The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-12-02
CHAPTER Ix-Continued

perhaps It's eifemlnate but IKE
a lot OF ALL in my tub, and | asked
myself, Who's been using my bath
crystals?' | heard sounds IN the
bathroom. It sort of took my breath
for a minute and my brain whirled
like a pin-wheel. Then | grabbed up
my fash from the table beside the
bed and tiptoed to the door. |
banged it open. Water was gurgllng
out Of the tub, dripping from the
shower, my shaving things were
scattered everywhere, and-a shoe
was going out of the window. Stew
art pulled out a handkerchief and
mopped his red. moist face.
"A shoei" Brooke and Sam ex-
claimed in unison.
II presume there was a foot IN 1t.
For an instant amazement para
lived me. I made strategic err
rcr. Instead of beating IT after that
shoe, | poked around. The razor
was gone. That fact gave me
nervous chill Why would man
take that7 Who could ii have been?
Kowa2' | asked myself. But he has
his own bath, why should he use
miner Then | came to and realized
I was wasting time"
"I'll say you were and you're
fairly spilling it now. Keep gong
You did 60 after him, didn't your
II did. Sam, but first | shouted
for Mark. hadn't much hope that
he would hear me but didn't dare
wait to make sure. | squeezed my
boyish figure through that window
and wriggled to the balcony. us
tened. I could hear only the pound
| of the surf and the crack of frost
in the trees. Cautiously | peered
over. Nothing moving. A sound
After this I'll never doubt that hair
can rise. Mine felt like that green
stuff you see growing up straight
on one Qf@those terra Gotta heads.
listened. Sounded like curtain flap
ping. Then | noticed that the VIM
dow next to mine was open. Had
the man gone in instead of over7
81 knew that it was q Lookout
House window. Brooke. but didn't
know whose room. couldn't be
! fussy about that. All the horrors
I'd ever heard rushed through my
mind as | thought of the missing
razor and of what might be happen
ing to you and Lucette and Sam.
He ran his fingers under his col
lar.
1T chokes me even to think OF 1t,
Where was II Oh. yes, / squeezed
through and dropped softly to thu
floor. | stopped to lock the window
and draw the shade-my late visitor
might have a pal, I reasoned
before | tiptoed into the adjoining
room. 1t was bedroom unlighted
Behind hanging | reconnOItered
A mirror over desk IN the mex
room reflected q boudoir with flower
panels. then / knew that the room
was Brooke's. All the lights were
on. No one there. | crept in. 4
desk drawer was on the floor, it:
contents scattered in all directions
A chair was overturned. | livct
years crossing that room. VIVA
could | see? What would | find OF
the other side of that door? The hal
was dark. The man
"Call him the Bath-Crystal Ban
dit and be done with it. but get hin
out of this house, Brooke's eyes vii
pop out OF her head in a minute.
Don't interrupt. Sam. Go on
jed Did you see anyone2"
Couldn't see anything. Didn'
dare use my flash for fear Nigh
be spotted. I figured that the mai
had heard me enter my room, ha'
beat it to the balcony, had seen tn
open window of this house, hal
crawled in planning to make HI
getaway from the lower floor.
gurlshoed down holding my breat
at every creak of stair board, es
pecting every minute that Id b
sniped at.
an the hall stopped to lister
Sounds upstairs. Faint sounds.
hunted for the light switch. Foun
it. 1t seemed years that | waite
in the dark with my finger itchin
to press that button. The hous
was so still | could hear my brai
working. Stairs creaked BAG
stairsl A door swungl He wa
comingl A chair crashed ha
himl | shouted:
Don't movei I've got you CO.
ered!' Snapped on the hall ligh
When | saw you two blinking ar
staring like owls, you could hay
knocked me over with toothpicl
That the end of my installment
the serial Now, perhaps you'll e.
plain why you were proving rour
this house?"
With her arms in the big gree
mandarin sleeves crossed or Il
white porcelain table, her eyes dee
shining pools of excitement, Brool
leaned forward and told him. SteN
arts lips and cheeks pulled and d
fiated at second intervals as he Ii
tened
Suddenly, Sam raised his hand
warning. Listen, folksl Footstep
Stealthyl Outside! Who's coming