Show I I ff 4 A by 4 di l 4 A i K wi ANNE AUSTIN AUSTINi i AUTHOR OF i. i 3 I THE AVENGING G PARROT fr THE TH BLACK PIGEON ETC I J tJ r I f 1 I f i ee L I ff t p 1930 tyNE S SERVICE INC I iiii TODAY TOUy y Doris Dorb ladys lady's maid malJ 13 Js mUI mu il tl red In a Q e on tho y Ly l r i I blow with siti a Il ali li Y lIM v M perfume fla Iak I l si n I on to Mra ra b by ro rob b e- e tn to Clorinda Berkeley rio Iod rock weighted ansi and 1111 will Clorinda n Is taken from Cram LI by Detective Dundee Dumler who cum cum- mons Captain straw Strawn n. n Under suspicion sTr 11 am nn Irl Ira who Iio have over oer Clorin- Clorin da dan dag engagement to lo Cr Crosby y clo cloo o friend of or th thin tho social tI rel I Mr J Gigi Berkeley hn everyone c J e T with i front from rom muri mur mur- j del fIk h I Dick Berkeley who after hlIn hl havIns hay hav In Ins mr spent the tho night as Sa lie hl In tI the tho I tower lo roo room In I Doris Iori orl turn up while his mother r I. I In accusing Arnold chauffeur ch fn engaged ed d to Doris of ha 1111 murdered both Doris and Dick Dickout Dickout out of or jealousy Sirs Mrs Berkeley caught In many II lies I li h Involved by 11 a a. roused rIn of or Doris Dorl mouth on 1 a t bathroom mirror whirls which pro ea tho the girl waR wan In Mr II nn and anil that a a. took look place pinel Clorinda Berkeley Is forced to admit ln 11 been In th the tho about the tho waR wan committed which hll hc MJ- MJ q Recounts for or on her clipper lIpper oIe and blood Mood on Isor evening rape Denies crime crune or 0 how her I dropped pcr-d pcr In iii ti LI th c TM how k bi-k K hD help holl II ramp to bo be used to il da up t tin us- us h bo Berle tho dot det lives b by jui ln Bho ra raw Doris Dorla crying and talking with Crosby who save gave her somo- somo thing Arnold demands chance to lo lell dc- dc something of ot Im Importance co- co OGO O p GO t ox ON WITH TIM TIU STOKT CHAPTER I Whew r I thought those re re- porters s would tear my Ill unIform uniform uni unI- form of oft off me nie Captain Strain Shan n grunted disgustedly as he ho Je let t himself him bun self seH into the thc library and Arnold Arnol tho the chauffeur were wel I awaiting him Seemed to think I J I could pull a n. murderer out of m my n sleeve like a n magicians magician's rabbit I told old em en just enough h to keep cm em from Vom blackjacking me and they're hotfooting hotfooting- it for far their city rooms no now v. Well what have you goton goton sot got I on your chest cheit Arnold Youve You've ibm been eln giving Ing a a. lot Jot of or trouble m my bo bostell boys bos s stell tell me inc The redheaded young oun chauffeur who had harl been beci a n. huddled led heap of oC misery sprang from front his chair chah and turned wild tear fear re reddened Ce eyes on tho the chief ehler of oC the homicide squad Why Vh didn't you tell me mo m my poor GIrl Cirl Irl was dead dead mur murdered h he de demanded it- it mandt hoarsely God knows I 1 had a a. right to lo be he told 1 first not hot J kept ept I stewing in agony ony in that damned sitting silting room morn back stalls stairs wondering what hat had happened believing terrible terri ten ble blo things s about her Well e you know Imo now awn wn Jerked him him up rou roughly What have ha you got ot to lo tell cli us That I 1 raw saw her murderer sneak- sneak In InS InC ou out of ot th these c grounds s last Jast night Arnold shouted his whole bo body qU quivering Wait alt Vait minute Strawn or ordered or- or dered sternly How IIo- do you ou know ho Wa was her hel murderer If JC It was wasa a 3 he lie lie- It was a man all right Or 01 a n. beast Least wearing wearing- trousers Arnold in interrupted interrupted interrupted in- in violently Keep your our shirt on Now bebin begin begin be be- gin bin at the tho beginning and tell exactly what you ou know I r 1 had a a. date to meet Doris at atthe atthe atthe the summerhouse last night Arnold Arnold Ar Ar- nold 1 began besan Jerkily Wo were en engaged engaged en- en to be married the I butler buller had been trying trying- to make timings things easier for us us and it was him I that gave savo Doris permission to see sec me mc for a while last Jast nl night ht I w was to I watch for 01 her from flom my room over the tile garage because she I didn't know knos' I exactly when then shed she'd bo ho free free free- rec- rec a S When hen was as this date late ma made c Dundee interrupted tho chauffeur and his own rapid notes While White we ail we-an all tho servants I dinner in mean mean were were eating our 11 our own sitting room Arnold ex explained eo- eo Impatiently Our dinner is from Iron six to lo past halt an hour be before before before be- be fore tho famil family dines rhen Then all an the servants heard beard you ou make this date Sure The They all knew we were engaged Wo We o a aked then and there