Cheyenne record., 1920-12-23


Of a very rich family. His parents In
sisted that she had trapped him Into
matrimony and after long legal wran-
Cling she had been divorced about
year ago. She had received large
sum in settlement. and this with her
earnings as an actress enabled her to
live in luxury.
asked.
"Better make 1t plural" sneered the
doctor. "Women Of her type always
have lot Of men friends"
"No men ever came to see her here
I'm positive Of that" said Mr.. Wick.
"Of course not" said the rector sar-
castically. "The reputation Of the
Granddeck apartments must be pro-
tected at all COSTS"
As we talked two detectives in plaiE
clothes arrived. They viewed the body
. and proceeded to question the doctor.
"How was this woman killedr
by revolver shot right through
the heart" .~sn
'Who is she3"
"Daisy Lutan, the actress" -
"Who did IT." A...a
1T must have been a burglar" IN.
terjected Mr.. Wick. "My theory is
that she came in Unexpectedly and
found him at work."
"Who found herr"
"These gentlemen" said the doctor,
including both Mr.. Wick and me with
a wave of his hand.
The detectives turned to Mr.. Wick
first.
"Tell us about It," one Of them di.
rected.
"My name is James Wick" he began
as II he was recitIng a familiar lesson.
II am the superintendent Of the
Granddeck apartments. was In the
elevator about half an hour ago when
heard a woman screaming and then
the sound of the shot. took out my
revolver and got of at this floor to in.
vestigate. At the door found Mr..
Nelson. He, too, had heard the
screams and the shot and thought they
came from this apartment took out
my pass key and we went in"
"Were there any signs of the bur.
glar?" asked the other man.
mo. we looked all through the
apartment and found no one"
"Was anything missingi"
I waited with bated breath to hear
II Wick would tell Of having found the
wall safe open. II he did not felt 1t
would be conclusive evidence that
there was something he was trying to
conceal.
II didn't notice anything missing"
he said glibly. II wouldn't know. any
how. I don't know what stun she had
here"
"Who would know"
"Her maid might. She's out now.
Generally she's home by eleven
o'clock"
"Did she keep only the one servant"
"Only the maid and chauffeur"
"Then she was all alone In the
apartment7''
Eyes. Shed gone out all dressed up
about seven in her own car. She came
home unexpectedly in hired taxi not
more than half an hour ago"
"Did she come home alone?"
"Sure she was alone. At least the
hall boys told me so. did not see her
come In, myself"
More and more was convinced that
Wick was lying. I was sure he knew
far more about affairs than he was ad-
mitting. Why did he keep harping
on the fact that Miss Lutan had come
In unexpectedly" What means had
he Of knowing what time she was ex
pecsad home? Furthermore he said he
was in the elevator when he heard the
screams and the shot. I did not be-
lieve 1t would have been possible for
the sounds to have carried that far.
The walls were all deadened. and the
room where the tragedy had taken
place was at the back Of the house
many feet distant from the elevators.
I wondered II the burglar had not been
In the place with Mr.. Wick's conniv-
ance while he stood guard outside. As
he heard me coming he might have
taken refuge In the elevator. And
why did he have his revolver 80 con-
veniently ready?
The detective who had been ques-
tionipg Wick turned to me.
"Who are you?"
"Spalding Nelson.
"What do you do7 Where do you
work."
"Tm clerk"
"a clerk living Mt the Granddeck
apartments" he sneered. "You must
have a good Job"
81 haven't any at present" ! re-
piled. "rm living here in Mr.. Gas
toms apartment, taking care Of It
while he and his wife are awsy."
could see that my statement that
was only clerk and was not at pres
ent employed had not made favor
able Impression on the detective.
"Will you explain what you were do
ing at the door Of this apartment
when the superintendent arnvedr' he