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Show the mjff TOFICF WEDDING MARCH MUIIJI rttlMU-"- By MONTE BARRETT , J SYNOPSIS 1. the minister', study lM-nnkUn. about to be married lorlB Carmody, la stabbed to H. dills Shipley, one of th -smalds. Is obviously in a nxiety. Serjeant Kilday, of the York police. Is called to the ,i e. The dagger used to kill H lklln Is found. Franklin, while ha,d raa"y visitors, among ( ii his mistress, an actress, "Chno 4 j" Train; his Intended wife's fa . Ambrose Carmody; her broth" Uylle; Daniel Bullis, well-known tician, and an unknown woman , blue frock. The dead man', iaw -J :ner, Milo Dunbar, appears Kll , with Peter Cardigan, novelist amateur detective, begins tho lal Investigation. agreed. "But the organ was playing, play-ing, Inside the church. I could tell they were quarreling, however. I could hear the woman's voice, raised shrilly, from time to time. But I could not distinguish what was being be-ing said." "And then what happened?" Peter Cardigan prompted. "Then Daniel Bullis came In, through the side door of the sacristy. sac-risty. 'Where's Jim Franklin?' he asked me. I told him he was in the study but could not be disturbed. dis-turbed. You see the woman was still there." "And Bullis waited for him?" "No." The rector leaned forward earnestly. "Bullis swore. He said, 'Franklin can't put me off any longer,' long-er,' and walked on into the study without knocking." "What did you hear then?" "I heard nothing more Inside the study. I had just decided to Inform Mr. Carmody concerning the quarrel, quar-rel, when Mr. Royce came back." "Where had you been, Royce?" Kilday wheeled quickly to the newspaper news-paper man. "Out in the vestibule of the church, looking for Milo Dunbar," replied Royce. "For me?" Dunbar looked at the editor Inquisitively. "Jim wanted you to do him a favor," fa-vor," Nick explained. "We'll come to that later," Kilday Kil-day interrupted Impatiently. "How plained that some one had told Ry-lie Ry-lie about his affair with Choo Choo Train. The boy had come to demand de-mand an explanation. Jim had told him the truth. There was nothing else to do." Royce left his chair and walked restlessly about the room as he continued con-tinued his story. "It seems that Rylie demanded to know If the affair af-fair had ended. Jim made the mistake mis-take of trying to talk to the boy as one man of the world to another. It didn't work. Rylie declared he was going to stop the wedding. Before Be-fore Jim could stop him, he rushed out of the room, and was gone. "Jim was worried. He was afraid the boy might cause some sort of disturbance during the ceremony. So he asked me to hurry out in front and find Milo Dunbar. Mr. Dunbar is or was Jim's law partner. I was to explain what had happened and ask him to keep an eye out for Rylie when he entered the church. Jim was certain that Mr. Dunbar could handle It. "But I couldn't locate Dunbar. That was why I was gone so long. But Rylie wasn't there, either, and t finally decided that the boy would be all right, after he had had time to think things over. At any rate, I couldn't remain away any longer, as it was about time for the service serv-ice to start So I came on back here," "I was right there in the church all the time," declared Milo Dun- nathy. "When Mr. Carmody left the Etudy, I heard him say, 'I have your word for it?' and I heard Mr. Franklin say, 'You have.' " Peter Cardigan Interrupted with a question. "Did you take advantage advan-tage of Mr. Carmody's presence to Inform him of this quarrel which had so disturbed you?" he asked the rector. "No." Doctor Abernathy again moistened his lips. "I decided against It. I only Intended to interfere in-terfere If, in my opinion, there were cause to question the advisability of proceeding with the ceremony. After consideration, I decided this was not true. The woman in blue had confirmed Franklin's statement that their quarrel was of a business rather than a personal nature. Of course," he