The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-11-30
By Peggy Shane
Copyright by Peggy Shane
WNu Services
CHAPTER XII-Continued
10

was in earnest and couldn't convince
Howard"
Rocky nodded. II understand. It's
Just as you say to someone who wants
to leave your house In a rainstorm,
don't want to give you pneumonia
Was that it,"
''Oh yes. I'm afraid I'll never be
able to make anyone understand about
that note"
"I'll call up the hospital and get
them TO put George Mortimer under
arrest"
The wedding rehearsal was finished
but most of the party were still gath
cred around the bishop discussing 1t.
Rocky followed Doris over the long
green path that led to the house. They
came to the small side porch that be-
longed to Beatrice, and entered II
through screened door.
In the small sitting room inside 1t.
Rocky rang up the hospital. He got
the doctor Immediately.
Rocky scowled. His distressed eyes
were on Doris. Hes gone"
"G0ne?"
Eyes. Doctors bit upset" He
put the receiver In Its holder. Had
n broken shoulder bone. you know
and fever. They told him to stay In
bed" He drew down the ends of his
mouth, stared at Doris with lowered
head IF he gets away there may be
trouble for you.''
She was bewidered. you mean
they won't take my word for n"
II don't know. We must get in
touch with the police Where was he
going?"
Toward Canada, / think. He came
down here TO find me. He saw the
story about the arrest IN the papers.
Rocky tapped nervonslv ON thefele
phone desk. "Of course he's crazy"
She looked frightened. IF | marry
you-you won't be SAFE He'll come
Mt you sometime out OF some bushes
Her features worked con4ulslvely
*'Yon see, did kill Howard. | ought
never to have married him p
"Nonsense. That's morbid. He won't
get me-"
Doris went to the door and looked
out on the gay screen porch. Her
eyes were blank. "That's the way
Howard talked"
Rocky rose, and put his arm about
her. aRnt darling, the police nre sure
to get him."
Her voice WAS ury, CONSTRUCTED. "Un
til they done mustn't find out about
us. / tell you he's not normal. He'll
do something awful to YOU"
Rocky kissed her averted head
4Don't you worry. The police will
have an easy time. He won't know
the alarm Is out for him. And with
his arm In a sling" He let 20 Of
her, and turned back toward the tele-
phone. Hell be stopped at the Dor
der"
He sat down and put his hand on
the receiver, but did not take 1t up.
.Now the great thing is to get In
touch with the right people II /
simply call for the police. they'll have
the news all over the World In no
time-George Mortimer will be warned
and then he may never be caught
The big thing to avoid is publicity
and that ought not to be hard If"
He did not finish his sentence be
cause three newspaper reporters
walked into the room. They had come
to write up the st. Gardens wedding.
but they knew good story when they
saw It,
There was q dead moment In which
Doris looked at. the girl reporter ex-
pressionlessly. The two men reporters
stood still, staring. One was young
blond boy In baggy gray clothes The
other was shorter and older with very
large ears, and hair that needed cut
ting.
The girl reporter spoke first:
my Cd"
The blond young man rubbed his
chin with grimy hand
you're drunk" he said. "Or am /
drunk"
The man with the big ears spoke
with slow New England drawl. do
you see what see7"
The girl reporter smiled her incest
smile. showing white teeth and crinkly
blue eyes. "And thought was COW
ering society weddings"
Rocky left the telephone stand and
went to Doris as If to protect her.
She was no longer afraid. She knew
who she was now Besides, she liked
the girl reporters looks She smiled
at her now. courageously. YES. I'm
Diane Merrell."
The girl reporter sighed happily
prayer Of repletion-as II she had just
eaten the best dinner Of her life. y
Just can't believe It,"
The man with the big ears drawled
ut looks like our big chance"
The blond boy clapped his hands
on the shoulders of his two colleagues
"Big chance You said ii Fame
glitter. Boy-here's where you leave
the stixl Wen get her away before
the other ruys wise uD There's /