The Clinton chronicle. (Clinton, S.C.) 1901-current, May 10, 1934, Image 6
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The Clinton Chronicle. Ginton, S. C~. Thiirsday, May 10, 1934
The WEDDING
MARCH MURDER
Bf MONTE IRRREn
now is to <I;srov'er who priK*urt*<l tha’ !
rovitlvor.”
“non't f>v«*rkM*k FlHchor.*' Ivtor oaei
‘Who was the
da.^ Fletcher?"
^ ^ . A.
whT bad he not^ ased It ^hen at- ! did chnn’P her atorr Our I tost h/‘t ! tnTt:ed to h’ru, on the phone,
tacked?
C*r a;;ain. sn^amini: that he had tried
tto 05«e his ttin and had l*een t<*o slow.
why had the ala.ver taken‘such {tre- tioned. ‘Thai tellow may know' nior*
caations to l^nceal It? What story i than he’s sayinc. Come to think of
did'Albe weai»on have to tell that the it, he wa« very careful atK»ut mention
CHAPTER Vn
■)
Kilday’s Caae
“Ttut that’s impossible, man." ex
claimed Serpeant Kilday impatiently.
“The pun Itelonped to the murderer," |(eljst inquire*?.
Peter picked the revolver from t’::e
desk and examined It crittcally. Would
this, like every other trail they had
discovered in this curious case end in
a blind alley? He whistle«K Miiie!essv
ly. How could Jim F'canklin. stahtied
through the heart, have oonreale*! the
weapon in the rectory garden. N*f«.re
T«turnlnp to the study to dieT~<H»vi-
slayer wished to hide? It was F'rnnk-
lin's own pun. His possession of it
could scarcely reveal the identitj of
the assailant. He thought' of the
thumb-print, but dismissefl It with a
shnia. n»e munlerer had had no difli-
culty in wip.np-the prints of his fin-
per.s 'roni the hilt of the knife. No.
that was not tlie answer. “What do,
you ntake of It.
inp Franklin’s callers. I questioned
hi'm on the subject." '
Kilday imffed his stogy thouphtfully
"How about Ni«i'k Iloyce? He was
intimate with F'rar.klin. and proTtahly
woman here that
It was Cardigan"
qaestionlnp now.
“The wouian?'" The^tfervant stated’
bl.inkly. “What woman? I don’t re
call any woman visitor."
“Perhai»s It iwnsjChoo Choo Train."
Peter c»»ntiniie.1. ignoring the man’s r^
jdy. '“She came here often, didn't
sfttr _ .
F'letcher hesitated, ap’parently search
one of his Intimate friends. No one
else could have had access to it The
gun must have been taken within the
past few da.vs—preferably yesterday.
If the crime had been planned far in
advance. I find it hard to believe that
the mur'derer would jhave chosen the
church as the scene for his crime. It
seems clear that no one could have
taken it without Fletcher’s' knowledge,
and we find him reluctant to talk. He
nlghf. But he was the only person
who could "have taken it from thcr^
and your^ point is fhat «some one else
procured the g’jn without his knowl
edge. That being true, it chuldn’t
(hare been there. He must have kept
.it at his apartment,*C-ardlpan."
’ That seemed to be the logical answer.
Then Fletcher must have seen the pun
before, must have recognized it. but
refused to admit it. Who was h£ pro-
'-.f;
in his aj.arrmerit Aften. Hr met Frank- i inp his mind. “1 can’t be sure," he !
liii there, befr.re they went to the j sai.l. -.^he, m-.-iy have fieen here’ that i
had no motive, so it^must have been | tectinp? How was the ser\ant in-
some one for whom he has a feeling of volved in the mun^ef'”of^hi^njai'ter.
church. What w.as to prevent him
Jrom Kliiipinp the revolver tn Iqs jrfK'ket
Serge:int?" tlie nov-
Why should the guilty
per<*»n have taken the |»rernution fo
hide his virrim’s gun?"
“lH.«r«i;’t make sense." profiled Kil-
d.ay. chewing' savagely on Ifcis cigar.
“If I had kille*! a man who was carr.r-
*•." a gun. I d have left the gun alone.
Tken. if I ever wifk caught I could
f !ea«l Self-defense " i
“How Is thi.« for a theory ?" Peter
then?"
>r the wiiman jn blue." Peter re
turned to tlic -stlfiject «»f the m.vsteri
oits.._;j|io.^.in nho.se idenfif.v continued
to baTTle them. “According to I>au
I'.iillis, slie was in love with FYanki
lin. and he had tieen Indiscreet where
she was cf»ncerne«l. to sav the least.
day. .'she did come here every once in i
a wliile." j
Kilday snorted. “Every once In a j
while! Why she was here nearly |
every day. wasn’t she?’’
