Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1930-03-06
CHAPTER XIV

Shortly after noon they were aston
ished to see Davenport returning.
Burton ran to meet him with cry of
mingled gladness and curiosity. He
replied curtly. His eye was savage,
bis lips compressed. She looked at
him. then fell silent
Larry strobe to the Preside and
threw down the rucksack with a slam.
then turned to Burton.
well. they've done 1t now!" he
snarled. I'D like to wiring some ones
neck"
He looked slowly around. and the
innocent Simmins shrank visibly.
"Gone! Completely gone |" he cried
Not stick or hide or hair left; and
try as can cant remember the
first thing about 1t, the very 6rst
step."
Burton stepped to hts side.
Dear, remember we don't know
what you are talking about she said.
Cant you try to tell us what has
happened? Did he get away com
pletely?"
Davenport laughed savageiy.
Got away! That's 1t, got away /"
he rejoined. Got away so far no.
body will ever be able to follow and
bring the secret back from him! The
biggest thing the world has ever seen !!
Gone! | followed the car for six or
eight miles to the place the road
crossed the Deep Barranea on tres
tie. Part of the trestle had been car
ried out by the flood. Gardiner had
driven the car off into the abyss"
'killed?' cried Burton, Mortified
Gone; swept away, disappeared
completely. followed down the
stream on the chance that the car
might have stranded; but In that
force OF water 1t probably broke to
pieces almost at once. 1t was of very
light construction"
What 4 tragedy" cried Burton
Poor Ross Gardiner T.
Davenport shut his lips grimly and
let this pass. After q decent moment
or so Burton ventured I comment
"But there II this to say: the pres
ent problem is solved. The agreement!
Is gone, the whole scheme headed of
You can build another battery"
That's Just It'll" cried Davenport,
his excitement returning. I'm not
sure can do anything Of the sort.
All my notebooks Of formulas were In
that car, every scrap OF paper had
In the world that had anything to de-
with this"
She stared at him. taking this In.
II was a fool, Of course" he went
on. "but wanted to keep things b,
me-
She was recovering little.
You will work 1t out again." she
comforted. ut may be slow task
but you'll get II"
lie looked at her with something
like fright In his eyes.
II do not know!" he almost whis
pered. II thought that at first, and
| did not really care very much. Bul
then all at once when / sat down &c
think about 1t | discovered that
had not one shred OF memory of how
to make start at 1t. It's gonel"
But when you get In your work
shop"
You don't understand; it's all gone
| can't even remember what single
one Of the metals In my alloys were
Aud they were common metals, too
can't recollect whether there wa:
lead In them, or Iron, or copper; anC
yet | know that the metals were some
Of them as common as thatl And al
for temperatures and such things
all gone wiped out''
She looked at him In slight bewIlder
ment.
why, Larry." she cried. hard
| ly know you. 1t isn't like you to b,
! discouraged This mood will pass.
| Is sheer nonsense. OF course you will
work 1t out again, as you did at first
What does 1t matter II 1t does talk
/ time? 1oull get IL.
He shook his head.
mo, I'm not gutter" he dis
| claimed. Il know 1t sounds like II
| But this has become certainty t,
me. 1t has come to me In the sam
way that all these other things hav'
come to me. Perhaps 1t Is the last~o
these beautiful certainties from tn
current of wisdom. 1t was given L
me, and now / feel that 1t has beel
taken away. I never was more sur
OF anything In my llfe."
She stared at him, aghast. "Suc
things cannot happenl" she cried, al
afame.
He shook his head In his uplifte1
face was no Encouragement, only til
sorrow of regret.
Unnoticed lank figure had crosse
the meadow from the road and no,
, appeared among them.
"Hulo, folks said he, casting
curious eye about him. "Campin' 70
: fun, or get stuck yere by the storm
HCaught by tire storm, replied BuI
ton, who had the better command 0
,, herself.
= The stranger spat carefully out O