OCR Text |
Show "" " " ' the unr YTO)TW?W$ WEDDING MARCH ivll O JilllLir Copyright. U33. b7th. BobU -Merrill Co. gy MONTE BARRETT CHAPTER III 5 Callis Shipley's Story. PRTER was not prepared for Callis Shipley's loveliness. He masked the lntentness of his stare with an apparent interest in the r room about him. ' "You wanted to see me?" she was - making an effort to be politely cas-; cas-; ual, but the novelist noted the tremor tre-mor of her hand. Sergeant Kilday waited for Peter to begin. For reasons of his own, mm ? Ml mmwmM "I would rather you told us, Miss Shipley." Cardigan sat down again. "Did you see Rylle this afternoon?" 'Teg. I saw him. I I didn't tell you the truth. I asked Itylie to bring me home." "Where did you meet Rylie? He wasn't In the church." "When I came out, I saw him." Callis avoided Cardigan's eyes. "Somehow," she continued, "I had become separated from the rest of the wedding party. Outside I saw Rylie and asked him to take me home." "What did he think of the wedding wed-ding being postponed?" Peter's voice sounded only politely curious. "He," the girl faltered, "why, he was stunned, just as I was, of course." "But still neither of you knew what had happened?" Callis shook her head. "Then why didn't he go back to the vestry and End out? The bride was his sister. It would have been very simple." "I guess we didn't think of that. We were excited. Every one was," the girl protested. "I imagine you were," declared the novelist. "You were excited because be-cause you thought you already knew what had happened. And you were right, Miss Shipley. Jim Franklin was dead." "Dead !" The girl whispered the word through stiffened lips. "Dead I" The steel went out of Cardigan's eyes and his tone was gentler when he continued. "Didn't you know?" Callis did not reply. Peter found himself regretting the beauty which held such a fascination for him. Confound It, she couldn't have committed com-mitted the murder. He thought of those blue bruises at either end of the wound which had ended Franklin's Frank-lin's life. But, of course, there was Rylie Carmody. He had the strength. And the motive. He had said he was going to stop the wedding. wed-ding. , And it had been stopped. But what did this girl know about It? Why had she lied about that ride with Rylie Carmody? Why had she visited the sacristy? Of course, ened to stop the wedding. It may help him a great deal If you will tell us all you know about It." "But I don't know anything," the girl protested. "You know that Rylie didn't like Franklin that he wa3 trying to keep his sister from marrying him, didn't you?" "Yes, I know that. Rylie told me about another woman, an actress." "When was that?" "This afternoon." "Before the wedding?" "Yes. I had an engagement with Rylie. You see," the girl's manner was easier now, "the stockings which were sent to match my frock for this afternoon weren't quite the right shade and it was necessary for me to get others. Rylie was to bring me home, but phoned, saying say-ing that he couldn't. That was when he told me about this other woman. He wanted to see Jim Franklin." "That worried you, did It?" The girl nodded. "Why?" Kilday interrupted. Then, without giving the girl opportunity to reply, continued, "That was when he told you he was going to stop the wedding, wasn't it?" The girl made no reply but the expression on her face was answer enough. "Was that why you went to the sacristy just before the wedding, Inquiring In-quiring for Rylie?" Peter continued gravely. "No." There was an almost imperceptible imper-ceptible quiver In the girl's voice. "I mean well, I went to the sacristy, sac-risty, all right, but not because of what Rylie had said." "Then why did you go?" "Because," Callis' eyes wavered from one man to the other, "because of something Web Spears said." She was leaning forward, her nervous fingers twisting a handkerchief In her lap ceaselessly. "Web," she continued, con-tinued, "left the church just a few minutes before the wedding was to begin. The wedding party was gathered in the vestibule. I was standing by Doris, as he came out. " 'Aren't you going to stay for was no one In the hall. His part was to detain the girl here a few seconds longer. He found the task distasteful. Against his better judgment, Callis had almost convinced him of Rylie Carmody's Innocence, even while admitting ad-mitting that she had suspectwd the youth herself. And she had lied to him, too, at first. Could he believe the second story she had told? With reluctant honesty, he knew that he wanted to believe her. He rose to leave. Kilday had had ample time to try the keys. Had one of them fitted? He was detained by the girl's hand on his sleeve. "I've told you the truth," the girl declared. "Rylie "Ry-lie couldn't have done It. He couldn't." "For your sake, I hope he didn't," said Peter, in parting. "How about the keys?" was the novelist's first question when he rejoined re-joined his friend at the curb. "Nothing doing." Peter was surprised at his own sense of relief, and yet, because he realized how the girl had appealed ap-pealed to his sympathies, he cautiously cau-tiously