“So. sir." The man glanced first at j
the detective, then at Cardigan, un- i
certainly. “That is the truth," he vol j
unteered. “Of course I know you \
gentWjnen are aware .of Mr. Frank
lin’s '•ah—" he gr**ped for a word—
ir-
ously.' that w as lKii^ossIhle. The fCTCt- -rniunteered, "II Jim,. FrajnJkH
ver had been con'oaled by tlie nr '- had the gun In his r»oss**ssion. he cer
derer. certainly. Peter rev«»lved the tainly would have defended himself
question in his mind n#**t!o»d;paI with It. wouldn't he? He wotddn’t have
iHad Franlfttn carHed-tbe-js^upon-. carried a wejijH.n^o his we<lding if he
his wedding, fearing trouble? If
^AMBUNG
'f^NO
M^YORK
•^nueuKDMv
B
It isn’t (inreasonuhle to assume that^
1 she hnt! access to hjs apartment. And we i ....k . !
I , .1 . . —conn^tlon. with the actress, hut
know that she was In the studv a short . ... . .
' . ... i. o ^ the same, she did not come here
nine before bis death. Perhaps she s i' . v.. * mi
i .V w . . 7. often as-rnu might expect. Tiiev
1! T., ‘
I .Mr. Franklin visited her'
1 to nVirry another woman. | He j -
reached^for his haL “Bring the gun. ; . . . , , ,
hadn't expw*te«f (langof. ^TliHt bemg- f-SeTifefHttt---Let’aha.ve_ a talk with thiS( - * place?
true, why di<!n’t be sho*>t his assail- man ^letcher. 'We'!! never find ouf ,.;|^kea -n^4. —
ant the minute he was attacke<i? i how that gun got into the rectory ‘ ^ m f . * ,
“rf\ we gnml that he was armed. < garden, sitting here."
then we admit he was exi»ecting Pending settlement of Franklin’s af-
tnuilde. But l:**y«‘e heard notliiiig— j fair.si his apartment was being kept
ni»i«ar<*ntly F'ntnklin never even cried ojien. and they found the servant there.
he nevtT had "Were you • wanting to have anotlier
that rvv»dver.“
^'hanging fashion.^ iiavc >|»clle<i the
<leath of one indu.<try after am»ther
one that may revive*! by t-he cur
rent trend to long hair and curS
-witciiev. There’s i>ne f rm 'n New
York *hat has iudd a .stuck of human
hair in --tof age for vea;>. Tu* v value
“But hang it. man. It was F^ranklin’s
**wn gtin!" exi>*»stulated the detec
tive.
“There’s no d*‘uf*t «*f that.” T'ardigan
agree*!, “but i*e«»ple have Iwen known
to Ti*»rT*iw guns l*»*?**re, f»bvl*»nsly. the
guilty r»»Ts*»n was taking ev**ry [ire-
«^uti*»n !•• nuireal his identity. If
s*-»*ms that he fr<t j*1ann***l to Inirrow
his vi«*ttm’s gun f*>r the oc*-aslon.
.After hi' arrival in tlie stndv. iio\v**v»T.
h*- sn<r ‘ A^^^rn.'iihy’s Ma;:;r«*r
It at a m Ilion •iuhar'!
tiie
X*w Y«TTk ?igh*--^-t-ttg-T- va.'tiy—lui-
jMovfi dii!;ng the 'iim*n* •> 'n* r,,.
' (>*■ ;ri< 'nuind .\Iat‘ha*r;;,i i ,«*
Tilt y It-av*- >»: a 'wiAh" -e
.Ini'
H
ian<i of .Manha’tan. .And
h.inriiiig aiiK*! g hi' tr'*j'hi**s on
wji’i The kn:'*- w::<: the mon* isil**iif
ne -rviji two; ^tt-'T]*' «let**rmin»*d to -
n—re .J «-f the re\*»h*T. Tliis
■ 1 ■•I. *
I.e .•I*.-
r ! !• ^ rtu* r**v*»h«*r it«*side
y. t certniniy, it was- a
CL^rry nr.miid. ns
: tru-tiily. For som»‘
rent t<» us. lie •! d
’or a
jd«*'*' idea of w !ia* i- ; n *his
IsTami, no rwrr
day call
Ik ni'*i
< ftmpr*
f.' t
and
i**stful.
,
.Add '
1) yi>ui
list ef !«*nT
mg
n:qu**' u
«»• «triiy
tia- r**n? ng
**f apa*'-
men*.' 1
ly .'iiow
.ng m«>v *^g
p.C'
hut al'o
pi "VlUg
Ik'W aiiia.;:i
iigiy
■
yitur fir
111*' <'!f;i'
* \\ i Ik* i»y
mear- *!
th«* .' irii
; iKct***.
'*•»»»;*‘OK-' 1
cj»be
: • -»
"light
t Ik 1 iii"!U**'**iI’fia
W i.l
k(K*k**fc!
