Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-03-12


per over the violets and pressed them
against her lips.
"They are very fragrant" she said.
That's all right" returned Barnes
doggedly. but he put something in
there. What was it?''
This bit of paper. l suppose" said
Brenda. taking it in her fingers. Your
message. Clarence|
II think somebody ought to read it. !"
said Barnes. looking at Elmendorf out
of the corner of his eyes.
Alden thrust ElmendOrf aside as If
he had been paper dummy and then
checked himself. Barnes was already
in the hall.
II can have no quarrel with this crea-
ture." said Alden. LAS to my mes
sage. ! appeal to DR.. Kendall"
This is more than absurd" rejoined
the doctor. Miss Maclane, whenever
you are ready
AS Brenda stepped forward the bit
of paper slipped out from among the
flowers and fell to the floor. Elmen-
dorf picked it up.
II hope you won't misunderstood
me-" he said. "Pcrhaps see farther
ahead than you do. II was in Mr..
Alden's place, I'd let somebody read
this
He gave the message to Brenda, who
glanced at Alden as she took it. He
raised his hand in gesture of mega
ton.
"Now, look here, all of you" exclaim-
ed Barnes. Heres this girl in the
and he pointed with his thumb in the
supposed direction of Elsie's room
who's hiding what she knows. don't
say it's in this mans interest, but it's
In somebody's interest; that's sure
She wouldn't be the first woman that's
had the nerve to get the knife and say
nothing. | don't accuse anybody, es-
pecially not this man. for amt got
thing against him. He's all right so
far as l know. But what say is that
the girl ought not to be getting mes
sages on the quiet"
Alden's face was white as paper, and
his eyes were aiire. 1t is probable that
every bone in Barnes body ached with
anticipation. but he had been kicked
too often in the way of business to flee
before the actual contact.
'I've stood all of this that my sys-
TEN can absorb" said Kendall, with a
seriousness that scarcely fitted with
the peculiar phrase which had come
into his mouth. "After this dime novel
nonsense of poisoned bouquets | don't
care to have anything more from you
Get out"
'You're making mistake" said
Barnes and then backed out of the
room, grnning like IL monkey as Ken
dali advanced toward the door
Brenda replaced the note among the
flowers and gave her free hand to Al
den, bidding him good night
81 shall not be far away" he said as
the woman preceded Kendall out of the
room. "Theres n lodging house next
door. | shall get a place to sleep there
Sleep? Well, at least | Shall be there.
You will not fail to summon me Tiff
there should be any reason for it?'
"1ou may depend upon me-" said
Brenda from the threshold, where she
had paused moment while he spoke.
Kendall went with her to the mouth
Of the long corridor and then returned
to the reception room.
That man must be insane" he said
to Elmendorf What did he mean by
here with such abSurdities!'
"lIe didn't believe in them any more
than YOU do replied the detective.
''lle had no idea that there was any
thing wrong with the viOlets or with
the note. He was simply obeying Or
ders."
ORDERS" echoed Kendall. "Who
could have ordered him to do such a
thing?"
81 guess Mr.. Alden knows" respond
Ell Elmendorf. "And, between our
selves, think Mr.. Alden should have
permitted the note to be read right
here. hope Miss Miller won't destroy
it,"
Kendall looked at Alden as if to in
quire whether such a thing was likely,
bUt CLEANED no answer. Alden's face
had resumed its rgidity. and the eX-
preston which it wore was intense but
difficult to read
"flowevcr." continued Elmendorf, "if
it hadn't been that it would have been
else. You're going to see a
good deal of this sort of thing in the
next few days Mr.. Alden"
"a good deal Of what! said Alden.
1T Is technically known as making
trouble for man." replied the de-
tectlVc. Il don't know why | should
put YOU on but I'm doing it just the
same