The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-01-13
CHAPTER yTy-Continued

Changing her SANDALS al LOOKOUT
House. I've got to speak to you.
TRENT Quick"
Relief stopped the humping oil
Mark Trent's heart. Had Brooke
married Field. would he be here?
He would not. He turned to kowa
still standing beside him and asked
in a voice he had difficulty IN
keeping steady:
us anyone in the print room?"
The Jap disappeared and returned
with incredible speed.
mo person there. sir"
Mark spoke in low tone to Jerry
Field:
slip into the room back of the
stairs. Sam. tell the musicians to
play something loud and gay then
Join us. Now that we know Brooke
is safe, Mrs. Gregory"
Mrs. Gregory is coming with
u.s. Jed Stewart interrupted.
Even with the door of the room
closed, the beat and rhythm OF the
music outside set the air within vi
brating. A CHEEKY. fire cracked on
the hearth. Incredibly long-stemmed
Templar roses in a tall vase made
splash of gorgeous crimson against
the neutral tinted walls hung with
Japanese prints, scented the air
with their spicy fragrance. Mrs.
Gregory resisted the seductive
depth of large chair and sat erect
on the edge.
whats happened? What's hap
pened2" she demanded testify
.sWait minute. Thought | heard
something. Field pulled-aside the
hangings at the window and peered
out; Jed Stewart on his toes
looked over his shoulder. yep,
there they 60. Police are no re-
specters of supper parties
Jerry Field drew the hangings
close and returned to the mantel.
The lighter he held to his cigarette
was not quite steady. Nov, folks,
listen to my bedtime story
For an instant there was no sound
in the still room save the purr OF
the fire and the tap of a snowy
vine against a window. Then it
seemed to Mark Trent that the
woman in the deep chair, Sam Vey-
burn with his elbow resting on one
corner of the low bookshelves, Jec
Stewart backed against the door as
il TO barricade it, stopped breath
ing as Field told how Brooke had
Communicated his roadster ane
himself to take her across the
causeway, Of the reason she hac
given for her going. of her suspi
.cion that the man she called the
Bath Crystal Bandit might be serv
ing as waiter at the party because
of interest in the jewels of one O
the guests.
Mrs. Gregory instinctively put ons
hand to her tiara and one of tht
blazing plastron at her breast.
Il suppose you mean mine
W-when did they in-intend to take
them?n she quavercd.
Mark Trent crossed the room. Hi
sat on the arm of her chair anc
put his hand on her shoulder.
Steady, Empress, they can't &c
them now. Go on, Field. Then yol
and Brooke are not married."
i'Marriedl No such luck. Didn'
| make that clear? Brooke told tina
yarn to avert suspicion from oul
getaway. Do you think I'd be her,
if we we're married?" There was ;
CLINT of steel in his eyes. as the,
met Mark Trent's.
where was Lob yes. We made
headquarters in record tim e
Brooke told bar story Your kitch
en-, Trent, was the scene Of tht
neatest, quickest cleanup in the
history of crime in this state, II
bet. No, don't go. Inspector Har
rison sent special instructions tc
you to keep things moving here Sc
that the news of the arrests wouldn
get out until he had the men safel.
in jail. Sorry to report that you've
lost your chauffeur, Mrs. Gregory.
Dominique Not Dominique
He's been with me for years. VII.
aave | lost him?"
Hes been taken along for ques
.ioning. The Inspector didn't hav
lime to 60 into it here. The Jacque
Il at Lookout House also are heinl
personally Conducted to headasaas
ters. Quite a party,4if you ask me
didn't hear much, but your ma
Dominique, Mrs. Gregory, was I
have engine trouble on the wa
home. While he tinkered, you wer
to be relieved Of your jewels"
Anne Gregory's face was gray
It dropped into sagging lines, he
mouth quivered childishly. Suddenl
she was an old defeated woman.
Isn't there anyone in the world
can trust?" she whimpered.
Mark Trent moved closer to hel
.Of course there's someone 20
can trust, you have Brooke an
Sam, Jed and me, and"
Don't forget me-" Jerry Fiel
interrupted. Now, who's come?
h queried.
The low quick knocking at tt
door was repeated. Jed Stewa
opened it cautiously and let in
drift of dance music and Lucette.
Her lips we're startlingly red