;*■?■ < **ut
er ren' rg agent
: arc
doing. I h *• of tie- New V > -
light eompann s aI>o *>ffer' a free '•••-
\ ice to llu’irv sui>scrtl>ei> to pi>tve the
amount of light y«m' have in you-
home and whether *»r m»t e i.- a*:*-
quale for th*' |»urj>o.'e.' y*>u U>e it.
New York -th«‘ m*Hlern me*f<*|H»!i''
-And yet it ha> m arly “.tHMi mCe> •■f
dirt and i :rid*-r 'Itte’s.
If
he >tan*l> :
ami .'ta
m*' n 'he
w m-
*Jow
of ail e\i'
Ill>'\e
♦Ilf'' >h«tp f»i»
long
h*' may 1
K* a .'t
Vie J> *a'e.
An*i
hi.' Ill**’ho*!. «'f
cu'j» - *.
tiVu't i"
‘.:n*ler
cover
, f«ir «it*tii>*
*i ale.y
ng a
IS an
offen.M- t
fjat ctu
a
na.'y.
yU- p.i at*'-
>ho't
con.'c
u*n*‘t;»^ ami
long m» lUor.c' for ! ?.«
lino
*>f iii'e>'e>
rmy’
’• lake n
eVe»y
detail of a .tre>s amt tueft cttrrfl-away
to make a drawing The draw ng
to a hn a' manufacturer who !>«>'' any
thing froni.$lu up. an*i the>dres>e>
come out in qiian'tities a few da}> laf-
tr- a copy^' oru^ lterhap>. oy a fa
mous F'reneh .'lyi .-t. at a tenth >«f ihc
'price <»f the original.
i»< *ii»-.iyery noiiM r<.nnecf him witii
rf* 'tain i!,a?L sle«*jl<l tfi*‘ owioTsliip
■*** t-he wea4»*»Ti t*e »ra<‘*vl. Th«T**for#*,
U»- rtiro^-:;!*-! f',* g ;!! in til*' gar«b*n."
! ’Then h*»w alxMit tlie thumb print?
f**> y««u fh.'nk we’ll still Im* aide fo
fraee him by
"I h.tve n r *lou!*t« " dr^-hared.
“Why sh ' d he ha'e h-ff n thumb
bnnt **ii tie- r»*v**I\*-r. wb*ri he t*Kik
the (•re«*auf ••1 re wip«‘ off th«* knife,
ih.- reo..'i ^t sat smbhmiy
f^ ‘'’w:'.r'? in h ' •■hsir. “by toH.rge.
S. rg»*5inf. t' -i*’> It' frtb'SJi he want*‘d
t i.tl that thuuih |.r1lit: Hlive
you t.-iken the fii.ger-priuts •>f the d*‘ad
• ••
ntan r
* We alw.ays lake them, during the
t.i* I *-aI examinati*»n." n*idie<l the de-
fet'five.
“«;e get them. qui«-k." P••ter sprang
to his feet and I'egan a rt'stles.s pacing
t f the ll**«»r. “Fill Iteginhiiig fo get
if row. That thumb-print l*elongs to
.1 :a F'raikUn. and If was ina<le after
I. s death. The mur*l**r«‘r. taking
ev.-vT i>reeauti<*n t*v c«»ii*-eal hi.s own
ide'iiiry. i»ivss*'l Ids victim’s thumb
2-.-.o't the !.;irn'l a*l.*-r the rriim*. s*»
t* ,t if we ever f<»und the w**:itMin. it
• • ,’■! Iea*l ii> **i!ly t*» tlie *l*‘ad man.
V. ry * ;e\er. t*»«5. siol if it wasn’t f*»r
y*»ur prayto'e of finger printing *h‘ad
i-ren we might have s«*ar<he«l all our
Ibtesk f*»r the p«*s>e>si«*r *»f that jyrint."
N^-rgv-ant Kibtav h:i't*‘ii**d in svuirch
of the |*h*4*»grapliie re<-«ir*ls wliich In-
* lude*l the finger prints *»f tlie slain
man. The novelist ha*I' Inum corre«*t.
The thumh-pr nt f*»und *>n the rev*d-
ver l•afTe^ tailie'I exactly with that of
Jim F'rank^rn.
: ndr' ^r?" tw Tfitjuired;:
"We want to a.sk you a few mor#
questions. F'letcher." Peter tried, with
ouf Kucces.s. to penetrate the man’i
suave niask. He'only loctked politely
Interested.
"I ladii’ve you told us that Nick
I Ibiyce and I bin Bullis were Mr.
F’raiiklin’s o/ly visitors here yester
day.” the noveli.st c**ntlnued.A “A’on
are sure tliat’s right?’’
“Np. sir. tli;it isn’t riglit." F'bdcher
sld»‘st*‘pp*Ml tlie trfip. “Mr. l{*iyce
-••am*’. aft**r luiwli. and ai’cmipani*-*!
