Rosebud County news. [volume] (Forsyth, Mont.) 1901-1906, 1903-02-19


Now. answer my question. Who did
this thing?"
Neale spread his hands abroad with
q grotesque gesture intended to dis
claim the possession Of the informa.
ton.
Were all at sea-" he said. Some
body got into this room and stabbed
the girl with this knife"
He suddenly lifted newspaper that
had lain on the table and disclosed
the weapon beneath it. The long
Diade was open and visibly stained
with blood. Brenda's hand had been
within six inches of it. and at the
sight she started back with such alarm
that Dr. Blair stretched out his arm
to support her. She did not fall, how
ever. but stood rigid. staring at Alden.
The color rushed to his face. He put
up his hand and pushed back the tan
gle of light brown hair that was lying
moist upon his forehead.
Recognize it?' said Neale. with his
mirthless grin.
ut is mine," replied Alden in the
same repressed and steady tone that
he had used throughout this scene
II gave it to her"
"When?"
"A few days ago." said Alden. IL
don't exactly remember"
Queer present" rejoned the cap.
tain, 'for girl"
"She was cutting some pictures out
of the magazines" replied Alden. II
Lnr
pocket. She used it. and | didn't take
it back"
The captain slowly nodded his head.
as one who has reached the end of
topic and is preparing for the next.
"And now" said he. "how long have
you known this young lady?''
He waved his hand toward Brenda.
81 have known Miss Maclane long
time" said Alden. "Why do you ask"
Miss Maclane, eh?" said the cap
tain. elevating the strange tufts OF
parti colored hair that were his eye
brows. II understood that her name
was Williams"
II have done an absurdly foolish
thing" said Brenda. addressing Alden.
II was afraid my name would be pub
lished, and so l tried to deceive these
people"
big mistake" rejoined Captain
Neale, shaking his head solemnly
This whole story will have to come
out, and if the facts are known to the
police at the start it will come out
straight; otherwise there's no telling
what the reporters will do with it,
''There is no reason whatever" said
Alden. why Miss Maclane should be
brought into this affair.""
'"There isn't, ehY said the captain
''Why is she here? Sympathy for a
woman that she says she never saw?
No; guess We'll have to have some
thing better"
IF you don't get it," said Alden.
what then?'
'I'll have to hold her as a Witness"
"You mean that you will put me un.
der arrest?" demanded Brenda, her
face and even her lips absolutely color
less.
"Tll have to-" said the captain.
"And suppose that | answer all your
questions now?" she asked
Neale struck his hand down upon the
table.
you can go home just as soon as
you've done it," he declared. and at
that moment man in plain clothes.
but with the unmistakable stamp Of
the police upon him, entered the room
and saluted his superior
Excuse me for a minute" said
Neale, and, accompanied by the man
who had just appeared upon the scene.
he stepped out into the hall.
Brenda turned to DR.. Blair. who was
leaning against the mantelpiece.
''Dr. Blair" she whispered, you will
not say that it was | whom you saw
leaving this house,
"No." replied the physician slowly:
II will not"
"What does this mean?" demanded
Alden.
DR.. Blair regarded Alden steadily for
some seconds before he said with that
careful measuring of words that doc.
tors learn:
Il have informed the police that as [
was passing this house. very near to
the time when this deed was done.
saw PERSONA woman-come out and
walk away hurredly toward Broad
way"
"a woman" repeated Alden, as II
speaking without volitiOn.
"She cannot be accounted for" con-
tinued the doctor. mo one knows who
she is or why she was here or how she
got into the house. AS to the last
,o,,, I I'LL Lo1