The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-01-20
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

R-AIt-C0nlinuc0
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The inspector pulled paper from
his pocket. Mark Trent gloWered at
it as If it were a RATHER with head
raised to strike.
Here it is. The real thing. Sig.
natures and everything o. k. =
found it"
.sYou found it in my desk. didn't
you, Inspector" Brooke interrupted
icily.
Mark Trent's eyes were stormy,
his lips were white.
"That's enough. Don't 60 on with
this, Brooke.
"But I am going ON with it"
.'Let her tell her story. Mark. It's
only fair to her."
Sam joined the two men before
the fire.
"Jed's right, m'lad The inspec-
tor found the paper in your desk.
That's your cue, Brooke. Go on
from there"
Brooke went on.
She told of her suspicion the first
time she had come into this very
i library that there was reason
other than a passion for the sea in
winter which had brought two men
from the city to live in Mark Trent's
house; and she told of Mrs. Greg
ory's admission. the afternoon be-
fore the Supper club party, that she
had witnessed will of Mary Aman-
da Danes and that she had been
warned by Jed Stewart not to speak
of it. And how, almost before Mrs.
Gregory's car was out of the drive,
Henri jacques had confronted her
with paper and the lie that he had
found il in her desk.
Don't speak! Don'tl' She inter-
rupted her story sharply as Mark
Trent opened his lips. LET me
finishl
II took it with the idea that If |
didn't, he might make more trouble
with it. I let him think that was
considering his proposition that
pay him for keeping quiet. Of
course I wasn't, but | can't expect
you two men who have been suspi-
cjous of me from the moment you
harmed of my friendship with Mrs.
Dane, to believe that. was COM
ing directly to this house with it.
First, locked in my room, looked
at it to be sure it wasn't black
mailing scheme of Henri's. 1t
wasn't. 1t was Mary Amanda
Danes will leaving all her prop
erty, except legacies to the Jacques,
to her nephew. Mark Trent"
"Stop and get your brea TIL,
Brooke; you'll crack-up If you
DON'T" Sam warned.
81 won't crack-up and I won't
stop till I get this thing off my
mind. 1t has been hideous night
mare, holding back that paper, I
mean. OF course the contents of
that will were shock for min
ute; but | knew that Mrs. Dane
had been just. Then | thought of
the play, that the sudden appear
ance of a missing Will-there's
drama for you, Sam-might upset
the performance, SO I locked the
thing in my desk. I had planned to
bring II here this evening. When /
got back from headquarters to-
night, / went to my desk to get it.
The drawer was empty. Now | know
that Inspector Bill Harrison, your
sleuth, had found it, Mr.. Trent"
"That's enough, Brooke" Mark
Trent's voice was low and authori-
tative. II don't believe that you
have had that will. know
"Wait a minute!" Inspector Bill
Harrison cut in. "Come over here"
He spread out the paper on the
desk. He drew a fiat leather case
from his breast pocket and removed
from it white scrap.
Exhibit A. Wateh!"
The scrap fitted into the torn cor
ner. There was a CLINT in his eyes
as they passed from face to face
of the three men bepding over tt
read the finely written lines.
81 don't know what the rest o
you folks think" his voice was al
soft as velvet, but, in spite OF thu
fact | found it in her desk, In
sure Miss Reyburn hasn't had tn
will in her possession ever since
was signed, because"
He laid the tip of a square-toppe'
finger on the torn-off corner,
Because / found this scral
caught in Mrs. Hunts bag the nigh