and ho lie said it would be beall beall beall all right rI but he cautioned Doris to put pul the tho chain on the back door lock when she bho ca came camo mo In Did silo she have a n. key 7 1 Yes because lent lent- her his O Ordinarily when hen an any of DC the a aS S SS S S w S jJ j- j 5 I J r t P P S St S S S t o L. L Big BiD and tall tall ran ran like liko an athlete eh ch Strawn repeated servants ser arc are out after VIC Wickett has luts ono gone to bcd bed th they y o ha to ring tho the back door dool bell hell which connects with his hIM room But he he lIe ho trusted Doris Dods and gave her lii lib hb lie key Strawn and amid exchanged glances Xo Q Je key had been found on tho thio girls girl's bod body or In tho the of or her apron All right Get along with your our story Strawn ordered r Well Id I'd been Leen told lold that I 1 woul wouldn't nt bo be needed heeded luring during the evening evening eve eve- ning hut but at al about a 3 quarter to 11 tho time in my lilY room rang Its It's an extension of the hou house c phone It w was wa as saying that the tho Benjamin Benjamin Denjamin Ben Den jamin Smiths wanted me ma to drive e them then home to est vi ow I was pretty sore the sore they're they're re always s mooching mooching mooch mooch- ing inS our car to save savo gasoline and gasoline and when told mo that hed he'd heard hear Dick Berkeley bull bully Doris into saying shod shed meet him him well well I was is-as r ready dy y to throw up my my- job right then but I thought Id I'd better stick slick around as ns long long- longas as Doris was here to protect her lier And he dropped his head on his arm and sobbed obbe So ctt told you yO elM did lie he he strawn repeated thoughtfully Well T mill ull yourself together boy What's next I r took time to lo write Doris a anole anole nole note when I coul couldn't nt reach leach her on the house phone I lIeb begged ed he her If fC she sho loved lovel me mile not hot to leave lea the house last night You see I dl didn't nt think I she sho would meet Dick Derl Berkeley elc but butI I lid did fear l sho mIGht figure I how howlong howlong IOD long It would take mo me to mako the lal trip to 1 and try to see sec me inc when I got sot back I didn't l nt want her herto herto herto to do that lint sir for fOI fear COl that Berkeley Berke e le ley Jey puppy flUy would bo 10 la laying hl for her And Amid nd you OU gave the tho note nole to Wick Wick- lott ott to give e to Doris Yes When I brought the car ear around for him to announce He lie said Doris had bad sone cone ono up to her room lo to write to her sister in England Ho lie said hed he'd It to her hel but she never ne got it J If IC she sho had had Oh Oh m my God GOll How do lo you ou know she di didn't nt get set the note Strawn pounced Hero it is 15 Arnold I answered h hs s voice dull and flat with grief Della Delia the tho upstairs maid maltI had haul it all tho time Sho She gave g it to mo me not more than 10 minutes ago ngo right after tho the reporter asked us what maid mal wo 0 knew V about tho the ladys lady's murder ho quoted bitterly S S S snatched the note hut but before e ho opened the tho n he lie asked j How lIow did dill Della Delia Ret get ct hold of or It 7 Sho She says rays she sho camo came down own the back stairs at 11 last Just night to get a apicco apiece piece picco of oC nut fruit out o ot of the tho Ico Ice box box box- they dont don't feed us liS any too heavy y Inthis Inthis in inthis this dump cind and as aM Mio ho passed e through h time the back Isack hall ball sue she he saw an my lily note not addressed tl to Doris lying on the tile table lable Sho took it up to lu Doris Doris' room but Doris Dons wasn't in iii and instead of ln lla leaving it fOr fop her hr Dolla Doila Kept pt tho the not nole curiosity curiosity l' I gur s to seo 1 what kind k of oC love 10 letter 1 write I 1 could strangle her he lie a added dc vio 10 io- io One Ono murders murder's enouch h for fOI toda today SI rawn n assured him cm cruelly lIy oily Now well we'll hap v a lL look at this l J tl r Ilium 1 Here Dundee an and h he ho tossed the tho letter to his su sub sub- or ordinate I I S S S Tho Time younger el detective read It quickly for or It was not Ion long IMy My 1 lovely lo darling It tt be he- he jan gan Just Just a line to tell you ou 1 I cant can't keep keel our 11 date ate tonight Have to lo drive 1111 the Smiths Smith homo home to Vest lew damn cm em has told lold me mc methe the lie latest about I D. D ii B. B For Gods Coils sale sake and mine sweetheart keep leep slit nit of Ills his way Dont Don't leave Jea the house tonight on the chance of ree- ree mig 11 ng me when I return from rom West Vest etI view I GO Co ht to lIed bed darling darting and dream of the tho red cd headed boy hoy who lio loves you so much 11 le goes era crazy crar sometimes Gene Gene- Get Gel