The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1926-08-06
mune," the gunman.

mune," the gunman.
"This way" ordered Crane and,
Selling Bertram's arm, led him
through the same door into the din
ing room. A few PAGES behind, on
rubber heels, the negro followed.
In the dining room Crane swung
round abruptly. Look here" he said
less harshly. you saw him, didn't you
when he was all right upstalrs?"
Crane jerked his head at the still
figure on the couch in the next room.
'Yes," admitted Bertram.
you was there when he was called
to the phone and took tumble. You
tended him afterward. All right.
Just say that and sign, Doctor Oar
and; that's all you got to do; and
stick to it. Get me now?"
81 get you," admitted Bertram, and
clenched his hands, his blood singing
within him; for what Crane wanted
was now perfectly plain; 1t was a
certificate to be signed and attested
by Bertram Darand, NJ D., that he
had attended one William Severson,
guest at the home of Harper Cotton,
when said William Severson required
medical aid as the result of an acct
dental fall downstairs which occurred
while Doctor Bertram happened to be
in the house This statement was to
be the death certificate when Billy
Severson died; and it was intended
to prevent police investigation.
Suddenly realizing all this, Doctor
Darand backed away from Crane and
Cotton and stumbled against the big
negro.
DANGEROUSLY the telephone bell rang
again.
oh my God!" gasped Cotton
Crane crossed the room to the in
strument and took the receiver, then
quickly he turned and beckoned to
the negro. The fellow shuffled for
ward and picked up the telephone.
Hello"
Crane bent over to listen. Putting
his heavy hand over the mouthpiece,
he whispered hoarsely to the negro.
''Tell her nobody's been here this
morning"
Doctor Darand sat up. So the per-
son who had telephoned before was a
woman. But what woman? Evident
ly no switchboard operator. no STEM
ographer acting for some one else.
Fifteen minutes before, when Cotton
himself had answered, he had spoken
10 ha n,.;y, IN,
this mystery. What woman that Col
ton knew would have been inquiring
for Doctor Darand here? That had
been impossible to answer, for Ber-
tram knew nothing of Colton's ac-
quaintances. But Crane knew her,
too; and there was but one woman in
the world whom both Crane and Doc
tor Darand knew. She was that
young, fair enhancing girl who had
by mistake, appeared at Doctor OAR
and's door on the night of the storm
when, Eddie Pellen, the sunman, had
been shot; she 1t was who, by mis-
take, had summoned Bertram Darand,
meaning to call doctor already on
Cranes staff" and thus Kitty Hewitt
started the chain of events which had
led to Doctor Darands presence in
this house, though all the links Of the
chain were not yet forged.
Plainly she suspected his presence,
and as plainly recognized his danger.
Harper Cotton approached Crane
and plueked at his sleeve. THAT was
her again?"
well, what If it WASP
Cotton begged: Now what's she
doing?'
But Crane only muttered an oath.
"She said something to you," Col
ton persisted Tell me what 1t was !"
Crane knocked Colton's hand from
his sleeve and crossed to a window 1t
was plain that Kitty Hewitt had said
something exceedingly disconcerting
1t was plain that she was checking and
baking Cranes plan.
Standing off by himself, Cotton Of
fered no defense whatever. He had
become almost helpless In his terror
now. ''Whatre we going to do?" he
begged abjectly of Crane
"Do?" Knocked Crane, BLOW