The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-10-14


Mary Amanda Dane? II so. what
could they do about it? Drag her
into court? Was that why Inspector
Harrison had been with them7 1t
was fantastic, incredible, yet hadn't
she wondered times without num-
Der why they, city men SO obviously,
should have come to this village
for the winter?
AS if her thoughts had drawn his
eyes to her, Mark Trent regretted:
Sorry, Miss Reyburn, that you
should have been bored with 4
scene"
He pressed a bell beside the fire.
place. With little snort of anger,
Anne Gregory settled heavily into a
chair and flung back her sable cape.
The co.or of her face suggested a
red-hot balloon. Temper and voice
blew up.
'sHoW about me, Mark Do you
think | liked meeting that shame
less woman here2 Shameless! Per-
haps I'm too hard on Lola. She was
right. We old residents did our best
to snub her when she came here to
live, and she did have every man in
the place parking on her doorstep
sooner or later. And what did Lola
mean, she hoped I'd patronize the
business she and her husband were
about to start?'
"She didn't say what sort of bust
ness, did she? Let's forget her Let
me take your coat. Miss Reyburn."
Trent stood behind Brooke as the
servant appeared in the doorway.
.Kowa, take out the tray and
bring fresh tea
Mrs. Gregory removed her gloves
and resumed cross-examination.
did Lola really mean that she
and her present husband are going
into business in this village?'
whats strange in that7 It's be-
ing done every day" Mark Trent
crossed his arms on the mantel
and stared at the fire.
In spite of her suspicion OF his
motive in coming to live next door
to Lookout House, Brooke's sympa-
thy surged out to him. Why didn't
Mrs. Gregory drop the subject OK
the Hunts? Couldn't she see that
he was sick at heart over the whole
sordid situation? With more kind
ness than finesse, Jed Stewart
plunged into the breach.
HAS that pair of Japanese gold
fish I ordered for you arrived yet
Mrs. Gregory"
Anne Gregory looked up at him
with eyes made shrewd by years OF
living, by joys, by uprooted affec-
tons, by hopes unrealized. She
shook her head
"You can't sidetrack me, young
man, even with goldfish. mean to
| get at what Lola is after-nct
| merely customers, I arm sure OF
| that, she was here to hound Mark,
| know her. I'll see that she doesn't
| get license to carry on business en-
this point. | still have influence.
Miss Reyburn will pour the tea, :,
she directed, as Kowa approached
her with the replenished tray.
Involuntarily Brooke looked al
| Mark Trent. He smiled.
"Please. Stewart and have given
up cocktails. they're too effeminate.
We have become tea-minded since
we came here. The cup that cheers
offsets to a degree the pound OF the
surf outside. Have a sandwich, EN-
press7"
you haven't forgotten that nick
name, have you, Mark? / like i
from you. You use your mother
silver, don't you? BY the way, wha'
became of that gorgeous antique
service Of your aunt's? ! haven
seen any of it at Lookout House
Brooke"
| The girl felt as if the eyes of boti
men were regarding her with sus
picious attention. She finished fill
ing cup. added a slice OF lemon
and two Jumps of sugar.
For Mrs. Gregory, Mr.. Stewart
Will you have yours the sans
strength? Oh, about Mrs. Dane
silver. There isn't any"
"Isn't anyl You say there ism
any silver? Where is it, then? DIX
your aunt relent and give it to you
Mark"
mo. Miss Reyburn and I wer
wondering about it on Thanksgivin
day. Glad you brought up the SUI
ject. Aunt Mary Amanda didn'
speak of having disposed OF it, tn
day you wit--the last day you sa,
her, did she7"
Why had Mark Trent feundere
in his question: What had he NEAR
by 1.-The day you wit? VIII
change the end of the sentence
Witness was the word he had star
ed to use. What had Mrs. Gregor
witnessed7
) Even while she was driving Mr.
Gregory home, under sky alreao
freckled with stars, making VIII;
she hoped were intelligent response
to her monologue OF question ar
answer, Brooke was weighing ar
disposing of conjectures as to II
: meaning of the Hunt woman's war
9 ing. 1t was with sense OF stra