added, "it would have been different had I been present when Miss Train, the actress, arrived. ar-rived. This is the first I had heard of that." "H'm 1" Sergeant Kilday digested this in silence for a moment. Then he turned to Royce. "When was it Choo Choo arrived on the scene?" "After Doctor Abernathy had entered en-tered the church," said Royce. "When Mr. Carmody left the study Doctor Abernathy walked to the door with him: Mr. Carmody walked around the outside of the church. The last thing I heard him say was 'Let's start on time.' It was then only about one minute of four. Doctor Doc-tor Abernathy turned to us and CHAPTER II Continued 1 Of course," the novelist agreed it I still am very doubtful about j ability to have delivered that 4 .v. That required more strength n the ordinary woman possesses !?Jhink." "Gifting back to me, eh?" xick ivce'svsmile was sardonic, ,.;'Tot necessarily. You have told 1 i about the two Carmodys and the .J ress. Was anyone else here?" The newspaper man hesitated, and ' en he spoke his manner was very (i iberate. "I've mentioned all the j 'ii," he said. "Doctor Abernathy 1 1 were here most of the time, lie Carmody came In early and arreled violently with Jim in the bar. His alert gray glance was fastened fas-tened on the newspaper man. "I'd like to know where? I couldn't locate you." "Let's get all this straight." Kilday, Kil-day, hands behind him, studied Royce shrewdly. "Shortly after you and Franklin arrived, Rylie Carmody Car-mody came. He was evidently very angry. Both you and Doctor Abernathy Aber-nathy saw him. He talked with Franklin in the rector's study, and then left hurriedly. Later Franklin Frank-lin confided the nature of this quarrel quar-rel to you, and you went out in front in search of Mr. Dunbar, but were unsuccessful In finding him. "While you were away, Doctor Abernathy was called to the telephone, tele-phone, and when he came out he found Franklin quarreling with a mysterious woman in blue a blond. Franklin declared the woman was hysterical over a trust fund and hurried her Into the study, where they quarreled. This woman was not Choo Choo Train, because Choo Choo was wearing green. At any rate, while the woman was still in the study, Daniel Bullis came here demanding to see Franklin. He (Mi 5 asked if we were ready. Jim said we were. Doctor Abernathy then entered the church through this door. I was standing here, by the door, leaving it open a crack so that I could see what happened inside, so, naturally, my back was to Jim. "I never saw Choo Choo enter. The first I knew that she was here, was when I heard Jim say, 'What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay away?' "She said, T intended to, Jim, until un-til Fletcher phoned me that you said to come after all,' she said. "Jim denied that he had told Fletcher to phone, and they started to quarrel. . I was afraid they could be heard In the church. " 'Pipe down,' I warned them. 'Do you want to break up the wedding? wed-ding? " 'That's exactly what she'd like to do,' Jim said. 'Come on in here where we can talk.' And he pulled her toward the door of the study. That's the last I saw of Choo Choo." "Who is Fletcher?" Kilday wanted want-ed to know. "That's Jim's man-servant," Royce explained. "And that was the last you saw of Franklin, too?" inquired Peter. "Yes. But I SDoke to him after ay. tiis iiiuit:f, ne glanced at I ubrose Carmody, "came back here f st a few miuutes before the wed-1 wed-1 :;g was to start. I think he quar- !ed with Jim, too." "Perhaps I may he able to help a -' tie," Doctor Abernathy volun- red hesitantly. "Mr. Royce was i j t for a while and in his absence, arV.re were two other visitors, a deouKr and a man." ?d "TwoVethers !" Kilday exclaimed. inMan, whydidn't job tell us about Ms before ?i "You gaveV me no opportunity. ! ne man I Vecopied from his ewspaper pictures. He was Daniel ; ullis, the well-knowj politician." 