The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1914-02-06
XIV,
Within the Tolls.

CHAPTER XIV.
Within the Tolls.
TVHE going of Carson left the
deathly still. Dick turn.
ed to Mary and took her hand
in his. His arm swept about
her in a protecting embrace-just in
time or she would have fallen.
A whisper came from her ~quivering
lips. Her face was close to his. else
be could not have caught the uncertain
murmuring. The muscles Of her face
twitched. She rested supinely against
him as II bereft Of any strength Of
body or Of soul. Yet. in the intensity
of her utterance, the feeble whisper
struck like a shrek Of horror.
"I-I-never saw any one killed be-
fore!'
Before he could utter the soothing
words that rose to his lips. Dick was
interrupted by a slight sound at the
meet the exigencies Of the situation.
He stood by the couch. bending for
ward a little as If in a posture Of init
mate fondness. He heard the noise
again presently. now 30 near that he
made sure Of being overheard. 40 at
once he spoke with a forced cheerful
ness in his infection.
II tell you. Mary" he declared. "ev-
erything's going to be all right for
you and me-. 1t vas bully Of you to
come here to me like this"
The girl made no response. Dick. in
nervous apprehension as to the issue,
sought to bring her to realization OF
the new need that had come upon
them.
Talk to me-" he commanded very
softly. They'll he here in u minute.
When they come In pretend you just
came here in order to meet me. Try,
Mary. You must. dearest!" Then
again his voice use to lOudness ~ he
continued: Why. I've been trying all
day to see you. And now here we are
together. just as l was beginning to
get really discouraged. l know my fa-
Their will eventually
He was interrupted BY the swift
swinging open Of the hallway door.
Burke stood just within the library. q
revolver pointed menacingly.
Hands up. all Of you::" The inspec-
tors voice fairly roared the command.
The belltgerent expression Of his face
vanished abruptly as his eyes fell on
Dick standing by the couch and Mary
reclining there in limp helpiessness.
what are you doing In this house
at this time Of night?" Dick demanded.
Il recognize you. Inspector Burke.
But you must understand that there
are limits ever to what you can do.
It seems to me. sir. that you exceed
your authority by such IN intrusion AZ
this"
Burke waved his revolver toward
Mary.
whats she doing here?" he asked.
You forget yourself. inspector. This
10 my wife. She has the right to be
with me-her husband!"
"Where's your father?" he questioned
roughly.
I'm bed. naturally" was the answer.
Il ask you again. What are you doing
here at this time Of night?'
"'Oh. call your father" Burke d.
rected.
Its late" Dick objected. I'D rath-
er not disturb him. if you don't mind"
Suddenly he smiled very winningly
and spoke with a good assumption of
ingenuolsneSS.
inspector" he said briskly. II see
III have to tell you the truth. It's
this: I've persuaded nv wife to 20
away with me. She's going to give
all that other sort of thing up. Yes.
we're going away together. So. you
see. we've got to talk it over. Now.
then. inspector. II you'll come back in
the morning.
As he spoke the white beam of the
flashing searchlight from the tower
fell between the undrawn draperies Of
the octagonal window. The light star
tied the inspector again. AZ 1t had done
once before that same night. His gaze
followed 1t instinctively. So within the
second he saw the still form lying
there Of the floor.
There was no mistaking that awful.
motionless. crumpled posture. The in
spector leaped to the switch by the
door and turned on the lights of the
chandelier. In the next moment he
had reached the door Of the passage
across the room. and his whistle sound
ed shrill. His voice beloved re-en
fOrcement to the blast.
Cassidy: Cassidy"
Cassidy came rushing in with the
| other detectives,
"Why. what's it all mean. chief?" be
questioned.
They've got t,riggs!" Burke answer
ed. There was exceeding rage In hia