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.j.- . ,■ - > • The Barnwell People-Sentinel, Barnwell, S. C* May 17, 1934 THE WEDDING MARCH MURDER by ' , i . Monte Barrett— Copyright, IMS, by tbo Bobba-MerrlH Co. WNU Borrloo. SYNOPSIS Waiting In the mlntster’a study, Jim Pranklin, about to be married to Doris Ctfrmody, is stabbed to death. Peter Cardigan, with Sergeant Kilday, begins the investigation.' Franklin, while waiting, had vtsttors, among them his mistress, "Choo Choo” Train; his In- • tended wife's father, Ambrose Car- tnody; her brother, Rylie; Daniel Bul> Us, politician, and a woman In a blue frock. Rylie Carmody admits trying to stop the wedding, after being informed by Webster Spears that Franklin was still friendly with Choo Choo, despite his approaching marriage. Kilday se> cures the dead man’s keys. From Cal* Its Shipley,- one of the bridesmaids, Ryjle!a friend.. the Investigators learn nothing. An Intervfew with Bullis la fmitlesn Webster Spears admits in forming Rylie Carmody of Franklin's relations with Choo'Choo, for Doris Carmody’s sake, in the hope of pre the other way deliberately destroyed advance. That** venting the wedding. Fletcher,,Frank- lin’s mgn-servaht. Is reticent. An In terview with Milo Dunbar, Franklin's law partner, and search of the dead man’s office, reveals nothing of Im portance. Choo Choo admits her rela tions with Franklin were to continue after his marriage. Six of the seven fcwrrankiia carried ariB traced, Cal 1 !! Shipley, again interviewed, confesses previous deception, but nothing n^w is elucidated. Kilday decides to Arrest Webster Spears and have RyUe Car- tnody shadowed. CHAPTER —17 An Unexpected Appeal Aside from tfie arrest of Webster Spears, there were no new develop ment* thajt afternoon. The newspa pers, of course, made much of the ar rest ^’hatever else he had done, the int had placated the press. And* there seemed to be no doubt In his QlQd concerning Spears* guilt With Peter Cardigan It was dif- ferent “Let’s go back to St Matthew’s,” he suggested, as he and Kilday were re turning downtown. “It’s only a few blocks out of our way.’’ “We’ve been over that place with a fine-toothed comb,” the sergeant de murred. “There’s nothing more to find there.” Nevertheless, he accompanied his friend for another visit to the scene of the crime. Except for one dreum- 'stahee, he naiTBeefr'cofrectT That was the empty scabbard which had con tained the knife with which Franklin had been killed. It still hung where Peter had first seen it, on the west wall of the rector’s study, Just to the right of the door leading Into the sacristy and about eight feet high, on the wall. Peter whistled tunelessly as he sur veyed the room, his eyes finally coming to rest on the scabbard. The sergeant who h»d been watching him curiously, scowled thoughtfully. “H’m.” said Peter. Then, turning to his friend, “If Spears is guilty,’’ be said, “he entered through the rear door. We know that, because' there was some *nne In the sacristy all the time and we have been able to ac count for every one who came in the other way. “Let us try to reconstruct the scene. You move over to the rear door. There. Now I’m Jim Franklin, standing here in the door leading Into* the sacristy. Nick Royce was stand ing out there. This door is open, and my back Is to you. I’m looking toward Royc& Now open the door. Sergeant, Just as quietly as you can.” The detective cautiously turned the knob. There was no sound. But as the door swung slowly back, it dec Prank 11b didn’t want to bo mob. Ho wasn’t taking . any unnecessary chances. Those people wbo entered dellb any possible allbV In why Pto Inclined to bellovo they didn’t do it ' Besides, wt know that Spears left the church Just a few minutes be fore the murder occurred. Ho just had time to get back here.” Peter glanced again at the empty scabbard, high on the wall “That’s the only way I can make It fit” * “More proof,” observed the ser- geaut. ■■Uiai tlife moramr etthef'knew" Yrabklln Intimately, or elseknew some' one who did. Otherwise, how could he have obtained the revolver?” ‘‘All right,” Peter continued. “So far we agree. Now, when did the murderer change his mind about using the gun and decide in favor of the' knife?” v, _ “When he came through that door. The knife was hanging exactly oppo site the back door. He probably fig ured It was quieter and would give him a better opportunity to escape. Incidentally, that nroveg' he did come through the back door.” “We stm agree," declared the nov