The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1927-02-25

She Stole to the Door and Openes
1t a Crack.
on Bassett facing her across tht
room, his brows drawn low owe the
dark trouble of his eyes. His LOOK
told her of anxiety, apprehension
and a passionate concern for her
Williams indicated an armchair
near the desk:
Take q seat, Miss Tracy. Sorry
we've had TO call you down"
She fell into il and, as the mer
settled themselves in theirs, raj
her tongue along her dry lips and
took a deep breath of air into hel
lungs.
We've been making some in
quiries about your brother, Miss
Tracy" RawsOn began. about his
leaving here. You told US, as I re-
member, that you knew he went
"Why, yes, he went"
did you see him go?"
"No-I didn't see the boat go, ]
was upstairs, but of course he
went"
We've found out that he didn't"
said Rawson.
"Mr. Rawson's seen Gabriel
Bassett spoke very gently. "And he
says he didn't take Joe over"
"But I don't understand. He was
ready. I said good-by to him. II
was his holiday. He'd been looking
forward to 1t. he was crazy to CO."
And he told you he was going,
wanted to 60. Was he jolly and
good-humored like a person start
ing on q holiday?"
"Yes-why shouldn't he be? II
was what he'd been longing TO do
for years. After ] left him / went
to my room and dressed and when
I went downstairs | saw that his
bag and fishing rod, which he told
me he'd left by the entrance, were
gone, and I thought of course he
was. And he has, he's gone some
other way"
you're sure he's gomez" Raw
sons emphasis on you're" was
heavy.
She looked at him with startled
eyes:
"Yes, aren't you? Why, you don't
think he's here?"
Rawson addressed BaSSett:
Didn't you tell me he was to
stop tonight in Bangor and meet
his friend?"
"Yes-they were to start out in
the morning"
"Where were they staying?"
"Some hotel, I don't know the
name. Do you remember it, Amer
She shook her head. "No. If he
told me I've forgotten. I've no idea
what 1t was"
"Hold on q minute" said VIII
Hams, stretching out his hand.
"Shine spoke to me about that. He
was asking about a hotel in Bangor
young Tracy recommended the
Algonquin inn. That may be it."
Rawson swung the desk chair
round and drew the telephone to
him:
"We can find out in a minute"
They sat without moving while
Rawson made the connection.
rs there a Mr.. Tracy there-Joe
Tracy?' And then a period of lis
tening, punctuated with grunts Of
assent from Rawson. Then. MIR.
Trayers has gone-Ieft OF the six
fifteen this evening" see" A 81
lent stretch and a final Thanks
that's all / wanted. Much obliged"
The receiver clicked into its hook,
and Rawson swung the chair to-
ward them:
drawers has been there waiting
since last night. Tracy never
showed up. Travers had no mes
sage from him and left this eve
ming for Moosehead lake"
For a moment there was no COM
ment. Anne raised her eyes, the
sides of the room looked a long
way off and the light seemed to
have intensified to a violent glare
as if she were sitting in the midst
of a dazzling illumination.
81 don't know what to make OF
that" she said, the words dropping
slowly with spaces between.
"Neither do we, Miss Tracy"
Sdlu hGMSOii. anu iCo'iihS boNN; 800
hands clasped over his stomach, he
gazed ~intently at her through his
horn-rimmed glasses.
"Yes. you do she said and heard
her voice hoarse and changed.
you've made something Of 1t al
ready. And what you've made Is
lies-wicked lies"
Then she had seen it. Bassett
made a step forward, but she leaped
to her feet, oblivious of him:
You think he did it, just because
you can't find him. That's all he's
done gone away. You must ne
crazy. What would he do it forf
Don't you have to have a reason
to commit murder?
"They weren't good friends. |
don't know why-I asked her, but
she wouldn't tell me, And what