.Mr. F'ratiklin to the chundi .Mr. Bullis
rfi*q>hfo,r.rf repeaTedty, hitf he never
• anie h*‘re. The y«>ung Mr. t'arniody
wa.s the-iitlo'r caBor. A'ou mi.siinder
stood me. sir. alMUif that."
Pet* r i)o<li|» •!. “My misTi|lke. F’letrh
•‘f. fio Mr Boyce .and Mr t'amodr—
wore Hn- only vis:i*»rs v**st<Tdav. Think
“Then perhaps she could have i^ome
here yi*ster*lav. rr the day before.
I without your k'lpw'edge."
• “pos.sihly.- F'letcher siinigg***!. “But
I it doi'sn't sound idausilde. sir. I was
flii fi>e time. I tliink I sljould
hav-e^khwir Itrlf sHe hM ftbOTT'hi'TtR:^
symfiathy or regard—some one he Is
willing to fake some risk to shield.
Who could that be?"
“.Another wopian. eh?" Kilday paused
on the steps. “A-lformer mistress, that
the servant likea ‘fe'tFer than he did
Choo Choo."
“That sv>ynds reasonaiile," Peter
agreed. *,“Or else It was ' a new
mi.stresg. Franklin never had the. rep
utation of being exceptionally constant
In hli l|Ove8." »,
“Getting back to your woman In
blue." muttered the sergeant between
drafts on his stogy. They had halted
on the front steps of the apartment.
“Everything leads back to her. But
then, what about young .'>T>^3rs? What
do you think of my theory concern
ing him now?"
T y our questfonf-y^ an-sweg It.’’
* Peter declared wearily. “I’ll admit
Tlie more h** revolved the question in
his mind, tlie more certain Peter be
came that the woman in blue w'as the
key to the crime, and thait F'letclier. If
he could be made to talk, cotud reveal
carcfiflly. I mu.'t lie sure.’
Peter s;it asTri*le of a chair, facing
the man. His lean brown fingers 1"!' ,
1 .1 t . 1. 1 . falne*! If an*l
dnimiiied a tatt*»o against his knee, in
time to his racing thoughts. F'or the
moment he seemed to have forgotten *
the man he was questioning. “Who
el.se had a 'cer t«* this place, F'letcher?"
he deman'ii**!. '
“I—1 bei:; your jiardon. sir?" The
qui'stlon evidently had caught the ser
vant off halance. lie wiped the palms
of his hand.' with his hamlkerclilef.
fobling the limm *ar**fully lu'fiore re
tiiniing It Id his p*M k«_‘L But Ite Jmd
h*‘ard th** qu»-'t;«'n. <*le.Mrlv <*rioMgh, for
a*Ter a long lT!t**r'al <if Jo*sHTif ion. lo*
answered “If f1i**re irre any ittlu*r
keys. sir. I d<tn’t know \viio has them.”
“Tli**r»* have'Imsui a tiiiml»er of other
n*»rneii In Frahkirn’s'lir*^ Fider con
tinue*! evenlv. “.A great nianv, before
you’ve built op a ver.v convincing case
against him. Ip has just one flaw.
Wliat could he have t.een doing with
Jim Franklin’s revolver? They weren’t
Intimate friends. How could he have
obtained p**ssession of it?"
’’That Tsn*t- sd-
thlnk. t’allis Sir’’ey prrjItaMy oh- !
passed ft^ on fo him. I
agree with you on one point. I don’t
think the Mow That killed F'ranklin
c*>uld have l»een delivered hy a woman.
But that d**esn’t let this girl cut—nor
the woman in blue, either, if they were
two flifferent p**rsons. If,we can only
prove this girl f>;issed that gun on to
f
’■I’m quit** sure that «'orr*Md. sir
If tlo-r**’ ha<! Unm any other visitors,
I should h:i\e knowyi It. I was here
all tlie time."
1
'I'lie novelist was api»an*ntly en-
grttssed in the lighting of a cigarette,
hilt his eyes ncv*-r waver**d from the
mah'jS fa*-*‘ "H**\v about the *lay be
fore?’’ Ill* sli**j at tiim sii*ld»*T)ly. “I u>
you rei-all what visit*»rs Franklin lia<l
that <Iay?’’
i Til** man hesitate*!. “Th**r** haAe
t.****n .so many things liapp«‘nitig. Mr.
<’ar*!lg:in. I *b»irt r***all anything iin-
I usual alHtiit that day. if that’s wliut
;-y*»u ni**an." , ,
“But there was n«*thing unusual
IJ
^ alwuif vlsit**rs calling here to s«*e Mr.
F'ranklin. was there?"
"»di. no. sir. ftul unless there were
s«uiiethii)g unusual alM»ut it. I coubln’t
say exactly who called on any certain
day.” t-.
