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Show ft THE RICH COUNTY REAPER, RANDOLPH, UTAH THE MEN on the DEAD MAN'S CHEST by Clifford Raymond (WNU Service.) Copyright. The Bobbs-Merri- Co. ll ftwvwMevwtovrawmwvSwo! FROM THE BEGINNING Duping a frustrated holdup at the Dutch Mill, a fashionable Chicago night club, a patron later identified as Dunn Clayton is shot and killed. Lieutenant of Police Stanton, investigating, questions a voluntary witness, calling himself Buck Trembly. CHAPTER I Continued 2 The man Id known elsewhere, he He was my reason for explained. coming to Chicago. The women were Incidental. They were his suggestion. Clayton evidently had awaited the coming of only one person. His table was for two. When the three hold-umen took the scene the man who was to become the only victim had been Imperturbable. I wasnt very nervous myself, said Trembly, but I thought he was less so. I dont know how nervous youd be, mister," said the lieutenant, but there wouldnt have been any false p and after a moments consideration wrote : A. P. Willard 3220 May Place." Five minutes later the lieutenant came back. Youve got something nnder an hour for your train, Buck, he said. I had them stop a taxi for you. As a formality would you let me see your gun? They ask these d n fool questions of us. Did you see his gun? No. You knew he had one? Yes. He told you he had? Yes. You didnt see It? No. And youre a copper? A copper, you are I Im being pretty considerate, dont you think, mister? Lets see the old gat. Why not Buck? Trembly asked, smiling as he drew his pistol. Sometimes I feel Buck and sometimes I feel mister. You know how it goes with prima donnas. Now, one time, he broke the pistol and glanced at its chambers, I might have felt like framing these bums weve got Tonight I dont. Pistols all right, Buck. Thank you. Your cabs outside. WeU not bother you any more. Youve been a good scout I told you I was interested in ants and bees? Sure. I just wanted you to think of me as a human being. Many coppers are when you see them at home. Arthur, or Buck, Trembly was the only son of a Buffalo attorney of reputation and wealth, whose money was made In hydroelectricity. The father was a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and of the Harvard Law school. There were six children, but Arthur was the only son. He had gone into Canada and had been a trooper in the Royal Mounted. He had got his man on a number of occasions, but on one the question simple-minde- starts from Clayton. utes if he had not been shot. Maybe they knew that. Yes. Youre a competent citizen. You rather say so yourself. And you look like one. Why didnt you crack this killer? Im not that good, Lieutenant, said Things were happening a Trembly. bit too fast. You wouldnt count on the fellows you call bums bolting the way they did." They would have bolted if some one had dropped a plate or slammed a door. Anyway, I sat dumb. Could you describe or identify the man? Not a chance, said Trembly. What I saw of his face was next to nothing, a blur. For the rest of It I could tell you that he was probably five feet eight or nine, one hundred to one hundred and and sixty-fiv- e seventy pounds and wore a black overcoat" Half the male citizenship of the Where town, said the lieutenant. are you staying, Buck?" Im not staying," said Trembly. Im leaving at two forty-fiv- e for Minneapolis. That is, if you do not need me further. I hope you dont." I dont see why I should make you any inconvenience. Buck. Youve tried to come in with what you knew. You might not think that a copper would want to keep these poor bums from standing trial for something they didnt do, but Id rather get the fellow who really did it Give me the names of the people you were to meet here, will you? I suppose they came about the time the party was breaking for the outside and took themselves out of the picture. Write me their names and addresses, Buck. I know only the mans," said Trembly. Thats all right. A fellow can find a lot of womens names in this place. You stay here just a minute while I talk with the detectives. I should have said dicks, I suppose. Eh, Buck? Lots of us are queer fish. Now, youd never guess that my hobbies are ants and bees. So probably I say detectives. Anyway, the detective headquarters is on the job. That will end my concern with it. Ill be back in a moment. Just write me the mans name, and address on a bit of paper. As soon as the lieutenant had gone out of the office Trembly took a piece