The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1927-02-11

. Wv AN0lil ~ 1ffHf1RAh
mind-that her explanation of her
actions did not account for the
length of time. she had been on the
shore. Whether she saw 1t or not
he could not tell checked in her
story she would answer patiently,
r%eiterating her first statement that
her stunned condition had robbed
her Of the power of thought or mo
tiCn. But he was sure Stokes had
grasped the trend of the query he
drew nearer. his flexible lips work
ing, the hand hanging at his side
clenching and unclenching. once
he esSayed TO speak, a hoarse sound
throttled In escape. ~It-pierced the
strained attention she was giving
her questioners and, for the first
time, she hesitated and fumbled for
words.
When il was over and they re
turned to the house, Stokes dropped
10 her side and drew her hand
through his arm. She dropped
against him; her narrow body
looked nerveless, as if but for his
support It would have crumpled
and sunk. But he planted his feet
with a hard defiance, each step
drew a ringing echo from the rocks
and he held his head high. Bassett.
following them, noted his rigid car
riage, and when he turned his pro
file, the wide nostril spread like
that of a winded horse.
When lunch was over Williams
and Rawson took up the trail
again. They were now going 10 di-
rect their attention 10 the Point,
especially the summer house, from
which a path led TO the summit of
the bluff whence Sybll had fallen.
Bassett, who had hoped TO get a
word to Anne, was hidden TO join
them. and the three left the house
step by step tracing the passage Of
the dead girl.
They began with the pine grove.
Needles carpeted the ground. slip
perry smooth, a beaten trail wind
ing between the tree trunks. Be
yond 1t the path assembled the bare
slope to the summe house, a small.
six-sided building, covered by q
thick growth Of Virginia creepers
that swathed It's rustic shape. In
four of its walls the vines, matted
into q mantle of green, had been
cut away to form windows. The
other two sides held the entrances, J
one giving on the path that de-
scended TO the pine grove, d to
its continuation to the Point. A cir
cular seat ran round the walls and
q table In the same bark-cOyered
wood was the only movable piece
Of furniture. This was drawn up
against the seat at one side. Raw
son moved IL out as the other two
ran exploring eyes over the wall,
the door-sills and the floor OF wood
en- planking upon which a few
leaves were scattered.
Here" he cried suddenly,
What's this?' and drew from a
crevice where the legs crossed, some
scraps Of q coarse gold material.
He held them up against the
light Of the opening--three short
strands Of what might have been
the gilt strings used to tie Christ
mai packages.
what do you know about thisT
he said, offering them TO Bassett's
gaze.
Bassett looked, and Williams with
neck and lifted brOws
too. They were exactly of
length, broken flaments of thread
attached TO the end Of each.
They've been torn off some
hing" Rawson indicated the
breads, Caught IN that joint of the
able legs and pulled off. Did she
lave anything like this on her dress
a trimming Or"
Fringe" Bassett interrupted,
the fringe on her sash"
"Ah" Rawson could not hide his
"Now we've got some
hing we can get our teeth into"
Yes" Bassett took the pieces
md studied them In the light.
That's what it is. She FOR a
vide sash round her waist with
.nds that hung down edged with
sold fringe. This is a bit of it,"
"Well,n said Williams. that's a
anyhow. She was in here" !
Rawson sat on the bench and
lrew the table into its former po-
1T not only proves she was in
lere, but it proves a good deal
more. This is the way she was, with |
he table as we found It close in l
ront Of her. The ends Of her sash
you'd have been in contact with 5
be table legs. Now she jumped |
p quickly-do you get thatf If
he'd gone slow OF had time to )
hink she'd have felt the pull and {
nloosed the sash-but she sprang {
D, didn't notice. He looked from
ne to the other. his lean face $
light. v
Frightened" said Bassett.
$50 frightened she didn't feel 1t, \
nd moved with such force she tore
ne fringe off. That scare took b
or up from the seat and sent her
wing through the doorway for the
oint." n
Hold On now" said Williams. o
II she was as scared as that, why
she go for the house, where n
lere were peopleT'
Because she was too scared to q
link. Some one with q pistol WAC a
n the other side of the table" He
,se and went to the entrance fac I
"a the Point. "And the person b
It'll the pistol shot At her from
ere-winged her as she ran" He E.
armed TO Bassett. That's why Fl
1u saw no one when you looked