The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-11-26

I looked up. He had leaned too Tar out
from the rock. He struggled to get back
Laurent continued: II climbed down
the rest of the Couloir. When I reached
his body I examined it. There was no
trace Of life. I descended to the Trift
Hut"
I could see Mrs. Laurent's face now.
She had turned her head, was looking
at her husband as If she weighed and
The next question put by the Chief
OF Police came more slowly.
Or. Laurent, for how long a time
have you known this Tierney?"
"A little more than a year"
What was the relation between
you?"
H was my assistant"
HE was very often in your house.
hold?"
every often"
The answer came prompt and clear.
There was no fear in the man, I
thought.
There was a long pause before the
next question. hen it came-direct
and brutal:
Herr Doctor, have you any reason
to question the fidelity of your wife?"
mol" The word was hurled out.
DR.. Laurent swung around toward
his wife and, for a moment, their eyes
met. Then, with his jaw set, he turned
back sharply to the Police Chief.
But the latter had shifted to another
swarthy, cringing little man whose
voice was barely audible. Yes, he had
seen Herr Tierney and Frau Laurent
together on certain occasions. Without
DR.. Laurent. Sometimes they came in
late at night. 1t was believed that they
danced together at the cafe on the
main street. And so on. I avoided
Frau Imseng," called the Police
Chief, and the hut keepers wife stood
up. Come Closer" and she crossed
the room to the table, awkward in her
Sunday black and hard round hat. If
she took any interest in the proceed
You keep the Trift Hut?"
"On the night before the last, be-
tween eight and nine o'clock where
were you?"
"For a little while I sat inside the
window that is in the chief room"
What is outside that Window
"a bench"
who sat OF that bench?"
The Herr who has died on the
mountain. The Woman who sits there"
"You heard what they said?"
They spoke in low voices. But n
thing I heard"
Repeat it,"
The woman stared down without eX-
preston at her hands that hung folded
before her.
1.-The man spoke. He said: Tt must
end. You shall go away with me to-
morrow"
The only sound in the Don was the
900 u, sc %l~ N1oarc fo0f Inv hnfNfn
the Police Chief as he drew them to-
gether in a sudden gesture. I glanced
at the LaurentS.
His face showed nothing. Mrs. Lau-
| rent stared at the woman, then looked
quickly at her husband. At first I
didn't understand her expression. Her
face was still dark with trouble but,
at the hut woman's words, a faint
flicker of relief came over it. She must
dropper that night, perhaps had heard
some movement inside the window.
And she must have been afraid it was
her husband.
Chevrier made a brusque gesture,
waving Frau Imseng back to her place
in the corne He turned to the guide
chief.
mony."
Il GIleI OUSCl tCN, OAHU CAAS oAu AAAA"As
"the stones which had fallen beside
the body. I looked up I studied the
slope above. Mein Herr, those stones
could not have fallen where they lay.
What do you mean?' -.
But Andermatten continued IN MS
own way.
Couloir with Heinrich Schalle who sits
here. When we stood on the ridge above
I saw that it was as I have said. On
that ledge there lay loose stones such
as those below. But those stones could
not have fallen down the line OF n
steps cut in the Couloir."
Explain" 80
"Mein Herr, a stone can fall IN o9t
one MISUNDERSTANDING down untt ILL., ~
strikes. If those stones had fallen they
would have fallen down the center o.
the Couloir, 10 meters from the line OF
steps" +,o,, ,,,,ere thew
lay?" ro,+,.
"Mein Herr-the stones were tnro"ii
down from the ledge" ..-
Now there was no sound 10 nreak
the stiffness of the room. DR.. Lauren
stared straight ahead at the wall. HIS
wife turned toward him.. Her race
showed an agony of indeciSlon;
Cheyrier's voice had gone quiet TOO:
Herr Doctor: have you any s'a@-
ment to make?' ~
DR.. Laurent's eyes didn't WaVer.
"T understand that I am accused OF
having thrown the stones down on
Tierney. I repeat what I have already
testified; when he fell he was on me
ieSoe 7 was on the Couloir below nm.
Have you any proof Of that?
rs that all you have to sayF'
Eyes" ~. ,onore
ILL a 1octrre of finality.