elist, “but from this point on, we differ. Let me tell you why. In my opinion, only a large powerful man/ would have abandoned a revolver favor of a knife. It seems to me that was the action of a man who haxl con siderable confidence In ^tus own strength. Remember, Franklin was a big man. Webster Spears is compara tively small, not more than five feet nine.” He shrugged. “Qb. I know we’re branching off into psychology, but It’s the truth, Jsn’t It? Big men want to gnt at grips with their ad versaries^ Little men back off. They want long-range weapon*. KHday stroked the bristles on his rfrfn thoughtfully. “Usually, that would l^e right,” he admitted cautious- ly.. “But other elements entered Into this. The dagger was quiet The re- voiver would make a noise. That was a. powerful argument in favor of the dagger, one that would upset these other calculations of yours.” “Possibly,” conceded Peter. "But in times of stress, men are more apt to run true to form than otherwise. And creak*, which might Jiave warned Franklin when hi* assailant entered. Yet we know that several persona'pre viously left by this door—Bull la, the woman In blue and Choo Choo Train. They might hart left It open. Speare might rave entered silently, secured the knife before Franklin was aware of hr* presence, and struck him down before be had time to make any out cry. "Everything you have developed here Is purely along the line of sup position.” ' They left. Kilday to return to his oS^r tfiF novelist to hrs aparf^nl," Good Taste Today BY EMILY POST Author of “ETIQUETTE,** “THE BLUB BOOK OF SOCIAL USAGE,” ETC BRIDES ASK— creake<h~iiiourufully. Cardigan smiled “At least we know the murderer didn’t surprise FrahTcirnhe'declared. ’’But we haven’t thought so. all along All right, I turn and see you standing In the door way. I recognize you, don’t I? You don’t think Franklin was alarmed by the sight of his visitor, do yon?” -“Franklin knew " Webster Spear*. was Kilday’s laconic rejoinder. “I don’t think the night of him would ^ave frightened him.” “Regardless of who It was,” Peter declared emphatically, “Franklin wasn’t alarmed. We know that because Nick Royce, his best man. was only a few feet away In the sacristy sod the door between was ajar.” “All right,” Kilday agreed. “Neither of ns believes Franklin was alarmed.” “Now, one of these two men had Franklin’s revolver," the novelist con tinued. “I think it was the murderer . If Franklin had bad It, he surely would have tried to use It. when his* assailant reached for that dagger on the wall. Remember the murderer had to come all the way across the room to get that knife. In addition, you could hardly h*ve expected Frank lin to be carrying a weapon to hla wedding, unless he had very unnaual Reasons for believing his life to be In danger. If he had 1 thought that, sure ly he would have been alarmed when the murderer entered.” “That’s part of my case,” replied the sergeant impatiently. “I’ve told you—the man who cams here to mr* \ 5uT~ Fetef ‘W&g ailMtigfUHT vritti thr conclusions reached by bis friend. In his own mind, there existed consid erable doubt - Concerning Webster Spears’ guilt . And yet the loglg ap plied by the detective was sound. It was Spears wbo had attempted to halt the wedding, Spears ^ho had in volved Rylie Carmody/and probably he, alM>, who had been the author of those telephone ^alla to Choo Choo Train acid Ambrose Carmody. He bad quit the churCn in time to commit the haltlngytne wedding, and certainly he had am told the full truth when ques tioned. Opposed to these arguments, •Cter had only the conviction that he could not have reached that dagger on the wail and a reluctant sympathy for Callls Shipley who was so Inex tricably Involved in any case made against either Spears or Rylie Car mody. Peter'thumped the arms of his chair and glared moodily Into space. Had a disturbingly beautiful girl who was obviously trying to protect some one warped his Judgment completely? Again and again he reviewed the evi dence as Kilday Ijad developed It Each time he argued completely around the circle, arriving back at Gallia Shipley. J^hat had there been between this' girl and Spears? Or Spears were guilty, v for Doris Carmody The / . OVERSTUDY “A smb aiost bs b student sfl Us days to hold a position Bko yours,” marked tbo admiring That is true," Sorghum. “Sad, Uk* a student. I get M weary of hard lees one that I as* going, in tor more recreatloa. I am going to organize a movement to In clude a sports page in the Congra* slonal