Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-11-15
CHAPTER ~xil-ContInued


simple. Don't you sect George
Mortimer was jealous and he said
he'd never let Howard have me. Sc
just as we came out of the side
door"
Walt a minute. dear. I'm moi
sure understand. Was George
Mortimer the man In the cab?'
why" she paused. "Why OF
course he How could | have
thought he was my husband. No.
He shot Howard right after the
wedding when we were leaving very
secretly for our honeymoon. / re-
member 1t now-I am so thankful. y
She seemed to be looking clearly
through a long mist of hope. 81
came through the aisle with my ia.
Their to m%arry-to marry Howard T.
She was incoherent.
Rocky held her closely.
Howard valery. But I didn't
she looked back at Rocky. all doubt
gone from her eyes. 81 didn't kill
Howard. oh Rocky, I'm innocent
Of that. Thank God. | remember Il
all now" Her eyes contracted sud
denly with the memory of a new
pain. "But George Mortimer killed
him. He shot him and IL must
have tainted. l can't remember
what else"
What happened just before the
shot?"
why, we were coming out of a
side door to escape the crowd. Fa-
Their managed that. He was In the
front of the house trying to keep
everybody amused-and unsuspect-
Ing. Then George came from behind
the hedge and shot Howard. He
said to Howard, You'll never have
herr He shot and I tainted"
They were silent. The low voice
OF the bishop patiently reading the
wedding ceremony came to them
over the hedge.
Rocky said, There's Just one
more thing | want to know-did
you love HowardT
She hesitated. Il didn't know
about love then," she said. 'I-I
preferred him to George, I'm afraid
that was about all. / know that
sounds foolish. But sometimes girls
marry for no better reasons when
1t Is a case Of having two men to
get rid Dr.
But Doris-the note? DO you re-
member the note you wrote"
Her eyes searched his face. "The
notef oh. Yes. | did write How.
ard a note. | told him not to marry
me. / vas afraid he'd be killed. ]
didn't want to have that on my con.
science. Oh-yes. 1t was awful.
kept thinking of Georges threat all
through the wedding. Then-when
his face came out Of the bushes az
we left the house"
"But the note said, I don't want
to kill you.' That was the part that
made people think 1t was premedi,
tated."
Doris thought. Il can't remem,
Der exactly what ] said In the note
now. George turned up the morn
ing of the wedding. He threatened
to kill Howard If l married him.
called Howard up and told him. He
wouldn't listen to me-" Her face
contracted. "Oh poor Howard
poor Howard"
Rocky held her closely. "Don't
think Of 1t now. You mustn't. Tn
a brute to ask you all these cues.
tions.r
mo, no. l want you to under.
stand. After l saw George that
morning there was a terrible rush.
] couldn't get any time for anything,
and all the time | felt that the wed
ding ought not to 20 on. But the
family had been to so much trouble
] knew nothing could stop It unless
Howard did. | nearly went out OF
my mind worrying. Then I couldn't
get to talk to Howard. He had a
lot Of things to do. Finally | sat
down and wrote the note, and gave
1t to Bill Grant-he was the best
man-and told him to be sure How.
ard got It."
But why did you say, L don't
want to kill your"
II felt as II that's what I'd be
doing II l married him. | knew
George 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 rain.
storm, I don't want to give you
pneumonia Was that it7"
"Oh yes. I'm afraid I'll never be
able to make anyone understand
about that note"
"Tll call up the hospital and get
them TO put George Mortimer I'M
der arrest"
CHAPTER Kill