The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1911-12-01
CHAPTER iI.-(continued.)

Good Lord, how long they are!"
He began to talk, to maunder to
himself of what might have been and
what had been, speaking Of his aims,
ambitions. achievements in an oddly
detached way, as he might have re-
viewed another's life, only emotional
when forced to realization of the fact
that this was the end of it all. The
phrase, "This ends it," punctuated
the semi-confessional soliloquy mo.
notonougly. repeated over and over
with the same falling infection. Coast
detected not word, not even a note
Of regret for his crime, save inasfar
as it affected Blackstock's fortunes
blasted them.
A shrill clamor of the telephone
bell electrified them all. Dundas cried
out. Blackstock Jumped UP and
stumbled into the hall. Coast, rising,
heard his voice.
Eyes. Tell them to come up"
He returned, almost Keeling. Here.
Oundas," he said, slowly, you let 'em
IN, will you, like good fellow"
Mute in his panic, Dundas went to
The door:
Coast could hear the whine of the
ascending elevator, the clanking of
Its safety chains.
Abruptly he was conscious that
Blackstock's temper had undergone a
change. From passive surrender to
his fate the man had passed to a mood
Of active resistance. Somehow in
stinctively, Coast seemed to divine
this in the surcharged, tense atmos-
phere of that moment. He shot a
swift, suspicious look at the man, and
caught in return look of low cunning
and desperation.
He saw Blackstock in pose of at
tention. listening, every sense alert,
every muscle f1exed-a man gathering
himself together as a cat about to
spring.
The elevator was very near the
foor
by Cod" Blackstock whispered,
wetting his lips; and again his eyes
were blazing. "I'll fool 'em yeti"
The man turned swiftly. Outside
the elevator gate changed. Coast
heard confusion of footballs and
voices, knocking on the door. And
suddenly he understood what Black
stock intended. Already he had re-
gained the side table and snatched up
the pistol. He turned with it lifted.
They shan't have met" he cried, and
reversed it to his temple.
You fool" Coast screamed uncon.
sciously. With almost incredible
swiftness of action he flung himself
upon Blackstock and seized the pistol.
DETECTED it toward the ceiling. 1t
exploded.
For moment longer he was strug-
Cling frantically with Blackstock to
save the man from self-destruction.
Then, without warning, he was seized
and dragged away, holding the pistol.
A strange hand snatched that away.
Other hands pinioned his arms to
his sides. He fought for freedom for
an instant, then ceased to resist, thun.
derstruck with amazement.
Blackstock lowered over him, point
Ing him out. That's your man-take
him!" he cried. He's done murder
and was trying suicide. l managed to
keep him quiet until he heard you
coming, then he made a grab for the
pistol. Thank God, you're in ttme!'
Something stuck in Coasts throat
his tongue trying to articulate in q
mouth dry with fear and consterna.
ton. you liar!" he managed to say
YOU"
Shut up, you!" One of the police.
men holding him clapped hand over
bis mouth.
why" he heard Blackstock say
you saw him yourself, gentlemen. Ii
there's any question in your minds
here's Mr.. Dundas, who saw it all
Dundas. who shot Van Tuyl? Mr.
Coast, here?"
Dimly rs through haze Coast saw
pundas emerge from the press Of men
IN the room, Q ghost Of . man, eyslida
Quivering, limbs shaking, featnres
working in his small. pasty face. And
q his anguish Of anGer, lear md ~
s1nHment coast dstected ths lool, 10,
deserved ~ ~ Gthsr. u secret up
standing TIT Dasssd bstnssn IN
30 me1. {.
~