• "t’onie. ctriue. F'letcher.". Kilday in
terrii|»te<l iin|»ufieiit]y. “That's only-
two *lay8 a.g**. You wouldn’t have to
have the niem**ry of an elephant to
r«»tii«Ufii»«‘r'Tf7tTt. ’’
“No. sir. of o**urse net." But still
tlo‘ '♦‘r\aiit faltere*!.
- "Then what an* y«>» trying to hide?"
deman«b*«J the «letectlve hruskJy.
“Fni n*>t trying to hide anything,
sir.—t-bare^»ne-fit»thing—" ,
Peter Interrupted him. "Perhaps
it's n«>thing that you have done, but
soiiietliing comvrning Mr. F'ranklin,
t‘h*M*“T^?ioo. :in*l probaiily some Hllice,
l!<»w l**rig has it b**«>u since one *>f
fJu'K** «*»!*o*n \isit**i| your master li(‘re,
F'li'tcher'*’’ *''
Siicars. we’ll have a case fiinned on
him that will convince any jury.
“But the Duly man wlio can lielp us
find her is F'l«*t«lier. and lie won't
fall;.", added the sergeiint grimly.
“Tin-re’s one oih**r, cljam***.’’ rardl-
gan ilisagr****! with him. “The fellow
was positiv** lie’*! n**ver seen tin* n*
volver i*efi»re. If h*' was telling ns
iLe triitii. qH»rii;HiS Franklin kept it nt
his ofli**e. Bet’s go am! s**<*.^ '
Milo lumbar ndmlffe*! f.h<*m fo his
But the Girl Could Not Remember
Ever Having Seen the Gun.
private nrtice wiih*>iit,,(1*‘laY: “f~hope-
h«*r l<Ieiitity. He couhi not share
KiJ«lny's conviction rliat the case
against \Vel»ster Si»**ar8 lack*-d only
.^uL-ui!ii;atjug„i}ro<jf. _
"1 >i I, I rinkliirbw'n a gre**n I'atlillac
.'tplan?" ua.s the lust qin*stion lie'
aske*l of luirihar before They left.
luinhar r**iili**d that Ik* did not.
- ‘‘.lust like e\t*ry other trail \v(*’ve
-b44g--Kil<la.v. ciimplain*>(l. as they head
ed back to his ofth-e. “A blimj alley.
I);m Bullis aiul F*letcher are tlie only
yon gentlemen lune some (»r'Vgress to
r**|Mi>rt.” he Itegaii. a(ier seatlfig them.
**f ttrrTrk-;"-fhc K**r\anf rejilied slowly.
- o-^iAceonling to the pai>ers, it’s begin-
Re t 'hai ies FA I)unn w rote rwcnliy
that theie art* 'ithtHHi |>rv«c»H*r> :n t'he
United States ;*»t>king ft*r iol*>:
churche.' u!iai>.t‘ to Kt-ep fuii-t aie 1<ea**-s *>n;y one set
UtrB- ,V\. iial a Cent; aM w 6f , smaU pr:nts. w hiefi T think w ere m.a*1e
the < hurch Life In.'at ante company of* by a wr»m?in, ■|vr*ff'ntffy'"t^
New York which o|>eiate> for the hen- bhie-
“That also identifies an*»ther set of
f.r.ger-|*nnts In the study." <b*«*lared
Kibiay. “Tl.ey had alreatly l»een
matclied w'5th th s tliumh-i»rmt. It
uni«lentifie*l—the
efit of the clergy and lav W'*rk.ens of
the P rotestant Fp.scopal churv'n an*I
their famihe.-.
The rejHtrt .'h*>w> a |>er cen' :n-
crea««e in in'^’amv ami iVI i»er *-en*
increase in annuit.e' f..r *r.e f:’‘'P
qAiarlei’ of ovef the >.n;:ia’- i>e-
nod of la>' year. 'Th:- f gurc' x-em
contrailictoi v
*^be woman In hhie," agree*! the
no\»-!i»t. “Just b*‘eaiis«* we *h*ti't know
who she is. we *’an't overJ«**'k her. It’s j
•j'r‘»e
l•l<lS.^^^V this fifth s«*t of prints i
Way uj) a’ ti,e corr.e* *<5 K*>>adway
and 2'*4th sireft stand.' ’he ■•n >• re
maining farm buii*! rg «>f the e gh-
teenth century .n .Manha’.’an. I* :>
Hyckman. hc u.-e. .ere*'-ed «>- \A .h.ani
Hyckman in IT**' an*! now ..x i a> a
museum.
w^ ma*fe by her "
K’t!d.»r ehuek'ed S**ftly. “Now it
*!-*-'U't s-' ba*l." he sal*! "AA'hcn
p»d^»' ifM’.’f ri;i»*h fh*‘ one
- r - *»-*•'ver I'll a*i'n t I l»«'g:in to
:ve slip;* ”g *tut fr»>m nn
■-I > I'-g' k it fits |4ett*'r
P.
