Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-04-19
The Blind Mans Ewes

from his room. Eaton was the only
person from the house who was miss
ing.
They came. at least some Of them
came"-Santoine had risen, fighting
down his grief over his cousins death
for what was In your safe, Har-
riet."
Il know; I saw II open"
what is goneY" Santolne de-
handed.
He heard her picking up the con-
tents OF the safe from the floor and
carrying them to the table and ex-
amlning them.
"Why-nearly all the formal papers
seem TO be gone lists and agreements
relating to a dozen different things"
"None OF the correspondence"
NO; that all seems to be here"
Santoine was breathing quickly the
trust for which he had been ready to
die-for which Blatchford had died
seemed safe.
1--WE don't know whether he got IL
then. or noti" 1t was Avery's voice
which broke In upon him; Santoins
merely listened.
Her Who2" He heard his daugh-
ter's challenge.
why, Eaton. II Is plain enough
what happened here, isn't it7' Avery
answered. HE came here to this
room for what he was after-for what
he has been after from the first
whatever that may have beeni He
came prepared TO force the safe and
get I'll But he was surprised"
by whom7" the blind man asked.
by whoever 1t is that has been fol-
lowing him. don't attempt to er-
plain who they were. Mr. santoine
for don't know. But-whoever\ they
were-in doing this. he laid himself
open TO attack by them. They were
watching-saw him enter here. They
attacked him here. Wallace switched
on the light and recognized him so
he shot Wallace and ran with what
ever he could grab up OF the contents
of the safe. hoping that by luck he'd
get what he was after"
1T isn't so-lt Isn't 20 I" Harriet de-
MED.
Her father checked her; he ,tood
an instant thoughtful. "who tn d.
recting the pursuit. DonaldYs
Avery went out at once.
Nov, Harriet" he commanded.
She understood that her father would
not move till she had seer the room
for him.
There was some sort of a struggle
near my SAFE" she said. Chairs
everything thsre La knocked about"
yes"
There is also blood there's big
spot Of It on the floor"
81 found that" said Santoine.
There are bullet marks every
where-above the mantel. all about"
How was the safe openedr
sThe combination has been cut COM |
pletely away; there is an-an instru-
ment connected with the electric
light fixture which seems to have done
the cutting. There Is a hand-drill,
too think 1t is a hand-drill. The
inner door has been drilled through,
and the catches drawn back"
"Who is this7'
The valet, who had been sent to Ia
room, had returned with his re-
port. "Mr. Eaton went from his room
dressed, SIR" he said to San
tome. Except for his shoes. / found
all his shoes In his room"
During the report the blind man felt
his daughters grasp On his arm be-
come tense and relax and tighten
again. Then, as though she realized
she was adding to his comprehension
Of what she had already betrayed. she
suddenly took her hand from her ia
therIS arm. Santoine let the servants,
At his daughters direction. help him
10 his His daughter stood be-
side him while the nurse washed the
,iood-splotches from his hands and
feet.
father she questioned
Eyes
you don't agree with Donald, do
7ou THAT Mr., Eaton went TO the
study TOTO get something. and that
NhoCsrf hu5 joel ~lOiioNih8 hin Abth2
him there and-and interrupted him
ind he killed Cousin Wallace7"
Santoine was silent an instant.
That seems the correct explanation.
Harriet" he evaded. at does not
uliy explain but IT seems correct as
ar as It goes. II Donald asks you
vhg1 my opinion Is, tell him 1t is
He felt his daughter shrink away [
him. I
The blind man made no msve TO !
her back to him; he lay perfectly 7
till his head rested fiat upon the pill {
his hands were clasped tightly 1
above the coverlet- He had
ccused himself, In the room below. y
ecause. by the manner he had chosen {
D treat Eaton, he had slain the man 9
e loved pest and had forced a friend r
hip with Eaton on his daughter 9
'hich, he saw, had gone further than 4
,ere friendship 1t had gone. he knew s
ow, ever to the irretrfevabie between 9
ian and woman-had brought her.
rat Is, TO the state where. no matter .
hat Eaton was or did, she must suf- !
sr with himi But Santoine was not =
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