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Show THE WEDDING MARCH I MURDER ; h j Monte Barrett O Copyright. 1933. by the Bobbs-Merrtll Co. WNU Service. SYNOPSIS ' Waiting In the minister's study while 'th-o wedding: procession is beins marshaled, mar-shaled, Jim Franklin, about to be married mar-ried to Doris Carmody, is stabbed to death. Callis Shipley, one of the bridesmaids. brides-maids. Is obviously in a state of anxiety. Peter Cardigan, novelist, and amateur detective of some note, with Sergeant Kilday, of the New York police, po-lice, begin the official investigation. CHAPTER II 3 Suspects "Here," said Peter, "is the knife that killed Franklin." The group In the sacristy turned startled glances in his direction. "Where did you find that?" Nick Koyce demanded. Peter explained how it had been hanging in Its scabbard, high on the wall of the study. Sergeant Kflday, handling it carefully care-fully by the scabbard, as I'eter had done In order not to mar any fingerprints finger-prints there might be on the handle, examined it minutely. "Ever seen this before, Doctor?" he Inquired of the rector. "Yes. It is mine. I brought it from Jerusalem." "Did you usually keep it in your Btudy?" Doctor Abernathy nodded. "All the relics on the west wall of the study are from the Holy land," he explained. ex-plained. The sergeant handed the weapon carefully to one of his assistants. "Look the handle over for fingerprints," finger-prints," he ordered. "You can use the study. As soon as you're through with it, bring It back to me. I want to have a look at the blade. ne"t," Then, turning, he smiled significantly significant-ly at Nick Koyce. "So you didn't have time to run home and hide the knife, eh, Mr. Eoyce?" "Don't be a fool, Kilday." The raillery had died out of the newspaper newspa-per man's voice. "In the first place. I doubt if that's the weapon which killed Franklin. Secondly, there were half a dozen people who had as good an opportunity to kill him as I. And the others had motives. I harln't-" "Half a dozen people? I'crhaps you can tell me who they were?" Kil-day's Kil-day's tone was eager, but freighted with doubt. Royce glanced slowly around the room before replying, his eyes limpr-ing, limpr-ing, momentarily, on both Doctor Abernathy Ab-ernathy and Ambrose Carmody. "Mr. Carmody here had some words with Franklin In the study a short time before the murder." Carmody smiled briefly, as he shrugged. It was evident that he thought the statement beneath his defense. de-fense. "And your son, Mr. Carmody," Nick Royce continued calmly. "Rylie came hack here and threatened Jim Franklin Frank-lin a short time before the wedding." "Rylie?" Carmody's tone expressed his Indignation. "He careful who you try to involve in this affair, Iloyce." . The editor of Topics turned to the rector for confirmation. "How about It, Doctor Abernathy? You were here." The rector was obviously reluctant to speak. "Yes," he said finally, "Kylie was here. He had an argu ment with Mr. Franklin In my study, a short time before the weddinz. "But he left right away." Doctor Abernathy hurried to add. "I talked to Franklin after that. So did Mr. Itoyee. The Idea that Kylie could have been connected with this Is preposterous." pre-posterous." "What time was this quarrel?" Kilday Kil-day demanded. "I couldn't say, exactly." The rector rec-tor was still doubtful. "Not later than a quarter of four, I am sure." "I'rohahly earlier than that." added Koyce. "Kylie was the first one who quarreled with Franklin, and that was right after we came. We arrived at twenty rnlnulcs of four." "Did I understand you to say that Kylie was the first orie to quarrel with Franklin, Nick?" I'eter Cnrdl pan leaned forward, elbows on knees, his lean brown hands clasped to-fcethcr, to-fcethcr, watching the other man In t'Titly. "He bad more than one qnar rel here, then?' Koyce nodded, but glanced at Car-Inody. Car-Inody. before replying verbally. "There was a wottiart." he said. Ambrose f';irmody turned toward the tnari stiffly. "I suppose you e;;ive an account of thai to your newspa per, too?" "Of course." Arid then, for the frr-it tirne flefenflirti; himself, Koyce hurried to r.Jiy. "What else could I do? livery paper In town will have an account of It arid of this womiin. t-.o. "It was Helen Train," he coot 1 rnii-d, this time addressing Klbhiy. "f'lioo Clioo Train, of the H'iinl:ils. Franklin made no secret of his attachment for her. The whole town knew It every one except, perhaps, the