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Show By CLIFFORD RAYMOND (WNU Service.) Copyrlsht. The Bobbs-Marrlll Co. contain our finger-prints. Of course they could have been obtained otherwise, other-wise, but here they are." Lieutenant Stanton pointed to the tray on the table which had the three glasses from which Blair, Ashley and Itoberts had drunk. Blair picked up two books from the table, one In each hand, and smashed the three glasses. "There's your cheap trick," he cried. "You cheap dick 1 Nobody cares for finger-prints, but your ideas are sour." The lieutenant looked at him, smiling. smil-ing. "I told you I was not a detective," he said, "but I should tell you that no finger-prints were found on the lanterns. lan-terns. No one would have looked for them, and they wouldn't have been there if they had looked." Blair stepped toward him menacingly. menacing-ly. "Then why did you produce this comedy?" he asked. "Quiet yourself, Mr. Blair," said Stanton. "Your face contains a verdict ver-dict of Justifiable homicide for any John Law who would bump you off at this moment. The comedy was to see what false starts one or all of you would make. I've told you I was a copper and not a detective. I quite astonished myself by doing this fingerprint finger-print trick. I'm a great guesser, Mr. Blair. My guess is that you took the lights away. It's probably unreasonable unreason-able to ask you how you knew that Buck Trembly was at Little Butte des Morts." "Are you accusing me, you cheap copper?" "Kasy, Mr. Blair. I'll take advantage ad-vantage of that expression of yours and construe it as resisting an officer. Mr. Darling is fairly primed for some- "I believe you did," Stanton replied. Ponipey came in then with a tray of glasses. They were water glasses filled with Pommard. lie bent toward the seated Ashley, who took a glass. "A break," said Ashley, "and an unexpected un-expected break. I didn't expect a drink, even of wine. Good luck, Ron, and you, too, Blair." Pompey served Blair and Roberts, then Stanton, and then Mr. Darling, who, when he saw the Burgundy offered of-fered him in a water glass, exclaimed : "Pompey 1" Stanton had stationed himself close to his host. "Please, Mr. Darling," he said, "what do we care what we get our wine in? Here's luck, good fellowship and better bet-ter times under the Turner will !" Robert's, Ashley and Blair raised their glasses In salute and drank the wine. Pompey gathered the tumblers back again on his tray which he placed on the library table near Blair. Stanton sipped slowly. Mr. Darling looked at his wine and then at Pompey Pom-pey who with an apparently uneasy conscience came and took the glass from his hand. Mr. Darling looked at him as If he must find some explanation explana-tion In his face for such Inexplicable behavior. "I'd like to join my guests, Pompey," Pom-pey," he said, "but what a strange manner. I can't account for it." Pompey's uneasiness was mute, but his glance flicked an instant toward the lieutenant. Mr. Darling perceived something and motioned for the return re-turn of his glass of wine. "Gentlemen," said Stanton, "you know I am a copper. I'm not a detective. detec-tive. I never could be one, but my bad breaks in the police business occasionally oc-casionally put me in the position you see me in now. I suppose you are interested in-terested In what has happened. That, I suppose, Is why you have called on Mr. Darling. There's not much to complain com-plain ' of the newspaper accuracy. Clayton was shot in the. Dutch Mill by or for Buck Trembly. I think by Trembly. At least that's my guess. Do any of you know a lady named Maisie?" The three men glanced at one another. an-other. "Maisie," said Ashley. "Lieutenant, don't you know who Maisie is?" He laughed a mirthful chuckle. "Maisie is, or was, Mrs. Arthur Trembly. A nice girl." "Did I say I was no detective? I think I mentioned it. That's quite wonderful, and I never even guessed. Well, giulemen, getting on, let me explain ex-plain that there was an unusual circumstance cir-cumstance attending the death of Trembly when he ran off the road. You'd hardly expect It of the local constabulary! You just couldn't expect ex-pect it. But the lanterns were examined ex-amined for finger-prints. It's all unbelievable. un-believable. These lanterns are next to Impossible for prints. You pick them up by the handles, but it's the strange fact that two of them had been handled at the base. They were oily and dusty and consequently the prints were excellent." Roberts on the hearth-rug, Ashley In his chair and Blair nervously pivoting pivot-ing on his heels or toes, looked at the lieutenant with suspense for his next words. "That won't interest you much, If at all," the lieutenant continued, "although "al-though of course it has interested me. A little while ago I went out and found Pompey in his pantry. He has offended Mr. Darling by serving wine in these glasses. I asked him to do so. I asked him to take glasses which had been unused for a very long time; if he had any which might convict con-vict him of bad housekeeping to use them and to ladle them with a fish knife or some such thing on a tray without touching them. Then to fill them and bring them in. "You see, gentlemen, if Pompey has done as I think he has these glasses PI & FROM THE BEGINNING During a "holdup" at the Dutch Mill, Chicago night club, a patron, pa-tron, Dunn Clayton, la killed. Lieutenant of Polic-e Stanton