The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-08-17
DlSlATH 9oQ05U
CHAPTER xxxIv

Ay JOAN I
CHAPTER XXXIv
"Sit down, Miss Montague" Finn
said. snake yourself 1t home. I
want to look around"
He pulled open q bureau drawer.
Miss Montague took cigarette case
from her bag and lit . cigarette.
Her hands shook slightly. watched
her closely as the sheriff contem-
plated the opened bureau drawers,
bursting with clothing. He began
to look methodically through the top
one. It seemed to me that when he
pushed it shut, some Of the tension
left the woman's face.
The sheriff found . few old letters
addressed to Elaine Montague, bills
and photographs. He looked disap-
pointed. Turning, he surveyed the
room, but there was no other article
Of furniture that promised to reveal
anything Of interest.
I'D advise you to look. more
thoroughly in that top drawer. Mr..
Finn" ] said.
Miss Montague turned on me 3u-
riously. "What right have you got
to interfere?" she cried shrilly.
"Sherif, I wont stand for thisl Put
this man out Of my room!" With IN
effort she controlled herself and
added with attempted indifference.
"Look through anything you want.
Turn the whole place upside down.
You won't find anything I wouldn't
show you"
The sheriff looked at her narrow
~. Then he opened the top drawer
without word and began taking the
clothes from it, carefully laying
them on chair. When they were all
out, he pulled out the brown paper
that covered the wood.
"Ah!" he exclaimed. He picked
up . letter and began to read it.
49," he said, @you got . letter ad-
dressed to Miss Francine Martin.
General Delivery" He nodded his
head slowly. "Postmarked . week
before Vail was killed-after you
say his wife died"
He took the letter from the en-
velope, reading It laboriously:
"My own beloved wife:
"Of course ! shall be charmed to
see you again, after this separation
which I know has grieved you 30.
am overwhelmed with sorrow to
hear that you are in need Of money
and delighted that you had no ab-
surd scruples about requesting help
Of the man you deserted.
Anything l have is yours. Of
course on only one minor condi-
ton which know you will be de-
lighted to fulfill. will pay you very
well for the name Of the man whom
you preferred to me. ] am sure you
won't hesitate to betray him. Il the
price Is large enough. Have you
ever let . little thing like loyalty in
terfere with your pleasure !"
He broke on end looked trium-
phantly 1t Miss Montague. II guess
you still deny you're Mrs. Vail Z" he
said.
II certainly do" she said. Fl
wrote to him In his wife's name BE-
cause had to see him"
The sheriff laughed. he turned
again to the letter, reading the rest
to himself, his lips moving. Finally
he folded it. returned It to the en-
velope and put it in his pocket.
"Tells you just how to get into
his room through that private door.
See" he said. "All right, Mrs.
Vail, lll give you time 70 put some
clothes In . suitcase and then you're
goin' back to Sherwood Forest with
me-"
The sheriff, the woman who
called herself Elaine Montague and
arrived at Cold Valley on the
afternoon train and went directly
TO the sanatorium. During the
journey the woman had maintained
. frightened. sullen silence. Mark
was expecting u, for had tele-
phoned him from tho station, and
on the train ] had persuaded Finn
to take the woman TO his room.
"Welll" he cried when We came
In. "Visitorsl Sit down. every
body"
TO the woman hs bowed slightly
and said, with IN impish smile.
"Mrs. Vail, presumed"
She darted m unpleasant look
ct him and turned away.
my congratulations. Mr.. Finnl"
said Mark.
Coming up on the train. the sher-
III had rallied 6 Marks interior.
snce, but his indignation subsidized
a. Mark grinned at him.
sYou1l ind yourself IL trouble
yet, holdin' out Information on me-
he grumbled. II Thought you were
goin' % work with me."
Marx looked veFy penitent. II
should have consulted you," he said.
II realize that now. But ] didn't
know this idea Of mine would work
out. Il was . thousand-to-one shot.
What did you do-eollow Bob b
New York;"
The sheriff nodded complacently.
"That was clever Of YOU" Mark
eaid. "Did you have any idea Why
hs wss making ths trip?"
got my own sources Of infor.
Wstton," Finn cad with dignity.