I*. -.O
There are some iiueer occupations in
New York. Tnere’s one’man over on
fjexingtun avenue , who ha.' the mu^;
complete file of .scrap book:- in town.
When an artist want.' an authentic
picture of a costume, an animal, or a
gadget of some kind, if he canT f:nd
one in his own f.le of ^crap^. he can
be pretty sure he can rent .: there.
k*
».
' rirrg netweea mm an*i iio*
Wmk the stre^ of the T.nie> t>quare . , ... w
J- . ; cirt. e!ie might have done it
diatnct for just a little while and jrou
art sure to run into a crowd watch-
iai! the mechanical ma^ He’s a real
maa, dreaeed .in tin soldier costume,’
ataadin# aad moving in tin sold^
fashion. His eyes are so coatroUed
that for minutes at a time there’s aary -
a blink. He works oa contract, one
attractinf cuatomers to a hor-
alMa^, the neat to a cut-rate
^oia or peffaapa one of thoae
T’»:»' M liK'l.v htmclf
t r»-v,T woui*! h;i\c PKiughf of j
' ' Fr.r t;’> print *>n tlic ;
I .. ,.j. ,.,1 ..'.v t»us tlini h**
* ’ »• P in t!ic gurden ■
.' nr '-•-re *
’ a tn-M :»r.»uii<l the ronrn,
t».-J/i.<l hi.' b:j<*k. hiij
■ **•! in tho.uglii ".At .nny
’H-gun si v ly. “tliis gives us
;• .ire to start. If we find the ’
3.»man wh** had the *»p*M»r
• r>Tn-*ve Franklin’s revolver
r- im it sh«mld help." [
F* like *'hoo <'h**o." nilis*'*!
“She had aert'ss to I s roo:M'
*»r. If we ran |*n>ve there v •' u-m
rb’rg lietweea him and the Shiide*
Tint
may be what she's trying to I,■*■.»•.'■
“She tred to fMwtect Rylie «’!rm*H|\
first." Ivter pointed out. ‘tw s'e* |
x-ems io he protecting Webster Stmurs. ^
ll**« <l*ies that eonnect up v 'th the
mn?"
“Suppuae." the detective veiuur**'
**tkat she gave Rylie the gin U> ’ *
vonid he the. one she'd try t** pr«*t«K-i i
Bat ater. If she dlscovere*! t.'i.vi he '
R aa to youn-' «■•*<• rs
a?s*’r • -
i; .:f. * r
rut 'r» •
♦r lu
Klhl ;r.
"Then What Are You Trying to
Hide?"
)
rafteoTMaCa tiMt
Io the s^raat
that y«»u think had liest remain ui>
known." His l«»iie w’as kindir “X*»w
I was F'raitkiin’s friend. t**o. Fletcher
If there is s**iiie in*-i*ieiit that shoiibl
n'uiain a s**cret. I *an pr**niise .v*»i>
that neither of us is anxious to inak*
it known, provitled. of course, that It
lias n*ithins to do with his 4bviih. Bin
you must let us be the Jii*ige of that
Fletclier shnisjri*rf. His face n*
tnained an imiKtsisive mask, l*ehin*’
which I'ttrdigan’s keen ghihie failtNl i<
•enetrate. “I’m sorry' y*>u misnmle^
-to<Hl me. sir., There’s n*>tlifiy.g |o «-*»»
•eal. It’s otil.v that I <^**n t re«'nU III''*
•vh** came here that day.*’ •*.
“Was Riillis here?" Kib'a.v d«
'naiKled.
^in-«tr.—nis...mtw‘rf that
"fhat Mr. Fratik'ln was very much In
love with Miss Train,, sir. I don’t be
lieve rh**r»f haw l»«‘e.n any other \v«>mpn
he has r.in**! f**r. r*'<**ntly. except,"
he ad*ie*i a|«>logeticalIy. "Miss (’jir-
mi4*lv. of c«*urx*"
Tlie n«»velisi puffed llioughtfully .on
his cigarette and studie*! the man he-
f«»re him fhrmigh the fwile cloini of ex
pelled srfioke. “You're very careful
how you word It. Fletclier.” lie oli-
served. “I notice .vou say nothing
ahout any women who may have been
in love with Mr. F'Ynnklln., regardless ;
of how he felt in the matter. It isn’t
always easy to break off a love affair
with a woman, even for a person of
•Jim Franklin’s accomplishments along
that line. Perhaps there has been a j
wontan answering this description who
has c:ille«l here rect'ntly?"
' “N*»t—not that I can recall. Mr.
r.a nil’grin." t
"lli*w alMiiit phone calls?j Ha.s any
woman b«vn calling lie^ jroiieatedly,
in the past few days?"
"There have l*een ninny calls, of
course.’’ F'letcher faltere*!. “But I
couhln'l tell y«»u who they were fnmi.
