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

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stopped. Mark saw the white cot
tage. The filling-station. He must
not be seen here. Surely the driver
would make contact with someone
inside before he left the limousine.
| Henri stepped out of the car. He
stopped as if to make sure he was
not observed.
Mark slipped off the trunk-rack.
He was cramped and stiff. He hob
bled rather than walked into deep
purple shadow cast by pine. He
could see the cottage. He held his
breath as Henri gently turned the
knob OF the front door and entered.
| What would he do next? Come back
to the limousine? What chance to
grab him.
What was he doing inside the
house? He was taking his time. The
door was opening againl Mark
hardly breathed. A man slipped
out. His hat was pulled down over
his eyes. He skunk along In the
shadows. Reached the shore road.
Ran on the dried grass which bor-
dered it as if pursued by furies.
| Had that been Henri? Had he de-
livered his message? Had he been
warned to beat it? Couldn't have
been a fight inside. No loud voices.
Had the limousine with the silver
been left for someone else to drive
| away?
Someone else! What q breakl
What breakl He would drive it
back and park 1t in his garage-no,
that wouldn't do, he would leave 1t
with Mike Cassidy. Mike was as
dependable as the sun.
He stole from the shadow OF the
pine. With every faint scrunch OF
his feet on the frosty ground his
blood stopped running. Could he
reach the limousine before someone
Gamer Only a few feet more. He
was behind the wheel. With hand
stiff from cold he touched the self
starter. Hang it Wouldn't you know
the motor would back-fre A light
In the front dormer! He had wax
ened someone! He hadn't a moment
to lose.
With his ears strained to detect
pursuit. with his eyes roaming from
side to side, Mark shot the car
ahead. He went In an opposite di-
rection from that taken by Henri
if the man who had burned up the
road making his getaway from the
white cottage had been Henri-he
wouldn't run the chance of overtak-
ing him. 1t seemed years before he
reached Mike Cassidy's garage at
the entrance to the causeWay, hours
before he could rouse the man, be-
fore he partially opened the door.
"Let me in quick, Mike" he whis-
pered to the blinking. cursing pro-
prietor, who was gripping some
thing that cleaned dark and blue
and ugly in hairy, ham-bone fist.
TITS only you, Mr.. Mark! Thought
it might be hold-up."
Cassidy's lower jaw swung like a
gate on loose hinges. He slipped
the automatic into his pocket be-
fore he rolled back the garage door.
"Where can I hide this?"
Cassidy pointed.
Not until the limousine was
slowed behind motley collection of
broken-down cars did Mark Trent
explain.
1--WE just rescued the family sill
yer, Mike. The yarn have to tell
you will beat any OF the thrillers
you get over the radio. Not afraid
to keep the car here, are your"
Cassidy's red-rimmed eyes grew
moist. He wiped his nose on q
shabby coat sleeve.
IL amt afraid to do nothing for
you, MIR. Mark. You an your family
give me my start; sometimes
you've kept me goin' when I didn't
know where the next meal was com
in from. | felt mean when let my
Maggie 60 to Work for Mrs. Hunt
who treated you SO bad but we
needed the money somethin' terri
BILE, so she took the job, though il
was at that new film station that's
tryin' to put me out of business. =
A telephone rang. The two men
. stared at one another. Marks blood
, turned to ice. Cassidy whispered
"Holy mackerell Who's calm
this time of night? Have they traced
you and the silver this quick? Per-
haps there's gang after you'll"
Mark nodded toward the tele.
phone. ANSWER" His muscles
tensed as he listened.
, "Cassidy's garage-You, Maggie
!, What t'h'll--Stop blubberin Whatl
| Who'll can't hear, you're cryin'
, so - Something terrible? - Never
, mind, never mind. I'll call police
Observation-Disclosures got to stay
there, girl, till I get Bill Harrison
Ii anyone comes, don't talk. Don'l
! talki--Sure. I'll come, just as soor
, as | get the police"
"Mikel What's happened7"
. Cassidy's face was ashen as he
shook Marks hand from his arm
; "Waitl"
, He dialled. He spoke into the
transmitter
Someone's hurt bad at the white
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