Record.” HAS. GOOD CHAUFFEUR. Franklin? hadn’t hla been _._**LHad Hoped to Find You Alone. — —- May I Come In?” 1 have reason for believing Spears could not have been the wielder of that knife." Kilday showed his skepticism. The novelist walked to the wall, reaching toward the empty scabbard. Had the dagger been there, he could have withdrawn it without any great difficulty, although It was fully eight feet from the floor. “But I am six feet two,” he pointed out “While it. wouldn’t have been any great trick for me, or for anyone six feet or more in height, that’s quite a stretch for a man of Spears’ build. Had he been able to reach It at all, he would have had to stand on tiptoe. What would Franklin have been doing while he was stretching for that knife? It doesn’t fit, Kilday. I can’t picture Webster Spears as the murderer." The detective smiled blandly. "You’d better loin the other side,” he said “You’d make a good witness for the defense. But how are you going to explain Spears’ attempts to halt the wedding? We know he did. We know he had a motive for the crime. The Shipley girl gave some damaging evi dence against him, * although she changed it after her visit to his house last night—a visit, mind you. which both ahe and 1 Spears deny, but~ which ~ we know occurred, nevertheless. “Oh, I know,” he shrugged, "that’ we can find a motive for a dozen people. But Speara is the only one who appears to have been doing any thing about It He and Rylie Car mody. The guilt lies somewhere be tween those two and I think I have the right one.” “Then you don’t attach any further significance to the woman In or to Daniel Bullis?” “Not unlesa the woman In^filue was Calll& Shipley.” declared tra detective grimly. “And as for Buttle—well, you Just eliminated dim yourself. BulMe was Franklin’s enemy. Would Frank lin have permitted him to enter with out making any/ outcry which woul hare warned Royce of the situation? Yet you have just demonstrated that Franklin certainly must have known his murderer sod thought the visit a friendly one. I think that lets Bullis out No," Kilday persisted doggedly, trails lead to Spears. • The only evidence you have produced In its defense is that he might have had difficulty la reaching the knife. You bars ahojrn that the rear tsar Actuating motive for so, why was Gallia protect- That didn’t fit But neither e make the sympathy which this kirl had aroused In him fit In with th^ fact that she had withheld the truth concerning her visit to Webster Spears. Nothing seemed to fit In this strange case. His reverie was Interrupted by the door-bell. In spite of his effort, he did not know how well he succeeded In con cealing his surprise. His visitor was -CalHs-Shlployt — — - The friendly warmth of her blue | gaze was clouded with trouble. — She iookedliast hliff. TnTO The boot- lined room, exploring it with a rapid glance before ahe spokei *T had hoped to find you alone. May I come in?” “Of courae.” ~ Peter drew his own wide chair closer to the table for her and turned on the reading light The waning afternoon had filled the room with shadows. For himself, he chose a chair still recessed In gloom, where the lamp’s pale rays mlght-not betray-the .alert gleam of his eyes, and waited for the girl to speak. “I suppose you know Web has b«en arrested,” she began pneasily. He nodded. “And RyHe Is being followed by de tectives." . • ‘ . Peter thought briefly how angered Kilday would have been.liad he known the activities of his detective had been so promptly discovered. “Do you think either of them had anything to do with the crime?” the glri demanded. * She leaned forward, lips parted, try ing to penetrate the dusk which pro tected Cardigan’s expression. “Do'you think so?" the novelist par ried. “It’s unthinkable.” declaretT the girl vehemently. “They aren't the sort who murder people. • They are Just nice boys, both of them. They aren't crim inals." “You ask me to have more confi dence in them than you have,” Peter pointed out. "You admit that you were afraid Rylie Carmody had some thing to do with it. at first You were afraid to tell us that you rode home from the church with him. You at tempted to deceive us about your visit Mrs I ■rant »n aanit one wedding Invitation to a moth er and father and their two unmar ried daughters living with them. Since “and family’’ la not allowed by best form, please tell me Just how their names are written on one en velope? Answer: Mr. and Mrs. John Jones and on the line below, the Misses Jones. r My dear M^s. Post: