The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-08-20
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CHAPTER xxxVr

CHAPTER XXXVI
I listened daxedly q the sheriff
called Birch Cottage, to which
James Ruxton had moved. I heard
him repeat to Ruxton the damnina
indictment Mark had recited. I could
imagine easily enough tho bankers
incredulous, then fearful, protests,
II Loren were convicted, / thought
James Ruxton would not want ia
live.
When the sheriff had hung up, be
said, HE asked me to wait here q
few minutes until he can get dressed
and come up"
Mark nodded. He stared at the
ceiling, % IL his mind were far
away. Then abruptly he sat up.
Don't wait for himl" he cried.
The sheriff stared ct him.
go down to his cottags!" Mark
said frantically. II you want 70
rave his life, get right down there!"
"What do you meant" Finn de-
manded.
"For heavens sake, don't argue, =
Mark cried. "Oh, Lord, II I had q
pair Of legs! Leave Loren with
John, and get right down there"
His conviction was 80 compelling
that I started from the room. Az !
opened the door Loren cursed Mark
and leaped 1t him. John Calvert
caught his arms. I ran down the
corridor, the sheriff after me. In the
hot sunshine, we painted across the
lawn to Birch Cottage.
When we opened the door Of his
room, James Ruxton was sitting ct
his desk, in pajamas and . dressing
gown, writing. He turned % we
burst in. His face was ghastly. He
seized . revolver on the leaf Of the
desk.
Firms lunge carried him across
the room, crashing into Ruxton's
chair. The two men fell TO the floor
and the revolver went spinning
against the wall. Running after
them, / looked ct the sheet Of paper
on the desk. On it Ruxton had writ
ten:
81, James Ruxton, killed Seifert
Vail. did It to save the life Of my
nephew, Loren, for Vail would most
certainly have killed him had he
learned"
II must b developing . con-
science" Mark said. 'sI'm still feel
ing mean about the trick ! played
on Loren. But I had to do It. The
only way I could reach Ruxton was
through that boy who meant more
to him than anything else in the
world"
He lay back on his pillows,
watching the sun 60 down behind
the mountains. Supper was over,
and it was growing cool on the
porch where Sue, John Calvert, the
sheriff and ! sat with him. A robin
Was singing it, evening song; for
the first time since Seifert Vail
was killed, the end Of day brought
rest and tranquility.
James Ruxton was in the county
jail ct Cold Valley. He had die
tated and signed . complete con-
to know" Finn nm 81 said i.1 The first
one is how you knew !, Loren ~, wa !.
the fellow who stole Wallis wife. /"
1.-THE day after the murder"
Mark answered, ~ learned that
Loren spoke Spanish, and ! tried
mine out on him. He told mo he
picked up the language in Cuba.
but he used two words that you
never hear outside Of Catalonia.
He called Felipa una hembra for
midable,' meaning > young lady who
Is . compendium Of Ill the feminine
virtues. A Cuban would have said
'contundents' never formidable !:
and Loren used the Catalan slang
word 'noy' meaning fellow or old
boy Obviously, hs Was trying TO
conceal the fact that he had lived
in Catalonia. !.
"When Tho Montague woman told
10 that Francine Vail and her lover
had run OF to Barcelona ] knew
Why. OF course. long before that
i'd been suspicious Of his uncle"
"But why did you suspect hint"
Sue asked. 1T still seems unhe-
lievabls to me that = man like Mr.
Ruxton could commit two such ter
rible murders."
aPerhaps II hs hadn't bssn sick
man, no wouldn't have been . MUIR
derer," John Calvert said.
"You'ro almost - smart % I em.'
Mark said. flames Ruxton isn't
legally insane, but acute melan-
ch01ia darkann hin whole outlook on