Show Mu Murder I d. d l. l At AL Brid 4 ANNE AUSTIN l y B BLACK PIGEON N dJ v J 7 t THE AVENGING MURDER BACKSTAIRS 0 BI REA service INC p 1 1 I I BEGIN HERE TODAY Investigator Dundee havIng bavin dinner with Inny Grain Cram tb the Sunday arter at at ar- tor ter ScUm Sellin I I. I murdered at t. t tells tell her ber the tha latest findings centers centera heavIest on Hammond 1 In Inlove love loye with Nita who came caine to house ba tho of ot the tho murder murder- to estimate the tho cost COlt of at remodeling the tho stile aUla and found In the tho attic bedroom traces of ot OC occupancy there Potty Polly Deall calling for tor NIta NUa finds find her he hen n And seeing tb the state Ralph Ralphi i ia JJ In tel telephones ph nea ItanI breaks break the tho lunch luncheon on enca engagement and ton forces to hAve hav lunch with her herand and his bin brother brotherS dive Clive Dundee that Ralph n shot sits Kits with a e. gun eun and aDd Maxim l ho be stole stoic that afternoon from Judge Judo Marshall Marshal Niti landlord to whom she sho paid no nc DO and then ran Tan 4 away way Flora Plora Mile another nother suspect who was fro In closet reading a note which she be he thinks Is Ja from her husband couldn't couldn hayo bavo he heard any wh era that passed be be- tween Ralph and IJ Penny accuses Sprague of or the tho murder but th the case 1 Sa is against Ralph Z Lydia the tho m maid l who's as who wan horribly burned by RIta Nitta and to whom Ulta left lert AU all her money Including a a. mysterious which Dundee thinks think Is- Is blackmail Is II practically cleared of ot sue BUS Th The Tho evidence against Ralph hasn't been made public p yet as a. the papers al all 1111 carry arry Strawns Strawn's theory that a CI York New Tork gunman n killed her bu Penny leDDY goes COt to answer the tho telephone and returns and tells tella Dundee that Ralph baa just called called- and ADd ho doesn't even OYen even know J Js Ja dead O r GO CO O ON WITH TILE STORY CHAPTER or Of course I 1 recognized his voice volie Instantly when ho he said That yo you Penny onny and its it's a n. wonder to mo I didn't scream said Penny Grain Cram her way ayup ay up through d dazed zed bewilderment e to in detail in answer to Dundee's pelting I 1 said Of or course Ralph Where havo have you b been en n And nd he said in that coaxing teasing casing voice o of his lila that I know so sowell sowell well Peeved d. d Penn Penny I dont don't blame you ou honey You Tou really ought not not- notto to let me come over and explain why I stood you ou up last night but you will wont won't you ze NI Penny That's exactly how lIe he talked Bonnie Dundee Dundee Dundee Dun Dun- dee Exactly Oh On dont don't you see ee ho 10 couldn't know that Nita is dead Did you you- ask him him where he ho was 1 Dundee asked fix finally No 1 I Just told him to como come on over ver and h he said I could depend on n it that he ho Woul wouldn't waste any time Ime Oh Oh Bonnie What shall we wo do Listen Penny 1 Dundee urged rapidly You must realize that vo Ivo got to seo and nd hear hut but I dont don't want Ralph Hammond Hammon to seo soe me until aft after r JI hes he's had liada a a. talk with you ou Will you lot me eavesdrop behInd a x portieres I Inow know now Its It's a beastly thing to do but but- ut Penny agreed reed at last and within 10 0 minutes after atter that amazing amazing- tele- tele phone hone call can Dundee from behind the ie portieres that separated tho the dining and living rooms heard Penny greeting greeting- her visitor in the little muo foyer She had played fair fall had lad not gone gono out into the han hall to whisper a warning warning warning-if if any warnIng warnIng warn- warn Ing ng was needed He lie had seen Ralph Hammond enter ener en- en ene ter er tho dining room of the Stuart house the day ly before re in company with Hammond and Polly pony Beale when the three o had bad been strangers to hIn but un told himself now that he he ho would h hardly have havo lavo recognized tho the young oung man mail whom Penny was preceding into I her cr living room The Ralph H Hammend Hammond Ham Ham- mond mend of Saturday had h had d a white drawn rawn face taco and sick eos But this But this boy oy e S Like Liko 11 Iris his s ol older brother Clive Ralph Hammond had dark dark- red curling hair But unlike his brothers brother's brothers brother's broth broth- ers er's his eyes were were a n. wide candid hazel the azel tho green reen irl iris 3 thickly flecked with brown A little tUe shorter than thana i e Clive a trifle more moro slender But i hat which hold held th de e 9 ye e ewas 03 was as something less leYs tangible but but at at aton on co more moro evident than Bup superlative rb- rb Ive U masculine good looks It Wasa was I a sort Bort of or shy Joyousness and bUO buoy buoy- ance nee which flushed the tho tan of his cheeks heeks sang in his voice mado thado his eyes almost yes almost unbearably Before Penny Grain Cram very pale and quiet ulet could sink into the tho chair she was rop c-rop groping ng toward lU ph Hammond Hammond Ham- Ham mond nond was at her side one arm ann goIng goIng go- go