The soloist and organist who are to sing and play at my wedding are friends of my young uncle. Thej are not asking a fee but ore doing it for-me he cause be asked them to.' I am going to invite them both to my reception, which Is to be a large one. Outside of this, must 1 ’'tiy them each a gift? Answer: I don’t think 1 would say “must,” but to give each a remem brance would he an appreciative thing to do, and to give them nothing would put you too much in their debt • • * • Dear Mrs Post: My nephew was oiarried several months ago, and since his return from his wedding trip has received ■ bill for the hire of the five cars used to rake the bridal party and others to the church and then to the hotel for dinner and the reception. He ignored ,the bill because we were all under the Impression that this Item was part of the bride’s family ex- peUees.—Now we learn that her family are making a lot of disagreeable com ment because of his neglect In paying the bill. You, as arbiter, can help ua. Answer: There are as many local customa^A* there are localities, but this is one I have never heard of. The only car that bp should be expected to pay for is the one that took the best man and himself to rhe^ church, and possibly the one In which he and hla wire drove to the station after the wedding. • • • My dear Mrs. Post: Please list all the -expenses of my wedding that -Thta -hlll’a not Captain Fried, hero of many ocean rescues, reaches New York but once s month on an average. The other day a friend asked him how he got from the ship to his home In Tuck- shoe. “By machine,” he answered. “How long does it taker _ “Lera than an hoar." __ “You arjftt have a good chauffeur,” the friend said.' “Yes," said Fried, "but ahe won’t safe.” “Can’t slow down—the brakes are not working." “You don’t mean to say—” “Oh, don’t get panicky, the horn’s aU right”—Toronto Globe! Poor Crodoatials Hurja—Bay, 1 wits a tool to tell that dentist that you sent me to him. Slncepaw — Fool — what do you mean? let m* drive I”—Philadelphia Bnlle- Hurja—Well, be Just made ms pap tin. should be taken care of by my parents XiOLhaving.a aimps-church weddlngF with a reception at my parents’ club Afterwards. _____ Answer: All cost of invitations and announcements your trousseau, wedding dress, decoration of church and house, all music, wedding break fast and collation, bridesmaids’ bou quets and all transportation of imme diate family and bridal party. In many communities the bridegroom gives the bride her bouquet There fore. follow local custom. 0 0 THE ALL-IN-ONE WEDDING INVITATION r\£AR Mrs. Post: The time has come for mother to order the In vitations to my wedding. A friend told us you wrote sometime last win ter* that the wedding invitation which | fold* to half and whose edges sell To ! form an envelope on which the address Is written, is In best possible taste and used by smartest people. The sta tioner has shown us a sample of thi* style of Invitation on this bond paper, as well as the heavier kid paper that fit*, tn two envelo|M»s The tMn all-in- one piece Invitation Is considerably less expensive, but before choosing it we would like to be sure of your opin ion, please. Answer: I can’t rememhei exactly what I answered, hut I doubt having gone so far as to say that the all-in- one sheet invitation was In ‘heat pos sible” taste. I think I said It would be permissible since it la,the type of Invitation much used in England and one that has been chosen also by a number of the smart in New York. Lately, however, several invitations aqd announcements have been sent me by my readers, which have made me Web«ter Sp£ani~iMt nifthL" And | '’“T "".V »'«TT«®Sp'hi. of Invitation, because It can lend V Another? She had Just accepted him, and they were blissfully discussing the “n^ght-have-beens." “Darling,’’ he Inquired in the con fident tone of one who knows what the answer will be, “why didn’t you accept that little donkey, Jones?” ‘^Because,” she answered, dreamily, “I loved another.” Plain Dumb, Mayka “What makes you think he was an anuteur In crime?” asked the chief. “Well," replied the cop, “there was b filling station on ora corner, •penk-eaay on another and a popular beauty parlor In tho block, and yet he goes and rob* a dinky gents fur nishing store."