Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-01-06

Sam Reyburn made slow progress
through the gay, colorful crowd on
the lower floor of the Other House,
grinning at girls in lovely evening
frocks who cooed over him; frown-
ing at men who tried to detain him.
From where he stood on the low
est step of the circular stairway,
Mark Trent watched him. Cali this
praise is heady stuff for boy" he
thought, and then reminded him
self that Sam wasn't boy. Why
wasn't Brooke with him to share
the honors? She had been the first
to leave the hall, the man in charge
| of the parked cars had told him.
Where was Jerry Field? He hadn't
appeared either.
A curious premonition turned him
cold. Of course Brooke hadn't
meant it when in answer to his sar-
castle suggestion she had said she
would end Fields torment. Hadn't
she? There had been infinite deter
mination in her crisp retort:
81 will. Tonight
"Seen Brooke, Mark" Sam Rey-
burn inquired as he approached. II
want her to be the first to know
that I'm to get contract; that I
have an option in my pocket and
check"
Mark Trent laid his hand affec-
tionately on his shoulder.
"Great stuff, Sam, great stuff. I
was sure that the New York pro-
Queer was hooked when he spoke to
me-"
Sam grinned. Offered you the
lead in Broadway production,
didn't he? He's a publicity hound.
Think of the headlines:
"'Leading Insurance Executive
Leaves Lucrative Business for the
Stage Will you do it?"
"What do you think? How's the
party going, Mrs. Gregory"
Mark Trent smiled at the woman
whose blazing tiara on her mar
celled white hair, and plastron of
diamonds on her purple velvet gown
dimmed what sparkle life had left
in her tired eyes. She answered
crisply:
"Listen to the hubbub and you
won't ask the question. Your party
has brought out tails and white ties,
Mark, that's triumph in itself.
I always know what guests think of
my parties by the way they dress
for them" She patted Sans sleeve.
"My boy, your play is the sweet
est, loveliest, most heart-wringin
thing I've seen on the stage for
years. Where's your sister? I want
to tell her what I think of it,
"That's what Mark and I were
wondering. She left the hall before
the rest of us; she told me Before
the first curtain was rung up that
she would dash home to change for
the party"
e Mrs. Gregory's face grew shade
less colorful. 81 don't like her not
being here, I don't like it. I've
been uneasy about that girl every
moment since she testified at the
inquest about the strange man who
passed through her room the night
of the filling station hold-up. The
man hasn't been caught. She knows
too much. They may try to put
her out of the way"
The strong lenses in Sans horn
trimmed spectacles magnifed the
horror in his eyes.
"What an awful suggestion, Mrs.
Gregory! What a gosh awful
thought"
1t was an awful thought, but inn
probable, most improbable, Mark
Trent assured himself. With diff
Guilty he cleared his voice of hoarse-
ness before he accused:
you've been reading mystery
stories, Empress, confess now,
haven't you? Just the same, we'll
start on Brooke's trail at once. What
is it, Kowa?"
He spoke sharply to the servant
who had wormed his way through
the crowd of dancers who over
flowed from the library to the hall.
''Much obliged. Madame Greg
ory's car here. Chauffeur say to
tell her storm bad, very bad. She
DSLtSI SSI IO11lG. 1AS hAlOW DIG 1lOt
like to be out in storm"
'Tell him to wait. ! won't 60
till know where Brooke is" Mrs.
Gregory snapped.
'Did you see Miss Reyburn come
in, Kowa?" Mark Trent inquired.
Of course, the suggestion that she
was in danger was absurd, but it
was getting under his skin.
The Jap's slanting eyes narrowed
to mere Sits. He put his lips close
to Mark Trent's ear and whispered:
''Miss Reyburn tell Taku she and
Mr.. Field 60 to marry, thank you.
She carry suitcase, SIR
"What!"
Had he shouted the word? Marks
eyes flashed from Mrs. Gregory to
Sam Reyburn. Both were regard
ing him anxiously, but apparently
neither had caught the content Of