Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1947-05-02
w.N.u. FEATURES

tlldt hight. one surprised Vdudui-
court with her, and believe me, sur
prised was the word for Curt. He
was utterly nonplussed when Karen
walked in. She was observed by
my secretary and myself; by her
husband who was there on his own
account, probably to watch for
Shari Lynn. Sybil was there, too.
She and Karen met on the steps.
No doubt she was upset over the
rumor that Curt had been seen with
the Lynn woman, and in her mud
died way, wanted to see for her
SELF"
Hard punches showed against Nc
Gales jawline and his face looked
relentless in the shadows.
"The next afternoon, Curt Vallain-
court was shot on your doorsteps."
Miss Bigelow sat up straight,
shaking herself out of her reverie.
"We-we saw the murderer" she
whispered.
Eyes," he answered slowly.
think back. What was it we saw"
"Why," she faltered, "there was
woman with red hair. Veronica"
NO." he said. mot Veronica.
That was shari Lynn-in red
wig"
She gave a cry of surprise.
'Then-"
mo. She did not shoot him. She
was not near enough. She saw who
did and tried to blackmail after
ward, to her SORROW"
'Then it must have been the 9TH
er one-the other woman-the one
in the raincoat."
'"That was Sybil. She saw the
murder, but in her confusion did
not recognize the murderer-then.
Think, Miss Bigelow. When we
looked out Of the window two or
three times in those few minutes
before the shot-think. Wasn't there
someone else there? Someone al
ready waiting?"
He picked up the black kerchief
and dropped it in her lap. She
stared at it blankly for a long hor-
rible moment. Then she understood.
eyes - yes" she said, finally.
"Awful-for Sybil. Oh, Godl" She
buried her face in quivering hands.
In the silence that followed, Nc
Gale heard soft football outside
the door. Someone was tiptoeing
quickly, furtively, toward the serv-
ice stairs.
In a flash it came to McCale that
during the time he had spent in
preparing Miss Bigelow' for the
coming arrest, his lengthy explana-
ton, his gift of gab-had given
someone the needed few minutes to
plan escape. For moment he felt
panic, not knowing what to do next,
where to turn. Excitement raised
the hair on the back of his hands.
He controlled himself with a IT,
tanic effort of vii.
Not stopping to explain to the old
lady who sat motionless, he raced
out into the hall, threw open the
front door. He was in a frenzy.
He ran down the front steps into
binding sleet.
For moment, he was utterly be-
fuddled. Anger mounted in him like
flame-anger at himself. He had
lost. He turned to retrace his steps
when he heard sound near him.
He looked into the dark wetness and
saw form materialize out of moth
ing and walk toward the curb. He
recognized the snug-fitting pants,
pea jacket and round hat of sailor.
He stepped up to him quickly,
fumbling for cigarette, and said,
"Got light, buddy?"
A match flared suddenly and Nc
Gale looked up over the flame to
stare into the dangerously narrowed
blue eyes of Stephen Bigelow.
The man gave a growl, making
quick gesture with his right hand.
81 wouldn't do that" McCale
said, his voice harsh. "This block
is lousy with police. You'd better
come quietly. Every one of them
has a gun. They've got bead on
you right now. They'll shoot-to
kill"
Then BigeloW said, mot before I
get you, they don't" He fumbled in
his coat and laughed Historically.
4 Should Haze
Noticed That Sailor
In that instant, McCale's knee
came up with all the force he could
muster. Bigelow gave a sharp cry
of agony and doubled up on the side
walk, tripping McCale as he went
down. It was not until that mo-
ment that Rocky doomed up out of
the fog.
"Gosh!" McCale heard Rocky
say as he gripped the fallen man
under the shoulders, bringing him
upright. "The Navy! You sure this
is the guy, Duke?"
mo less" McCale gingerly felt