The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-08-17

sAfter this, you better remember
that. II this woman had rot away,
you'd be charged with obstructin'
Justice, Mr.. Hillyer. You're lucky
I found out what you were up 10.
II alwsys have been lucky" Marx
agreed. He did not smile, and
wondered afterwards how he con-
trolled himself; for the sheriff's in
formation had come from Marx
himself, transmitted through Sue.
Mark wanted the sheriff 70 accom-.
pany me, and, knowing Firms stub
bornness, decided that the best way
to coax him 70 New York was "a
make It appear that W were try
ing to steal . march on him.
"1'm 90 glad you've come back
to help 10, Mrs. Vail" Marx said,
turning to Miss Montague, who had
sat down near the porch door.
"What 10 this, m insane aslyum?n
she asked YEARLY. "How many
times have got 70 say my names
Elaine Montague?"
"I'm % sorry, Miss Montague, =
Mark said courteously. "You see,
! assumed that the person ~ were
looking for Was Mrs. Vail, shines
al the facts We have indicate It.
II you'll only explain -" he
smiled placatingly and added, .Foz
your own sake, won't you tell ID
why you wrote Vail that hitter and
came to see him?"
The woman crossed her chiffon
stockinged legs. She said, seThia
is Z hospital, isn't it? ! very sell
dom drink, but my nerves are bad.
after al I've been through"
Bob" said Mark, will you pour
Miss Montague . drink from that
liquor bottle7 Would you like min
eral water or ginger ale. Miss Mon
tagns"
ing the generous drink ! poured
her. II can take It straight"
She tossed OF the drink / had
given her and lit = cigarette. Sue
came in quietly and sat down. Miss
Montague, evidently enjoying her
importance and our suspense. be-
gan to talk.
"Francine died . month ago, @
/ told this" she paused percep.
tibly and looked at the sheriff eoldly
this person. ! had met her on
the Riviera . couple Of years be.
fore. That was after she left heI
husband"
Mark nodded and said casually,
@She left him for another man.
didn't she?"
The woman returned the nod with
the negligence Of one sophisticate
communicating with another.
"Of course" she said. "From
what she told me about her hus-
band, she probably would have left
him, even If she hadn't met Rivers
on the ship going to Europe. Val
was crazy about her, she said, and
he was Jealous. He was alwayl
accusing her Of having affairs with
other men. But Francins was thu
kind that had to have Z new man
before she left the old one" She
smiled significantly ct Marx from
under her painted eyelashes.
$50 she met this man Rivers on
the boat and went with him abroad
Mark said.
Miss Montague nodded and, reach.
ing for the bottle, poured another
drink. Her voice Was slightly husky
when she continued.
"Rivers was Cutting tired Of hel
when I mat them, and altar q while
he left her. She had . hard timl
for . while. She was sick and chi
didn't have any money lett; she and
Rivers had spent al she took ovel
with her. helped her for . while
and then she began to get . little
money regularly every month. Later
she met . Portuguese With plenty 81
money, and she was IN right until
just before she died. when he col
tired Of her, too"
"Where did this monthly allow.
ance come from?" Mark asked.
"New York. But Vain didn't send
f. She said che wrote him oncl
and hs wouldn't give her . cent
When she died, she left mo what
little she had. Il wasn't much. Shl
pawned most q her jswslry whsz
che WAS sick
Rivers3"
mo, and It's probably q rood
thing for Rivers he didn't. Val
came over % lind him, but RIVER
and Francfne ran away1"
"Where did they got" MARI
asked.
ITO Barcelona. They stayed
there until Franeine heard Vail had
gone hack 10 the Statea Bator1
he left, he put e 81 the papers thal
she had died. She didn't care. Sh(
said there wasn't anybody bael
home who cared whether She wal
alive or dead. L was Wallis idea
q revenge. she told me-"
why did Jon write to Vim, usinl
his dead wi3o's nauae1" MARI ashod
II wanted % - him, an
thought that was the bet way
why did you want y sse hni
1T wae private businooo ahoaI
bis wife" she said. and har HHl
e1Ahn6 a tn WnNda like = kran