Ing lug out to encircle her shoulders Dont look liko that Penny Dundee heard him plead his voice I suddenly humble Youve YOU eve every right to be bo sore at me me honc honey but I please dont don't be hp I know Ivo ive been I 3 an ai 1 awful cad these last few weeks but Im I'm myself again Im I'm cured I now Penny Penny- Walt Ralph Penny protested faintly holding back as ho would havo ha lave hugged her hard haid against w his breast What about about Nita Dun Dundee saw the 5 youn oun mans man's face faco go 10 darkly rod red heard but but heard his I boyish boyIsh boyls v answer almost steadily I HI hoped you'd understand wIthout t making mo me put it Into words honey Im I'm cured of of I cant can't express express- It any o other way ex ex- to say I was sIck and now Im I'm curel- curel cured mean faltered falter You Penny Penny but with witha a n a Imploring glance glanco toward Dundee you dont don't love Nit any any moro more You cant can't deny you OU were terribly In lovo love with her Ralph Lola Lois told us us toM told me sue last las night that NUa had bad told h hoi bet in st confidence that ehe sho lie had promised ed to marry you Just juit Thursday Thurs Thurs- day l y nt night night- h Tho Thol l loy boyd oy s face taco W was CJ very cry palo pale as us asha ha he dropped his hands from pe Pennys Penny's m s 's shoulders but Dundee from rom behind tho the portieres was not troubling to spy for tor the moment He lie was too Indignant at Penny for having withheld ld from froni him tho the vital fact of at engagement to Ralph Hammon Ham Ham- mon mend mond 1 J a truer true Penny Ralph was saying dully You havo have a 0 right to know because Im I'm asking you to marry mo me now 1 t did propose to Nith again Thursday night and sho did accept me I confess now I was vas wild with happiness happiness- Why h did she refuse you before beCore Penny enny cut in In and Dun Dundee silently thanked her for asking the ques- ques Lion tion lon lie le would havo have liked to ask himself Was It b because causo she sho ho wasn't sure sur she she- was In hi love lovo with you Youre making It awfully lly hard bard for tor mo moo honey tho the boy protested then admitted humbly Of course you want to know and you oU should know No she said all along almost from tho the first that sho ho loved lovei mo moro more than I could lovo love her but that there were were reasons Two reasons she always sal said 1 and once I asked her jealously if It they were both men but she looked cd so startled and then laughed so queerly that that- I didn't ask again Then I 1 thought it Jt n might be 00 because I was younger than sho was though I cant can't believe bellevo she ehe is more than 2 23 or eo so and Im I'm 26 25 25 you know And Ant once I got sick cold-sick because I thought bought she sho might stilt still bo ho married 1 but she sho said her husband huband was married mar mar- ried ned again and I wasn't to ask questions or r worry worry about him him tO But she did accept you Thurs Thurs- I day night Penny persisted his face Yes Ye tho the boy admitted darkly flushed again This Is 18 awfully aw- aw tully fully hard hone honey but Ill I'll tell teU you ou once for all and md get It over with I took her to dinner r. r We Ve drove to because she said aid she aho was WIS sick of ot Hamilton When we wc were driving back she sUddenly queer queer reck reek reek- less ess defiant And she asked me if Ie I I still wanted to marry her and I 1 said I did I asked her hel right then hen to sa say when and she s said ld shed she'd marry mo me June 1st but she added add add- ed u d and the bo boy to Dundee's watchIng eyes s e seemed to be genuInely genii genii- lady nely puzzled again by what must kayo havo lavo sounded so o odd at tho the time time- that shod shed marry me sue June 1st If Jf I she he lived to see the day Oh Penny gasped then controlling controlling con con- trolling her horror sho she asked with what sounded like real curiosity Then what what happened happened Ralph 1 Why WIy do you propose to her on Thursday and to me on on-on on on Sunday Sun- Sun day ay A 41 A gorgeous actress sacrificed to the he typewriter Dundee told himself him him- self elf as he waited for tor Ralph Ham- Ham nond's reluctant reply Cant we forgot forget it it honey YO You l do love mo nio a little dont don't you ou 1 Cant Can't t you ou t nay my word for It that Im I'm Im I'm cured forever nu forever Z Pennys Penny's han hands went up to cover her her- face tace and Dun Dundee e had tho the grace Tace to feel very cry SOrl sorry indeed t for r her her- her sorry even if Jt sho she Intended to give e her promise to Ralph Hammond as M asa asa a sick feeling feeling- in lin his stoma stomach h prophesied th that t sho was was about to do How can n I l know now youre you're r really really- cured if it I dont don't know what cured you OU ZIt he heard beard Pennys Penny's faltering voice ask huskily from front behind the tho I screen of ot h her r hands I 1 suppose youie youre right the bo boy admitted miserably Theres no need to ask you ou not to tell anyone else Although I dont don't want to seo