The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-11-09

inert. SO that he Just waited and hard
ly noticed whether the time went last
or slowly.
The noise Of the bus reused him from
his torpor. Rose was in the bus, but
Cayley did not feel any excitement at
the thought. Everything had become
in some strange way inevitable.
Cayley was waiting a couple OF hun
bred yards down a side turning. It was
a convenient little lane, which Cayley
had marked weeks and weeks ago, when
he first thought of killing Rose.
Rose had not been able to under
stand at first why Cayley should want
to meet her in such an out-of-the-way
place, and so far from both the COT
tage and from Merchester, but Cayley
had been able to make her see reason.
Both the plan in his heart and the plan
on his lips depended on his meeting
had been very convenient for the FORM
er.
That explained why Rose was COM
ing to meet him in the last bus from
Stanford to Merchester and not in that
from Merchester to Stanford, although
it was in Merchester that Rose was in
service and Cayley worked. Stanford
and Merchester, both towns Of some
size, were eighteen miles apart, and,
while it was unlikely that Rose, not in
digenous to the district, should be reco-
gnized leaving Merchester, it was al
most impossible that she could be reco-
gnized leaving Stanford. Cayley had
been taking no chances at all.
The bus had grumbled to a halt just
beyond the turning, and roared on
again. Cayley heard footsteps coming
toward him, scraping in the dark On the
gritty surface of the lane. He waited
where he stood until they were almost
abreast of him, d~isregarding the calls
of his name.
"RoSe," he said quietly.
Rose uttered a little scream. "Oooh!
You didn't have to make me jump.
Why didn't you answer when I called?
Have you put your trunk and things
in the cloakroom?" It was essential to
Cayley's plan that Rose should have
left her luggage that afternoon at Liv-
erpool Street Station, in London.
Course I have. WE'LL" said Rose
archly, aren't you going to give me a
kiss?"
What else do you think I've been
waiting for?" Cayley's heart was beat
ing a little faster as he kissed Rose
for the last time. He thought of Judas
It made him feel uncomfortable, ano
he cut the kiss as short as he decently
could.
Rose shifted at him. Been drink.
ing, haven't you? I'm going to put 6
stop to it. Not going to have a drunk
ard for a husband, I'm not"
Cayley writhed. Roses vocie was full
Of possession, full of complacent as.
surance that in future he would have ne
life but what she chose to allow him
Had any qualms remained in him, thai
tone of Roses would have dispellec
them.
Come on" he said sharply. Lets
get off,"
Cayley had wheeled the motorcycle
into the lane and switched on the head.
light. He helped Rose into the side.
car, and jumped into the saddle.
AL serene. So off we go, on ou1
honeymoon" giggled Rose. Fancy vol
and me on our honeymoon, Norm"
He drove slowly down the lane. "Set
any one you know in Stanford?" HI
asked, as casually as possible.
80 likely, isn't it? A fat lot Of peo
pie I know"
But did you?"
mo, Mr.. Inquisitive, I did not. An.
more q~uestions?"
They turned into the main road, ant
Cayley increased his speed.
Although it was the last time tina
Rose would ever ride in that side-ca
alive, yet her presence exasperated hin
as much as ever. He had expected t.
feel tolerant now toward Roses irritat
ing ways. It was a relief to find tina
he had not softened.
He had feared lest he might let Ros
see that something dreadful wa afoot
But there was no longer any DANCE
of that. Rose could not guess what wa
going to happen to her. As for Gayle,
himself, he felt almost Indifferent, as i
the matter had all been taken some
how out of his hands.
Cayley's lonely little cottage was no
on the main road. It was down a sid
turning, and q good half mile from tn
village. He liked solitude. Since he ha'
determined to kill Rose, he had realiz
ed how his liking for solitude had play
ed into his hands.
AS he turned off the main road hi
love Of solitude ros up in him in
passionate wave. Had Rose reall
imagined that he vas going to let he
into that little corner Of the world tina
he had made for himself-Rose, witt
her inevitable vulgarity Of speech an
mind? Rose, so assured in her owner
ship of it all that he would be made t
feel an interloper in his own tiny do
main? Miriam would never be lik
that. Besides, Miriam was
Cayley thought fiercely how peacefr
everything would be again once RIOS
was dead, how peaceful and how hope
full.