along with wilh your oua story Arnold Ar Ar- I nold Strawn commanded cUllI curtly j You drove the tho Smiths to S When did you ou set ret et badI back bad I didn't dr drive dro o them to cst When view Arnold him wo we were p passing the nl e Riverside Country y club Mrs 1119 Smith recognized a c car r that was turning Into tho club and hailed haile it it Tho folks in the car ur urged her hel and Mr Ir h Smith to join for fot an hours hour's lancing dancing saying the they'd d drive c theta them home afterwards So Sn I let lel them out out out- The Tho Riverside Country club Strawn repeated i startled his eyes suddenly narrowing to slits hits lIts on only about eight miles from here hele I Isn't nt It If Id I'd known this thi young man nian you'd have o been on tho the carpet I long ago o But I J didn't l pome straight home see sec ec Arnold retorted angrily I drove droe out the tho Hamilton like to Sheridan road parked the car em and sat there for half halt an hour or more I Expect mo inc to swallow that I Strawn grinned Twiddling your youri i thumbs and dreaming dreaming- about getting married ch eh 7 Dreaming about getting mani married yes et Rut lint instead of or twiddling my thumbs I was WIS counting cars and ansi heres here's the tho proof Tho hot tempered tem tern oung j-oung oun man drew two soiled envelopes from a n. breast pocket et o of hl his uniform and anti la passed them to the detective I made a mark for fOl ever every car that passed that corner and if It you'll count tho the fives you'll see ace that the total Is 1 l Ive I've been I planning to lo lease leDe the thc south southeast st corner cor cor- ncr ner of those two iwo crossroads and put up a filling station with my mj savings Id I'd che checked cheti l ed passing passin- cars cais carson carson on oil a a. Sun Sunday a afternoon and on a week dR day around six o'clock but I still wasn't satisfied and wanted to see how he heavy henl nl night ht traffic was be beare before before be- be fore are I ventured my mone money Doris Dorisan an and I had made up our minds not notto notto notto to work for or anybody man or woman woman woman wo wo- man when we got ot married marrie but now now now- and he lie groaned roane hiding his eyes behind a crooked arm S S S JAn Anybody to this alibi Strawn neat little I asked I 1 suppose m my car wa was noticed by bv at least a hundred people but I dont don't know who any of oC them were 1 I didn't speak to an anyone But that's the truth truth take take it or leave it And An what time do you ou say ay you ot rot back here herc a after tel using your YOUL cm- cm plovers plover's car on private ato business bout About five hc minutes after 1 12 I 1 remember looking at the thc clock on the dashboard when I was hold held up b by a passing freight rel ht train just outside outside out out- side side of ot Hamilton It t was 12 straight up then and it took me lilt not riot I mor than five fhe minutes to reach the theal's gates als al's of oC Hillcrest Jt it- was when I Iwas Iwas Iwas was turning into Inlo our own driveway th that I saw JW the thc manhat man What hat did he look 1001 like e What was w h he lie doing Strawn demanded skeptically I l didn't get g-d a t good look at him Arnold admitted I t just supposed l it wn was a 1 new that Della Dell or 01 Pe Peggy tho downstairs maid waid ha had picked up somewhere ansi and had hind been in ha having a sneak date with He lie was big and tall both and was wearing a to unit liht gray s-ra top op coat coal and a gray ray felt hat When I ll swung wun m my car cm in between be be- tween teen tho the gates ates ho he was wa running awa away from them up the road My ry i hea headlights ll were on him just a n. second sec see second ond mid mid and I r only saw W his back but buthe buthe he lie ran 1111 like an athlete Im I'm Im I'm telling you Oti I T thought at tho the time he was hurrying ln to catch the urban interurban toll trolley which had just whistled at atthe atthe atthe the stop stop about six Ix blocks s away awty from IIller st. st Them There's a a. station just north of ot here you O l know and ho lie was headed In that thal direction Big BI and tall tall ran van liko like an athlete ath hl tate late eli Strawn repeated fully lie ITo reached for fOt the telephone on the tho library desk and called calle po- po headquarters Round up tip lohn John Maxwell Sergeant Ser el ho lie ordered crisply crisply- grant geant Turner Yeah That flint Maxwell TIc lie got ot hits intI town lown yesterday ester a YC Yeah cab ih Maybe I Not ot vet jet Sure Ill I'll bo ho In a at noon Ho lie hung hun up lip tho the receiver ann ami turned again ng-aln to tho the chauffeur chauffeur- sow Now oW Arnold corn clean he lie Wh WIlY Why dl did you OU l kill iII the girl girland girland irl and let t t Dick Berkeley get off oU scot scot- free To Be Continued |