The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-10-28

| ally between two sentences7 What
did he know? Had Jed Stewart and
Mark Trent confided to him their
suspicious as to undue infuence"f
We're they grooming him to testify
| for them? Had they set him spying
upon her? Should she repeat his
threat and demand to know the
truth when Mark Trent Gamer No.
Better cool down. She was too fu-
rious now. She would wait until
after Sans play. That must 60
smoothly; 1t might be his big
chance-after that-well. after that
she would investigate a few things,
she would find out why Mrs. Hunt
and Henri were so friendly, to begin
with.
With eyes wandering to the tall
clock. ears strained to hear the chug
| OF the servants fIivver on the drive,
inhaling the scent Of gardenias with
every breath, her thoughts returned
to Mark Trent's message. Why had
he phoned? Perhaps she was drama
tizing his voice. perhaps 1t hadn't
been mysterious except in her mag
nation.
There they gol I'd know the
wheeze OF their car ii / heard it
among a million. I'll wait five min
utes before I phone Mark the Mag
nificent Must be something In the
air. First / have a hot chill and
then cold chill, I'm SO excited"
She watched the clock. Dialed.
Waited. Probably Kowa had gone
to the movies. He-She put her
mouth close to the transmitter.
"Mr. Trent7 Brooke Reyburn.
They've gone"
"Okay. I'll be there like a shot"
Brooke replaced the telephone.
His voice was excited. It had set
her nerves tingling. She would BE-
at the front door to open 1t before he
had chance to ring.
In the hall she listened for his
step on the terrace. Why did he
take so long7 His like a shot"
was more like an hour.
I'm here" low voice an
nounced behind her.
In her surprise, Brooke leaned
back against the door and looked
up at Mark Trent She never be-
fore had realized how tall he was,
nor how black his gray eyes could
be.
How did you get in?'
1.-THE connecting door upstairs.
Took the quickest way. Lock that
door. Give me the key. I'll put
| it in my pocket. Queer things are
in the air. We won't take chance
at being locked in or-out.
That didn't sound as Ii Henri were
his tool, Brooke thought, as she en-
tered the living-room.
where is Mr.. Micawber7" Mark
Trent demanded, his eyes on the
empty cage.
| Brooke told him what Henri had
told her.
| "Um. lost him, did he! The plot
thickens."
His voice was uncompromising
his eyes unfinching and direct IS.
hands in the pockets OF his dinner
| jacket, his brows knitted, he looked
at her.
"Ooch, I'd hate to battle with
you," Brooke thought 1T would
be like trying to dent steel wall. "
Aloud she said:
what is the nystery7 II Is mys-
terry. isn't itr I've been jittery ever
since you phoned."
His smile was y fash OF white
teeth below his small dark mus
tache.
"Glad / got my Big Moment over.
Can't have Sam monopolizing all
the drama In the neighborhood.
Sure the jacques have gomez"
II heard their car 20 out. One
couldn't mistake its wheeze. ] told
Henri that we would have supper
here for the cast after rehearsal
and that he would not be needed. =
Fair enough" He caught heI
hand. Step on I'll"
Why was Mark Trent afraid tt
have Henri, his tool--if he were hii
tool - know what he wax doing
Brooke wondered, n, side by side
they hastily mounted the winding
stairs. She felt ~ IL she were in I
dream, an II 1t any moment sht
might waken to And herself snug
gled In the wing chair before tn,
Are. Hut the squeak Of a treac
was real; Mark the Magnificent
muttered execraticn ut the SOUND
was real; so WAS his grip OF hel
hand. Why was he 30 careful abou
being heard7 He appeared friendl,
with her, was that part OF his plan
his and Jed Stewart's7
On the second floor before tn,
door which opened into his house, HI
stopped.
Look" he whispered. II tries
, this, had a bunch | might &c
through quickly this way. When
opened, that key was in your side.
He turned the knob. Better leav
it where it is. We don't want any
one to know that we have seen II
Come"
He followed her into the hall OF hi