The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-02-08

woman In the case"
you've been reading Topics" de-
clared Kilday.
Half million other people have,
too" Choo Choo clenched the cover
let. "My press agent thinks It's a
great stunt. He woke me up this
morning, to gloat over the front-page
publicity. He'd been reading Topics"
"And what do you Think" Peter
inquired grayely.
The woman shrugged. 81 guess
I'm not supposed to think" she said
slowly. with no attempt to disguise
her bitterness. "Me. I'm Just q show
girl A dead lover Isn't supposed to
mean a thing In the world to me but
front-page publicity and more Gus
toners at the box office.
I'm just the woman In the case"
she repeated. with an ache - her
voice.
Both men were silent. Kilday. sit
ting very erect. was looking out the
window, plainly reluctant to gaze
upon the woman's pain. Peter was
uncomfortably aware that he had not
expected anything like this. The
Cho0 Choo Train he had pictured as
Jim Franklin's mistress-the woman
who had quarreled with her lover In
Doctor Abernathy's study-had been
very different In his imagination.
The clink of china. as the maid
drought additional cups and another
pot OF coffee. was welcome inter-
ruption. Peter, who had already
breakfasted. accepted the cup CRATE
fully.
Good girl. Marie" their hostess
praised the maid. .'You made that
entrance Just In time. | was about
to emote." She held out her cup for
more coffee with hand that did not
trembe.
and now she continued, after
the maid had left. Tets have 1T.
What did you want to see me about.
Sergeant Kilday7'
1t was Peter who took up the ques-
tioning. you went to the church to
see Franklin yesterday" he said
gravely. why? We need to know
that, first"
Chno Chon shrugged. wanted to
see the wedding" she replied simply.
IF you were woman, you might I'M
derstand I'd never been to a we'd
ding like that. And then, you see,
Jim Franklin was my man. That
made big difference. too.
"Oh. of course" she hurried on to
say, Il could have stood out In front
with the crowd. But wanted to see
the whole thlng-wanted grand
stand seat. After all. that wasn't
such a lot to ask"
II see." Peter thought he did see
And Franklin didn't want you to be
there. Was that it7'
The woman nodded her head
'1Then how did you happen to got
You must have discussed this with
Franklin. before the wedding, didn't
your"
yes. we had talked about 1t, of
course. AS matter of fact we bad
q couple OF pretty stormy scenes over
1t. Jim couldn't understand why |
should want to go. unless 1t was just
to humilIate him. There were a lot
Of things he couldn't understand
about me, guess"
"But Just the same you went, yes
terday."
YES went. But he asked me to,
or at least, thought he did. Yester-
day afternoon. Fletcher-that's Jim's
man-servant-phoned to say that Jim
had changed his mind and I went"
.But when you arrived Peter con-
tlnued, remembering the story that
Nick Royce had told. FRANKLIN was
angry. Evidently he was not expect
Ing you. Is that correct?'
The actress nodded reluctantly. II
went to the side entrance, Just like
Fletcher told me to. Jim was stand
Ing just inside. Nick Royce was
there, too.
"'What are You doing here. Choo
Choog Jim said. I thought / told
you to stay away from here
eyes, but got your message
told him.
What messenger Jim demanded.
1t was easy to see how angry he was.
And then of course | told him
about Fletchers telephone message,
and he was angrier than ever. He
told me | was lying. After that. I
lost my temper, too, I guess. We
were talking pretty loud, both of us.
because Nick stopped us. He said he
was afraid they could hear us inside
the church. What do you want to
do, stop the weddingr Nick said.
THAT'S exactly what she'd like to
do Jim said. But he knew better
than that. wasn't trying to stop
the wedding"
"But after that you went into the
study. didn't your" Peter made no
attempt to disguise his interest.
1--WE went into the room behind the
one we were In" replied the actress
guardedly. I'm not sure whether
1t was the study or not"