added, "Nevertheless, she was wearing a blue dress." "Doctor Abernathy says she wasn't the woman in blue that he saw," declared the detective. "But he could be twisting the truth around a little bit himself. This girl did." Peter hesitated on the running board of the car. "Webster Spears seems to have had a lot to do with this," he suggested. "Rylie claims it was he who told him about Choo Choo Train. Miss Shipley supports sup-ports this story. That being true, probably he was the man who sent Ambrose Carmody the anonymous telephone call. And he was Doris Carmody's suitor, before Jim Franklin Frank-lin arrived on the scene. That seems to explain his motive. It Is obvious obvi-ous that he was trying to stop that wedding." "But he was never in the sacristy," sac-risty," Kilday objected. "He wasn't seen in the sacristy," Peter amended. "Let's have a talk with this fellow, Sergeant." Kilday puffed for a moment In silence. "All right," he agreed finally. "But later. There's one bet I'm not overlooking, which is just as Important as this mysterious woman In blue." Peter showed his interest. "Dan Bullis," declared the detective detec-tive laconically. The novelist whistled softly. "Big gamel" he exclaimed. "Looks like they're all big game in this case," Kilday complained. "Any trail we take, we step on somebody's some-body's toes." It was true. The Carmody and Spears families were powers in the financial and social world. Callis Shipley's family had been equally important before she had been or- PRECEDING EVENTS IN THE STORY Waiting In the minister's study, Jim Franklin, about to be married to Doris Carmody, is stabbed to death. Caills Shipley, one of the bridesmaids, betrays extreme nervousness. The dagger used to kill Franklin is found. Franklin, while waiting-, had many visitors, among them his mistress, an actress, "Choo Choo" Train; his intended wife's father, Ambrose Carmody; her brother, Rylie; Daniel Bullis, well-known politician, and an unknown woman in a blue frock. The dead man's law partner, Milo Dunbar, appears. Sergeant Kilday, with Peter Cardigan, novelist and amateur detective, begins be-gins the official investigation. Rylie Carmody admits trying to stop the wedding, after being informed by a friend, Webster Spears, that Franklin was still friendly with Choo Choo, despite his approaching marriage. Kilday Kil-day secures the dead man's keys. there were those keys. Could there ; have been anything between her and Jim Franklin Jim who was notorious for his weakness where women were concerned? That was ridiculous, and yet she had been In the vestry. Could that have been the real motive for the murder? If Rylie Carmody loved this girl and discovered an illicit affair between her and Jim Franklin, he might be using Choo Choo Train as a pretext. pre-text. That might explain this girl's evasions. He glanced at Kilday, hunched forward in his chair, twisting twist-ing an unlit cigar between his lips. The sergeant, he knew, would have no qualms where a pretty woman was concerned. He had, in his long career, arrested too many of them. Peter wished that he had left the questioning of this girl to him, even while he scoffed at himself for his too-ready sympathy. He turned again to the girl. "You didn't suspect he was dead?" His voice was still gentle. "No I didn't know." The answer was evasive, Peter thought, and the warmth faded from his eyes until their blue was the chilly color of bright steel. "And why," he asked quickly, "did you run back to the sacristy just before the wedding, Miss Shipley?" The girl hesitated, as though searching her mind for an answer. i the wedding, Web?' Doris asked him. " 'No,' he answered. And then he said, 'Where's Rylie? If he were here there wouldn't be any wedding. wed-ding. "That frightened me. I knew Rylie Ry-lie had been terribly angry at Jim Franklin, since he had learned about this actress. And I was worried because be-cause he wasn't In the church. So I ran around to the sacristy to see If he were there. He wasn't there. "Later, after the announcement that the wedding was postponed, I met Rylie out in front, and he brought me home. I was frightened. I thought that he had had something some-thing to do with it. That's why Rylie Ry-lie didn't go back to see what had happened. He thought the wedding wed-ding had gone on, In spite of everything every-thing he could do. You see, he had seen Jim Franklin, earlier, and then he went home to try to stop Doris, before she left for the church. "But he missed her at home, and when he returned he heard the wedding march playing, Inside, and thought he was too late. And I when I saw him," the girl choked back the tears, "I jumped to the conclusion that he was responsible, and asked him to take me home. Later, as soon as Rylie understood what had happened, he hurried back to the church. Peter Was Not Prepared for Callis Shipley's Loveliness. he had suggested that the novelist ask the questions. "Miss Shipley " Peter was hold- - Ing a chair for the girl "did you wear a blue dress this afternoon?" "Why, yes." Her surprise was , evident. g "Of course you know" Peter j took a chair opposite her and s leaned