The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1927-02-04
cially &c Miss Tracy, who was Miss
Saunders friend"

Saunders friend"
Il remember" Then to Anne
Miss Tracy, IL you should with
hold any Information from us you'd
get yourself into a very uncom-
Portable position"
Il wouldn't, l wouldn't" she
b%rsatbed.
-Rawson's glance remained on
her, obviously intent. Bassett noted
it with a resentment he found it diff
feult to hide.
You can absolutely rely on Miss
Tracy" he said. She would be
perfectly frank with you II she
had anything to tell"
NO doubt, no doubt" said the
other, and walked TO the entrance.
I'm going out to have a look
around" On the sill he turned
and addressed Anne. Il gave some
instructions TO you ladies and l ex-
pect to have them followed. You'll
please remember them in the fu-
ture.'
He passed out into the brilliancy
of the moonlight. Now that he
was gone Bassett felt he must
make her understand. He had been
sstonished at what she had done.
1t was so unlike her, a disobe-
dience of orders at such a time as
this.
You must do what they tell you,
Anne. They have TO make these
rules, and it's up TO us TO keep
them"
II will now, you can trust me.
Mr.. Williams, you can see how 1t
was. l couldn't sleep and my mind
was full OF this awful thing, and
| thought if ! could put 1t on some
thing else-get free from my
thoughts even for a few moments! y
Williams grunted his comprehen-
sion. He felt rather tenderly TO-
ward her, she looked so small and
van, and her voice was so plead
ing.
hWhere is your book" he asked.
ION the table behind you. ! was
feeling round for 1t and | think !
puzzled it off with the lamp"
What was the name of it?'
Victory by Joseph Conrad"
He went to the table. His back
turned, she and Bassett exchanged
q long look. Williams picked up
The book and came back with it.
"Here Ii it," he said, giving it
10 her. And just make a note of
the fact that you're not to go round
the house at night after books or
anything else"
She assured him she would not,
she would give them no more trou-
bic, and opening the door she
slipped away. They remained
without speaking ill she came out
on the gallery and walked to her
room.
We'll" said Williams, cher book
was there.
BAssett stared at him:
WAS there. Why shouldn't it
be? Good God. You have any
idea che was lying? If you have,
get Is out OF your head. I've known
Miss Tracy for three years and
she could no more say what wasn't
true thsn-well, she couldn't, that's
all"
81 don't think she did. 1t sound
ed to me like a perfectly straight
story"
Ii was. You can take nay word
for that"
They were back in the library
when Rawson reappeared with
Shine. Shine, unable TO sleep, had
been sitting up by his window
when Rawson, scouting, had
stopped TO inquire IL he had seen
anyone. Shine had not, but had
10 join IN a hunt, and
the two had been about the house
and the immediate vicinity. Moth
ing had been discovered, and Pat
piek had seen no sign of life or
no sound. Now they had
come back for the electric torch,
and were going to extend their
A person concealed on the
seaward side of the island might
be moving at this hour when the
csuseway was free. Bassett said
he would go with them and the
three me- left the roo by one of
the long windows.
Williams opened the library door
and turned off the lights. The noise
of the departing trio would suggest
to anyone on the watch that the
house was free Of police supervf-
sion and there might be develop
He took the desk chair as
to rise from than the deep
leather ones and settled HIM
self to a resume of what they had
far gathered.
He was convinced of Mrs. Stokes
guilt and ran over the reason. A
historical woman, frantic with
Iealousy-that alone was enough.
But that woman had been the only
member of the party who at the
llne Of the shooting had been some
distance from the house. She had
aiken the pistol with the intention
If using it if an occasion offered.
The occasion had offered. Miss
unable to resist the
beauty of the evening, had gone to
he Point alone. He set no store
" Rawson's opinion that the WON
ms state Of mind was too genu-
nelly distracted. He considered il
IS part of a premeditated plan car
led through with + and skill.
The would have known that the re
,ort Of the pistol would have been
leard at the house. This, when
Hiss Saunders did not return,
would have suggested foul play.
md she, Mrs. Stokes, was the only
larknn ont ON fhe island. A later