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

Mark Trent fiinched as he ap-
preached the white cottage. Ii
seemed days since he had driven
away from this very. house in the
limousine filled with his aunt's sill
yer, days since the message had
come TO Cassidy's garage from the
police that Mrs. Hunt was dead and
he had left there in ffivver with
Mike at the wheel. They had
stopped at Lookout House to make
sure that the Reyburns were safe
before they had burned up the road
| to get here. But it hadn't been
daYs. net much more than an hour
had passed. No use waiting. he
must go in.
AS he entered small living
room, Inspector Harrison was
kneeling by the fireplace. His pierre
ing eyes glittered as he looked up
and nodded to Mark.
"They got her all right"
| Mark Trent stepped forward,
blindly for an instant. He sunk his
teeth deep in his lips to steady
them before he looked down.
Lola, the woman who had been his
wife, lay on the floor. She was
dressed for the street--had she been
| about to drive away the limousine
full of silver? The question flashed
through his mind only to be instant
| ly submerged in flood Of pity. She
looked so young. so shabby, SO hap
less. Her shabbiness hurt him
most, she had been so exquisite.
He was glad that he had made her
that allowance. Her hat had fallen
off. A current of air stirred lock
of her dark hair. Her hands were
still now. One gripped an open
bag. the fingers of the other were
bruised. He dropped to his knee
beside the Inspector.
Cant something be done? Can't
we move her to couch2"
No! No, not until the coroner
comes"
what happened?"
"They got her rings. She had
| rings. hadn't she?"
'She had when | saw her-a few
days ago Valuable rings. Other
jewels too"
"Then | guess we got the motive
Better come away, boy, you can't
do anything" Inspector Harrison
suggested in his persuasive voice.
Life hasn't seemed as smooth as
a trotting park to me to date, Bill,
but tonight. it seems terrifying,
horrible thing"
Il know, boy, know. Bring her
In, Tim" The inspector spoke to the
policeman with ears like clingine
bats, who appeared at the door.
Its the Cassidy girl" he ex'
planned to Mark. Kinder tough tc
bring her into this room, but there
don't seem to be any other place
,, We've waited till her father go
here before questioning her. Mikes
a grand fella and me friend since
we were lads together. Here yol
are, Maggie!"
The hint Of joviality in his sof
voice missed its mark, for the six
teen-year-old girl, who entered thu
. room as if dragged by unseei
!. hands, regarded him with terrified
!, Irish blue eyes.
The Inspector placed chair will
! it's back to the still figure on tn
. floor.
'tSit here. Maggie
il AS she sat down, Mike Cassid.
laid his heavy ham-bone hand o.
! her shoulder. The Inspector cleare
!, his throat.
Nov, don't be frightened, Mag
! gle. Amt just the same Bill Han
: rison who's been cumming roun
? with your dad ever since you was
little girl, and amt / got kids {
: my own? All you got to do is to tie
:, me what happened in this house L
I night"
. Course, / amt afraid OF yol
Inspector. the girl replied. more
: ease. ''Tll tell what | know
: sleep in the attic, it's got dormt
I, back and front was dead be;
: when | went to bed, what with II
! housework an havin' to run out
fill tanks. The boss was sick Il
! afternoon an"
. Drunk, wasn't he7 Tell
a. straight, Maggie"
I'd "All right, Inspector, he was.
OF don't know what time it was wht
was woke up by car stopping
i'd the garage; sounded like elias;
IT. car. We don't have much late trat
ie an the boss told me today tn
in the crowned heads here, that's VIII
,g he said, crowned heads, had p
al him out of business-so | got !
Oh and looked out to see what twas |
SIS about. | can see into the garaI
I'd from my back window"
.'s "Check up on that, Tim"
m Eyes, Inspector. !" The policenli
rt with the ears vanished into the ha
yTn mn TnATThTfEnI