of paper from the desk at his side . . d. p You knew him? A bit of him. He might have taken the three of them in another five min- Not the faintest chance. Those bums didnt know anything. If they had theyd have known they didnt have a chance from the beginning. They were exposed on all sides. It was so. raw that they ought to be given another chance before theyre tried. But what happened? The shot. I was looking at Clayton, saw him crumple, looked about and saw the fellow who shot him put his pistol in his overcoat pocket and walk out. Have you a gun? have you back on a case. Come on in." Dont kid me, man, said the lieuWhen did you ever have me tenant. oh a case? Im not a detective. Im an officer of patrolmen. You ought to know the difference. Anyway, come in. He wants to see you. They went inside. Back again," said the states attorney. You cant help yourself, can you? Always falling into something nice. Red meat, Reputation. Fame. The fang of the law. Mr. Corvaleski, said the lieutenant, "youre not the man to kid a lieutenant of police. Fangs of law arent lieutenants at East Chicago Avenue." How are the bees and ants? Youll be chief yet. Of the bees and ants? Listen, Mr. Corvaleski, being chief, which Ill never be, wont get me anything. Now, a poultry farm? Or did you ever think of pecans or grapefruit down south? That settles It. Youll be chief. Youll start a couple new police rackets. When youre worth a million dollars youll be discovered. Ill have to indict you." Come, come," said the lieutenant, Is your servant a fish? Id take you in." No, I dont see it that way. Youll hold out on me and it will cost you half your pile to beat the case. What do you know about the Clayton murder? Why are you protecting these four hoods? (hoodlums). Theyre not hoods, mister," said Stanton. Theyre boy scouts gone Im not protecting them. wrong. Their own foolishness protects them, or should. What have you to show It? The case against them seems clear. These men try to take the Dutch Mill. There were the three whom the people saw. There were, of course, others near the door. You assume there werent, and so you conclude the three were Most of the customers in there were sheep when they were scared, but Clayton wasnt. Can you that imagine him taking a stick-uway? He started to clean out these hoods. and at his first move one of them back of him shot him. Then they all lost their nerve and ran. Theres your story. Its not only plausible, its insistent" Its also worthless," said Stanton, It doesnt take into account smiling. why Clayton was in the Dutch Mill. He was put there to be killed and that wasnt done by the fellows who only wanted the cash and ornaments of the customers. Pistols All Right, Buck. why had arisen. The man could not answer it because he was dead. There was too much plausibility in Tremblys report for an official inquiry to be indicated or demanded. Nevertheless a question remained. It would have had more Insistence if it had been known where the mans bag of gold was, (1) an hour before his death ; (2) an hour afterward. Arthur never rejoined his reputable Buffalo family circle. Trembly had married twice. His first wife had been the daughter of a Indianapolis family who inherited one hundred thousand dollars on the death of her father. Mr. and Mrs. Trembly made identical wills, each bequeathing to the other all possessions. Mrs. Trembly died the year following her fathers death. Trembly did not marry again until 1927. well-to-d- o CHAPTER II The Necessary Dame All aside from what John Law and his tipstaffs might think of it, Dunn Clayton had died nice. He had been much too busy a man to linger weakly and wretchedly in his bed and pick at his coverlet. Although he had changed his boots for spats it was consistent with his living that his dying should find them on. He was buried Tuesday, October 2, after the coroners jury had taken its view. His funeral was a sober and decent affair with American Legion recognition of his good war record. The morning of the burying Lieutenant Stanton came to the station out of uniform. Going somewhere? his captain asked him. States attorney wants to see you. Clayton, I suppose. Im going to Claytons funeral, said the lieutenant. You believe the murderers always turn up at the burying. This one wont I knew a bit of Clayton when he was' a square shooter. Yes, and when was that? In the latest war. But why me to the states attorney? Im not a detective. Corvaleski has asked for you. The squad car will take you down." At