Carmodys." Ambrose Carmody sat down heav, "When was this?" he asked. "Before or after I talked with Franklin?" "After." Royce's tone was kindly. "Sorry, Mr. Carmody, but you asked for it Choo Choo came In after Doctor Doc-tor Abernathy entered the church. She and Jim quarreled. Jim wanted to know what she was doing here. lie was angry. She claimed that he had sent for her. I hushed them up. I was afraid the sound of their voices could be heard inside the church. " 'Come in here,' Jim said and. grabbing grab-bing her by the arm. pulled her Into the study. That was the last I heard." "Did you see her again?" Kilday wanted to know. "No. She must have left by the back door." "How about Franklin?" Peter Cardigan Car-digan Inquired. "Did you see him after that, either?' Royce hesitated, as though for reflection. reflec-tion. "No-o," he said slowly. "Come to think of It, that was the last I saw of Jim." They were Interrupted by one of Kilday's assistants, entering from the study with the dagger. "No prints. Sergeant," he reported. "The handle must have been wiped clean." ' "It was too much to hope for," replied re-plied Kilday, as he drew It from its scabbard. The blade was about five Inches long and curved only slightly. The most interesting feature of the dagger was its handle of elaborately carved Pa v :c- "Li "You Will, or I'll" ivory, with a curved metal hilt In the shape of two ram's horns, their tips pointing downward. There were no stains on the blade. "Naturally, there wouldn't be." Peter pointed nut. "The slayer wiped It off on the curtain. But I am sure this Is the knife which was used." "Why are you so sure?" Kilday looked doubtful. "Simply this." The novelist to..k the dagger from his friend and pointed point-ed to the curved bilt. "This explains the bruise at either end of the deep wound. The dagger, you see. was driven in all the way to the hilt. It was a powerful blow. Kach tip of the ram's horn left Its mark on the slain man's body. Come and I'll show you." In the study. Peter's theory was borne out by the wound which had caus-ed Franklin's death. The blue bruises at either end of the wound, when measured acainst the hilt of the dagger, fitted perfectly. "It begins to look as though it wasn't a premeditated crime." Sergeant Ser-geant Kilday began. "The murderer or murderess, whichever the case may be, grabbed this weapon from the wall In a fit of passi-on. It appears that he brought no weapon with til in." Peter stared thoughtfully at the roar door of the room. "I wonder how much this door had to do with It." lie said. He spoke softly, ns though giving giv-ing voice to bis thoughts, rather than expression to any formulated opinion. "If that theory Is correct.' he con-tinned, con-tinned, "there was no reason for the murderer to conceal his movements when he entered the study. Then It would have been some one whom either Koyce or the rector saw enter Ing the room. If the crime wasn't premeditated, there was no reason why the murderer should have slipped In here by the rear door." It was clear that Kilday. who had paused to listen to his friend's rellec tlons, shared his doubts. They were Interrupted by an exultant ex-ultant detective. "Look what we found In the garden. Sergeant." Carefully wrapped In a handker chief lo prevent marring any linger prints there might he on the weapon, the oflh-er exhibited his find. It was a revolver. Kilday exam Inert It. clucking softly under bis brenth. "Not premeditated, eh? Looks like we were guessing In the (lurk I'eter. Now we have something to go on." Turning to the rector, he exhibited the weapon for examination. "I don't suppose this was one of your relics, was It. Doctor?" "I have never owned a revolver In my lire." denied Doctor ,Mioriniih hastily. The detective handed the exhibit iii one of bis assistants. "Try II for tin ger prints," be ordered tersely, his search I. nr ft comltii to rest on Nicholas Koyce. "This actress yon saw here. Know where she lives?" "I can find out very easily." The sergeant turned away briskly "I can do It quicker, If you don't already al-ready know." There was a speculative light gleaming gleam-ing in his eyes as he turned to Peter Cardigan. "I'm going to have a talk with this woman," he said. "Want to go along?" "Of course," the novelist agreed. "But I still am very doubtful about her ability to have delivered that blow. That required more strength than the ordinary woman possesses, 1 think." "netting back to me. eh?" N'icS Royce's smile was