The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-08-31
SEVENTH EPISODE
Into Thin Air.


The more Peter thought Of the en-
gagement Of Philippa to Bridgey Bent
ley the more he felt that the girl he
believed to be the heroine of the
Double Cross was deliberately sacri-
ficing herself to the Establishments of
an INSCRIPTIONS scoundrel.
Peter decided to inform Mr.. Brew
ster of Bentley's attempts on his
(Peter's) life and warn him what kind
Of a sOn-in-law he was getting ready
to welcome into his home.
Peter appeared at the Brewster home
In the evening fully primed for his
interview with her father-he had
tried to see him at his office, but Mr..
Brewster had asked him to come
around when he could give him more
attention, and thus it happened that
when Peter entered the hall Bentley
and Philippa were engaged in game
of pool.
Peter was ushered into the library
and received by Mr.. Brewster with
every courtesy.
"What have you got on your mind,
Peter" he asked, offering him a
cigar.
"Well-" the young man hesitated-
"Tve come to say something that I'd
rather not say, but the fact is I've got
to tell you"
Sounds interesting" said Mr.. Brew
ster, "what is it?"
'Tt's about Phllippa," answered Pc
ter, earnestly, "or rather about Bent
ley-that man is nothing more nor less
than a criminal"
ooh, come, Peter" Mr.. Brewster
broke in, "come, that's not the way
to talk about q successful rival ir
love-"
Peter started to reply when tn
door opened and Philippa came gaylJ
in. II heard you were here, Peter,
she said, giving him her hand, "and
thought I'd say hello so I've lief
Bridgey in the billiard room for mo
ment"-then she stopped and gazed q
the two men-"but what have you beer
talking aboutT
"Oh, never mind u.s." said her ia
Their, "just q little business"
"And that means I'm to go-well-
and she swept curtsey and van
ished.
But strange to say, Mr.. Bentley wa
not in the billiard room where she ha
, left him-with his usual perspicacit
+, he had improved the moments OF he
absence by listening at the door of tn
library, and he stood there when sh
left and the two men resumed thei
conversation.
81 mean what I say" continued Pr
ter, sand all I ask Of you is to max
, n thorough investigation Of the antect
, dents of this man and If you are nc
satisfied that am right then I've mott
ing further to say"
I "I'm absolutely sure you're wroni
: Peter, but just to prove it I will haV
his past looked into and now l thin
I'll bid you good night"
Peter merely bowed. "I'll stand
} the result of your investigation" /
\ said, and went out without SEER
Philippa or Bentley.
! Mr.. Brewster was evidently Oil
J turbed-he walked to the table an
\ stood there in deep thought. Bentlt
slipped into the room, crept silent
7 back of him, seized heavy vase fro
J stand and brought it down with
/ crash on the elder mans head. d
( bert Brewster dropped without
, sound, and Bentley stole into the ne
} room where he was reading a boz
\ when Philippa came in after waltz
< for him in vain.
( "Well, what are you doing here
, she asked, going to him and puttil
} her face up to be kisesd. do y
( know that Peter and father are ha
Z Ing q hot discussion in the hbrar
: Let's steal in and surprise them"
J She seized his hand and togeth
: they crept to the door, the girl in t
( lead. When she looked into the roc
y her body stiffened and she shra
, back, for there on the floor, lit
< nool Of blood under his head, lay l
< father. She did not faint nor scre'
Z she pointed and backed away.
, It did not seem possible-but Be
= lev rushed ahead and kneeling by
' side Of the PROSTATE man gave eve
i evidence Of the deepest concern
+ "Tell the butler to phone
+ the DOCTOR" he ordered, and a n
+ ment later he himself informed the
t lice of the tragedy In the Brews
! home.
! 1t so happened that Bentley CHI
! a bad moment for his own future pei
/ Of mind In telephoning to the poll