the states attorneys door the lieutenant had a wait of ten minutes. Then Horde, the first assistant, came out. Hullo, Stanton, he said, glad to How do you know that? Its partly guessing, as usual A customer named Trembly Arthur, or Buck, Trembly had been sitting at a table near Dunn. He volunteered to tell the story. He told It too well. He had seen too much, although he explained that plausibly. My impression was that he had gone there to find Dunn, and that Dunn was astonished to see him. That assumes that they knew each other. I think they did. I think Dunn knew at once that he was In for trouble and was sorry for it not because he had any fear but because it would spoil his respectability. I doubt that he suspected Buck of planting a killer on him. Hed expect Trembly to do his own. Oh, wait a minute, Stanton! the Can you states attorney interrupted. honestly think that theres even a semblance of probability or plausibility to that? How do you know they knew each other? Who says they did? Did Trembly say so? How do you know Clayton was planted there? I dont think youre quite reasonable. You say a simple case is no good, and then you produce what really Is a fantastic one. Isnt it the truth, mister? said the But thats the way the lieutenant. police business goes now and then. Why dont you stick to your story? It will get you a few headlines. Leonine Young Prosecutor Promises Swift Justice for Dutch Mill Bandits. States Attorney Corvaleski Aroused by Outrage. Hanging Horde Demands Rope for Killers. Oh, go one with your story, said the states attorney. Ill have to because Ive been holding out on you. Ill let you judge in a minute whether Dunn was enticed Into the Dutch Mill. Assume he was. I connect that with Trembly. I guess that Buck had some reason for killing Dunn and that he Intended to make sure of it by having some other man do it while Dunn thought he had only Buck on his hands. I happened to know Dunn Clayton a little more than by his reputation, said the lieutenant I knew him in the war. Oh, yes, said the states attorney. I forgot. You were in the war." Go to h 1, said Stanton. You werent. But dont let that worry you. Lots of other politicians werent, and the ones who were in it kept it from being a really good war. But never mind that You couldnt help it. The point is, Dunn was a man to have some enemies. Say Buck was one of them. Dunn was smooth and cool and sometimes hard. My guess would be that he and Buck sat looking at each other and knowing that there was murder coming. I dont know much about Buck, never having seen him until Dunn was dead, but Ill guess that Dunn sat there thinking he could beat whatever started. Only Gettnouaoe and use m directed. Fine particles of Aged he didnt see It start Now, I said I akin peel off until all defects such as pimples, liver pots, ten and freckles disappear, Skin is then soft had been holding out on you. I took and velvety. Your face looks years younger. MerooUsed out the hidden beauty of your skin. T a letter off Dunn before they made a Wax bringswrinkle use one ounce Powdered SaxolitQ Ifflievs in dissolved search of his pockets. A little quiet pint witch hasel. At drug stores. sometimes exploration helps. Heres Affents. Something new. Fast selling 35c the letter. auto accessory. Keep windshields clear of Ice, Sleet, or Snow. Samples 35c. Arctic He handed it to Corvaleski who read Storra Wiper Co.,311 N.19th St.,St.Louls.Mo. it aloud: Dunn, Old Dear I have been in town so short a time that I have just learned you were here. I must leave Monday. It seems impossible to see you and wholly impossible not to. I At the Foremost Desert Resort can be run off with Saturday night of the West marvelous climate warm sunny by a discreet friend who will underdry invigorating days clear starlit nights stand and who will give me an hour air splendid roads gorgeous mountain free and be my alibi for it. Be at the scenes finest hotels the ideal winter home. Writ era A Chtfy Dutch Mill sometime before midnight and, you willing and fate willing, you will see Maisie. California That was in his pocket," said Stanton. So I guess that considering he Living Characters Used was killed he was planted there to be on Ancient Chessboard killed. The Mughul emperors of India carIt doesnt follow," said the first ried out some strange plans in conThe girl is doing someassistant nection with their domestic life, and thing clandestine. She is a bit late. a visitor to the famous fort in Agra The place is held up. Her