Show H r. r T Telegram legram Fiction By Vera Brown d I fl CHAPTER 25 When Mrs Thayer mayer got one glimpse of her daughters daughter's white f tired face she put her to bed Im Im- irn- irn mediately She was a wise mother Alison was so grateful to her for not asking any questions that she broke down completely The girl slept the clock around It was late afternoon when she opened her eyes She I lay JAy y there for a little while in a half stupor before she called to her moth mother r. r v INo Now youre you're to stay right in bed Ill Til have your br breakfast in no time at all Certainly I wont won't stay in bed 4 What time is it J Four o lock d i Whit day demanded Alison with a little laugh better her mother It smiled Now rest a little while longer The coffee is all ready to put on the stove No Im I'm coming out there Ill I'll get into nto some Iome pajamas and be with you in a moment r The mother shook her head and smiled a little Youth she thought is a great thing Alison's AlIson superb i youth would come to her rescue In jj l afew a few days the whole thing would f be forgotten l t.- t. More 1 Visitors f When When Alison came into the little kitchen citchen her breakfast was on the table Mrs Thayer sat down with the girl and had a cup of coffee and they talked of inconsequential S 'S things Shortly Alison was telling eagerly of her own accord all about what had bad happened Not quite all Not Tot about Terry She could not nob even tell her mother about Terry They had a comfortable com corn half hour nour together Then the door bell rang Oh dear wonder who that can be i Shortly Mrs Thayer was ushering In two shouldered broad-shouldered men Youre Mrs Thayer asked the older- older of the two Is your daughter here Alison had fled to the bedroom when she heard beard their voices Why yes yes Were from the homicide squad We want her down town towi k this all over Mrs Th yer demanded in a dismayed voice It looks as though its it's just be be- gun Weve We've finally got that fellow fellos North and we want Miss Thayer t to tc f identify him r p Alison was hurrying into some som clothes for she could h hear ar the conversation conversation con con- through the half open oper I I bedroom door Shortly she emerged Tm rn Sheldon Is Ls Sax h he told her Were to take you right down town Without further comment Alison Aliso 1 got her hat T Ill Til be back soon mother or Ill I'll telephone you sh she said as she kissed her goodbye In the car parked at the curl curb D S. S Alison sat with Sheldon in the bad back seat eat What does North have I Isay t to D say she asked eagerly Maybe th thi this S would solve the whole thing He seems to have a pretty goo good 1 alibi but that's nothing Well We'll break brea that down Got him this noon H He C drove into his garage with his wiand wi wife e and kids In his car Hed He'd been at h hi his S 'S summer cummer cottage Alison asked more questions bu but bu Lt Sheldon seemed reluctant to tell her too much Traffic was heavy and going slow The heat of New Yorks York's June day was oppressive f i Dont you think might have had something to do with It j all ell V lt f. f J Not a chance That's n not nt t his 1 racket the detective said and sub- sub F id tided aided d to his pipe again Facing a Suspect At police headquarters the two p r. r officers took Alison directly to th the homicide squad As she came in the thedoor door she saw Steve and he smiled at al ather her encouragingly But he only nodded Inspector was wa there n. n c Now Miss Thayer since BurkH Burke Burk E i H Is Js not yet back in town you seem t to tc J I T be the logical person to identify this thi th 5 fellow We made a nice pickup in ir i getting him so quickly I thought h he het t t was on his way to Europe like thi this Weston chap Weston Yes we just got word he and hi hia 4 bride sailed from Montreal yester yester- diy Weve We've been covering the sail sail- ii 1 h II 1 in int ings gs here but he was slick Gave us ushe the he t slip Dont Don't know how h w he managed man man- mant a aged ased ged it it So Larry had got away Alison d did id not know what that meant but buthe she s he felt relieved for him At least leaste h he e was sailing salling away from all this Dont tell Miss Thayer w what at you s said aid about North one of the detectives detec detec- detectives t tives ives warned Steve as as' as he was about t to o speak On into the next office the detectives detectives detec detec- t tives ives took Alison There with the l late ate afternoon sunlight streaming I into nto the windows sat a woman and anda a man She was a pretty creature of a about bout 30 and she obviously had been w weeping The man stared at Alison with with frightened eyes He was was fairly fair fair- l ly y tall quiet A sort of per per- s son on He had gray hair prematurely g ray gray Alison felt She looked at him i intently trying to remember the