Show LL it cn lm 4 G c ERALD 81 B R 0 W N NN 1 14 i N NU L ur nuke lluke Mi 1 air h detente dt I I l In III elIg the Ilir nurl til iii i t un court nhi h s vas ac to morn tit rr lid re a to IO to n dot dol lars Inn Iral obtains some Important rim rim- rimby by br Shut Shirl Inu courts court's wll lIc ti tie and rd aures S ad aA 1 mits hilt she site nos f out our of the lit o seen 11 a aI a t Irom Itom I the lie Iii murder scree Karen II t tie liE of Stephen brother some a mt iti r about 11 nod I stir she hid to bu bark barl some litters u ot her which I wirt tre t err beiliG held h by h Shiri I viii Stephen sin can Ms transaction at al Sharl's Shirls hl club chub Mr- Mr tc fair ale l that Hut tic the letters mui lilli hair p bol been brn old ones Oil Inn XIII Yes IS Ho lit accused td me late that night but Id I'd destroyed h the letters Mr lr McCale and mul 1 managed d to con ron convince vince lee lice him that I had done tin an errand or- or orrand I r. r rand lor for Vicky Quick Quiel There are m e some same Idlers of If Victorias Victoria's around somewhere you IlU know Really She was disinterested completely Well Those are arc a n the III I know lie III raised an 1111 eyebrow lebrow looked ather at nt ather her intensely and his voice grew grIll hard hurd nut But this is what I surmise Lets Let's say sap It is a n hunch I 1 have c so J great nt that it wants only confirma confirmation hoe tion from from you ou i 1 The Th Thoman woman oman before him might 1 I have been bL n carved of Ice but McCale 1 j went on i The design or plan was las to bring brag j i the Ill Irresistible the l maguet to attract Veronica He Ile IIII j II II was vas to marry her and tind gel get control I of the money monc or at least salt suit n j a n large portion of It for himself 1 I Then perhaps a 11 divorce und mil back Jack backI I to Victoria It probably bl was Vie Vic Victoria's Victorias toria's tombs idea Then Theft everything would be soft for lor the foster fostor They 1 I could have ha ve their fun fUll have millions to play with interference from law brother I n 11 disapproving I like for instance Christopher Storm I An Au amused murmur came from Crom I her set St lipsI lips lipsI I I dont don't think that you necessarily fly ily were a party parly to the scheme I suppose you knew about it but were just too disgusted with your own life to 10 care He lie scowled Rut But the rest of ot them What a n rotten rolten II deal to 10 put over on a fine old lady and a II sensitive young YO girl Ills His repugnance to the Idea iden was clearly apparent in his face However II He sat up straight putting the tips of ol his fingers to to- together gether Something went wrong somewhere T I rather suspect it was Shari Lynn Curt probably had to promise he would come back with the spoils in order to 10 get her lo o divorce him He also had to make the same some promise to Victoria What a o mess when someone Victoria Victorin no doubt found the scrap of burned letter in il the fireplace That put the screws In n the works worl s No wonder in her rage she took it to Miss Adelaide sending her searching all allover allover allover over the town for an on hottest honest detec tive He lie was silent for a n moment star sIal staring ing log moodily at the disdainful Karen I These things I 1 surmise he re reo iterated Now what can you tell me mc me I dont don't need ned to tell you any any- I thing You are arc very acute Her voice was smooth flat Oat I Thank you He bowed as though to the Snow Maiden I u iden herself Except perhaps perhaps- I Except she cut It curtly it was Veronica who found the piece of letter She smiled d Ironically Lord he reeled as us from a n blow how you all gang up on Veronica She moved toward the door Christopher Christophel the Galahad he tr- tr ir irreproachable reproachable Is upstairs If it you wish to question him tier Her voice dripped ice By all alt means Alone Atone he hoc kicked the brass fender Cender of the fireplace He was in a vile temper lIe He had learned a great grent deal but all roads led to Rome or Rome or orto to Veronica to put it exactly There was only ony one solution Shari Lynn She must be bribed or coerced or I frightened into talking She must talk before this shabby crowd brought their witch's brew to boil boll When Christopher Storm bounded In with his quick virile stride Mc Me McCale McCale Cale Calc turned hurriedly to shake the young mans man's hand He lIe looked into the cut clean face and spoke quick quickly IyA ly Iy Another A Death Deal It in inThe inThe inThe The Strange c Cast CastIm Ca CastIm l lIm Im In a hell helt of a hurry Storm You can answer just one question i if you will Gladly He faced McCale with open candid eyes How did you happen to give The Nest to the he bride and groom For a moment Storm looked rat rat- rattled rattled tied as if the question were far from what he had expected Then he explained You see McCale he said ald Im Iman an architect The Nest was a little house for newlyweds Id I'd built it for tor a contest Its It's It a modern affair as you know if youve you've seen the