Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1910-06-10

| court was heavily chained, barred and
bolted, but it swung wide at last and
Harcourt clutching the pocket light
from the grasp of its bearer flared 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 please?"
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, very valu-
able hand made print, one / prize for
its associations as much as for its in
trinsic worth. and some extremely i'm
| portant passports. / would not have
lost them for half million dollars"
The bell boys poked around in a 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 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.
Harcourt thanked the boy and made
for the elevator with all speed. Soth'-
ern and Frankel instinctively flashed
to each other with their eyes the one
word:
"Betty!"
Think I'll go up and see II 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. II
flew quietly ajar and he was greeted
with chorus Of:
"What'd you get, Betty?"
"'Tisn't Betty" grinned sothern;
isn't she here?"
mo, haven't seen anything Of her
since you left but her shoes, that she's
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. Let's walk around
that way and see"
At the bend In the corridor Larry's
feet entangled themselves in something
soft. He stopped and picked 1t up.
and gingerly spread 1t out to the light.
1t was woman's shirtwaist of white
linen with 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 strode 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 II she was sick!"
'She wasn't SICK" replied Harcourt
She must have been a 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 friend of mine, and
If there's any harm come to her. you'll
suffer for It. Here is her shirtwalst-
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 silker
negligee and the diamonds flung heI
hands wearily 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. a guest of the
house in this wanton fashion! You'll
pay for these insults!"
Perhaps" said Larry Morris, "and
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 that
will land you In Jail, charging you
with either her murder or her abduc-
tion. 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 l know" said Larry, "and
that's why I'm going to find Betty.
This matter doesn't look straight to
me. Where's Frankel gone, anyway"
Don't know. Nothing more doing
tonight for me-" announced Hartley.
I'm going home and to bed, boys.
| Good-by."
Here too" chimed in chorus. But
Larry Morris was silent He left the
IL.