The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1934-01-26

room" Turning he leaped up the stairs,
three steps at a time, and when she
entered it was to find him throwing
pillows from the couch and digging
desperate fingers into every recess.
Like a mailman he moved the furniture
and raised the rugs, crawling about on
hands and knees, the Countess Marka
| following helplessly, agonizedly.
But you had it when you left!" she
declared at last. IT saw it. Look through
your pockets again."
mo use," muttered Donellan, CHASTITY
with despair. 1--WE torn my clothes to
pieces already"
"Outside then? On the pavement"
IT had only gone a block when I
missed it," he answered duly. "And
I went over every inch Of the ground"
"Then-then-" her twisting hands
tore at one another, "some one must
have picked it up"
That's the only explanation. My
God!" he cried whisperingly. 20, my
God!"
Don't" she pleaded brokenly. Don't!
It Is not as if it were ir~reparable. You
have your notes, your calculations. All
can be reproduced"
"And what of the originate" he de-
manded harshly. IF it falls into
enemy hands, I have doomed my
country to defeat and destruction. A
horror of destruction"
Her arms reached out to the bowed
head and a foot raised to 60 to him,
but hating as If in obedience to some
inner command, she turned to stone,
slow tears washing her loneliness from
her face. To himself Donellan NUT
tered words she could not catch, but
in his eyes, suddenly lifted, the Count
ess Marka, saw q stark resolve take
form.
"Charles!" She sprang as she scream
ed, but the automatic cracked before
she could stay his hand, and the body
crumpling, slumping, fell face down
and was still. At first she stopped, but
drew back with a strangling, tearing
cry. Unable to wrench her stare away
she crouched unmoving, frozen, and
only stirred at the sound of a low
monotous whimpering. Finding it was
her own, she pressed both hands against
her mouth, and stumbled drunkenly
across the room, catching at chairs.
BY a p~erceptible, painful effort OF
will she poured a glass Of wine, drain
ed it, and then, her convulsive trembl.
ing somewhat quoted, she unlocked
the bottom drawer Of an escritoire and
slowly. drew out q telephone. Twice
the stricken woman tried for speech be-
fore the stiff lips did her bidding, anc
the voice itself vas scarce more thar
a crOak.
Come" she breathed into the
mouthpiece. AT once. No, no! Come
at once. I tell you" Face pressed
against the window pane, the Counties!
Marka kept her back to the still figure
and skirted the far walls as she left thu
room.
1T would have been madness for vol
to stay away. Lookl" And she point
ed to the huddle on the floor, until ther
hidden from him by the couch.
"You have killed him?" The chill
blue eyes went hot with rage. 20, 20,
fooli"
HE killed himself" she answered
levelly. 1T was q we thought. H
was working on q new poison gas
deadly beyond belief. He finished TO-
night, and brought the formula will
him here. I took the envelope from hi
pocket as we parted at the door,"
you have it?" Fiercely eager, h
sprang to his feet. Colossal, Marka
Colossal Give it to me. A pouncl
leaves tomorrow" he exulted. "Wha
luckl What incredible luck! It mean
q fortune for U.s."
And what Of me? And" she gestur
! ed shudderingly, "that?"