Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1923-02-22
VIII


Connery pulled aside the curtain
OF the Mushroom at the end OF the
Santoine car-the end farthest from
the drawing room where Santoine lay.
"Step In here. SIR" he directed. "Sit
down, IL you want. We're far enough
from the drawing room not TO dis
turb Mr.. ~Santoine."
Eaton. seating himself In the corner
of the leather seat built against two
walls OF the room. and looking up.
saw that Avery had come into the
room with them. The girl followed.
With her entrance into the room came
to him a strange sensation which ex-
hausted his breath and stopped his
pulse for a beat. To be accused
even to be suspected-of the crime
against Santoine was to have atten-
ton brought TO him which-with his
unsatisfactory account of himself
threatened ugly complications. Yet.
not. fill his mind. Whether his long
dwelling close TO death had numbed
him TO his own danger, however much
more immediate 1t had become. he
could not know probably he had pre-
pared himself so thoroughly. had In
ured himself so to expect arrest and
Imminent destruction, that now his
finding himself confronted with ac-
cusers In itself failed TO stir new SEN
%sation but till this day, he had never
imagined or been able to prepare him
self for accusation before one like
Harriet Santoine; so, for a moment.
thought solely of himself was a sub
current OF his conscious feelings.
the terror that. she would be brought
believe with the others that he had
the blow against her father
was the most poignant.
Avery pulled forward coe OF the
chairs for her to seat herself
ma took another for himself facing
why did You ring the bell In Mr..
Ssntoine's berth?" Avery directed the
Ittack upon him suddenly.
ITO call help" Eaton answered.
You had known. then, that he
help?'
II knew it-saw It then, of course"
"When?"
when found him. when / went
to look for the conductor TO
sk him about taking a walk on the I
of the cars"
"You founu him then-that way.
way he wasp
THAT way? Yes" =
"How?" h
"How?" Eaton iternted. I
Yes; how, Mr.. Eaton, or Hlllwarf.
Whatever your name is? How DID p
'u find him? The curtains were a
zen, perhaps; you saw him as you q
emit by. eh?' Il
Eaton shook his head. mo; the q
irtains weren't open; they were O
Then why did you look in?" p
Il saw his hand In the aisIe.v q
GO on" g
when | came back II didn't look u
INT to me ITS position had not been
anged at all. and II hadn't looked
mt TO me before. So / stopped and al
lched 1t, and I found that II was WI
d. th
Then you looked into the berth?"
tn
And having looked In and seen -
+. Santoine Injured and lying as he -
$. you did not call anyone, You did 20
bring help-you merely leaned va
oss him and pushed the bell and
NJ on quickly out OF the car before
'one could see your" sul
fess but | waited on the platform -
the next car to see that help did :.
re: and the conductor passed me. -
knew that he and the porter ~
find Mr. Santoine. as they did, -
Do you expect us to believe that mo
= peculiar action OF yours was the o.,
Of an innocent man7" W,
II ] had been guilty Of the attack VIC,
Santoine, I'd not have stopped q
ooked into the berth at ALL" -
4 you are innocent, you had. OF aS
some reason for acting as you shd
WIZ you explain what It was7v -
annot explain" ~
18th a look Of triumph Avery 90
ed 10 Harriet S~sntoine. and Ea- sail
felt bis flesh grow warm with yes.
as he saw her meet A~very,s G,
with 40 appearance Of being CON In
ID for
cry made q ve1ed gesture and com
~ 10 cennery. Tell her the rest Tam
ne directed. had.
nnerJ who had remained stand as
~ the two chairs. moved not ?
thy forward. "whers sa&u / be II