back, crossing his knees "what happened?" j" "Well, not exactly. It must have " been something something very se-5 se-5 rious, to have Interrupted the wed-1 wed-1 ding." j She was sitting very straight ; her hands resting) on the arms of the chair, gripping them nervously. Pe-"" ter found her exquisite, but in his fascination, he was annoyed. His attention was wandering from the f questions he must ask. j! "Of course," he agreed, his voice still gravely quiet. "But has no one told you what happened?" "No," she said distinctly. "No one - has told me what has happened." The novelist changed his line of attack. "Who brought you home, i Miss Shipley?" For a moment, she did not answer. an-swer. Then, "What have I to do with this, Mr. Cardigan?" she asked. "Why have you come here to ques- - tion me? The butler said you were policemen." , "Sergeant Kilday is." Peter Indi-j. Indi-j. catcd his friend. "I am just a sort !j of ex-olliclo assistant." His brief s smiled warmed the lean Irregularity of his features Into friendliness. ' "There Is no cause for alarm, I am sure. We have only come here because be-cause we are sure you can help us." The rigidity of the girl's features did not relax. , "Help you?" She waited expectantly. expect-antly. Peter wondered whether that were a question or a challenge. "By telling us Alio brought you home," ' he said. " She did not hesitate now. "My chauffeur" ' "Oh I And you came straight " home?" x "Yes." "Without ever waiting to find out - what had happened?" Peter's tone was slightly ' Incredulous. The girl shrugged. "There was nothing I could do," she explained. ' "Doris had left. Every one else was leaving." a "Didn't you even ask what was J wrong? I should have thought you I would be curious." J "I was. Of course I wanted to know. Every one did. But no one i seemed to know." J "And so you came on home by yourself." "With the chauffeur," she corrected correct-ed him. "I have already told you t that" ' An unexpected bitterness surged up within Peter. Why should he be so unaccountably angry because ( she was deceiving him? He sur- II veyed her gravely. "Do you mind , If I speak to your chauffeur, Miss - Shipley?" he asked. Warm spots of color (lamed in her chocks. "I'm not accustomed to asking the servants to verify my word," she said. "I'm sorry" Peter was standing now "but circumstances make It necessary. If you have told us the i truth, then Itylie " -'1 "Rylie!" She bit her Up,- and' then continued more calmly. "What j 3id Rylie tell you?" When she did not reply, Peter ndded, "We know you were there. Mr. Royce saw you. You must remember re-member that." "Yes," hesitantly. "I saw Mr. Royce. I asked him where Rylie was." "Why were you looking for Rylle?" Ry-lle?" "Because I was afraid," Callis replied suddenly. "I was afraid. I I had to find him before the wed-di wed-di ng." She afraid? Or did she only want them to think she had been frightened. Peter had the feeling that the girl was acting a role. And yet he found himself wanting to believe her. "You think a great deal of Rylie, don't you, Miss Shipley?" Once more his voice was unbelievably gentle. "I love him," the girl answered simply. "Then I think you can help him a great deal oy telling us the whole truth," he urged. "Jim Franklin has been killed. Rylie had threat- "This is the truth, Mr. Cardigan. You must believe me. I was frightened fright-ened for Rylie. That's why I didn't tell the truth, at first. I didn't want you to know that I had suspected him of some part In this. Because he Is Innocent You do believe me, don't you?" Before Teter could reply, Sergeant Ser-geant Kilday Interrupted. "This still doesn't explain how you knew there had been a murder, Miss Shipley." "I didn't." The girl turned on him quickly. "I didn't. I was afraid something like that had happened, but I didn't know." "And did you only go back to the sacristy once?" The sergeant chewed meditatively on his cold stogy. "Yes, of course. Just once. I'v ' told you about that." Kilday rose abruptly. "Thank you, Miss Shipley," he said. "You've been of great help. I'll hurry along, Peter. Pe-ter. Moot me at the car." Peter knew what that meant. The sergeant wanted time to try Franklin's Frank-lin's keys in the door while there "I Was Frightened for Rylie That's Why I Didn't Tell the Truth, at First." phaned, some years before. Choo Choo Train wa3 a stage celebrity. Nick Royce was editor of the largest tabloid in New York. Doctor Abernathy Aber-nathy was rector of the city's most fashionable church and Daniel Bullis was the undisputed political ruler of that broad turbulent belt of tho city where vice was organized, allegedly under his protection. Nor had the newspapers overlooked over-looked this. Kilday bought all the late editions before he and Peter entered en-tered a cafe and scrutinized each with painstukinig care during his meal. "Topics ssi it was a woman and runs pictures of Choo Choo and the bridal party on the front page," he grunted once, pushing the tabloid tab-loid across to his friend. "Nick Royce would," Cardigan smiled. "Find a woman ! That's the secret of his circulation." (TO B3 OOXTI.VUED.) |