The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-12-07

huritu uer idther y urhRgluk secpo-
you can't-do anything, my dear.
It's-too late-for- that. Ambrose
gripped his daughters arm In gently
firm fingers. Hes dead"
Doris did not cry. then. She was
too dazed for that. And II seemed to
her that she had known. from the mo.
ment her father had come to her In
the vestibule. She was conscious. for
the first time, of the curious throng
outside.
81 want to go to him. Dad" she re
peated.
Fifteen hundred wedding guests sal
stunned In their pews. They seemed
unwilling to believe Doctor Aber-
nathy's statement.
what did he say7 Tell me again"
the woman beside Peter Cardigan
sought confirmation of the astounding
news
1.-THE wedding has been postponed,
Peter told her, and made his way
toward the door.
At first, the novelist had no thought
but to hurry away ahead OF the crowd.
Now he hesitated. Something serious
must be wrong. After all, Jim Frank
lin and be had been friends In the
past. Perhaps he could be OF some
service. He followed Carmody and
his daughter into the sacristy In time
to hear him ask, How did 1t happen7
Where is he?"
I'm the study" replied Doctor Aber-
nathy. He hesitated. looking at the
girl whoNYas to have been a bride.
"He's-he's been killed." he faltered.
Murdered
Cardigan followed the stunned
group into the rector's study. They
had need of him here.
Sprawled on his back, beside the
rector's desk, was the bridegroom. Jim
Franklin. A limp hand still clutched
| at the desk leg. His other arm was
| flung across the rumpled rug. sod
den stain crept across bis vest and
darkened the silken lining Of his cut
away. His collar. torn loose on one
side. curled grotesquely awry, grim
symbol Of the mans last struggle.
Doctor Alternately gazed In horror
| at the body on the floor.
| Beside the desk stood Nicholas
| Royce. Peter had known Mick" In
the old newspaper days. Now Nick
was managing editor Of Topics, the
tabloid with the largest circulation In
New York He had been the dead
| mans best friend--waB to have been
his best man.
Nick nodded at Peter. In recognition.
"Ill call the police" he said.
.When did this happen7' Doctor
Alternately found his voice at last.
.About five minutes ago. should
/ judge Nick replied with one hand
| over the transmitter. Then he got
| his connection and reported the crime
to the police, before turning again to
| the rector.
II followed you to the door," he con-
| tinued, leaning against the desk easily,
| as though unconscious of the dead
man, so near at hand. II left the
door a Jar, and kept my eye on you. so
we'd know when to start In. Jim was
behind me, In the entrance Of the
study, thought. ! heard nothing IN
usual. | never realized anything was
wrong until the wedding March be-
gan. Then said All set, Jlm,' but he
never answered me- When I turned
to call him again the door from the
sacrIsty into the study was closed
II thought that was strange. but
still wasn't suspicious. Not until I
tried the door, and found 1t locked
"Of course, then | knew something
was wrong I ran around the out
side. to the rear door. 1t was open
found Unlike this
But why didn't you let US known
demanded Ambrose Carmody. who had
left his daughter with members OF the
family In the sacristy. and entered the
room during Royces recital. I'VE had
no idea what was wrong. We were
In the midst OF the wedding march
the girls were halfway down the
aisle"
Royce shrugged. II forgot about
that he confessed. II was busy
phoning."
"Phoning7" Ambrose Carmody's white
eyebrows lifted into question marks.
"Phonlng7'
"Yes."
aThen you had already notified the
police" Doctor Alternately put In quick
ly. "Why--"
There was trace OF smile around
the corner of Royce's thin lips as he
glanced quickly toward Peter.
II wasn't phonIng the police" he
said. 1.-THE story"
you mean you've notified the news
papers7" Carmody's tone was angry.
mot the newspapers Royce denied
only my newspaper"
'Have you lost your mind?" the OLD
man fared. well keep the newspa
pers oft of this"
"You don't know your newspapers
! Nick Royce replied softly.
They were interrupted by the dis
tant wall of a siren, far down Car