Miss Train, yes. and Mb** F’^trmody. ~
If there have lM*en others, I couldn't
say who they were." *
“Bill there were others?" * '
“I**>sslhly. I really couldn’t answer
yes or no." Th^ man’s manner had
grown less reUictiilit aow. .4
"Have .von ever seen this before.
! Fletcher?" In his palm ranligan ex
tended the revolver found In the rec
tory ganlen.
The servant'made no move to touch
; It. "No. Kir. 1 don’t know nutch almut
, guns,"
"But ihis’‘one'T»elbhfired -
lln ’ Surely you’ve seen It before.”
"I didn’t know he had a gun. air. I
had never seen it. I think there must
be some rilst.ake." ‘ “
“He pr**bahly kept it in a drawer
In the be*lro*im. or In |ils desk." Peter
stiggesie*!.
"If be •‘UlLX-SbbUM have-known It.
Mr ♦’ardi-jan." the man Insisted. "Fve
never seen ll b**fore. I’m sure tliere's
h*H'n .some mistake,"
Peter ri*se abrujitly "TliatN all. I
thlffk " he sal*t But he paused with
one han*l *m the door, for a final ques-
I tlon. “AA'ho h.as lieen here since ^yes
ter*1:i> evening? Anyone?" >
I “Nti sir. N«it since you left last
night"
"He’s not telling us all he knows."
I gr»>\\ le«1 Kibiay after the door had .
*>]ose*l liehind them * t
Xl’m sure of that." the novelist
agree*!. “But why? ! don’t think
F'leti-her had anything to do with ■
F'ranklln’s mrinler. After all. he’s
only a servant. Where would the mo- j
five be?" }
“1 couldn’t see a motive Tor W^h
-fttug-to. lo*i|ik lik*^ a political crime. If
Tim was killtnl over this magistrjite in
vestlgatii*n. then the g«*vernor—’’
I "He .wasn’t." SerirearP KiMay iriter-
rui>f**'l him bluntly. "I d<>rrt tliiiik
l' I>an Bullis h'**’ anything to do with It
excofit. iM»ssil*!.v. to shi*‘I*l the w*unan
in the case. He jiroliahTy has to do
that. h.***aux* that woman o\«‘rlK*ard
I his conversati*»n with I'ranklin. If he
identifies her. she can tell what she
knows.' nn«l It’s pr**hahly plenty. But
we think niaylte we can find the wom
an W’itlmiit any help from Bullis."
“t4oo«l. .As I told you yesterday. If
thcK-’s any way I can lielji you—’’
“There Is. Mr. Dunbar. We want
you to identify the re\’*»lver that Mr.
F'ranklin kept In his desk drawer."
Milo Dunbar toe*k the weapon Kil
day extended, and examlnefl It care
fully. “Fm afraid I can't he of mucli
help on that sctire. Sergeant. I didn't,
even know- .liiu lia*l a gun."
"He iMtiight that two years ago."
Kibiay |M>inte*l to the s«*rinl nurnlmr
stami‘ed *>n the weapon. “A\*'e keep
the regi.stfatlon of all guns sold.
There c-irff i‘e any d*»uht alw^uit that
he[ff^ his. We’re anxl<v.is to find wliere
he kept it."
“Of course." Dunbar agreed. “Jim
could have kept a d*»zen gurisi jn his
•office without my knowledge. Perhaps-
hls 8e«*retary c*>uld help us. I’ll see."
Before he could touch the button on
his desk. 1‘eter Interrupted him. "Not
two w’lio cati iib'titnyrirriFWirrmaTi'-for—
us. .but neither one of them will talk."
'“AVe’II find her." Peter reas.siired
him. "We’ve got to find her. It seems
to me that, one way or anotlier. she
sup|tli«**l tlie motive for tliis crime."
Kilday sfo[ii»ed and lauglieii aloud.
“Why dbln't I fliiiik of tliat lK*fure?" he
H.tlved. an*t''tlien., tiof waiting for tiie
(jui-stion Peter’s ll|)s. continue*!.
"Tliaf s*>*lan jiarked in fnmt of Si>ears’
last riiglil was a f'adillac ami 'it be
longed to t'allis Sliipley. 'Did you no-
tlee its color? Was It green?”
“No go*>d.’’ declared Peter. "I had
thought of that, but unless Bullis was
deliberately trying to throw us off the
track, the woman in blue couhi not
have be«*n Gallis Sliliiley. A’ou forget
she never left the church at that time.
She returned to the front. She was
one of the bridesmaids an*l was in the
church when the crime was discovered,
only a few minutes later.”
The sergeant meditated on this.
“Tliat's right, of course. But did
Bullis tell us the truth? Was tliere a
green ra«lillac at nil? We have rea
son to believe he Isn’t anxious for the
woman in blue to Ik? found because
she couiil reveal what passe*! between
him and F'ranklin during that inter
view. That being true, that may be a
detail out of his own imagination, sim
ply to throw us off pe tfaci.”
“That’s possible of course," Peter
admitted.
