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Show WEDDING MARCH 1011 ""iZ By MONTE BARRETT CHAPTER IV Continued "I didn't admit I mado that call." "I'm giving you a chance to ntlmlt It now. Did yon?" Spears looked nt the sergeant steadily. "Don't be absurd. If I had been telephoning, there was no reason why I shouldn't give my name." Kihlay apparently dismissed the question with a shrug. "You used to be In love with Doris Cnrmody, didn't you?" he began. "When we were very young," Webster Spears admitted. "A sort of boy-and-girl affair." "You aren't exactly an old man now," retorted the detective bluntly. Ifltfl "I'm Giving You a Chance to Admit Ad-mit It Now. Did you?" "I suppose you feel only a brotherly brother-ly Interest In her now, eh 7" "I suppose you would call It that," "Doesn't it strike you as odd that Miss Carmody's brothers didn't even care to stay for the wedding? You for example. You didn't stay, and you felt a very brotherly Interest In her, you tell me. And her own brother, Rylle, wasn't there either. Funny business, wasn't It?" "I was there," declared the young man flushing. "Yes but you walked out. And when you did, you told Miss Car-mody Car-mody that there wouldn't be any wedding, if Rylie were only there." Spears frowned. "I couldn't have said that," he declared. "Then what did you say?" The young man rumpled his hair uneasily. "I don't remember, exactly," exact-ly," he began slowly. "I may have said that there shouldn't be any wedding until Rylie got there. I remember noticing that he hadn't arrived yet Yes, I must have made some such remark, which was misquoted mis-quoted when you heard It" "Then you never said anything to Miss Carmody about Rylie stopping the wedding?" "Of course not" "And you never telephoned Ambrose Am-brose Carmody about Choo Choo Train?" Kilday, elbows on knees, eyed the young man soberly, his glance never wavering from the young man's face. "We've already been over that." "But you did tell Rylle about Choo Choo Train?" "Yes." The sergeant grunted noncommlt-tally noncommlt-tally and glanced toward Peter Cardigan. Car-digan. The next question came from the latter. "What did you expect would happen after you Informed Rylie Carmody about this actress?" he Inquired. In-quired. Spears appeared to ponder the question. "I don't know that I expected ex-pected anything to happen," he answered an-swered slowly. "It was so late. The wedding was only a few hours off. Of course, I am sure, If there had been time, the Oarmodys would have called it off." He smiled briefly. "I shouldn't have been sorry sor-ry to see that happen, but I can't say that I expected it." "Then just what was the reason you left the church?" Peter hoped that question would sound casual. "Why I I had noticed that Ryfie wasn't there. That was why I made that remark to Doris. I only meant for her to hold things up until Rylie Ry-lie arrived. I went out to look for him." "I think that's all for the present," pres-ent," declared the sergeant. "I'm sorry we kept you away from your guests." "Guests?" Peter would not be certain, cer-tain, but he thought de detected an abrupt change In Webster Spears' manner, a quick gleam of emotion, as quickly veiled behind a mask of Indifference. "I have no guests, Sergeant Kildn"." "My mistake," replied the ser-ifai ser-ifai t. "Your man said you were biif.v and I guess I jumped at con-li!.i'.ou&." con-li!.i'.ou&." Ho picked up his hat. "We won't bother you nny further tonight. I guess It's needless for me to advise you not to leave the city until this matter Is cleared up. It will be only n few days, I hope. We may want to ask you a few more questions, you know." "I'll be here whenever you want mo," Spears answered him, as he ushered them to the door. Kilday walked down the steps In silence. "No guests, eh? He didn't like that question, did he, reter?" His grip tightened about his friend's arm as they strode past the two cars parked at the curb. "Help me remember those license numbers. num-bers. We'll soon find out who's visiting vis-iting here and why he doesn't want us to know It" When he reached his own car, he Jotted down the numbers he had noted. "What time Is It?" "Still early," Peter assured him.. "Where do we go from here?" "Franklin's apartment. I want to see how far I can go In Identifying the keys on this ring. And I want to have a talk with Franklin's servant serv-ant what was his name? Fletcher? Fletch-er? Remember, Nick Royce referred to him. He may be able to give us a hint about this woman In blue. 1 want to Bud her." But the Interview with Fletcher was disappointing, as far as the mysterious woman In blue was concerned. con-cerned. The man admitted them with evident reluctance. A copy of Topics an extra edition caught the detective's eye. "I see you already al-ready know what has happened," he began. "Yes, sir. I was expecting you. You are from the police?" It the servant had been shocked by the news, his manner did not betray it now. Without answering verbally, the sergeant displayed his badge. Then, fumbling in his pocket he drew out the keys found In the murdered man's pocket "Recognize these," "Yes, sir. They are were, Mr. Franklin's." "Can you tell us which doors they fit?" "Some of them, probably." The man took the keys and examined them. He selected one. "This opens this apartment, and this," he Indicated Indi-cated another, "Is a key to the main "Oh I And did he find It?" "No, sir. There didn't seem to be any papers here