mod model el el alt all the latest gadgets sun un decks and stuff Yes Yel yes McCale McCae interjected irritably Well Veronica and 1 l had worked on it together We were practically engaged and we thought when we did marry ith it 1 would be just juat the place for lor us His ills eyes were far sway away 1 a d 1 un 1111 t I I thu I Then Curt Curl lIrt cunie aint Hit bitter voice was as I Then it was a n gesture A deli deli- definite nite backhanded slap slap slap- I Not eI at III It all nil 1 I novel t would r o odone done a n thing like that Id I'd had it itin I in for Curt all fill right but bul I 1 had a II talk with him hint just the day before his his Ills Ins death ath he 1 ut convinced me Inc he ht really was in love that love that he I wanted to snake make Veronica happy I j i jwell well well in a n great t big Lug sentimental glow 1011 I 1 decided cI I to deed them The Nest That's Thais nil all McCule 1 stunted studied him He lie 1 said finally Yes That's just about what Id I'd expect you OU to II do elo do The telephone 1 at his hili elbow lIbow rang rune and 1111 1 he made n it motion foi for Storm to answer it The young man spoke spoken n II few Ct words wOlds then turned to McCale For you ou McCale 1 here he 11 lIld wondering wonder vonder- lug ing who could rould be calling him theme It II was us Ann She sounded tight fright frightened cued ened urgent Is it II all right for lor me nue to spill she asked asted Go ahead nuke Hula Im I'm down clown nt fit the drug drugstore store under Shari L nn's lintel hotel I wilt went there thel an nn ago and could tint not moist her I thought she site was 8 still asleep I 1 rame route hock buck Just now no The police 1111 are tor Ul that lIr friend fr I Donlevy and the squad I 1 I 1 T. T mI m- t th l h 1 r n a I r 1 o t I IA A little more of ot the SlIme Kunin mess eh h my m friend said Baht Donlevy The bellhops WO ay Say a word but hut I Duke doe Duke Duke doe thin mean meon- Hold everything McCale said Ignoring Christopher Storm he made rondo a grab for his hat Shari Lynn lay Jay on her back ba k a II weird tragic figure in death Her lieI head hend was half under the table lable as she had fallen hut but not too far un un- under under der del to hide the thc staring eyes and the look of surprise and terror on her face The patent artifice of ot her dyed dYNI hair accentuated more than ever her age ago and dissipation McCale's eyes were grim as ns he noted the rent neat round hole in her chest the of dark blood that had spilled down her side satural saturating ing log her gown soaking the carpet His lIis eyes swiveled d around and away from this horrid grotesquerie to encounter two calm gray ones which contemplated him from Crom the extreme opposite corner carrier corll cr of the room Ann Marriot trim and und un un- unruffled ruffled rum d in her gray tweeds sot sat astride a n small theatrical trunk She was holding the hand of oC Veronica Bigelow who sagged white while and und haggard looking in iii a straight straight- backed chair He Fie went over to them feeling rather than seeing arising a arising arising rising anger unger In Ann Somebody y Stole A Picture She greeted him with a torrent lorrent of words spoken loud enough for tor everyone in the room to 10 hear This is intolerable Duke she exclaimed biting her lip 1 cant can't stand it ii much longer Why did you come cone buck back here then after you called me Well I 1 saw two officers liters escort Miss Veronica Bigelow-Veronica Veronica here Into here into the lobby 1 I thought Good Lord Lard what are arc they up to with that poor girl now So I came on up inthe In Inthe the same elevator McCale McCall smiled his appreciation of her character and his gratitude Good girl But Dut how did you manage to invade the premises That was too easy eusy In fact tact Iwas I Iwas was brought in as ns a prize suspect Darned if 11 the elevator boy didn't remember he had taken me up an nn hour before so so of ot course being properly awed by the majesty of the law he just couldn't help whis whispering that bit hit ol of information at atthe atthe atthe the door Whereupon I was rushed in with a firm grip on my elbow She turned to Veronica Are you feeling better Miss Bigelow Mr McCale is going to get us out of here Ill do what I can he sold said and there was a genuine concern in fa him rim that came as a n real surprise lIe He heard beard a soft loft tread behind him and turned to face the lieutenant the spot as at usual us un I I 1 see sli There was a II shadow of 01 a smile on Donlevy's lips lipa Sorry I 1 had to detain Mist MI Marriot but she ahe rather arranged her own owe entrance so to speak peak together with one of zealous over my squad SU lI ll tai 01 I I t I II tI 11 now 1 iI I wa I 11 its its' 1 lII luitt quite quilt Slit Slit- could gone Jone n a half hal hour ago hut but 1 w 1 learned she had phoned n. tS thought that 1 h t-t t that hot is IS 1 a- a Miss h I Ia a bit under the weather Mr Hr H ill t regarded ld Veronica manner to tr her hard n II III i iSo I So that's the way a the 1111 wend iii hi i l v I 1 thought thou