The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-03-07

Janet stood there, looking out at
me.
l freely admit that / lost my
nerve. ! lost my poisc, and with
it all the gifts which enable man
to face an exceptional situation.
For this woman showed no signs
IF any mental disturbance. | had
never seen her look more beauti-
ful. She moved away from the
door.
Come in" she invited. 81 have
been expecting you"
Our footsteps awakened strange
echoes in the hail. She led the
way into the sitt;ng-room which
opened onto the terrace, and sank
back on the divan, where appar-
ertly she had been resting.
"Judas!" she murmurcd.
"You know, them" l demanded
harshly.
Eve, ything-evcn the last
little episode. What fools you
policemen are!"
"He isn't safe yet" / muttercd.
She laughed mockingly.
81 worry no more about him."
she declared. "It is not an equal
struggle. worry only about my
self, alone here
"Alonc- herc!" | echoed.
She nodded
Harding, our butlcr-chaufrcur
and confederate, has taken the
car--Wherc you can guess. Our
gille broke his .eg this morning
and has gone to hospital am no.
fraid of burglars, but | am terri
fled of nice, and the place is over
run with them. Also l simply
loathe the idea Of having to get up
and make my own coffee in the
morning.
rose to my feet.
II here are empty rooms at the
Dormy House." l told here, "where
you could obtain service and be
made quite comfortable. am go
ing back now. Shall bespcak
one for you?"
"You would really have me
there" she asked curiously,' under
the same roof as your august and
respectable self ~
"Why not?"
"The wife of famous crimi-
ma, she reminded me, the wife
of the man whom you have be-
trayed! You and | share a secret
too, dent we? Would you vouch
FOR respectability?"
moved step toward here. Her
eyes were filled with a mingled
light, light of allurcment and
cruelty. Her lips were moist and
quivering-was it with anger? A
long bare arm was withdrawn
from behind her head. Then
a voice fell upon the throbb ng
silence like Il douchc of cold wa
ter.
Hands up--like lightning!"
l tbeyed. | recognized the voice
/, CT the man in Harding's livery. 1t
was Stanfield, who had crept in
upon us unheard.
"a mixture of Lothario and In
spector Bucket" he Knocked. "Any
prayers to say"
IF you are going to shoot, let's
have it over quickly" answered.
The woman stepped between us.
Don't be absurd" she said to
the newcomer. eve couldn't af-
ford to part with Sir Norman.
Life would be too dull without him
, Put him on parole. He is per-
. fectly trustworthy"
"You are right" Stanfield adj
mitted. "Take your choice,
Greyes-twelve hours silence, or
Eternity"
II will be silent for twelve
!hours,p | promised.
He pointed to the door.
~ cannot have the last few
hours | may ever spend with m
wife disturbed" he said. Kindly
leave us"
| went. There was a mist be-
fore my eyes, a cloud befogg.ng
my brain.
Huntington was sitting ON the
porch, smoking, when l got back
He moved his head toward tt
Lodge. 1t was obvious from his
detection that he too had heard
from Mccall.
"What do you think about tax
ing Il look round therc?" he sug-
gested.
:. "Quite useless" l replied terse
. ly. Lets have game Of bill
lizards and try and forget the whole
damned business"