The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-06-11
CHAPTER II

this! He can get me out" Mrs. Lor-
RE assured herself, III he wants to
You stand by mel I'm Myrtle
Myrtle Silver Lorrie. You call me
Myrtle! You're Agnes"
Agnes did not answer; she contin-
ued to step back away from the hands
seeking her. She stared at the hands,
white and soft and sensuous. and with
scarlet stain on the nails; and she
thought Of one OF those hands-the
right one-holding pistol, and that
weak forefinger, with Its scarlet stain,
pulling the trigger once, twice-three
times?
Some one raped demand for adj
mittance upon the door; and Colver
opened It.
Three men had come, none OF them
In uniform; but they were the police.
They stepped In, instantly the door
was opened.
The nearest man was the shortest
Of the three, but he was tall enough;
he was straight and alert-looking and
wiry. He was gray-eyed, and there
was gray In his hair. Agnes had no
need to be told that he was In COM
mand of the other two men, both big
ger than he, and younger.
The last man In had quickly closed
the door behind him, and he posted
himself with his back against 1t; the
ofh odu With htc
Agnes found that she had retreat
ed, as they came In or she had let
Myrtle Lorrie pull her back to the
center OF the room; for she was stand
Ing there with Myrtle Lorrie's arms
clasped tight about her.
These police In ordinary clothes
were looking at her-at her and Myr-
tie Lorrie.
you live here?" the gray man said
to Myrtle. you're the wife?"
But the wife did not answer; 30
Agnes did. YES, she lives here; she's
the wife,"
who are you?"
II don't live here" said Agnes. II
just happened to come in"
you mean you're q friend OF hers7'
mo"
How did you happen to come in7"
"I1l tell you" Colver now hurried
to help her. I'll tell you, Lieuten-
ant Dolega. | was showing her, and
the gentleman with her, some apart
ments | had them upstairs; then
the gentleman had to go; but she
stayed. We heard the radio going In
here; we knocked"
Colver's quick, incoherent words ran
over each other, and Lieutenant Dole
ga let him 90 on. At the end, he
asked one question:
where is it?"
Down there" said Colver; and
Lieutenant Dolega and the other man
moved away.
The man at the door had q notebook
in his hand, and his pencil kept writ
Ing.
Lieutenant Dolega and his man, who
had accompanied him, were walking
VEL SlOWiys Noulh Aut} HEftI YET
there? Agnes pulsed with impatlence.
The calmness, the elaboration Of these
police iii ordinary clothes, tantalized
her. She watched them slowly pro-
coed, studying the walls and the floor
Of the passage; when they were Out
OF sight, she listened for some out
cry such as Mr.. Colver had made.
But there was none.
They must have reached "it"-this
girls husband, shot and dead upon
the floor. They had stopped and
were STOPPING, probably, to see exact
ly what Myrtle LorrIes soft, sensuous
hand had done. How many times had
she shot her husband?
That petty, particular curiosity
strangely plagued Agnes. How long
they had been married. How long
had 1t been?
Agnes had to ask II. though she
spoke In that awful silence. How
long were you married." 1t came
out In whisper.
1.-TWO years." Myrtle Lorrle whIs.
pered back MY God, two years!"
From the bedroom there came no
word nor voice OF any sort--merely a
succession OF slight, rasping. mechan.
ical sounds.
Myrtle Lorrie could stand this no
longer. She dragged herself up until
she supported herself on her own feet !;
and she screamed. She convulsed her
arms tighter, but her scream gave
Agnes strength to throw her of. Ag-
mes was free, and she staggered off
from her, shverIng.