The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-05-07
Concluding Chapter
By FREDERICK TREVOR HILL

"How do you mean:
"Why, he almost succeeded in fore
ing an adjournment, and If Judge Dud-
ley hadn't suspected something he'd
have let the case go owe until the
morning. and by that time Barstow
would have closed his clients mouth
and got Hunt under his control again.
Great Scott, what a night that was
Corning went on reminiscently. "Ev-
erything hung by a thread, and it was
touch and go all the time. Do you re-
member when Barstow tried to resign
from the case?"
Henley nodded.
well, if he had managed to get out
Of the courtroom at that crisis we'd
never have seen him again, and after
Miss Emery had testified he almost
gave us the slip again.
"How?"
"Well. you see, l had been working
with Hunt all the evening, but hadn't
succeeded in getting enough out OF
him to give us the clew we wanted.
and, though Gilbert kept sending me
I0IJOllS VI AAl Nes So44AS VA ~ Ah>
courtroom, it wasn't until Barbara
Frayne brought word Of the actual ac-
cusation against Hunt that we per-
suaded him to go to court, n as it
was we arrived only just in the nick
of time. Another five minutes II
Barstow would have forced an adj
| iournment and made good his escape.
BY Jove, it makes me pant to think
Of it,
The speaker drew a long breath Of
relief.
II don't wonder" responded his com
| panion. lit must have been exciting.
| Didn't Gilbert suspect anything until
the foreman began to question Miss
Mapes"'
mot even then" Corning asserted.
But if Lambert hadn't suspected the
housekeeper we would never have dis
Barstow's attack on her testimony
which drove Miss Emory to the stand.'
II don't believe the jury would have
convicted her anyway" asserted Hen
ley.
Your guess is as good as the next
mans on that point" answered Corn
ing. but l know Gilbert thought he'd
won the case when the court adjourn
ed for supper"
We'll. if he had he wouldn't be
where he is pow," laughed Henley.
"What d1cEcHmean:' inquired Cor
ming.
You know whom he's dancing with,
dom you:" inquired his companion.
If he'd won the Emory case he'd have
lost a far more important suit, I'm
thinking.'
you're dreaming" retorted Corning
testify.
"Think So" drawled the other. "Well,
there are some who'd like to be waken-
ed if a certain engagement is a
dream
"Nonsense," protested Corning. Don't
go believing that about the house,
"Bellowing it, repeated Henley
. "There's no need to. Everybody knows
it. But he's entitled to play it's a Sc
cret if he wants TO, | suppose"
Il suppose SO. too" muttered Cor
ming, rising. and throwing his cigar
cite in the fire. Lets go back an(
steal another dance
l remained staring at the rue at my
feet for some moments after the mer
departed. Apparently the secret wa:
known to everybody but me-. Doubt
less Miss Erayne had been engaged t.
Gilbert when ! first met her, and sh'
had merely used me in the hope o
securing favor for her friend. Blu
nothing could eNcuS her S%ubsequen
behavior, and | flushed an-rily at TIL
thought of the Spectacle | must hav'
presented. How she must have smiled
how they both must have been anuse'
at my enthusiastic interest in thi
dance. Well. I would join in the jok
and carry II off with spirit. If one ha'
to be a ~iaclass the laughing kind wa
much to be preferred.
, l parted the curtains and was abou
to step out when | saw a girl stand
ing near the divan at the other sid
Of the room. She was stopping q
though looking for something on tn
floor, and as her back was turned t.
ward me | shook the curtain rings
. warn her Of my presence. Instant
n she whirled about and sat down on tn
diyan. gathering her fccr beneath he,
and TO my establishment | found my
d self face to face with Barbara Frayns
s oh. its you. is it:' she exclaimed
with q glad laugh Of relief. II didn