The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-10-26
FIFTEENTH EPISODE
Mystery Of the Double Cross.

The shooting Of Bridgey Bentley DV
yack Dunn babe fair to relieve the
notice of the onerOus work of tracing
the formers many crimes, for Bent
ley's wound was mortal, and the sur
econ who examined him declared 1t
was only a matter of hours when death
would claim the social pirate.
Having heard this opinion, the po-
lice approached Bentley as ne lay on
his bed in the hospital.
"Have you any confession to maker
The sick man shook his head. "Wlll
live?" he asked.
The examining official attempted to
, eyade the question, but Bentley III
sisted. and finally the other was forced
TO tell him there was no hope.
"Then." said Bentley, Il want the
man who shot me punished"
1--WE know him." said the Official;
che was Jack Dunn"
Bentley shook his head. mo; you're
wrong" he muttered in a weak voice.
- "Tbe man who shot me was Peter
uolan and having said this, he fell
back exhausted.
J The official rose and left. The nurse
hurried to the side of the dying man.
( but Bentley evinced no sign OF speak
z ing further-evidently he was conten'
y to pass into the great unknown "ltn
= q lie on his lips. =
4 The shooting created a sensation IL
Y the Brewster household, and HUBER
y brewster did not hesitate to express
r his oninion that Bentley had at las
- gotten his deserts.
x But the accusation naming Fete
y was another story. That young ma
- was so amazed when the polc
n charged him with the crime that ~
- onneorance was almost ludicrous. ID
" called ON Annessley to witness 10 II
* innocence but in spite of protests
e was taken to court.
X Against the accusation OF uyil
y man who supposedly would have
= revenCeful purpose to serve was u
q evidence of Annessley-and this so IL
* messed the Judge that Peter was
x leased on bail.
y But the news of the arrest W
q speedily printed, and among the peol
n # reached was Kate Kern, VINO n
* been the innocent cause OF ia
~ Dunn'S act.
. She lost no time in hurrying to
~ new apartment which Dunn had tas
/ and. having been admitted, rushed
/ ward with the paper in her hand
7 "Oh. Jack, we're free, Bridgey
i accused Peter Hale of shooting
I and he has been arrested"
! But this information did not pie
Mr. Dunn. 81 don't care what Benz
i said--you can get out-rm throue
"But I want you" cried the won
az never cared anything about
i man. I told you So,
/ "Never mind what you told IL
!! cot out-vere through; no woman
! fim-aam me more than once"
"EE-f& Kate Kern pleaded, but JACK u
@ was obdurate. "There's someone Ell
she shouted at last in her desperal
Ans Again he ignored her. Kun a
tical now. we're through"
ana @1n. There was nothing in his att
Iiege Int hate, Kate Kern backed away
'tor shut the door without word, but
. did not 60 to her own apartment
stead she stationed herself across
nan street and from sheltering dool
awaited patiently, her eye fixed OF
door that led to Dunn's nat.
Nh While this scene was going
~ remarkable series of incidents
trauspiring in another part OF the
peter Hale, temporarily free, des
3 chic cd the courthouse steps with Il
: iode ora brewster to enter the Brewster
sine. where Dick Annessley and /
ps were awaiting him.
Bank Peters first question was abot
mysterious girl he had seen Q
homo 50 the portieres the night before
Philippa smiled, and Annessley'
ing Peter into the car, shut the
and called out that he would
q them later.
He lost no time in telephonl
' his friend, the Masked Strange
looks pretty bad for Peter" sal
nessley, unless we can get JACK
to confess, and we don't know
ing my he is. If we could only ioca,t
lnQs BY Kern, she might put us wise.
HGrinr saiu this AnueEleZ %