g glimpse she had had of North on the s hip ship not the man Inspector H Hes He's es e's too old Hes He's heavier heavier- Her v oice voice trailed off oft She was so sure sure a and nd yet she could not tell just why But that man had gray grayhair hair you were rere sure of that that that- I 1 know but this isn't the man I Inow Inow k know now Mrs North burst into sobs and North orth looked Immensely relieved Broderick said the same sama thing Miss Thayer Weve We've been over andover and o ver over the ground Sit down he said saido I t to o Alison Now North you say the radio in y your our c car r was broken and that you did lid not know we were hunting for you y ou Ive I've checked with the sheriff at atour your our summer cottage in Connecticut c cut ut and I find you were there Are Areu you u willing to help us Yes sir in every way All right Now who would use your our name if that is what happened happened hap hap- You must mast have some idea What lIat North Told Police North paused There seemed tb be beear fear ear in his eyes I I haven't any idea I tell you my wife and I and the children started out about 6 o'clock on the night of June 13 for our s summer sum summer sum sum- m mer cottage cottage that's all I know v. Mrs North burst in It is terrible terrible terri tern I ble bie I tell you my mf husband w was with I Ime me at the cottage all the time We Wc got ot the there e about 11 o'clock clock that night Hes He's a hard working nan man It II Its Itis t is s terrible for him to be mixed up in this What if he loses his job at the bank A lot any of you would care I know Mrs North But this is h murder and your husbands husband's name and address were given by that fellow fellow fel fel- id low on the plane Weve We've got to find Zinc I out Somebody else gave it if your husband was with you and we want wani I Ito to know Who I tell you hes he's a perfect hus hus- band He so 80 hard sometimes two and three nights a week just tc to give us the comforts It is terrible when self respecting people are treated like this To be taken right from your home away from your children and brought here Mrs North sobbed wildly The Inspector In Inspector In- In Inspector sat quietly for a long time watching her North had turned White It was obvious his wife's words had bad struck terror into his heart Finally he managed to speak Now darling dont don't cry He leaned over and patted her hand I I wonder inspector if I could speak to t o you alone The inspector nodded Alison the waiting detectives and Mrs North went into the next room where Steve was waiting It isn't the fellow Is it Steve a asked Alison No Im I'm sure it Well if he isn't hes he's the c cookie Ive I've seen In many a day one of the detectives remarked with a s shrug They waited a long time Finally North came out and he looked tired and old Detectives gave him and his wife permission to go home But dont don't leave town We may want wanto t to o talk to you again gain North they warned When the Norths had left the in inspector inspector in- in s came out of his office smil smil- I ing ng I n never ver saw such a case case- Apparently Apparently Apparently Ap Ap- Ap- Ap everybody In New York who's stepping out is in fn the middle of this Do you know what It appears appears appears ap ap- ap- ap pears North has a girl friend hence friend hence th the la late e working hours He knew I knew for I had talked with the bank and they said nothing to o me about all this overtime he was putting putting put put- ting ing in That is his own idea He turned to th the officers Go on down to the Black Cat on Fourteenth Fourteenth Four- Four street You know the spot See what you can find out It appears appears appears ap ap- ap- ap pears his girl friend used to be a I girl there and they spend a lot of evenings sitting about the place It may not turn up anything but make a try anyway Alison sat quite still The whole thing was revolting I 41 had such hopes she said at last I thought when you found North you'd solved the thing Steve and Alison went out to- to gether ether Lets get something to eat I haven't had any breakfast They yanked me out of bed before I had any coffee They stopped off at a little littie restaurant restaurant restaurant res res- and for a long time they sat satin satin in silence I want to get back to tc work Alison said suddenly I want to get the taste of this thing out of my mouth Lm em so weary of ol it all Me too Then Alison had to speak Steve Terry Heels so bitterly toward me Alison could not keep the emotion out of her voice She was so upset she did not even notice the deep deel I hurt in Steves Steve's eyes Terrys a fool foo he said brusquely No hes he's right But I feel feel If Her He voice broke No use talking about it hes he's s a I stubborn cuss Steve said finally And there the conversation ended Continued Tuesday 1936 for The Tel Telegram gram |