of that nature." "All right. Who else was here?" Klhhiy's manner was brusk. Fletcher smoothed the thinning hair flat across his forehead with a careful hand. "I believe that was all, sir," he said. "How about the telephone? Were there any messages?" "Yes, sir. Mr. Daniel Bullls called several times, and left his number." "When was that?" "At various times, all day, sir. fie began calling early this morning, and called repeatedly, from then on." "When Mr. Franklin came In, during the afternoon, did you give him Mr. Bullls' messages?" "Yes, sir. I told him he had called." "What did Mr. Franklin say then?" Mr. Fletcher shook his head dubiously. dubi-ously. "Mr. Franklin didn't want to talk to Mr. Bullls," he said. "He turned to Mr. Royce and said, 'I guess I know what he wants,' and Mr. Royce said, 'Let him- sweat, Jim.' " "Then Mr. Franklin never called Mr. Bullls?" "No, sir." "Did Mr. Bullls phone again, after aft-er Franklin and Itoyce had left for the church?" Kilday's Interest was obviously aroused. "Yes, sir. Several times. I Anally told him that Mr. Franklin couldn't be reached today. That he had already al-ready gone to the church, to be married, mar-ried, lie didn't call after that." The sergeant puffed his cigar In silence. Under his brenth, Peter whistled tunelessly. Bullls had tried all day to see Jim Franklin, who knew what he wanted, but refused to talk to him. That was obvious, from the conversation Fletcher had overheard between Franklin and Nick Royce. Eut whether he wanted want-ed to or not, Franklin had seen Bullis at the church. Not exactly a new lead, but an Interesting sidelight side-light to an old one. Kilday resumed the questioning. "Who else was here today, Fletcher?" Once more the man brushed his forehead thoughtfully, "That's all, PRECEDING EVENTS IN THE STORY Waiting In the minister'! study. Jim Franklin, about to be married to Doris Carmody, Is stabbed to death. Callls Shipley, one of the bridesmaids, betrays extreme nervousness. Franklin, while waiting, had many visitors, among them his mistress, an actress, "Choo Choo" Train; his Intended wife's father, Ambrose Carmody; her brother, Rylle; Daniel Bullis, well-known well-known politician, and an unknown woman in a blue frock. Sergeant Kilday, Kil-day, with Peter Cardigan, novelist and amateur detective, begins the official of-ficial Investigation. Rylle Carmody admits trying to stop the wedding, after being informed by a friend, WeBster Spears, that Franklin was still friendly friend-ly with Choo Choo, despite his approaching marriage. Kilday secures the dead man's keys. Callls Shipley, whose actions In the church and Immediately Immedi-ately following the discovery of Franklin's body have appeared furtive. Is somewhat contradictory in her answers to questions, but the Investigators learn nothing of Importance. An interview with Daniel Bullls is also fruitless. fruit-less. Webster Spears admits Informing Rylle Carmody of Franklin's relations rela-tions with Choo Choo, for Doris Carmody's sake, in the hope of preventing the wedding. He and Doris had had a boy-and-girl love affair. entrance of the building. Tm sorry. I'm afraid I can't identify the others." Kilday Inspected both keys carefully care-fully for future Identification, then crossed to the door, tried one of them. It worked. Fletcher's face registered annoyance. The detective's detec-tive's obvious method of checking up on his statement was not to his liking. "Who has been here today?" Kilday Kil-day began abruptly. "Mr. Royce was here," replied the servant "Mr. Nicholas Royce, He was to be Mr. Franklin's best man. They bad lunch together and Mr. Royce called here, late, to accompany ac-company Mr. Franklin to the church." "Of course. Was there anyone else?" "Yes. Mr. Carmody the young one. He called just after Mr. Franklin Frank-lin had left for the church." "Had he been here before, Fletcher?" "I don't remember seeing him before." be-fore." "Then how. does It happen you know him?" "He gave me his name, sir. Mr. Carmody seemed rather er flustered, flus-tered, you might say, sir. He told me who he was and said that it was Important that he see Mr. Franklin at once." "I see." Kilday leaned against the table, arms folded across his chest "Who else was here?" "Mr. Dunbar. He told me about the about Mr. Franklin's death." "Mr. Dunbar?" The detective weighed the name. "Milo Dunbar?" "Yes. sir. He was Mr. Franklin's partner." "When was he here?" "This evening. About six o'clock, I thiuk. He fold me " "Yes, yes. I know," the sergeant interrupted. "But what did he want? He didn't come here Just to tell you what had happened." Fletcher shrugged. "He was looking look-ing for Mr. Fletcher's will. He said he was sure It was here, somewhere." sir," he replied finally. "I have been here all day." "How about Choo Choo Train?" Peter questioned for the first time His voice was purposely harsh. He hoped to Jar an admission from the man. "She wasn't here today." "But you know Miss Train, don't you, Fletcher?" The man nodded, reluctantly. Peter thought Then he volunteered, "She phoned this morning, and Mr. Franklin told her he would see her." Again Peter thought of the woman wom-an In blue. "Did any other woman wom-an telephone this morning?" Fletcher appeared to ponder, then shook his head. "See here, Fletcher," the novelist's novel-ist's tone was conversational now, "I Imagine you knew quite a bit about Choo Choo Train, didn't you?" The man only blinked. "Can't you