The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-03-19
CHAPTER IX-Continued
Copyright b. Minton. Balch 4 Co.
wNU Service

to hear your story from first to last
Don't leave out any details This shows
bung full Of detail, and details count
l plucked ut the grass
II don't know that care to tell you.
Take your time" said Godfrey
But we don't leave here till you do.
II don't know that want to leave
here.r
mo more do l." said Godfrey. "It's
very attractive spot, and I'm glad OF
change"
lay back and stared at the sky.
felt 1 curious detachment from all
that ten hours ago had been my life.
Looking back, ! seemed to be looking
across some unbrldgeable depth.
think the truth Is that my interest
In Helena Yorick had suddenly died,
and since that had filed my being. for
the moment my life was empty as
never before. did not regret the lady
Il was neither happy nor sad. SIM
ply had no material upon which my
emotions could work. The bitterness
had shown Godfrey was that OF a
savage critic-not OF an injured man.
WAS impersonal.
So much for the state OF mind which
my abrupt dislllusion had brought
about. Helena Yorick had deceived me.
Nell had looked into my eyes and
fooled me to the top OF my bent The
utterly impossible had happened The
Ideal l had carved out Of marble had
crumbled away.
There was only one thing to be done
the game must 90 on and from now
| would play my own hand
sat up and looked at my cousin.
II suppose may as well tell YOU
said.
II suppose so.' said Godfrey, yawn-
Ing.
Where shall / start7"
From where left You at villach.
just over a week ago"
A full half hour went by before
had done.
1--WE got to digest this he said. II
shan't be long.
While he strolled. ! lay fiat once
more and stared at the sky, and though
| would gladly have stopped them, my
thoughts ramped back to the antics
which had lately performed.
Helena Yorick had piped, and | had
danced. That was as much as 1t came
to. But ! had trusted the piper, and
the piper had played me false.
Ny cousin was standing before me,
regarding his watch.
From what you tell me-" he said,
the countryside appears to be lit
tered with cars; our immediate vicln-
ity, however, seems to have been neg
lected We must, therefore, walt for
Barley. He's job Of work to do and
he won't be here for another hour
and a half. Still, thatll give us time
to settle two or three points. And be-
tween you and me. It's AS well that
you had that sleep, for unless I'm
much mistaken, you won't have time
for sleep for the next few hours.
with regard to the promise Lady
Helena gave to Pharaoh. RI you
hadn't been overweight, like to be-
lieve that your reason would have told
You that from every point Of view that
promise was no more binding than a
bucket OF Glauber's salt. For one thing,
1t was exacted-she promised under
duress. For another. let's quote his
own words. Because you have scru-
pies you are weighted clean out OF this
race. am not so embarrassed-I
never am" He makes that arresting
statement, and then within FIVE min
utes he has the blasted effrontery to
prove 1t up to the hilt. No wonder he
left the room quickly; he was prob
ably worried to death that Dewdrop
would burst out laughing before he
could get him outside. II you must
have another reason, Pharaoh let you
both go because he was stuck. AS
long as you two sat there, he could
not move. More. The warden's sus-
picions were aroused and the house
was full Of your men; his only chance
was to take up the role he asked for
the role Of the Countess guest
$50 much for the promise to Pha-
raoh. Now for the Count. He must,
of course, be held TIL Pharaoh is dead.
Barley's attending to that. Last night,
at the Reapfng HUuks he very properly
held his tongue, but he knew Just as
we'll as you what valuable prize you'd
made. Like guest, like host, you know.
In fact, to be honest, we'd been hoping
to make 1t ourselves. You mustn't
think we've been Idle. We've watched
and listened and learned whale OF
lot. And the Counts removal stood
very high on our list. Well, as / say,
Barley's attending to that. That's the
Job he's on now--shuntIng the Count,
And now for You. I'm not going TO
labor the point, because you seem so
sore, but suppose you realize that
you understandable In order to
save your life. mean, you can't really
believe that Pharaoh. II he can help 1t,
Is going to let you live"
Il haven't really Thought ahouf II y