corvet. Alan, fore
ing himself to touch the swollen face,
shuddered ut thought Of the truth I'M
derlying that accusation. Benjamin
COrvet's act-whatever it might be
that this man knew-undoubtedly had
destroyed not only him who paid the
blackmail but him who received 1T !;
the effect of that act was still going
on, destroying, blighting. Its threat of
shame was not only against Benjamin
Corvet; it threatened also all whose
names must be connected withe Cor
vets. This shame threatened Alan
1t threatened also the Sherrills. What
Sheriff. had told Alan and even Cor
vets gifts to him had not been able
to make Alan feel that without Ques-
tion Corvet was his father, but now
shame and horror were making him
feel it.; in horror at Corvet's act
whatever it might be-and in shame
at Covert's cowardice, Alan was think
ing of Benjamin Corvet as his father.
This shame, this horror were his in
heritance.
He left Luke and went to the win
dow to see If the doctor was coming.
He had called the doctor because in his
first sight of Luke he had not recog-
nized that Luke was beyond the aid
Of doctors and because to summon a
doctor under such circumstances was
the right thing to do. but he had
thought Of the doctor also as a wit
ness to anything Luke might say. But
now-did he want witness? He had
no thought Of concealing anything for
his own sake or for his fathers; but
he would at least, want the chance to
determine the circumstances under
which it was to be made public.
He hurried back to Luke. "What
is it, Luke?' he cried to him. "What
can you tell? Listenl Luke-Luke
is it about the Miwaka-the AIiwaka
Luke!"
Luke had sunk into a stupor; Alan
shook him and shouted in his ear
without awakening response. AS Alan
Strengthened and stood hopelessly look.
ing down at him, the telephone bell
rang sharply. Constance Sherrill's
voice came to him; her first words
made 1t clear that she was at home
and had just come in.
"The servants tell me some one was
making disturbance beside your
house while ago." she said, "and
shouting something about Mr.. Corvet
Is there something wrong there? Have
you discovered something's"
He shook excitedly while, holding
his hand over the transmitter lest
Luke should break out again and she
should hear 1t, he wondered what he
should say to her.
"Please don't ask me just now, Miss
Sheriff." he managed. "I'll tell you
what can-later."
His reply, he recognized, only made
her more certain that there was some
thing the matter, but he could not add
anything to it. He found Luke, when
he went back to him, still in coma
the bloodshot veins stood out against
the CHASTITY grayness of his face, and
his stertorous breathing sounded
through the rooms.
Constance Sheriff. had come in a
few moments before from an after
noon reception; the servants told her
at once that something was happening
at Mr.. Corvet's. They had heard
shouts and had seen a man pounding
upon the door there, but they had not
taken it upon themselves to go over
there. She had told the chauffeur to
wait with the motor and bad run at
once to the telephone and called Alan
his attempt to put her off made her
certain that what had happened was
not finished but was still going on.