5 "Dan Bullis I" Tliisergeant whis ed. "Did you reco:nize the wom-il wom-il n. too, Doctor?" - "No." "Could you describe her?" ?i The rector wa3 fcabtful. "She -as a very handsae woman," he ' aid. "A blond, I Sink. At least, a he gave the impresbn of fairness. jhe was dressed n blue, an af ter- loon frock I belie-!, but I can't be ure of that, eithe: I am sure she was dressed in b'a however." "Doctor Aberctf, suppose you V""! inen :tse two people I eijsacrS' I ,,he r;!r crossed his I tofly, "tlfivoman entered irstvas 'cab! the telephone in the study. n I came out, she was quarrel? with Franklin. She seemed qit hysterical and Franklin, too, agr7- "I didn't heaiF" had gone before, be-fore, but as Ie through the door, the womid. 'You wiu or HI ' i "Franklin gr;tf her roughly and shut off Wlst Part ot her sentence by clfit his hand over her mouth. '"Doctor At;lthy-' ne said-This said-This woman i?willf, hysterical. May we use yoCtudv' "let me ther' advishf him thinking 1 m'Sht be able 11 I 1nki-'refuse3 my help. I j ni' myself,' he told - d the woman, who ince she had been ; sence. 'This Is a a quarrel,' I told anything between franklin which I iw is the time to nsel' Franklin in- f you will just per-1 per-1 'n . j ur study for a few 1 & ' j a reach an under-1!? under-1!? I Is a client of mine, W1" ! I ained. 'The misun- ' i(a confidential na- ''yJ a' a trust a trust P!Pe- ltd to the woman. 'For JrteI1 him s.' he said. onrwf tn .position you are .'f usjln? Everything all W . jil i! ; . n id blue nodded in 1 f hij statement," the fjES ed, 'tnd after that as- 'r'nrF' ' ' ,wedfhem to enter the I'Jt". - ; kiln closed the door s.: I hear what was said 'fjoive!' ' r "as closed?" Kilday -earth ' '-'y- I, isten," the doctor re- -'I ;nity. " . nean it In that way," "Cd tinstencd to assure himj 'j",co ': voices were rulsejlf pidc f ( ? You could scarejQ 6','V -icleJ hearing them rt jjot, under orir ' 1. - Doctor Vnary clr- Qli34, Abernathy it "You Will, or I'll" r " ut the woman In blue? Did you : . . her? W7as that Choo Choo Train?" "No, I didn't see her. But it couldn't have been Choo Choo," Royce was quite positive. "Choo Choo entered later, from the outside door. I'm sure she hadn't been here before, be-fore, because Jim was surprised to see her." "And you never saw the woman in blue?" Nick shook his head. "Both she and Bullis must have left by the back door. This Is the first I had heard of either of them." "Didn't Doctor Abernathy say anything about them?" Kilday persisted. per-sisted. Royce meditated, frowning. "No, he never mentioned them. I remember re-member he did say, This Is the strangest wedding I ever saw.' I didn't know he was referring to these visitors, however." Doctor Abernathy leaned forward quickly. "Tell them what you said, In reply to that, Mr. Royce," he urged. "I don't remember what did I say?" inquired Royce. "You said," the rector's face flushed with, sincerity, " 'It may be stranger, before it's over.' " "Yes," Nick smiled. "I remember saying that now." "Just what did you think was going go-ing to be so strange, Royce?" Sergeant Ser-geant Kilday was quick to follow up the new lead. Royce hesitated. "That gets back to the reason Jim asked me to go out In front and find Milo Dunbar," he began slowly. "And to Rylie Carmody's Car-mody's quarrel with him, Just after we arrived here." "Did you hear that quarrel?" "No. Jim told me about it. It was about twenty minutes to four. Rylie Ry-lie drove up to the side of the church In a roadster and came in here demanding to see Franklin alone. He was beside himself with anger. "Doctor Abernathy Invited him to use his study. He and Jim were in tjaere about two minutes. Then Rylie pushed out. He didn't stop to speak to either the doctor or me. He left the church very hurriedly and drove off in his car. I watched him from the door there." "But you say Franklin told you about this quarrel?" "Yes. Immediately afterward, he called me Into the study and ex- refused to wait, and pushed on Into the study In spite of Doctor Aber-nathy's Aber-nathy's warning that Franklin was busy. Then