The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1938-01-06
CHAPTER xITT-Continued
49, 70

$50 we're off to be married.
That's all right with me- Jerry
Field approved fervently.
Brooke, whose face was pressed
against the back window of the
roadster, twisted round in her seat.
Don't be foolish, Jerry. Of
course we're not. That was red
herring drawn across our trail
"Just why the red herring?"
The ironic note in his voice gave
her a chill tremor of dismay. she
didn't care for the way in which his
eyes narrowed as they peered
through the wind shield. She pro-
tested:
Don't speak like that, 1t makes
me shivery, and goodness knows
my teeth are fairly chattering now"
She turned to peer from the rear
window. mo car in sight yet. Can
you go little faster?"
mot without a risk of skidding off
the causeWay and breaking our
necks. Can't you see how the snow
is plastering the wind shield. The
squeegee barely moves. Why the
! haste2"
while I'm telling you I'll keep
watch. The excitement began upon
my return from the play"
She told him Of leaving her town
car in the garage, of stopping in the
purple gloom under the hemlock to
look at the lighted windows OF the
stone houses crouched on the ledge;
her breath quickened as she re-
peated the words OF the man who
had produced the newspaper clip
ping.
" It's the picture Of the dame
who said: "He was a sWell-dressed
fella!" I'll have to date her up. !"
THAT was what the Cassidy girl
said about the man they suspect
robbed Mrs. Hunt"
Fields voice was sharp, his per-
sonal problem was submerged in a
mounting tide of excitement. The
car shot ahead like whippet I'M
leashed.
81 know that now. The certainty
as to who he was flashed through
my mind while I was dressing, and
the suspicion that he might be al
the Other House tonight to lift
that's the technical term, isn't it.
Mrs. Gregory's gorgeous dia-
monds-"
why didn't you phone the po-
lice?"
with Henri in the house? | may
be a slow thinker but I'm not abso
lutely dumb.
"And the suitcase?"
"A touch of theater. | thought
If one OF the gang saw US starting
he might suspect he had been dis
4 covered, but If he heard what
told Taku he would feel secure
Elopements happen every day"
mot in my young life," Jerr.
Field retorted crisply.
They maintained GREATNESS
alert silence until the roadste
turned a corner into a street which
had an air of lonely spaciousness
Just ahead bulked the combination
jail and police headquarters
gloomy and ponderous.
"Shah / come in with your" Fielt
asked, as he stopped the roadste
before heavymiron door and GU
off his engine.
Eyes. | may need you to corrobc
rate my story When burst i
upon them in this gown, they ma
think I'm crazy. Hurry We don
know what is going on at the Othe
House"
Field slipped his arm within her
as they mounted the snowy steps.
"Tll stick around and wait ii
you call me. Don't SILVER, sWet
thing. You're not afraid Of the il
spector, are your"
"Afraidl No. Haven't | bee
cross-examined by him almost e.
cry day since what Sam calls 'ol
late unpleasantness'? It's just II
Reyburn temperament"
Her satin sandals skidded treacl
erously in the corridor as she Co
fronted a policeman whose nos
criss-crossed with network of fir
: veins, had the effect OF a r.
stop signal.
where's the Inspector? I mu
see him. Matter of life and death
she confded breathlessly. In h
excitement she caught the man
arm and shook it. He scowled
her, looked beyond her at Jer
Field; his expression mellowed.
inspector just come in, III
in the radio division. Go throu
those swinging doors up them sta
to the tower"
!, Brooke was through the doors
fore the man had finished speaker
Three or four men leaning over
great U-shaped table looked up
she entered the room. With a m
tered exclamation, the inspector
them and came forward.
A man sitting at telephone 81
something in q low voice to an 0