The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1926-02-05

standing. Some Of them are quite inter
esting-eh2 OF course, / understand that
markable what a number of unsupported
scientists those South sea cases have dis
covered amongst my VISITORS
Mahan was in no hurry; 1t was some. time
before he lOunged into the gallery, and he
was still there when Hugh returned and
went through the mirrOred alcOve into his
fathers study. A moment later he came
out again, looking vaguely up and down
the long vista.
Have you seen my-Mr. McAusland
Stress again, Mahan thought, as he
looked at the other. Probably that drive
with Father Sebastian had been hard on
rawed young nerves. Electric projects in
the Cascades were scarcely an adequate
preparation for the peculiar little bells Of
a complicated society.
"Mr. McAusland was in his study q few 1
moments ago." Mahan answered. II heard
him give orders for Father Sebastian to be
called there as soon as he returned"
We'll, l put the dope on his desk" said
/ Hugh. Hell see it when he comes back"
He fingered, frOWning unseeingly at the
euriosities, his mind busy with its own
/ private affairs. There was speech damned
up behind his tight lips, and in a moment
their barrier gave, way.
81 simply can't stand this place. he
burst out. II have had my mind made up
ever since that will business last night.
I'll stay through this French shindig this
3 morning. Of course, but as soon as that
4 is over III pack up and just tell the old
4LL NA1e AZ 6CA-e o1L4 WEo~
; You will probably be more at home
e there" Mahan agreed.
1T isn't so much that. It is-sOmehOW
I can't quite believe all this"
You meanY
: Damned if 1 know what / mean,' Hugh
answered, as he strobe irritatedly away.
I Mahan strOlled from case to case, stop
d ping long before each one. A little later
Father Sebastian entered the gallery and
e paused at his side. From the study cam
the sound Of a radio loud speaker dropping
It stock reports.
2 manganese Peferred, hundred seven
d Fights United Textiles, ninety-four a
" quarter"
Father Sebastian's mouth angled bitterly
n as he listened.
THE voice Of our modern god" he said.
IF There was a time when the
Is ments burst through on the thunders Of
q Sinai. Now all that the lightning seems
able to bring is the shibbOleths Of NAM
mon"
He passed on, leaving Mahan to the con-
< temptation Of the weirdest case Of all. A
1T strange contract, those frank indecencies
e OF Darbarism displayed IN tnat house,
which was the last word Of civilization.
" A few moments later Father Sebastian
IA came out again and passed quickly without
speaking. A man pursued, he looked, as he
flung away down the gallery's length.
e, Mahan waited a few moments longer, APP
m parently engrOssed in the specimens he
ct fore him. Then, as if he had seen all that
r he wished Of the McAusland curious, he
walked away.
The days event was at hand, and it was
es time to assume the more formal dress il
demanded. As Mahan made himself ready
ut a knock sounded on his door.
"Mr. MOnteflOre wished your presence in
er the private study, sir"
L." MonteflOre, not M~cAusland-but MahaI
betrayed no surprise as he heard it.
nd Downstairs the huge hall, much like tn
foyer of a theater' was filled with flowers
or flags and groups Of important LOOKING
I'd men. Guests were arriving; out on TIT
is terraces were batteries of moving pictur'
We cameras, with news reporters vainly trying
nv To look as If thpV were mere Or0Iuar1
m. human beings.
ter A buzz of talk, t%ricolors and Stars an,
Mt Stripes, all the excitement Of a great af
fair; in a few moments the official envO
cd of France would be driving up to tn
in doors. But nowhere was there any sign O
nd a host.
me The entire house party was gathered i
xt. the study, MOnteflOre seated at the des
nat with HObyn beside him. On opposite side
err Of the room stood Father Sebastian an
Of Hugh, and their positions gave the affai
hat the appearance of a tribunal.
led Shut the door, please Mr.. MahaR,
do our host has been taken seriously il2'
&c Not seriously" HObyn put in. Il 60
,yn at him in time"
the Legally seriously, since he has bee
is poisoned" MonteflOre explained.
the Indeed? 2" Mahan inquired.
Dtu "YOu hardly seem surprised"
md That was practically an accusation, Dt
Mahan merely nodded. Without i~nvitatio
had he pulled forward one Of the pink and gOl
the chairs and sat down.
)of Il an waiting to hear the circun
ted Poison taken in mistaken, as the ev
hen dence indicates, actually given to aim
place Of aspirin HObyn eXpOundci. III
original tablets had been emptied from Il
I'M box and bichlOride substituted
Il tell you know nothing Of it," Hug
burst out. Il put the box on the des
there just as it came from the drug stoi
- and
Monteflore checked him with an author
tative hand.
"McAusland demands that we send f
the police and make an immediate arrest
VN "A natural feeling for any one with
~ stomach full of bichlOride,' Mahan I
~ turned. "And my part in the AFFAIR."
ANY light that you can throw on Z
matter. Hugh admits buying the box
NJ aspirin. Father Sebastian accompanied hi
M on the errand and was the only one ava
Except myself" Mahan suggested.
"That is what makes you valuable as
is SExactly,' Mahan smiled, as if fro
Ises some hidden knowledge. An lmpartl
witness. And both Father Sebastian al
'AP' Hugh were at different times alone here
the study, Hugh to deliver the package a
the other after Hugh had laid 1t on
1v desk. I can witness that"
- Hugh flung to the window, his hnge
IT. shredding again at the curtain whose. q
structiOn he had begun the evening befo
ed Standing by the fireplace the Fatf
- turned paler at Mahan's words.
. "An excellent witness" said MOntetlO
"Mr. McAusfand suggested LnaC DOCh I'M
lor- gentlemen have had private cOnVersati
'oy,s with you, and that possibly they mig
~ have uncOnsciOusly revealed their states
Inc mind to you"
adj "Again the impartial witness, a man
vitb whom men talk" Mahan smiled aga
y "HOw fortunate I am here. Last mis-
I " Hugh came to my room and he did rev
heir far more than he knew. His state Of mi
aiugl was a bitter one"
- From the window Hugh shot him
; AZ smOuldering glance, but Aahan went qui
TIM and yesterday Father Sebastian
,%o5 formed me Of his conviction that there
1toG no providence guiding the world and {
ank the only thing to do is to confisc
ON wealthy violence If necessary-and
ftq vert &c to the poor"
II stil hold that belief" the Father
In with hollow firmness.
ness That's BOlshevism," HObyn prOnounS
fha as if it were a new disease.
- aAh-ha," MOntefOre inteFjected. IN
u4s let us consider the will, leaving all
sven Hugh@
"And I warned him that he'd have
= a. wait several years" HObyn remembe
"a a. with the satisfaction Of one who