Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-04-18
CHAPTER XIV

But now can be sure It's the
emptiness of lost love? It's more
nke-oh-" She broke off, burying
her head in her arms. II don't
know"
II think I understand" he said
quietly. 1T hits you sort of in the
stomach instead of in the heart"
Eyes, yes. That's it." But she
grimaced as though the thought so
stated was a trifie vulgar. She
brushed a tear from the corner Of
her eye.
"About the scrap of letter you
found-a letter to Curt"
Eyes, that. I was sure it was
from Vicky.' She's always been so
funny about Curt. Her attitude
seemed to be that because she had
known him first, she had priority
rights over him. Something like
that. I was shattered by that note
and what it implied. And when I
accused her, she was so hard in
spite of her denial. In a foolish
moment I gave it to Aunt Addy.
was so upset."
II know that" he said. He hest
tated, not sure whether to 60 on;
then decided to risk her shock at
what he had to say. ut is cruel,
perhaps, to tell you now," he be-
gan, "but necessary. We haven't
much time. The inquest is the day
after tomorrow and"
"Oh, but do. I'm able to stand
anything after" she shuddered-
latter this afternoon.
"You see," he said bluntly, "the
thing you suspected, the plot to gain
control of your inheritance, was
real. It was diabolical plot-au
were in it."
He expected her to cry out or to
huddle away from him. He was
nearly bowled over himself when
she almost laughed, saying, But
mono. You're wrong, Mr.. McCale.
Oh, l don't mean about the plot.
You're wrong in thinking I didn't
know about it. l was so Mortified
Well. I went first to Chris
'You went to Chris Storm" A
signal flashed through his mind. He
clamped his teeth together hard.
Eyes. He was furious, of course.
He wanted to have it out with Curt
then and there, but I persuaded him
not to. l said it was my job and
that would do it,
"And did your"
eyes. I went right to Curt be-
fore the rehearsal, the day before
before he died. But you see, l was
wrong in one thing. Curt confessed
to the original plot. That was true
enough, but
"But WHAT" McCale's mind was
working furiously, conjuring up all
kinds of absurd visions. He pulled
himself up abruptly.
"You see," she said carefully, a
tremor in her voice, "Curt loved
me. He really did. Oh, I know.
He'd been a hellion all right. He
told me a great deal about himself
that day - about his past - about
Shari Lynn. But for once, it was
the real thing with him. He could
hardly understand it himself, but
there it was. He was truly in love
for the first time in his life. He was
going to turn his back on them all.
We were going to be happy togeth-
er. There wasn't anything they
could have done after we were mar
ried."
Had he told them?" His voice
was soft, insistent.
ooh, no. I think he realized the
danger, because someone was
watching him."
"You mean-'
eyes. He told me we'd have to
be careful right up to the hour of
the wedding. He joked about it a
lot because he considered it funny.
He said, Set a thief to catch a
thief or When thieves fall out
Things like that. He. supposed they
were suspicious because he'd been
seen with Shari Lynn. The papers
had got hold of it, you know"
Didn't he know who was follow
ing him about? Did he say wheth-
er it was a man or woman?"