Kilday retunie*! to his former theory
of the crime. "After all," he declared
with much earnestness. Pwho do we
know tri**d to stop this wedding?
Webster Spears. Rylie Carinody, too.
I «
yet.’” he cautioned. "I want to know
iomethffig about his a^retary, first-j or^ourseV hut ■hi;'*’.c'tlr^r‘wa^’InsH
la she young-attractive? , Ambrose Carmody
The attorney shrugged. “Passably . vestibule of the
so. I hadn t noticed. Ill call her, and ; jhat fact Is pretty well es-
let you Jinlge for yourself , tablished. Both Itoctor Ahernnthv and
- rUonX-lclL- her who we are.” the i
novelist cauthmeil.
“Make some ex
cuse to talk to her. without mention
ing the revolver. It Is barely imsslhle
she may be the la*fy In blue we are
looking for. She certainly would have
had an excellent opp«irtunity to re-
Nlck Royce tajked with Franklin after
the senior Tarmody left the study.
Choo Choo Train was the last person
we know of that saw F'ranklin alive.
ROyce saw her step into the study
with him. a few’ minutes before the
-crime was committed. And vet It
move the weapon if it was kejit in his doesn’t sc'em pos.'iMe that she could
' '■ I have deliw>red the ileath blow .Adde*!
The girl w as calie*!. ■rTr’‘~f7njnrtr we^'^ ,the Tnct w hi. li she.
lierseK. point*'*! *iut. Slie was known
“J wish you’*I get '■me .Mr. Franklin’s
tile of iinan.'weced mail.Miss Wil^m,"
said Dunbjir. “I shall need it. In
straightening out his affairs.”
“\’i’»t the girl In blue, olivlously." de
claretl Canligan.-aiter she had left.
Miss AVil.s*>n w a« aMraefive. and in her
early twenties, hut was decide*lly a
bnihette.
"\*»t unless she wore a wig." Kild.ay
8d«le*1.
Peter sh«mk his head. "Not with
her col*>riiig.” he declared positively.
“She conldn’t get away with ft. Call
her h.‘i«'k. Mr. Dunbar. I^et's ask her
about the revolver."
But the girl could not remember
ever having seen the gun. although ahe
was familiar with Franklin’s affairs.
ster Spears at first." declared the sef^T-and had frequent access to his desk,
geaiit. Then he shook his shoulders j “When he is out of the etty,^ she ex-
wecirilv “This case Is giving me the 1 plaliieil. “it Is often necessary for me
willies." he r*»mplalne*J. “I’ll he stis to find pa|>ers In his desk. I’m sure i
l»e«-tirg .v*»u. next. Well, wliar do yon | I would have n«ttioet1 It, If the gun bad j
rhink now? Ther^ were no new leads . lieen there. It wasn’t." '
to be his mistress and she knew U*)y<*e
had soon b*'r enti*r that mun w’it'i
him. If d*>esn’t s«*om reasonable t*»
ht'lievp that she w’mild have cornmittf'd
the crime iin*ler these' circumstances.
Slie was too, openly Inviting sn. plclon
to be contemplating a crime.
•- "I>oct*tr Aberna.’hy was in the
church. We know that. Thini**! Bullis
had a motive, hiit^he evidently had left
bef«)re .Ambrose Carmody- was adniit-
to the study. Of CfUirse,” the de-^
tective admitted, “he might have re
turned later, hnt I hardly think so.
He, too. had walked In there openly,
and every one knew he and Franklin
were enemies. That wasn't the way
he would havi* gone ah*mt It If he "had ^
had Franklin’s revolver In his pocket
and was idanning.a murder.
I.
SLEEPER RESTORED
Wkatcsw thfi. rMMOD wmm, she never seen Mr. Rrilils. althnugh I’*
there, and I’ve got to see-the district
attorney right after 't4»nch. If I don’t |
have Sttffieflliing. It’ll be just too had.’
“And vet," the novelist a ns were' ,
slowly, “we know that the munlerer '
• arrie*1 Franklin’s revolver to the
•-hurrh yt'sterday afternoon. That is
^•wrtalii. Tlie. aliii|»leMt sort oi Jogie
“How a!*ont the safe?"
Seaboarfl annoiinces the sleeper to
"Only Mr. Franklin and .Mr. Dun from Richnontl snd Washington
bar had access to the private section ith'at was temporarily discontinued
*'<Hivtn<w« its t&dl ll mutt DaYV'fiCili'
V
of the safe. It might h.'ive iM'eu there
without my knowledge, of course," site
admitted. .
"He might have kept it in IRr pii
rate drawer there.” Dunbar volun
-fon -ekamlneri Iasi
has.been restored on Trains 5 and 6.
See any Ticliet Agent for reservations,
or write,
W. L. McMORRIS,'
•-r Aset, Phaaeager -Traffie M gp„—-
SAL RY., Atlanta, Ga.
\