The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-04-06
CHAPTER VII
Questions.

Connery pulled aside the curtain
Of the Mushroom at the end of the
SantOine car-the end farthest from
the drawing room where Santoine lay.
"Step in here, SIR" he directed. "Sit
down, if You want. We're far enough
from the drawing o not to dis
turb Mr.. Santoine."
Eaton, seating himself in the corner
Of the leather seat built against two
walls Of the room, and looking up,
saw that Avery had come into the
room with them. The girl followed.
With her entrance into the room came
to him a strange sensation which eX-
hausted his breath and stopped his
pulse for a beat. To be accused
even to be suspected-Of the crime
ton brought TO him which-with his
unsatisfactory account Of himself
threatened ugly complications. Yet,
at this moment Of realization, that did
not fill his mind. Whether his long
dwelling close to death had mumbed
him to his own danger, however much
more immediate it had become, he
could not know; probably he had pre-
pared himself so thoroughly, had in
ured himself so to expect arrest and
imminent destruction, that now his
finding himself confronted with az
cusers in itself failed to stir new SEN
sation but till this day, he had never
imagined or been able to prepare him
self for accusation before one like
Harriet Santolne; so, for q moment,
thought solely Of himself was a sub
current. OF his conscious feelings,
the terror that she would be brought
to believe with the others that he had
struck the blow against her father
was the most poignant.
Avery pulled forward one Of the
leather chairs for her TO seat herself
and took another for himself facing
Eaton.
why did you ring the bell in Mr..
Santoine's berth?" Avery directed the
attack upon him suddenly.
ITO call help" Eaton answered.
you had known, then, that he
needed help?"
Il knew it-saw 1t then. of course
"When?"
when / found him. When I went
forward to look for the conductor to
ask him about taking a walk on the
roof Of the cars"
"You found him then-that way,
the way he WASP"
THAT way? Yes"
"How?"
"How?" Eaton iterated.
Eyes; how, Mr.. Eaton, or Hillward,
or whatever your name is? How did
you find him? The curtains were
open. perhaps; you saw him as you
went by, eh?"
Eaton shook his head. mo; the
curtains weren't open they were
closed"
Then why did you look inn"
II saw his hand in the aisle"
"GO on"
When l came back 1t didn't look
right TO me; Its position had not been
changed at all, and IL hadn't looked
right to me before. So l stopped and
touched II. and / found that it was
cold"
Then you looked into the berth?"
Eyes"
"And having looked In and seen
Mr.. Santoine injured and lying as ne
was, you did not call anyone, you did
not bring help-you merely leaned
across him and pushed the bell and
went on quickly out of the car before
anyone could see your
"Yes; but I waited on the platform
OF the next car to see that helm did
come; and the CONDUCTOR passed me,
and l knew that he and the porter
must find Mr.. Santoine. as they did,"
do you expect us to believe that
very peculiar action of yours was the
act of an innocent man?"
"f l had been guilty of the attack
on Mr.. Santoine, I'd not have stopped
or looked into the berth Mt ALL" .
III you are innocent, you had, of
course, some reason for acting as YOU
did. VIII you explain what it WASP"
"NO-I cannot explain"
With a look Of triumph Avery
turned to Harriet S~antoine, and Ea-
ton felt his flesh grow warm with
gratitude rs he saw her meet Avery's
look with no appearance Of being con-
vinced.
Avery made n vexed gesture. and
turned to Connery. TELL her the rest
OF It." he directed.
Connery. who had remained stand.
ing back Of the two chairs. moved
slightly forward. where shall 1 be-