The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-11-16

Ii came from small cut. On, surely
he would be all right. He would come
to bis senses and tell them everything.
The blood was already drying up. Ii
only he weren't so pale. II only he
would open his eyes.
Rocky's car came up. In minute
Rocky had hoIsted him into the rum
BILE. Rocky turned to Doris His face
was stern.
Nov. Doris. You are to do exactly
as say. You dIsobeyed me this morn
Ing by running off. and l don't want
that to happen again.
Doris heart throbbed happily. 1t
was nice being with Rocky again, and
nothing much mattered now. George
Mortimer was going to live, and she
was not Diane Merrell- "pll do any
thing you say. Rocky
"All right. Where Is Beatrice's
carr"
"It's parked up lane-very near
go and get In It. and drive BACK
toward the st. Gardens place.
But I'd rather come with you. |
want to find out II this man Is all right.
And | want to know"
ITS not safe
''But told you I'm not a fugitive
from Justice or anything. Hes the
man In the cab. He says I'm not Diane
Merrell. And he knows"
Doris, please don't argue with me.
I've got something to tell you, and as
soon as | get this man In hospital,
I'll come right away and join you.
Now pay attention. Turn to your right
on a dirt road near a yellow barn.
Have you got it7'
Doris looked at him pitifully. She
was not Diane Merrell, only Rocky
wouldn't listen. Rocky continued: Go
up this road for about mile. 1t
skirts the st. Gardens place. You'll
find shed. Leave the car there, and
go on into little path. 1t crosses
bridge, and leads to little yew arbor.
I'll meet you there"
He had stepped into his car, and
was already turning on his Ignition as
he finished. George Mortimer lay calm
and still.
but Rocky-please don't let him get
away
Don't worry. Meet me IN the yew
arbor.r
He was of without a smile. Doris
watched him go. Then she walked
briskly back along the road and got
Into Beatrice's car once more.
She drove steadily. at slower pace
than the one she had come. Even II
she were Diane Merrell. Mortimer
would not have given her away to ar
officer OF the law. not II he loved bel
as he seemed to do What fool SHE
was! Why. II she was not Diane
| Merrell. had he been afraid to stop or
| the road7 Why had he whispered II
her ear, "For G-d's sake come ava.
| from this old fool"
But II she were Diane Merrell. wha
had George Mortimer to do with her
Why would she be riding In cal
with another man on her wedding
/ day7
Could 1t be that 1t was only clever
o'clock? She looked at the watch OF
| her wrist. II was five minutes OF TIL
hour. SO many things had happene,
| that morning. II seemed as II da,
must have passed. She wondere'
what had happened to Molly. An
how had Rocky found herr
This must be the shed up ahead
The path Rocky had described wa
not hard to find. It led through
wood of beeches and towering pine.
On either side ferns grew to heigh
OF three feet Rocky had said h
wanted to talk to her. Ills face ha
not looked very happy. What had b
found out7 She left the car.
Music came tentatively from tn
other end OF the long delphinium allie.
A harp, cello, viollns were gettin
In readiness. Doris remembered. TIL
wedding rehearsal She heard the sol
laugh of girl nearby.
There was a bench In the yew arbo
She and Rocky could sit there and t
unseen by the wedding party as the
talked.
She crossed the greensward and 81
down on the hard bench to wait *
Rocky.
She heard someone coming over I'll
rustic bridge. A minute later she sa
Rocky. How tall he was, and ST
liked the way he moved, with lor
swift strides. But his face looked wo
ried. Everything was not all RICH
Her heart became heavy as she locke
at his drawn features There w,
more trouble.
CHAPTER XII