sardonic. "Not necessarily. You have told a) about the two Carmodys and the actress. Was anyone else here?" The newspaper man hesitated, and when he spoke his manner was very deliberate. "I've mentioned all the men," he said. "Doctor Abernathy and 1 were here most of the time. Rflle Carmody came In early and quarreled violently with Jim In the study. His father," he glanced at Ambrose Carmody, "came back here just a few minutes before the wedding wed-ding was to start. I think he quarreled quar-reled with Jim, too." "Perhaps I may be able to help a little." Doctor Abernathy volunteered hesitantly. "Mr. Royce was out for a while and In his absence, there were two other visitors, a woman and a man." "Two others!" Kilday exclaimed. "Man, why didn't you tell us about this before?" "Yon cave me no opportunity," declared de-clared the rector with dignity. "The man I recognized from his newspaper newspa-per pictures. He was Daniel Bullis, the well-known politician." "Dan Bullis!" The sergeant whistled. whis-tled. "Did you recognize the woman, too. Doctor?" "No." "Could you describe her?" The rector was doubtful. "She was a very handsome woman," he said. "A 1 blond. think. At least, she gave the impression of fairness. She was dressed In blue, an afternoon frock I believe, hut I can't be sure of that, either. I am sure she was dressed in blue, however." "You are certain the man was Daniel Dan-iel Bullis?" "Yes, reasonably sure. I've often seen his pictures." "Doctor Abernathy. suppose you tell us In your own way Just what happened hap-pened when these two people entered the sacristy." "Well." the rector crossed his knees slowly, "the woman entered first I was called to the telephone In the study. When I came out, she was quarreling with Franklin. She seemed quire hysterical and Franklin, too, was angry. "1 didn't hear n hat had gone before, be-fore, but as I came through the do,.r, the woman said. "You will or I'll ' "Franklin grubbed her roughly arid shut off the last part of her sentence by clapping his hand over her mouth. "'Doctor Abernathy,' he said. 'This woman Is growing hysterical. May we u-e your study?' "'Let me talk to her.' I advised him, thinking that I might he able to quiet her. "But Franklin refused u,y help. T can handle this myself. he told me. "I then ad'lresed the woman, w ho had been silent since she had been aware of my presence. 'This Is a serious time for a quarrel," I told her. 'If there is anything between you and Mr. Franklin which I should know, now Is the tirne to speak.' "'That's nonsense!' Franklin Interrupted Inter-rupted me. 'If you will Just permit us to use your study for a few minutes, min-utes, we can roach an understanding. This Is a client of mine. Doctor.' he explained. 'The misunderstanding Is of a confidential nature, concerning a trust a trust fund.' "He appealed to the woman. 'For heaven's sake, tell hl:n so. he said. 'Can't yon see the position you are placing both of us in? Fverythlng Is going to be all right.' "The woman In blue nodded In confirmation con-firmation of his statement," the rector rec-tor continued, "and after that assurance. assur-ance. I allowed them to enter the study. Franklin closed the door after him." "Could you hear what was said after the door was clo,ed?" Kilday Inquired In-quired eagerly. "I didn't listen," the doctor replied with dignity. "I didn't mean It In that way." the sergeant hastened to assure him. "Port their voices were raised, weren't they? You could scur ely have avoided hearing them If they were quarreling." "Perhaps not, under ordinary circumstances." cir-cumstances." Doctor Abernathy agreed. "But the organ was playing, Inside the church. I could tell they wore quarreling, however. I could hen the woman's voice, raised shrilly, ''pun time to time. But 1 could not distinguish dis-tinguish what was being said." "And then what happened?" Peter Cardigan prompted. "Then Daniel Bui lis came In. t b rough the side door of the sacristy. 'Where's .1 1 in Franklin?' be aked me. 1 told him be was In the study hut could not be disturbed. Yon see the woman was still In there." "And Bullis wailed for him?" "No." The rector leimed forward earnestly "Bullis swore. He s:ild, 'Franklin cun t put n IT any longer,' :tod walked on Into the study without Won king " "W'lmi did pui hour then?" "I I ill in. thing more In hie the truly. I tool In ilc bird to 'ufoi-m Mr, ('imno-ly cotioeniiii:: the ij i.irrel u I. en Mr. 1 1 . ' 1 1 1 1 1 e 1 1 1 1 1, . " ( I ' IIP i . . I I m ; i ) |