questions a club visitor, "Buck" Trembly. In Clayton's pocket Stanton found a note signed "Maisie," making an appointment appoint-ment with the dead man at the Dutch Mill. Stanton Is inclined to suspect Trembly of the murder. mur-der. At a Wisconsin winter camp a boisterous crowd Includes Preston Pres-ton Brown. An apparent stranger arrives. Later, two men, driving, come on the scene. The stranger leaves in his car, and the two men follow, passing him. A viaduct via-duct la out, and one of the two men removes the danger signals. The stranger, in his car, goes over the embankment. lie is dead when found, frown is dead. In his papers Clayton's name Is found and Stanton connects the deaths. He goes to Wisconsin, and finds the dead man Is Trembly. Trem-bly. Trembly had caused Brown's death, apparently an accident. A Vermont lawyer, John Whittle-sex, Whittle-sex, reading of the case, recalls th names in connection with an odd will made by a man named Turner, bequeathing the Interest on $6,000,000 to six men, Blair, Ashley, Roberts, Brown, Trembly, and Clayton. The income, at the death of each beneficiary, is to be divided among the rest. Turner's Turn-er's son, on the deaths of the six beneficiaries, la to inherit all. Turner dies shortly after making the will. Whlttlesex suspects foul play In the three deaths, and writes to the Chicago police. Stanton Interviews Asa Darlinp, one of the executors of the will. Darling tella him he believes Turner wanted and expected the six beneficiaries of the will to kill one another, they having in the past Injured him. The will Is his method of revenge. Turner's Turn-er's son is contented and happy with his small income. Roberts, one of the three survivors of the six cared for by Turner's will, visits Darling. He reveals the fact that Blair and Ashley, supposed sup-posed to be abroad, are in this country. Ashley and Blair arrive at Mr. Darling's abode. They manifest uneasiness at their friends' deaths. CHAPTER VII Continued 9 . "Ashley and I are ready to put our cards on the table," Blair continued, ignoring his companion's remark. "Give the money to the boy. None of us want it this way. Now, Mr. Darling, Dar-ling, here's the three of us. Let's come to an understanding." "Sit down, gentlemen," said Mr. Darling. "Take chairs wherever you like. What kind of an understanding have you in mind?" "I, for one," said Blair, "would like relief from'the general public assumption assump-tion that we are assassins." "But," said - Mr. Darling, "if you don't assassinate anyone you won't be assassins. That's odd, but it's true." Only Ashley had sat down. Roberts stood on the hearth-rug fingering his chain. Blair did short nervous turns. Stanton noted how large he was physically. He was a man whose muscularity mus-cularity may be draped by clothing but Is not concealed. It seemed to bulge through and it seemed to be driven by a quick and nervous vitality. "What public attention are you getting, get-ting, Mr. Blair?" Stanton asked. "These murders," said Blair with a sharp turn to face the lieutenant. "The will. Our association with it." "You mentioned a desire to surrender surren-der your interest In the estate," said Mr. Darling. "It may be the ethical thing to do." "Be a little bit yourself," said Ashley. Ash-ley. "Give up your right eye! Turner Tur-ner gave me my interest. He was the judge. I'm not yellow. I'll keep mine. I think I'll presently have the whole thing." Blair confronted him with a sharp turn. "Yes?" "Yes," said Ashley coolly. "You're giving your share up, and Ron looks as if he'd die of heart disease within a month. Things I haven't done and do not Intend to do can't wrong me." Lieutenant Stanton arose from his chair, walked about the room for a moment, looked out of a window into the October garden and then without being observed stepped into the hall. "Mr. Blair," said Darling, "are you serious in suggesting that you wish to surrender your equity?" "Excuse my laughter, Mr. Darling," said Ashley. "Don't permit yourself to be kidded." "We have explained to Mr. Roberts," said Mr. Darling, "that a renunciation would have no effect in one respect. It would not make the death of that beneficiary less profitable to the survivors. sur-vivors. I seem to state that indelicately, indeli-cately, but such Is the fact. On the other hand," Mr. Darling slightly shifted shift-ed his posture in illustration, "such renouncement would be effective In removing the person from any suspicion sus-picion of purposeful gain in the death of any of his associates." The lieutenant came back Into the room. "Why don't you gentlemen keep continents con-tinents between you if you wish to avoid suspicion, or one another?" he asked. "Who will stay put?" Roberts asked. "You are just as dead in Bombay as you are in Chicago." "I'm at a loss to explain your calls on me," said Mr. Darling. "You present pre-sent nothing I can do." "I think the gentlemen are merely uncertain," said Stanton, "and nervous, under suspicion." "Who says we're under suspicion?" Blair asked, whirling around. , Buck had gone? Do you know, Acton, my mind goes back to the Dutch Mill In Chicago. Dunn Clayton has a note from Maisie. He Is waiting for her when who comes In and sits near by? Her husband, Buck Trembly. Interesting, Inter-esting, wasn't it? I'm afraid we'll never know anything completely satisfactory satis-factory about this until we find Maisie. Do you know what I guess, Acton?" "No," said