—Cincinnati Enquirer. Mora Apprapriata Mr* Jewsmith—I suppose you’ll want a den In our new house? Mr. Jewsmith—I’d like one but lead such a dog’s IIP* I guess HI havetral. urbo cash In advance. HAS THAT ADVANTAGE “Why do you write ao many letters to the newspapers, old man? Du you suppose anybody wants to ssu your views In print?” “Well, It’s better than talking to yourself.” Good Start • An old-timer, meeting a young fob low at tho 'racetrack, affably In quired : “Joe, how are you fixed?” “Well, Fve got five tips In a six- horse race.”—LoulsvlHe Courier-Jour- content with a keaaeL Fallow Foaling Lawyer—Your wife asks for heavy alimony and I fear she will get It Bob Speeder—Can you get It be fore some judge who la paying ali mony himself?—Brooklyn Eagle. A Diffarant Kiac - ^London ehlid (on her flrst view of a rainbow)—6o-mummy—what la It, 'advertising?—London Tatler. Easily Explained Judge—How can you bo so mean as to swisdle people wbo pot con fidence In you? Prisbner—Well, your honor, they are the only ones that you eaa swindle. Completely Revived Grandpa {awakening from gto^g operation)—DB, dw*r me, I know Pas going to bo late for school today. CROSSWORD PUZZLE 15 5 12 19 /• 16 T [14 w 39 CopjrrigM after that visit, you changed your testi mony in regard to the remark Spears made when he left the church.” Peter’s intent gaze studied the ex pression of the girl’s face. “You must admit,” he concluded, “all. this isn’t calculated to increase our belief in the Innocence of these two young men." Two spots of color flamed In the girl’s check* The earnestness of her manner, as she leaned toward him. Impressed Peter more than he wished to admit “That’s why I am here.” she declared fervently. “It la largely my fault that they are both under sus picion. I—I was trying to help Rylie. Thatii why I attempted to deceive you. And Web was doing the same thing. Oh,” she caught her lip be tween her teeth, “you don't need to tell me how wrong I was. I’ve discovered that foNq^self. But Rylie didn’t have any more to do with Jim Franklin’s death than you did. Nor did Web. I’ll answer all your question* now. HI tell yon the whole truth, f want to help, f want you to discover .what a terrible mistake you are making. I ride home with Rylie. I didn’t ad mit It because—well, because 1 was afraid he might be suspected and I didn’t ^want anyone to know he bed returned to the church. That's Dm truth. I was at Web’s last night when you and Sergeant Kilday called, but we didn’t want you to know R be emue we were trying to change ou. testimony m you wouldn’t SUSpec • Rylls any store. Horizontal. * 1—A con ■ try la Barvf • «—Sklfta il—IVaaia glvca to • Uoa IS—A »aaaa*eway 14—Wot la IS—A atoaaara of arm IS—Swtloa la a allly aflrotco faahioa ,T —Aa cxclamatloa aaoo to atartlo or f Hah tea IS—Jampo M—Ivelaa* . aauva of Sooth part of Worth for oMttap tela stopM follow ~1#4 with era ail follow like a Boa or the Itself to a very poor qua Dry of paper and to imitation engraving. About half of the ex*tuples sept me Insert rather shoddy by the time they had gone through the mall. In other words. I really prefer the conventional wedding invitation en graved (not printed) on a kid finish paper suggesthre-of. an., orange bio-om petal in color and texture, which fits Into an inner envelope without mu cilage on the flap, and this into an outer one with a mucilage flap. The reason for the two envelopes la that when the outer one la thrown away, the ubder one is entirely fresh- and therefore nicer to keep with It* en closures uptH the latter are used. In ' the tingle form, no cards can be en closed. and a postmarked, and some- j times crumpled Invitation must be pre seated at the church. • i It la true that for those who mu*t economize, the sheet and envelops la ‘ one Is less expensive to have niaue,! and to stamp, since It can be sent as < unsealed postage. But If saving of ! expense is not s pressing necessity, the conventional invitation with Its card enclosures is certainly In best possible taste. -j • to Salty fast.—WNU ferric* TBs Deck Family Tbs duck, tbs goose and the swan aU belong to\ tbs duck family Aaatidas; the duck to the duck subfamily AaB tlansf tbs yoom to tbs goose i Uy Anssrtnae, sod tbs swan to tjto Cygntnas. 30—Lcaraing (plan!) n—A atrfs m»m0 3*-—A aplcc **—A et<y la Italy ST—WBol girt to 1 A k!a4 «f rock to—Akkrovlattoo of a maa’a tttlo 44—A rut Ic 40—Akova to—To cot abort, oa hair 47—Aa Solatioa raannmro nmnsna <»—Amalgamated Society ct (okto.) 1—Fat Sowa (I Vertical. > aga nnnna ami rra nnmisr-op m a n nransH s n aEirin enn sms ki»4 of cola (plaral) a Rented T- acgatlve Urge coatalaer fee water Sfiann a Bnoiin gasp pnn annr* b n nnra.i S w □di sannnciD nan annara rnn nncann roannan WRIGMnPft '/ fliil - .<■ \ \