The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1937-11-25
CHAPTER VIII-Continued


choked back a shout of laughter.
He had been fooled by red paint.
How had it come here? What was
that dark heap beyond it? Over
alls! Blue denim overalls still warm
from the wearer's body. The driver
of the car he had heard few mo-
ments ago must have shed them
before he left the garage. Why had
he worn them?
Mark projected and rejected ex-
plantations with lightning speed.
The man who had shinnied from the
balcony had come from the room
where the scenery was being paint
ed. Wasn't the roof of the cottage on
the backdrop red? Why the shower7
Why the shave? Was it he who had
removed the key from the door of
the storeroom tonight7 But that
man had disappeared via the con-
Meeting door, presumably into Look
out House.
He flashed dim light over the
white cover. More red A clumsy X.
make X ON cover when"
The words on the scrap of paper
in the storeroom were explained.
TX marks the spot where the body
was found"
The sentence flashed into Mark s
mind as If set in@~ electric lights.
Body Jed was missingl Perhaps his
body had been dumped inside the
limousine!
He set his heel on the thought. He
would imagine horror like that.
That Internal cross probably meant
nothing, but he'd take look-see SO
that he wouldn't ask himself later,
why didn't IT.
Soundlessly he reached the other
side OF the limousine. The dis
arranged cover which left the door
exposed revealed also a license
plate. All set to gol lie flashed his
light inside. Something long, some
thing rounded on the rear seat was
covered with an automobile robe.
Dread paralyzed Marks hand for
what seemed to him hours, then
|
thrust it under the robe. The silverl
Nothing but the silver! That X
on the white cover was a sign
that it had been moved from
his house. Who had moved it? That
was easy. 1t had been removed
while he and Jed had been at the
Reyburns by the man who had
driven away. Sure of plenty of time
he had stopped for shower and
shave. Moving the loot to the ga
rage had been his share of the job
Would a pal appear to drive the
stuff off?
He will, and here he isl" Mark
muttered, as the frosty gravel out
side the garage crunched family.
A key in the lockl Not a minute
to waste. Where should he GO? In
side Brooke's town carl The breaks
we're with him. 1t wasn't locked.
The garage door was sliding back
Mark saw patch of sky. He
banged his forehead as he plunged
headfrst into the sedan, and saw {
million stars. His head spun as he
crouched in the space left by the
turned back seat and drew the door
shut without latching it. He held il
in place as barely breathing ht
listened. -
Footsteps on the cement floor
Cautious footsteps. A light on the
ceiling Suppose it should flash into
the town car? 1t had stopped. Who
ever it was, was taking his time.
An engine turning overl Wa:
some darn fool starting a car with
the garage door closed? MARI
raised his head turtle-fashion. No
1.-THE door was open. He might have
known it. Was it likely that thu
bandit would allow himself to bt
bumped Off by carbon monoxidei
Not that bad boy. He had too mucf
at stake.
He must follow. How? He couldn'
trail in another car. He would bs
heard. Could he hang on to tht
empty trunk-rack? That was al
idea. He would follow the limousine
out Of the garage, slip into ths
shadow of SHRUB when the mar
went back to close the door, ther
grab the trunk-rack when the Cal
started again. A stunt, but he'G
make a stab at it. II he were t
hold the man now he would learr
nothing of his destination.
He cautiously tiptoed after tn,
limousine. He was safe behind thu
shrubs when the driver returned
and noiselessly closed the garag,
door. A soft hat was drawn Low
over his eyes, but Markcknew him
Henri.
He was behind the wheel again
The limousine was coasting. dowr
the inclined Mark crouched as HI
ran after it. AS the engine started
he drew himself carefully to tn,
trunk-rack. He barely breathed
Had the driver felt Jar? Evidentl,
not. He was increasing speed. HI
was not headed for the causeway
He was going in the opposite direc
ron. What did that meant