Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-04-25
CHAPTER II.-(continued.)

0F1RF ! ER Ill tCOnt,nued.1
Tae man looked up and nodded
Well, it's too late now. That's done
for good and all. We needn't quarre
about It,"
He went back to his seat.
Good Lord, how long they are!"
He began to talk, to maunder te
himself of what might have been anc
what had been, speaking OF his aims
ambitions, achievements in an oddly
detached way, as be might have &c
viewed anothers 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 over and over
with the same falling infection. Coast
detected not word. not even note
OF regret for his crime, save inasfar
as 1t affected Blackstock's fortunes
blasted them.
A shrill clamor of the telephone
bell electrified them all. Dundas cried
cs. A:ckstcck Jumped DIP and
stumbled into the hall. Coast, rising,
heard his voice.
"Yes. Tell them to come up"
He returned, almost reeling. Here,
Dundas," be 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 clanldng OF
Its safety chains.
Abruptly he was conscious that
Blackstdck's temper had undergone a
change. From passive surrender to
his fatD the man had passed to a mood
OF active resistance. Somehow in
stinetively, 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 flexed-a man gathering
himself together as a cat about to
spring.
The elevator was very near the
floor
by God!" Blackstock whispered,
wetting his lips: and again his eyes
were blazing. ''1ll 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
tho pistol. He turned with It lifted.
They shan't have met" he cried, and
reversed It to his temple.
you fool!" Coast screamed uncon.
scdousiy. With almost Incredible
swifeness Of action he flung himself
upon Blackstock and seised the pistol,
detected 1t toward tho ceiling. II
exploded.
For a moment longer he was strug.
Cling frantically with Blackstock to
save the man from se1-destruction.
Then, without warning, he was seized
and dragged away. holding the pistol.
4 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.
dersuuck with amusement.
Blackseock lowered over him. point,
ing him out. That's your man-take
hint" he cried. '.He's done murder
and was trying suicide. managed to
keep him quiet until he heard you
coming, then he made q grab for the
pistol. Thank God. you're In time!'
Something stuck in Coasts throat
his tongue trying to articulate In 1
mouth dry with fear and constsrna
tion. "You liar!" he managed to say
f"You-''
Shut up, you!" One Of the police
men holding him clapped hand ovel
his mouth.
why" he heard Blackstock say
~you saw him yourself. gentlemen. 4
there's any question In your minds
here's Mr.. Dundas, who eaw It Ill
Dundas, who shot Van Tuyl? N
/ Coast, here"
Dlmly - through haze Coast say
Dundas emerge from the press oe mel
"a tho room. : ghost of ! man. eyehd
quiv6ring. limbs shakinx. feature
WSekine u HI small, pasty face. AZ,
n NJ Ansnish Of anger. fear and =
i sentiment, Coast detected the look. IN
l; 1 ~ u, ~ any 0ther. of sacrse ur
ssrstsnding that passed between III