you came back, Royce. "And when the doctor told you he had never seen such a strange wedding, wed-ding, you told him It might be stranger, before It was over. You say you were referring to Rylie Carmody." Car-mody." "1 was," declared Royce emphatically. emphat-ically. "Never mind that now." Kilday brushed aside t he interruption. "Neither of you saw the woman in blue or Daniel Bullis leave the study. But just a few minutes before be-fore the ceremony was to start, you say that Mr. Ambrose Carmody came back to see Franklin. I believe be-lieve your inference was that they quarreled." "I can explain that." Ambrose Carmody broke in. "I did have an argument with Franklin. Just before be-fore we left the house for the church, some one telephoned. It was an anonymous message. Normally Nor-mally I would have paid no attention atten-tion to It. But It so vitally concerned con-cerned the welfare of my family, I thought It deserved recognition. After Aft-er reaching the church, I asked Franklin for an explanation." "What was that message, Mr. Carmody?" Car-mody?" "It concerned . this actress, Choo Choo Train. I was Informed of her affair with Franklin." "Was it a man's voice, or a woman's?" wom-an's?" demanded Peter Cardigan. "A man's." "And you asked Franklin about it?" "Yes. When I reached this room, both Royce and Doctor Abernathy were present I inquired for Franklin, Frank-lin, and they Informed me he was In the study. I knocked. Franklin opened the door almost Immediately. Immediate-ly. I don't know what had become of all these people they say had been In the study. There was no one else there at the time. I told Franklin what I had heard, and demanded de-manded an explanation. I made it clear that I had to know the truth before the wedding. Franklin denied there was any truth in the message, lie gave me his word as a gentleman on It and I believed him." "That was all then?" Kilday prompted him. "Yes." Except for the heightened color in his face, Carmody gave no outward sign of emotion. 'I can substantiate a part of that," volunteered Doctor Aber- that." "When?" Royce faced Peter squarely. "When Callis Shipley came In," he said. "Callis Shipley? Who Is that?" "See here, this Is preposterous," preposter-ous," Ambrose Carmody Interrupted angrily. "Callis was one of the bridesmaids. She was out in front all of the time." "Oh, no, she wasn't," Nick denied. de-nied. "She was back here just before be-fore the wedding. She came running run-ning In the side door, very excitied and out of breath. '"Where's Rylie? Is he back here?" she wanted to know. "I told her I didn't think so. "Then where Is Jim Franklin?' she asked me breathlessly. She was so agitated, I was afraid something was wrong, particularly In view of what had happened between Rylie and Jim just a short time before. So I knocked on the study door. "Jim asked me what was wanted. "'Have you seen Rylie Carmody? she asked him. 'He isn't in there, is he?' "When Jim said he wasn't, the girl sort of caught her throat, and said, 'Oh.' "I could see she was very much excited. 'You'd better let me take you around front,' I urged her, but she said, 'Oh, I'll be all right,' and left the way she had come." "Mr. Royce," demanded Kilday eagerly, "did Callis Shipley have on a blue dress?" The newspaper man hesitated. "Why yes, I think she did," he said finally. Doctor Abernathy sprang to his feet. "You're making a terrible mistake," tie cried. "Callis Shipley wasn't the woman In blue not the woman in blue I saw. That why, that's absurd." His fingers fumbled with his handkerchief as he mopped his brow. "I'm sure she was out In the vestibule, ves-tibule, In front," added Ambrose Carmody. "You're getting nowhere, jumping about this way, trying to connect innocent people with the crime." Sergeant Kilday frowned slowly, from one man to the other. Then he turned back to Nick Royce. "You say Callis Shipley came back here after Doctor Abernathy left the room? She was the last visitor?" (TO BE OONTI.VUED.) |