hl and mud said to I. I Ant An You 1 run thong along now new Wan Wall i im t t mi on miI I at the lie He looked td at al hi- hi tH watch Then Theu he h added pointedly to t Don Donlevy 11 levy 11 though hough he hl faced Ann Ana Il II 11 see se that Miss 1 gets bona limm safely unless of course cours hr ht turned steely eyes r Os to the till lieutenant unless you are not willing to re rr remand mood mand her In my any custody Oh quite all alI right I sold said A cynical grin masked Il In hl thoughts He lie turned drawing I away II Will McCale 1 with him Ann Alum murmured a n few words I to the tho girl irl and went want mil out At the window apik with an impatient i gesture tool took in the tite whole room A A lute litt I mitts mure of ot the tit Shots same mess he hr sm std Eh Kh my friend ml McCale 1 sighed Looks like lilt 11 1 he ht sold said bitterly The worst par of It all nil Is that i It iId Id I'd had im nn wit 11 annul mo ale It ii might have 1111 biro been Pl vented What 1 ns I here In this thin room t with Miss 1159 Lynn about two tl 1111 Im I'm convinced roam I In h wh Ill she silt said I that slit she knew brew When 1 I came in iu 1 I had the till that thai she site expected someone 1 else t 0 A little blackmail whal Don Donlevy's levys levy's eyes eyeN showed Id their Intent In Im terest st Yes les I begun In to prow PO around the lilt room loon K I 1 v e l' r y I h i t In n i seined seemed just the till sonic as ns It mud had brat been lie II Ile stopped slopped before befort the collection cull it t tint of snapshots and lend photographs 1115 In ht Inline line hod noticed on the till wall well the night before III He pointed to tn a ii space C Someone has hils removed tent a n pic ph picture I tore ture he hl exclaimed Donlevy Donle came right over I no that thai nut Hut whose picture thol thai well we'll probably never know lutow You didn't by any chalice- chalice No 1 I looked then them over last night nigh I. I but didn't recognize anyone What aboul the rest of the place Oh the whole joint has been bee n searched scorched Bedroom torn tore apart What they were looking for tor is probably probably ably gone McCale let his voice drop to murmur Then why in God name ore are you determined to pin pinon pinon on that girl over there He irid Bated Veronica Surely Donlevy shrugged The motive my ml friend The motive maUve comes Collies back to lo that thaI The motive has piled plied up in the last twenty foUl hours McCale sounded sullen He knew kne only too well how It lied had piled plied up wI You satisfied Donlevy wrinkled his brow Come Com I now he said Youre too romantic Duke Ive I've got not to be con comm Besides some lome of ot our clever clver cleverest est cst murderers ore are pretty prelly young women of at good American family and background Then too my in investigating stall staff the DA D.A. they're D.A.-they're they're all satisfied Everyone except you He lie smiled He lie was very sure of ol himself and confident Yes I 1 know I 1 seem deem to lo Ix b unique Youre You're not 1101 her We con cnn wait for tor the tile inquest 1 I think And you you you- I 1 want the truth of ot course Mc Me McCole Calc Cole showed his teeth In n a danger daner dangerous ous smile Im going on with the investigation as you know Beside McCale Veronica Bigelow lay Iny hack against the sent of the cab cub silent She looked drained of alt all vitality a n figure of at carved d gra gray graystone stone in the Uie terror of ot her Inner Innel thoughts There was the essence of tragedy in her young youn face a n face tace too loo young to be sc se so 10 bewildered She seemed to have grown rown up overnight and the growing had been ben too loo sud sudden sudden den too awful I Curt 1111 Planned A Double lt Cross McCale spoke ke to r hr-r gently I 1 want went to lo help you Miss Bigelow Really I do But first youve you've got goi goito gotto to believe in me I must probe deep deeper er cr than the police police maybe maybe hurt you YOl more more but but your Aunt Adelaide ex expects poets a miracle from me and so so- so soI soI I know She opened her eyes A few trw more questions cant can't mat matter ter now Go ahead Im taking It for Cor granted thai that you were nowhere near your home yesterday afternoon at the time ol of the murder Right I wasn't Mr McCule McCale She was wat intense earnest I cant can't say where I was v ot nt the exact moment but J 1 didn't kill em Curl Curt I couldn't have 1 J couldn't kill anybody least of ot all alJ Curt Did you love him Her eyes grew big as the question startled her into a 8 consideration oJ of the fact as ns it was wasI I of I of course course I I suppose I did She fumbled tumbled for words It woo was like going round and round in hi a great surge of something something some some something thing exciting whenever exciting he was was' near me whenever I thought ol of him But Dut its it's now now now-now now that I 1 know that its it's over that hes he's he gone for for- forever ever that dead dead thai I 1 wonder if it was was was' love Im I'm so 10 empty I ITO TO BE CONTINUED D i |