answer me? What did you know about this woman?" i "I think she was very fond of Mr. Franklin," Fletcher said slowly, "but I can't say that I know much about her. She's an actress, I believe." be-lieve." "I mean, did she come here frequently? fre-quently? Have you seen much of her here? Did she have a key to this apartment?" Peter's questions crowded one another Impatiently. The servant's manner grew more deliberate than ever. "She has been here a time or two, sir, when I was here. As to your other questions, I'm afraid I can't answer them. Perhaps Per-haps Miss Train " "No, never mind Miss Train," Peter brushed the suggestion aside bruskly. "What other women were in the habit of coming here?" Fletcher's eyebrows raised doubtfully. doubt-fully. "Women?" "There were others, weren't there?" The man shrugged. "Of course, from time to time. But I am a servant," ser-vant," he smiled deprecatlngly. "Mr. Franklin never took me into his confidence." Peter felt that the man knew more than he wns admitting, but felt equally sure that It would be difficult dif-ficult to wring any damaging admission admis-sion from him on the subject of women. "Where did Mr. Franklin file his correspondence?" Kilday resumed tlio questioning. "Perhaps we can learn something there." Fletcher led the way to a desk In the next room, which both the detective and the novelist searched, without success. Bills, they found, one from a florist which Interested Kilday, until he perceived that the flowers had gone to Doris Carmody. Nothing else of a personal nature. "Did Mr. Dunbar find anything at all?" "Only what you see here, sir." "Where else would we be apt to find his letters, Fletcher?" Peter faced the servant "I'm afraid these are the only personal per-sonal papers he kept, sir." "H'm. We'll have a look," said Kilday. But though they searched the apartment thoroughly, room by room, Fletcher apparently had told the truth. Nowhere could they find any trnce of personal correspondence correspond-ence which might yield them a clue to the Identity of the mysterious woman In blue who had quarreled with Franklin In Doctor Abernathy's study, at or near the time of the murder. When they left, Peter had a feeling feel-ing that Fletcher, somehow or another, an-other, had outwitted them. Yet he was sure there had been no personal per-sonal correspondence filed In that apartment Kilday glanced at his watch. It was ten o'clock. "Still too early to turn In," he said. "Suppose we go have a talk with Dunbar. He might be able to help us with this woman In blue. The least he can do Is identify another key for us. One of these probably opens Franklin's office." The attorney did not keep them waiting. "I'm glad you've come," he said In greeting, "If I can be of any help." "You can, Mr. Dunbar. We're trying try-ing to locate the mysterious woman wom-an In blue, who visited Jim Franklin Frank-lin In Doctor Abernathy's study at about the time of the murder. You were there when the doctor described de-scribed her. Does she fit any wom an oi your acquaintance i Dunbar smiled faintly. "I'm afraid there are too many women who wear blue, sergeant Can you describe her more fully?" "Unfortunately," Kilday admitted, "Doctor Abernathy Is the only one who saw her, and that's as much as we have to go on. However, as Franklin's partner, I thought you might be able to help us. At least you might be able to give us a list of his women acquaintances, which would be of great value in the Investigation." In-vestigation." . . "I'm sorry," and Dunbar looked as though he meant It, "but I'm afraid I will be of little help along that line. You see," he explained, "Jim's interests and mine were entirely en-tirely different We did not move In the same circles. As you probably prob-ably know, he was quite a politician politi-cian and a great mixer. That was his strong point My forte was law. It didnt make a bad combination. Jim's wide association and popularity popu-larity attracted many clients to the firm. My job was to handle the business, after he got It Oh, of course," the attorney shrugged, "Jim wasn't a bad lawyer, and he handled some cases. But In the main, that end of the business was under my direction. The result was that In the past few years we have drifted farther and farther apart socially. For that reason, I am scarcely In a position to help you, when it comes to his women acquaintances." ac-quaintances." Peter found it rather difficult to put the next question to this calm, straight-eyed man. "You were aware, Mr. Dunbar, that there were certain irregularities in Franklin's relationship with women?" The attorney nodded slowly. "It was too bad," he said. "One great weakness In an otherwise strong character." "But you don't know any of these women?" Dunbar hesitated. "Yes. I knew of this actress the one they call Choo Choo Train. I believe that affair af-fair was common knowledge. Jim made no secret of it She this woman wom-an phoned him at the office this morning. Peter showed his Interest "Jim told me of It," Dunbar explained. ex-plained. "It seemed that she was determined to attend the wedding. ' It was quite a social eveut, yon know. Evidently this woman had certain ambitions along that line." He smiled faintly. "Did Franklin tell you . how he felt about that?" Kilday queried. "Oh, yes. Of course he would not permit It That was why she phoned. They quarreled about it 1 I believe Jim told me about It be- i ! cause it worried him." (TO BE CONTINUED.) I |
