The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-07-12
SYNOPSIS

In August, Seifert Vail was MUIR
dered at exclusive Sherwood For
est Sanatorium. Up to that time,
Mark Hillyer, the playwright, Grip
pied from arthritis, had been
bored. The crime gave him new
interest in life. It was he who
finally solved the mystery. He
saw the significance Of the phone.
graph record singing in Vail's own
voice in the room where its Gre
ator lay dead. Prior to that, all
the patients flocked to Marks
room and gossiped. He. learned
much about their affairs. Among
them were Willis Clendening, Mil
ton Cross and the wealthy James
Ruxton. all of whom lived in
cottage with Vail. Loren Ruxton
also came with his uncle. Even
reticent DR.. John Calvert enjoyed
: chat with Mark now and then.
Sue Faraday, Marks attractive
nurse, acted - hostess. Vail I
former operate star, visited Marx
only once, and then to ridicule
Marks play. Vail told how his
wife Francine loved him in the role
Of Tristan; then he broke of, cry
ing, and left abruptly. He made
his last public appearance at 4
dance given for the patients by
James Ruxton.
CHAPTER Ill
During the week preceding the
dance the patients 1T Sherwood
Forest, thinking and talking Of
nothing else, excitedly prepared for
it. That expensive and snobbish
community is interested in very
little that occurs outside its gates,
and inordinately concerned with the
most trivial events ct home. The
mountains isolate it physically from
the outer world and illness alien
ates it spiritually from the normal
life Of healthy people. Dynasties
may fall, wars may ravish the
earth, but Sherwood Forests pa
tients remain absorbed in their
sym p ( o ms. Temperature and
weight, the ministrations Of doc
tors and nurses, the trifing gossip
about other patients monopolize the
interest Of these gilded unfortu-
mates. James Ruxton's dance.
therefore, made the fifth Of Aug
ust . date Is important - Christ
mas, with its magnificent dinner,
and the Fourth Of July, with its
fireworks. Patients obviously too
i'll to attend intrigued untiringly
for that permission. Others. a.
lowed to be present IS spectators,
harried the doctors for the privilege
Of one dance. Even the most for
tunate, allotted . dance or two,
begged for more. When the great
day arrived, the entire sanatorium
was in . fever Of expectancy.
The invitation included not only
patients, but visitors, members Of
the medical staff, business Office en-
ployees and nurses. would have
spent the evening with Mark. but
he insisted that ! 60. ] stopped in
to see him just % Sue was showing
Mark her dress. She was full Of
laughter, happy and excited o =
girl going to her first party. She
turned in front Of Mark on her
small red clippers. exhibiting the
russell gown that matched the au-
burn glints in her brown hair.
"How do / look, Mr.. Hillyer?"
she said. "Am I oil right?"
"Your petticoat shows" Mark
said. "Outside Of that sweetheart,
you're just about perfect"
She stuck out her tongue at him
and said. "l'm not wearing petit.
coat. I do wish you were going.
she added.
aSome day IN show you anna,
tours some real hoofing," he said
"Beat Il, now. and have . COOK
time" :.
She threw : smile It me, smile
that seemed to promise that VI
were going 70 have . wonderful
evening, and ram ont.
"There goes the belle Of the ball,
Mark said TO me, grinning. q wisl
I could 70. I'd like 70 geo Lorel
Ruxton's facs when she walks Il
With John Calvert"
"Why7" ] asked.
@You never notice what goes d
around you. Don't you know VIII,
Jamss Ruxton's giving this blow
0ntf"