see her hor again ever ever ever- Vh Why Penny Penn I 1 wouldn't even tell Polly and CUve Clive yesterday after it happened though Poll Polly guessed and went upstairs I tried to keep her back back It I L dont don't quito quite understand Ralph Penny Pent interrupted You mean something happened when you ou were at Nita's house house- yesterday esterd morning Yes Judge Marshall had promIsed promised promised prom prom- Nita Ila to have th tho unfinished half haIr of tho top story turned d into a maids maid's bedroom and bath and a a. guest be bedroom and bath let me mo go to make tho the estimates Of or c course I X IVas was Vas gla glad oC ot the chance to toK K 5 Jo o Nita I r hadn't been with h Thursday night But sho sha had to take take- in forin fora for a dentists dentist's appointment and they l left t me rue lone alone In the tho hom house e. e I 1 had hn-d to go Into tho the finished half to make somo omo measurements meas incas and In the tho be bedroom I 1 found found oh oh h. h God Godl h ho iro groaned tin ed and pressed a Do lIst fist against his against his tre trembling ibling mouth S S S You found that D Dexter Doxter Sprague was was staying ng thre there was using the bedroom that used to bo be bemIne mIne mine dl didn't you your 1 Penny helped d him at at last In desperation lon How Hois Ho did you know Tho The bo boy stared at the girl tor blankly for a 1 moment mo moment mo- mo mo- mo ment then seemed to crumple as na If blow I L It from tram a new suppose was common gossip tit that at Nita NUa and ana Sprague were lovers lovers and I was the tho only one sho eho My Y God To think all aU of ot you OU would stand by and l lOt let t mo mo rue marry her her her-a a cheap lit littie little lIt lIt- tl tie tle gold digger from Broadway living liv liv- tag ing with Ith a a. che cheap p she couldn't get along without and had bad to send for for for- Did you you want ou want to kill her Ralph 1 Penny whispered hoarse hoarsely touching one ot of his knotted flats fists 1 ts with a tr trembling hand Kill her G Good od lord no the tho boy flung at her violently her violently Im lm not such an ass as M that You iou girls are all alike pony Polly had bad eo so O little sense as to think Id I'd want to kill NI 1 and J both bothi I Sh She couldn't see amI and neither could Clive that all s-lI I wanted was to getaway get set away from everybody and get so 50 drunk I could forget what a fool Id I'd been been It What did you do Ralph Penny asked urgently Why WJ I 1 got drunk of ot course the boy answered as 1 If surprised at her her persistence Darling you wouldn't believe me If It I 1 told you Scotch it took to ho how mu much h rot-gut rot put mo nO under but that filthy bootlegging bootlegging boot boot- legging hotel clerk would have charged mo me double if it he ho had known how tiow much good it would do me Hotel Penny snatched at the vital word Where did you go to I get drunk Ralph 1 I never realized before beloro you iOU had hod so much curiosity honey tho the bo boy grinned at her VAlter Atter I shook PolIy CUvo Polly went on to Nita's bridge party because she couldn't throw her down at tho the last minute I 1 I wandered around till I came to the Railroad Mens Men's hotel down on State street you ou know the other side of ot tho the tracks Its It's a miserable dump but I sort of ot hankered for a place to hide in that was as miserable miserable miserable miser miser- able and cheap as 38 I felt felt felt- Did you register under unde your own name Ashamed of ot me mc Penny Penn No I registered under my ray first two names Ralph names Ralph Edwards Edward And the clerk turned out to be a bootlegger Well when I woke Wok up about 11 this morning I give you my word I wasn't sick and headachy though God knows Id I'd drunk enough t to pu put me ne out aut for for fora a B. week Penny i i. woke up feeling well feeling well I cant can't explain explain ex ex- plain it but to say I t felt light and now nois and and and-and and d clean n. n A All 11 washed up At first I thought my heart was as empty empty it it felt so free tree of ot pain But as I lay there I found my heart wasn't empty at all aU It n was as brimming brImming- full tull of love love love- Gosh Laura L. J Jean an bone honey loney I sound like Ilke a a. Libby hero dont don't nt I 11 But be- be foro ore I 1 rang ranI you from tho the I lunchroom where I ato ate br breakfast I 1 wrote Nita a special delivery note telling Tier her herit it t was all off ocr I l had ld to be bo free actually ber before ro I could coui ask you You will marry me inc wont won't you jou Penny honey I knew this morning I had never really loved anyone else else else- P Penelope Grain Cram remained rigid Id slowly she for Cor or a Do moment then V very laid aid both her hands on his ad for Cor or he had knelt and buried burled his face I against her skirt But as s she sho spoke her brown biown e eyes s enormous in her white Ite fa face c were upon D Dundee who had lad stepped silently from fLom behind th ho portieres 11 Yes Ill I'll marry you ou Ralph Balph You may come como in now nosY Mr Dun Dundee To be continued |