“He––he––did––it. Free––P––Press. Yell––ow––G–––” The last word died away to a gurgle. A violent fit of coughing seized the dying man, then it ceased suddenly. His head weighed like lead upon the girl’s supporting hand, and a thin trickle of blood bubbled from the corners of his mouth. Prudence withdrew her arm from beneath him and replaced the head upon the pillow. Her tears had ceased to flow now.
“He is dead,” she said with studied calmness, as she straightened herself up from the bed.
She moved a step or two away. Then she paused uncertainly and gazed about her like one dazed. Her mother went towards her, but before she reached her side Prudence uttered a strange, wild cry and rushed from the room, tearing wildly at the fastenings of her silk dress as though to rid herself of the mocking reminder of that awful day.
CHAPTER IX
LONELY RANCH AT OWL HOOT
In spite of the recent tragic events the routine of the daily life at Loon Dyke Farm was very little interfered with. Just for a few weeks following upon the death of Leslie Grey the organization of Mrs. Malling’s household had been thrown out of gear.
The coming of the police and the general scouring of the country for the murderers of the Customs officer had entailed a “nine days’ wonder” around the countryside, and had helped to disturb the wonted peace of the farm. But the search did not last long. Horse-thieves do not wait long in a district, and the experience of the “riders of the plains” taught them that it would be useless to pursue where there was no clue to guide them. The search was abandoned after a while, and the dastardly murder remained an unsolved mystery.
The shock to Prudence’s nervous system had been a terrible one, and a breakdown, closely bordering upon brain fever, had followed. The girl’s condition had demanded the utmost care, and, in this matter, Sarah Gurridge had proved herself a loyal friend. Dr. Parash, with conscientious soundness of judgment, had ordered her removal for a prolonged sojourn to city 134 life in Toronto; a course which, in spite of heartbroken appeal on the girl’s part, her mother insisted upon carrying out with Spartan-like resolution.