The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1935-02-05
CHAPTER xLvIu

Pete Ryan was the first Of Har-
VOWS guests to reach the study at
ter the shooting. He found the two
women bending over Harrow. The
gun lay on the floor.
"Kayl What's happened!"
"He's dead" Carlotta walled,
again and again, . wild, sorrowful
chant. Hes dead he's dead ..
he's dead :"
Pete knelt down quickly. drag
her off," he ordered, and Kay be-
gan Juggling at Carlotta's arm. Pete
took out his watch, rubbed the shiny
back on his sleeve and held it close
to Harrow's lips. With his other
hand he felt for the mans pulse.
In . few seconds he looked at the
back Of the watch, then at Harrow's
face, then at Kay.
ANYBODY phone the doctor!" he
demanded.
Kay shook her head. do it, then"
Pete said.
Within q remarkably short while
Harrow, still unconscious, was be-
ing rushed to . hospital accompa-
MED BY the doctor; Carlotta Vestra
was in bed, having been given 4
heavy sedative, attended by one Of
the maids; Kay and Pete sat in the
library, Pete listening to her story.
"Poor Kayl" he said gently, tax
ing her head on his shoulder.
She reached instinctively for his
hand, held it tightly IN both Of hers.
~. .Pets -" she sighed. "oh.
He kissed her tenderly on the
forehead, then on her closed eyelids,
and was surprised to see that she
lifted her half-parted lips to him
with the gentle helplessness, the
trust, Of . child. His own lips found
hers.
Next morning Spike had assumed
charge Of everything.
~Not . peep Of this gets out" he
said. Both Kay and Pete agreed,
the assembled servants nodded SOL
EMMY, and Carlotta Vestra-heavy-
eyed, haggard and quiet, entirely .
different person from the mad
woman Of the night before-nodded
II don't know Why I'm giving you
this break, Carlotta," Spike said
eoldly, ''but ! am. Not that it's for
your sake. Earl's got things to
put over. And he's going to Be up
and around putting them over in Z
little while-no thanks to you. Il
was only BY al the luck in the world
that the little slug from your gun
slid on . rib and went up into hid
shoulder. Otherwise it would have
drilled him right through the pump.
As 1t II. it didn't 50 much as nick q
lung. Il it weren't for that you'd
b in Jail right now rehearsing your
speech for the hot seat"
Carlotta WINGED and closed her
eyes. Strangely, Kay found her
self feeling sorry for the woman
this morning, tremendously sorry
She put her hand on Carlotta's arm
Later that morning, Kay and
Carlotta had . long talk in which
they really began 10 know each
other. Kay had only pity and i'd
mifation for this crushed creature
Of fierce passion and CARROTS
seemed to understand Kay per
fectly.
II don't care what happens {.
me-" Carlotta said. 1.-THE only thinl
10 that Earl must get absolutell
well and-and I'll do anything, z,
anywhere, il it will make him for
give me 1T least. That's Ill ! ask
l must have been insane last night
] had gone OF to France in piqu'
and everything that happened from
then on merely made the breacl
wider and made me more anxiou
than ever to show him how little h
meant to me. would never hav
allowed them to print that about m
and that moron Of . Prince other
wise. L was Ill right until I rea
about the yacht fire in Florida m
saw your pictures together IN
then, when began to read th
things In the New York papers,
couldn't stand It any longer. / cam
over - fast - could. But wa
too proud to 90 see him and all
heard and read kept making
worse and worse.
"You were % young IN
lovely" Carlotta smiled ruefull
-"and can't tell you what va
going through my mind. ! felt ol
and ugly and horrible-cast-o
I'm vain, naturally I'm vain. "
been sesssbody. I've had lots /,