escort will be able to see some of the beauwhisks her away. tiful buildings used as part of the Nothing ever follows nothing," said zenana. One of the most Interesting the lieutenant unless youre willing features Is the open space in the cento speculate. Now, Ive talked to ter of the known as the Anjuri fort, these bums, and they are merely pitiThis space is divided into Bagh. ful. Take a diagram of the Dutch many squares, marked off by marble Mill, and then see what they tried to slabs, and covered with green grass. do. In five more minutes, before they There are broad marble causeways could have taken more than three between the separate blocks. It Is watches, two bill rolls and a ring, generally believed that the Mughul they would have been shot by some used these as one from the kitchen or the office. The emperors and the pieces used in the game coroner, the cops, the fire department, were young slaves, who changed the insurance patrol and a couple their position according to the direchealth department Inspectors would tions of the players, who would be have been arriving simultaneously. seated in one of the marble pavilions. Why didnt you hold Trembly? The game played in those days did Corvaleski asked. not correspond with the modern It was just my hunch not to try It. chess, but was known as pachesi. My guess was that wed do better with The size of the Anjuri Bagh is about him loose than with some lawyer in 280 feet square. court to know why we were holding McrcolizedlVax Keeps Skin Young one-ha- ii Sunshine "" All Winter Long PALM SPRINGS chess-board- s, him. But this letter; you havent been concealing it. certainly DROWN YOUR HEADACHE Only from The detecpublicity. tive bureau is looking for Maisie." Who is she? Have you any idea? Shes beyond my guessing. In fact, my guessing Is pretty rotten, but It always comes back to Trembly and the conviction that he knew the note had been sent to Clayton. It may have been that the killer was outside or at another table waiting for Dunn to go. You see we cant tell what the appearance of Trembly meant to Dunn. He shows up, and Maisie doesnt. Theres the nub of the matter. To that point its Tremblys show. We dont know what might have happened because this crazy hold-uexplodes on. the scene. Whoever shot Clayton certainly rationalized the unexpected just as if it had been made for him. Thats what I see. These young fellows we are holding know Im the only friend they have, and theyre telling me the truth. Im sure of that You probably can work them off if you want to, but dont think it will be good prosecution. It will be terrible. I dont feel murderous, said the states attorney, but I cant as yet share your confidence. You let Trembly go. What happened? He gave a fictitious name for the man he said he was to meet in the Dutch Mill. That was expected. Hf went to Milwaukee instead of Minnef apolis, but he did leave town. Where Is he now?" We dont know, but I think hell be picked up again." Who do you guess Maisie to be?7 the first assistant asked. Isnt she the key?" You guess, said Stanton. You might guess that she was an old gaJ of Dunns. You might guess that she was married. You might guess that she still liked Dunn, and that Dunn liked her. But if you can guess who and where she is or why she wrote that come-oletter you outguess me. Id guess that if she wrote it she Intended Clayton to be killed. Thered be a story in that. Then Id guess that she might not have written it. Some one faked her hand. You see, mister, said Stanton, theres just as good guessing in your own office as anywhere else. Im going to Dunns funeral, and remember, if you select the bums as victims, give thanks that we dont yet use the elec, trie chair. You couldnt burn them. They are too green and sappy. And so good day to you all. Im going to the funeral. Ill want you In a day or two again, said Corvaleski. "Youve had all youll need out of me, said the lieutenant as he closed the door behind him. p n (TO BE CONTINUED Hannibals Proud Boast The expression, I will find a way or make one, is accredited to Hannibal When his plan for taking his army across the Alps into Italy was questioned, he said that he would find a way or make one. He accomplished the feat, appearing on the plains of Italy with 26,000 men half the army with which he had started. In This Cup of Tea! Lazy Intestinal movement cause painful headaches. When the system of fragrant clogs, make yourself a cup Garfield Tea. 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