Blair, "and I don't give a d n. Come on, Ashley, get your coat. Sorry we bothered you, Mr. Darling, but it's this fellow's fault. We couldn't anticipate this scene in your house." "No, indeed," said Mr. Darling. "Indeed, "In-deed, who could? But don't apologize. I've been interested." Ashley arose, smiling, and went to shake hands with Mr. Darling. "It has been Interesting," he said, "and I enjoyed the wine. I thought I'd have to wait until I was back in France for anything like it. Sorry Acton is so impulsive and breaks glasses." The two men walked toward the door. "Wait a minute," Roberts cried, starting toward Stanton. "Are you letting that man go? Why aren't you holding him? Haven't you just charged him with murder?" "What the h 1!" Blair exclaimed, turning around. "Why, you miserable little louse!" Roberts edged behind Stanton. "Lock him up. It's the only protection protec-tion I'll have," he cried. "Lock him up. lie killed Buck. He'll kill me." Ashley broke into a laugh, and Blair slowly began to smile. "You're amusing, Ron," said Ashley. "Better watch yourself or you'll have a delirium." "I don't believe I'll lock you up now, mister," said Stanton, "but keep In touch with us, won't you? Don't go anywhere without letting us know. I'll have a local Dogberry go to the city with you, and then headquarters will be attentive to you." Blair stared at him and turned toward the door. "Oh, and another thing, Acton," the lieutenant remarked. "I didn't tell you my last guess. It's that Maisie sent you to Little Butte des Morts." Acton Blair seems to have been born at the age of thirty. No one who knew him ever had got into an earlier period. He may have been a seafaring man, although the tattooing on his forearms need or need not indicate in-dicate that. Presumably he was American born, but again no one know. His education had been mostly that of experience, a university he appears to have entered at thirty without previous .existence. It may be that an unhanged un-hanged murderer disappeared about that time. Howard Ashley was the son of a New Haven (Conn.) physician. He was not graduated from Yale, being expelled ex-pelled in his junior year for conduct unbecoming an undergraduate. It may have been cheating in examinations, cutting chapel or being indifferent to holding them, Yale. This last Is plausible. He ' was perfect for the crew in strength, weight, rhythm and stamina, but did not try for it. It would be irrational to graduate such a man. "Mister," said the lieutenant to Roberts Rob-erts when the door had been closed on Blair and Ashley, departing, "that last remark of yours was an Inspiration." "I know it was bone. H 1! I didn't seem able to hold myself. You produced Trembly's murderer here In the room, and then you let him walk out of the door. I know that pair. They'd smile at you and crack you out. You see who's next, don't you? He's here now with you. Mr. Darling, Dar-ling, do you mind if I take a drink? I'm needing one. I have a flask." "Let me continue to be your host," said Mr. Darling. "Pompey will bring you and Lieutenant Stanton some Scotch. And I'll have some wine, if you please, Pompey. Don't raise the point that I already have had some. You may another log or two on the fire. I fool a bit of excitement myself, but I'm reprobate enough to find it pleasurable." Early dusk had begun to dim the toy, and the firelight was ruddier In the room. Roberts drank his whisky straight and, with a look of request and apology at Mr. Darling, poured himself a second. "I think we've disturbed Mr. Darling Dar-ling enough for the day," said the lieutenant. "No disturbance, none whatever," said the old gentleman. "I doubt that Pompey agrees with you. We'll get along." "I might be told first what Mr. Roberts Rob-erts expects to do, not that It Is properly prop-erly my concern other than to see that he receives his December check." "I don't know what to do," said Roberts. "You can see my chances. It won't help if I decline to receive any more checks. I'm to be put out of the way unless I can protect myself. my-self. By G d, I'll have them taken for a ride. There are a hundred men in New York who would do it for a thousand dollars. They'd do it for a hundred, for ten." "I'd not announce It In advance," said Stanton, "and particularly noi to a police officer." "You know why I've got to. You know It's self-defense. You know he's already murdered a man. You know they're killing us off." 'TO 3 CONTINUED "Nobody Cares for Finger-Prints." thing more authentically western? How did you know Buck was there, Acton? You won't mind my calling you Acton? I was calling Arthur Trembly, Buck, a half-hour after he shot Dunn Clayton or had him shot." "I haven't any time to waste with you," said Blair. "You're not wasting It, Acton, if you are as intelligent as I think you are. You're learning that I do not think that just now it would be worth a d n to hold you on charges and extradite ex-tradite you back to Wisconsin. My guess would be that no one near Little Butte des Morts or along your route could identify you, although my guess is that you knew just what Buck was doing with Brown. I think you had intended to crowd him off the road and wreck him or shoot him as he made his own getaway from the lodge." "Bologna !" said Blair contemptuously. contemptu-ously. "Isn't it? Then you saw the bridge and an idea occurred to you. You chanced It as worth while, and It worked. But how did you know where |