Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1924-02-28
cAAPrER V

-
1t happened that the two men, wait.
ing In the vestibule for Francis car to
crawl up to the entrance through the
fog which had Unexpectedly rolled up,
heard the slight alteration which was
afterward referred to as preceding the
tragedy. The two young people con-
cerned were standing only a few feet
away, the girl pretty. little peevish,
an ordinary type; her companion.
whose boyish features were married
with dissipation, a very passable ex-
ample Of the young man about town
going a little beyond his tether.
'It's no good standing here, Vlctorl"
the girl exclaimed. frowning. 1.-The
COMMISSIONERS been gone ages al
ready, and there are two others be-
fore us for taxis"
1--WE can't walk" her escort replied
gloOmily. Its a foul night. Nothing
TO do but wait, what7 Let's go back
and have another drink"
The girl stamped her satin-sbe< FOOT
impatIently.
Don't be silly" she expostnlated.
'sYou know promised Cara we'd be
there early"
"a. All very we'll, the young man
grumlHed, but what can we dor We
slaA have to wait our turn"
"Why can't you slip out and look for
a taxi yourself7" she suggested. do,
Victor" she added, squeezing his arm.
you're so clever at picking them up"
He made little grimace. but lit a
cigarette and turned up his coat col
lar.
"Tn do my best" he promised.
"Don't 60 on without me-"
TRY up toward Charing Cross road,
not the other way" she advised earn
estly.
'Right-oh 7" he replied. which nlu-
mlnative form of assent, a word
spoken rs he plunged unwillingly into
the thieA obscurity on the other side
Of the revolving doors, was probably
the last he ever uttered on earth.
Left alone, the girl began to SILVER,
as tAough suddenly cold. She turned
aroMnd and glanced hurriedIy back
Into the restaurant At that moment
shs met the steady, questioning
scrutiny of Francis eyes. She stood
rs though transhxed. Then came the
sound which every one talked Of for
months afterward, the sound which no
one who heard it ever forgot-the
death cry Of Victor Bidlake, followed
a second afterward by a muffied re-
port A strain of frenzIed surprise
seemed mingled with the horror. After
ward silence.
There was the sound OF some COM
motion outside, the sound OF hurried |
footsteps and agitated voices. Then
terrible little procession appeared. |
Something's seemed to be a shape
less-heaR -eEe iethes-was carried In
and laid upon the floor, In the little
space between the revolving doors and
the inner entrance. Two blue-llyeried
kept back the Mortified but
curious crowd. Francis. vaguely rec
ognized as being somehow or other
with the law, was one Of
the few people allowed to remain
whilst a doctor. fetched out from the
dancing room, kneeied over the pros
trate form. Re felt that he knew be-
iorehand the horrible verdict which
the latter whispered IN his ear after
his brief examination.
"QuIte dead A CHASTITY business"
Francis gazed at the hole in the
shirt front. disngured also by a scOrch-
ing stain.
"A buIfetT' ne asked
The doctor nodded.
sFired within a foot Of the poor fell
owls heart" he whispered. The muir
ierer wasn't taking any chances. who
sver he was"
The doctor rose to hts feet.
Nothing more can be DONE" he
pronounced. Keep the people out OF
lere whilst / 20 and fetch my hat and
.oat. Afterward. IN take me body to
he mortuary when the ambulance ar
ives"
An attendant pushed his way
through the crowd Of people on the
nnsr side OF the door.
Miss Daisy Hyslop. young lady
vho was with Mr.. Bldlake. has Just
minfed In tire Indiesl rooans cir = be an 1
lonnced. -CQuId you come r
~K1l be theirs iznmediately.r the doe
or promised
The rest of tina procaaoiaKs followed
normni course. The police arrived.
COX varigms noEez. the assDmAmnee fol I
owed q little later. the hp@y was re-
n0vad. amd ire ssAss ernva ~ Rma@&a. 4
am ineseseu wfEh . sort a. awsd en-
a1nmnnnaa smmun nllnmmh b take khaAr {