The Ely miner., 1923-04-20
EDWIN BALMER

claimed his recognition in amazement.
Basil; that is you! What are you
doing down here?" Blatchford started
forward
'What brought you here?' Santoine
demanded instead of reply. "You were
running outside; why? What was out
there? What did you see!"
"See? / didn't see nything-except
the window here open when | came
up. But l heard shots, Basil. What
has happened here"
Santoine felt again the sickness at
his feet. ""Three or four persons
fought in this room, Wallace. Some
or one was hurt There's blood on the
floor. There are two here | can hear
breathing; l suppose they're hurt.
Probably the rest are gone. Get help.
l think those who aren't hurt are
gone. They must be gone. But-get
help first, Wallace"
"And leave you here?" Blatchford
rejoined. He had not halted again;
the blind man heard his cousin still
moving along the wall. The electric
switch clicked, and Santoine knew
that the room was flooded with light.
Santoine Strengthened, strained, turn
| ing his head a little better to listen.
| With the flashing on of the light, he
had heard the sharp, involuntary start
| of Blatchford as he saw the room;
| and, besides that SantOine heard
movement now elsewhere in the room.
YI>t. ~, ,,.I h is, ftin =
cry. "Good God ~
"What is it?'' Santoine cried.
"Good God! Basil"
| "Who is Ii, Wallace" the blind
man knew now that his friends inco-
herence came from recognition of
someone, not alone from some sight
| of horror.
Basil! 1t is-it must bel know
him! 1t is"
shot roared in front of Santoine.
The blind man, starting back at the
shock of 1t, drew in the poWder-gas
with his breath but the bullet was
] not for him. Instead, he heard his
friend scream and choke and half call,
half cough.
"Wallace 20 Santoine cried out; but
his voice was lost in the roar of an
other shot. This was not fired by the
same one who had just fired; at least,
it was not from the same part of the
room; and instantly, from another
side, a third shot came. Then, in the
midst of rush and confusion, another
shot roared; the light was out again
then all was gone; the noise was out
side; the room was still except for a
cough and choke as BlatchfOrd-
somewhere on the floor in front Of the
blind man-tried, again to speak.
Basil Santoine, cropping with his
hands, found him. He was still con-
scious. Santoine knew that he was
trying his best to speak, to say just
one word "a name-tO tell whom ne
had seen and who had shot him; but
he could not.
Santoine put his hand over hand
of his cousin. Blatchford's fingers
closed tightly on Santoine's; they die
not relax but now remained closed
though without strength. The blinC
man bowed and then lifted his head
His friend was dead, and others were
rushing into the room-the butler, on'
, of the chauffeurs, Avery, more men
servants; the light was on again, ant
amid the tumult and alarms of th'
discoveries shown by the light, som'
, rushed to the windows to the sOutl
, in pursuit Of those who had escaped
, from the room Avery and one o
two others rushed up to Santoine
now the blind man heard, above thei
cries and alarms, the voice of hi
daughter. She was beside him, wher
: he knelt next the body of Blatchford
and she put back others who crowde'
about.
"Father. What has happened? VIII
are you here? Oh, Father, Cousin
Wallace"
: "He is Dead" Santoine said. "The
shot him! They were three at least
|. One was not with the others. The
q fred at each other l believe, afte
q one shot him." Santoine's hand wa
|. still In Blatchford's. Il heard ther
e below" He told shortly how he ha
:, gone down, how Blatchford had er
n tered and been shot.
4 The blind man, still kneeling, hear
q the ordering and organizing of other
It for the pursuit; ncw women servant
n from the other part of the hous
s were taking charge of affairs in tn
IS room. There had been no signs
e heard, Santoine was told, upon an
<, of the bells which he had tried to rim
II from his room. Eaton was the onl
8 person from the house who was mis-:
e ing.
.They came, at least some of thel
k came"A- -Santoine had risen. f1ghtin
Is down his grief over his cousins deaf
'e flor what was in your safe, Ha
IS riet"
d. 81 know; saw 1t open."
,r "What Is gomez" Santoine d
to manded.
ID He heard her picking up the col
IN tents Of the safe from the floor an
c. carving them to the table and e,
~ amining them.
n "Why-nearly all the formal paper
I'd seem to be gone; lists and agreemen
p relating to dozen different things
E. "None of the correspondence"
ed mo: that all seems to be here"
lie Santoine was breathing quickly; Il
40 trust for which he had been ready
ne die-for which Blatchford had died
seemed safe.
r. "We don't know whether he got
ar then. or not!' 1t was Avery's vol
= which broke in upon him; Santoil
wv merely listened.
ne "He? Whow He heard his daug
ut ter's challenge.