The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1912-01-26
CHAPTER il.-(Continued.)

We'll. it's too late now. That's done
for good and all. We needn't quarrel
about it."
He went back to his seat.
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.
notonously. repeated owe and over
with the same falling infection. Coast
detected not a word, lot 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.
Yes. Tell them to come up"
He returned. almost Keeling. Here.
Dundas," he said, slowly, you let EN-
in. will you, like a good fellow"
Mute In his panic. Dundas went to
the door.
Coas could hear the whine OF the
ascending elevator. the clanking of
its safety chains.
Abruptly he vas 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
stlnctively, 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 a look of low cunning
and desperation.
He saw Dlackstock In a pose of at
tention. listening, every sense alert,
every muscle lexed-a mar gathering
himself together as a cat about to
spring.
The elevator was very near the
floor.
by Cod" Blackstock whispered,
wetting his lips; and again his eyes
were blazing. IN fool en- yeti"
The man turned swiftly. Outside
the elevator gate changed. Coast
heard a confusion Of footballs and
voices. a knocking on the door. And
suddenly he understood what Black.
stock intended. Already he had re-
gained the side table and snatched up
he pistol. He turned with it lifted.
They shan't have mel" he cried. and
reversed 1t to his temple.
You fool!" Coast screamed uncon.
s%ciously. With almost incredible
swiftness of action he hung himself
upon Blackstock and seized the pistol.
DETECTED it toward the ceiling. 1t
exploded.
For a moment longer he was struE.
CLING frantically with Blackstock to
save the man from self-destruction.
Then. without warning, he was seized
and dragged away. holding tho pistol.
A strange hand snatched that away
Other hands pinioned his arms TO
his sides. He fought for freedom TOR
an instant, then ceased to resist. thun.
derstruck with ama3enent.
Blackstock lowered over him, point.
sng him out. That's your man-tako
him!" he cried. He's done murder
and was trying suicide. managed to
keep him quiet until he heard O
coming. then he made a grab for tho
pistol. Thank God. you're in time."
Something stuck in Coasts throat
his tongue trying to ~articulate in a
mouth dry with fear and consterna.
ton. You liar!" he managed to say.
You"
Shut up. you!" One of the police
men holding him olapped a hand over
his mouth.
why" he heard Blackstock say,
you saw him yourself, gentlemen. n
there's any question in your minds,
here's Mr.. Dundas, who saw it all.
Dundas, who shot Van Tuyl? MIR.
Coast. here?"
Dimly az through a base Coast saw
Dundas emerge from the press OF men
In the room, a ghost Of a man, eyelids
quivering, limbs sAaking. features
working in his smaI. pasty face. And
In his anguish Of anger. fear and re-
sentiment. Coast detected the look, I'M.
observed BY any other. Of secret IN.
h~erstanding that passed between the
two men.
"Ves !undas said. his voice tremu-