Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1910-09-22

DULY in the naiI-uBHt anu 'hS
floors were slippery with recent SCRUB
bling. The door that opened upon the
court was heavily chained, barred ana
bolted. but 1t swung wide at last ana
Harcourt clutching the pocket hght
from the grasp of its bearer fiared 1t
into every corner and crevice of the
clean cemented rectangle.
Nothing here. sir. nothing here"
commented the clerk. What was the
nature of the papers, if you pleaseT
Harcourt's face was livid. He rum
pied his thick hair nervously with his
long white fingers, oblivious of all his
surroundings At the third repetition
OF the Interrogation he reused from
his stupor and remarked:
"A picture of my wife. a very valu-
able hand made print. one | prize fo'
its associa tons as much as for it's In
trinsic worth. and some extremely I'M
portant passports. | would not nave
lost them for half a million dollars
The bell boys poked around In de-
sultory fashion into imaginary crew
ices that did not exist. The clerk led
the way back to the office and Har-
court absently met the claims of the
buttons upon his pockets.
Excuse me, Mr.. Harcourt," said
boy at his elbow, but l guess you'd
better hurry back upstairs to your
wife. She Just sent a call down that
a strange young woman had run In
there and said she was sick, and that
we'd better send someone up to take
care of her"
10 1. l. ! h. 10 nd ms a
for the elevator with all speed. Soth-
ern and F'rankel instinctively flashed
to each other with their eyes the one
word:
Betty"
Think I'll go up and see If Betty
needs any help" suggested Sothern;
you'd better stay down here, Frankel,
and see what you can skirmish up"
Sothern made his way back to the
"E" floor cautiously. He went to Bet
TVS room and knocked on the door. 1t
flew quietly aJar and he was greeted
with a chorus of:
''Whatd you get Betty7"
"'Tisn't Betty" grinned Sothern;
Isn't she here?"
mo. haven't seen anything of her
kicked off there" said Hank Smith.
"She must have found a vein." add
ed Larry Morris.
Most likely a vein found her." add
ed Sothern. narrating the experiences
of below stairs. Lets walk around
| that way and see"
At the bend in the corridor Larry's
| feet entangled themselves in something
soft. He stopped and picked it up,
and gingerly spread it out to the light.
1t was womans shirtwaist of white
linen with a little blue stripe, and the
monogram "B. L." heavily embroidered
on the sleeve.
Betty Lancey's waist" cried Soth-
ern. Where is Betty?"
I'm going to find OUT retorted Lar
ry. Together they all strobe in to Har-
courts door. 1t was open and from
within sounded the angered tones of a
woman's decidedly nasal voice.
Are you sure you wasn't dreaming %
came the words what could have be-
come of the girl? If she was here,
how did she get away so quick? Espe-
cially If she was sickl"
She wasn't sick" replied Harcourt.
She must have been thief, trying to
| impose herself on my wife's confidence.
Well, as she's gone now, my good
woman, you can go, too There's moth
Ing here for you to do"
No" burst In Larry, whose worry
over Betty was now at fever heat,
but there's something here for you to
do That girl is a friend of mine, and
If there's any harm come to her, you'll
suffer for 1t. Here is her shirtwaist-
It's been torn off her body-do you see
that-and where's she? Look at that
blood! She started out half an hour
ago to come over here and speak to
your wife, and she hasn't been seen
since. but we find this garment of hers
blood-stained and kicked into the cor
ner at the foot of the corridor. What
have you done with its wearer?"
Mrs. Harcourt, still in the siker
negligee and the diamonds, flung hel
hands YEARLY behind her head, bent
like an overweighted reed, and passed
beyond into her dressing room.
This is an outrage, an outrage"
stormed Harcourt AT this hour OF
the morning to interrupt guest of the
house in this wanton fashioni You'll
pay for these insultsl"
Perhaps" said Larry Morris, land
in the. meanwhile If you or your wife
attempt to leave this hotel till we have
found Betty Lancey, you'll find your
self face to face with a warrant ths
will land you in jail. charging you
with either her murder or her abduc-
ton. Do you understand me. Mr. Har-
court?"
"Oh, say, Larry" limited Hank Smith
don't you think you're going too far
A man has his rights. you know"
Indeed I know" said Larry, land
| that's why I'm going to find Betty
| This matter doesn't look straight II