Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-02-21

( AuDuLHH Oul VI UdluCots
Good Godw wilmore exclaimed.
setting down untasted the glass Of
brandy which he had Just raised to his
lips.
Il want to finish this matter up"
Francis continued calmly, by making
clean breast Of II to you. because
from tonight am starting afresh, with
new interests In my life. what win
practically amount to a new career
That Is why / preferred not TO dine
at fhe club tonight. although am look
ing forward to seeing them all again.
| wanted instead to have this CONVEX
! sation with you. / lied at the inquest
when / said that the relations between
Oliver Hlldltch and his wife that night
seemed perfectly normal. lied when
I said that knew Of no cause for III
will between them. lied when / said
that / left them on friendly terms /
lied when / said that Oliver Hiiditch
seemed depressed and nervous. lied
when said that he expressed the
deepest remorse for what he had done
There was every Indication that night
of the hate which happen to know
existed between the woman and the
man. have not the faintest doubt 10
my mind but that she murdered him.
In my Judgment, she was perfectly
justified In doing so"
you see" he continued, argumenta-
lively, Il was morally and actually re-
sponsible for the mans being brought
back into society. And far worse than
that, was responsible for his being
thrust back again upon his wife. Ergo,
was also responsible for what she
did that night. The matter seems as
plain as a pikestaff to me. did what
could to atone, rightly or wrongly It /
doesn't matter, because IL is over and |
done with. There you are, old fellow,
now you know what's been making me |
nervy. I've committed wholesale per
Jury, but acted according to my con-
science and / think according to JUS
tice The thing has worried me, ]
admit, but 1t Mas passed. and I'm glad
it's of my chest. One more llqueur,
Andrew, and II you want TO wen talk
about my plans for the future"
The brandy was brought Wilmore
studied his friend curiously, not with
out some relief. Francis had lost the
harassed and nervous appearance
upon which his club friends had COM
mented, which had been noticeable,
even, to a diminishing extent, upon the
golf course at Brancaster. He was
alert and eager. He had the air OF a
man upon the threshold Of some en-
terprise dear to his heart.
II have been through a queer ex-
perience," Francis continued present
ly, as he slipped his second Ilqueur.
"Not only bad / rather less than
twelve hours TO make up my mind
whether / should commit a serious Of
Tense against the law, but a sensation
which always hoped that might ex-
perience, has come to me In what I ,
suppose / must call most unfortunate ,
fashion"
'The womanT WlImore ventured.
Francis assented gloomtiy. There
was q moments silence. Wilmore, the
saw then a strange
thing. he saw a light steal across his
friends stern face. He saw his eyes
FOR q moment soften, the hard mouth !.
relax, something incredible transform :
ing, shine, as L were, out Of the mans :
soul IN that moment Of self-reveIatiOn.
It was gone like the mornentary pass
ug Of a strange CLEAN Of sunshine !
across a leaden sea, but those few sec
lnds were sufficient Wilmore knew
veil enough what had happened. a
"Oliver Hilditch's WIFE" Francis 81
vent on, after few minutes pause, q
presents an enigma which at present g
cannot hope to solve. The fact that q
he received her husband back again, "
moving what he was and what be "
vas capable Of. is inexpiicable TO me g
The woman herself ls mystery. ! e
10 not know what lies behind her ex- al
raordinary immobility. Feeling she 10
must have. and courage. or she would q
lever have dared to have ridded her "
elf Of the scourge Of her life But
eyond that my judgment tells me fl
othing. / only know that sooner or Sc
ater l. shall seek her out / shall dis VI
over ali that i want to know, one az
ray or the other. II may be for hap OF
iness--It may be the end OF the things kr
hat count ri
Il guessed this, WIlmore admitted. fr
18th a little SILVER which he was Al
holly unable to repress. nj
Francis nodded. 20
''Then keep Il to yourself, my dear 81
Glow he begged, like everything 40
se am telling you tonight have IA
1me out Of my experience changed We
many ways" he continued. .but es
aving cut that ens secret chapter,
IFS Is The dominant factor which cla
oms mp before me. / bring Into life tn
new aversion, almost a passion. An no
.ew, born In a fea-shOp ia the city,
ID niinissered TO by all that has hap. md
med since. have lost that sort 81
difference which my profession en- va
Indern toward crime I am at war
-.