The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-03-14
CHAPTER "

It 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 marred
with dissipation, very passable ex-
ample of the young man about town
going little beyond his tether.
cts no good standing here, Victor =
the girl exclaimed, frowning. 1.-THE
commissionaire's been gone ages al,
ready, and there are two others be-
fore US for taxis."
I'VE can't walk" her escort replied
gioomily. "It's foul night. Nothing
to do but wait, what? Let's go back
and have another drink"
The girl stamped her satin-shod foot
impatiently.
Don't be silly" she expostulated.
@You know I promised Clara we'd be
there early"
"Ali very WELL" the young man
gfumbled. "but what can we do? We
shall have to wait our turn"
why can't you slip out and look for
a taxi yonrselfY she suggested. do,
Victor" she added. squeezing his arm.
you're 80 clever at picking them up"
He made little grimace, but lit a
cigarette and turned up his coat col
lar,
\ "I'n do my best" ne promised.
Don't 60 on without me-"
' TRY up toward Charing Cross road
mot the other way" she advised earn
estly.
"Right-otl" he replied. which illu-
minative form of assent, word
spoken as he plunged unwillingly into
the thick Obscurity on the other side
Of the revolving doors, was probably
the last he ever uttered on earth.
Left alone, the girl began to shiver,
as though suddenly cold. She turned
around and glanced hurriedly back
into the restaurant. At that moment
she met the steady. questioning
scrutiny Of Francis eyes. She stood
an though transflxed. Then came the
sound which every one talked Of for
months afterward. the sound which no
one who heard II ever forgot--the
death cry Of Victor Bidlake, followed
a second afterward by a mpffied 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 a
terrible. little procession appeared.
Something-lt seemed to be a shape
less heap Of clothes-was carried in
and laid upon the floor, In the little
space between the revolving doors and
the inner entrance. Two blue-liyeried
attendants kept back the horrified but
curious crowd. Francis. vaguely rec
0gnized as being somehow or other
connected with the law, was one of
the few people allowed to remain
whilst doctor, fetched out from the
dancing room. kneeled over the pros
trate form. He felt that he knew be-
forehead 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. disfigured also BY a scorch-
ina stain.
"A bulfet?" he asked.
The doctor nodded.
4Fired within . foot Of the poor fell
lows heart" he whispered. ''The MUIR
derer wasn't taking any chances, who
ever he was.'''
The doctor rose to his feet.
Nothing more cnn be DONE" he
pronounced. keep the people out of
here whilst 60 and fetch my nat and
coat. Afterward. I'll take the body to
the mortuary when the ambulance ar
rives.."
An attendant pushed his way
through the crowd of people on the
inner side Of the door.
Miss Daisy Hyslop, young lady
who was with Mr.. Bidlake, has just
tainted in the ladies' room, SIR" he an
nounced. Gould you conner"
.I'll be there Immediately" the doc
tor promised. y.
The rest Of the proceedings followed
a normal course. The police arrived,
took various notes. the ambulance fol-
owed little later. the body was re
Royed. and the little crowd of guests,
" infected with sort Of awed ex-
tement. were allowed to take their