The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-28
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

! lHC VOICC ~ Inc OLHcr Gnu Oh liz
phone stopped. There was a metalli,
click. The other man had hung up.
| Hello! Hcllo!" Jimmy franticall,
tried to call him back. He wantct
the owner of that voice to tell hin
it was all u lie. "Hcllo!"
| Number, please" came the oper,
atcr's voice. Dazed, Jimmy mechan
ical y replaced the receiver on the
hook.
"What is it, James? Something has
happened to your father. What Is
it," Jimmy's mother was ut his side
her blue eyes staring fixedly ut his
as if trying to read the truth. Janet
came running and put her arm around
her mother. Brcathlcssly they wait.
ed for Jimmy to speak.
something evidently has hap
pcned to dad" admitted Jimmy, gaz.
ing at Barry, who was standing be.
side Janet. "Just how bad / DOM
know" he lied, ''and Pm going t.
find out"
Hes dead. / know it. He's dead
moaned Martha Rand. She slumpcd
into the nearest chair and buried
her face in her work worn hands. She
swayed slightly from side to side
Janet ran to her.
"Look here, Jim, what is it?" Bar
ry Colvin's hand was on Jimmv's arm
his voice steady. "Lct me help"
you've GOT to help. Barry Jim.
my was whispering. "That was police
calling. They said dad had been
found dead in the Garfield HOTEL
God. Jim! Not in that hole! II
must be mistake"
I'm praying that it is. Barry, but
Pm going down. You stay here with
mother and Sis. Please. Tell them
anything to keep them going. I'll
phone you later" Jimmy had grabbed
his hat and coat and was gone.
The cold. wind-drivcn rain dashed
him cruelty as he stumbled out OF
the front door and made for the auto
mobile. Jimmy, unhceding, was car
rying his hat in his hand.
On the way down town, Jimmy, driv-
ing by instinct rather than by anv
conscious direction Of his brain. found
himself repeating over and over:
God! It's not true. God! It's
not true. It's not true"
The Garfield Hotel. old and run
down. reared uglily before Jimmy
Rand's eyes as he pulled his car to
stop.
A shabby three story frame struc-
turc, its paint had faded into tone
less, weather-beaten color that told
of careless neglect. A large frosted
electric light globe that hung over
the front entrance carried the. words
"Caficld HOTEL in black letters
that had been erodcd by weather
until their reading had become al
most task.
I Jimmy burst into the lobby. The
untidy, bald-headcd clerk at the desk
was talking to- policeman and at
Jimmy's question directed him
briefly, "Ncxt floor, room 2O2.'
There. in little room filled with
policemen and recging fumes of gas
Jimmy found his father.
He was lying face up, in the cen.
ter of the floor. Jimmy took one
swift look at the still, familiar face
and with sob in his throat, kneeIcd
beside him.
Dad" he cried. "Dsd!"
A hand touched his shoulder
Are you James Randi" asked the
police sergeant.
"Yes. sir. Ia the name Of God
can you tell me what has happened 2
1T looks like suicide, Mr.. Rand
Somebody was passing in the hail.
way and smellcd gas coming from
beneath the door. He tried the door
and found it locked. The clerk un-
locked it and found your father dead
and the room sinking with gas"
when was that?"
about five-thirty. The clerk called
police and we came right up.
found business cards in his pocket"
indicating Henry Rand's body, with
the name Henry Rand on them. One
OF my men got your house on the
phone right away and talked with
you."
"But it couldn't have been sui
eide" Jimmy protested. IF you had
known my father you would have
known there couldn't have been one
possible motive for him to kill HIM
self. There's always reason for
| suicide"
"And for murder, too, for that
matter" supplied the sergeant grim
lily.
Jimmy looked again at the still
form of Henry Rand. "I'll never
believe my father killed himself"
Tears were in his eyes.
The police sergeant was sympa-
thctic. II hope you're right. Mr..
Rand. 1t might be hard to find a
reason for it, but those things hap
pen. 1t might be hard to. find rea-
son for your father being in this
hotel, for that matter"
Jimmy looked around the room.
Against one wall was a bed with q
white enameled frame. The enamel
WAS peeled off here and there in
large chunks, revealing the black
iron beneath.
The stark cheapncss Of the room
with its faded and worn carpet and
its two dingy, white-painted chairs
with their sagging cane bottoms,
caused an involuntary shudder to run
through him. Near the window,
which had been opened to drive the
gas fumes out, was washstand with
2 bowl and pitcher. Beside the bed
was . dresser with q dirty cold
slab Of Marble for top and crack
cd mirror.
1.-THE gas" supplied the sergeant.
twas coming from that jet right by
the dresser. It was turned on all
the way.
aYour fsthsr's hat was found on
that chair. just whore you sec It
now" he continued.
Jimmy picked mp the hat, his ia
Tiers nest blfek derby. Inside, the
initials ~. r" were perGoruted In
the leather band. H SCI Il down
again, tsnderly, almost ssversntly.