The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-06-11

teoric career on Broadway Daisy Lutan
had become the wife Of the young son
Of very rich family. His parents in
sisted that she had trapped him into
mntrlmony 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
Hadn't she sweetheart nowT'
asked.
Better make It plural" sneered the
doctor. "Women OF her type always
have lot OF men friends"
mo men ever came to see her here.
Tn positive of khat," said Mr.. Wick.
"Of course n.,," said the rector sar-
castlcally. "The reputation Of the
Grandceck apartments must be pro-
tected at all costs"
As we talked two detectives In plain
clothes arrived. They viewed the body
and proceeded to question the doctor.
SHOW was this woman killed."
by revolver shot right through
the heart"
"Who Is she7'
| "Daisy Lutan, the actress"
"Who did IT."
1T must have been a burglar IN
terjected Mr.. Wick. MY theory IL
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.
"'rell us about It," one Of them d.
rected.
my name Is James Wick" he began
RS II he was reciting a familiar lesson
Il am the superintendent of the
Granddeck apartments. was in the
elevator about half an hour ago when
the sound Of the shot. took ont my
revolver and got off 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. I 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 missingf'
waited with bated breath to hear
II Wick would tell of having found the
wall safe open. If 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. don't know what stuff she had
here"
"Who would known"
"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 a chauffeur"
"Then she was all alone In the
apartment"
Eyes. She'd 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"
| lJlu she CUiIc uOIIlc dlOlle!
"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 adj
hitting. Why did he keep harplng
on the fact thai Miss Lutap had come
in Unexpectedly? What means had
he of knowing what time she was ex-
peo~ad home? Furthermore he said he
was In the elevator when he heard the
screams and the shot. | 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 If the burglar had not beer
In the place with Mr.. Wick's conniv
ance. while he stood guard outside. Al
he heard me coming he might have
taken refuge in the elevator. And
why did he have his revolver so con
veniently ready?
The detective who had been ques
tioning Wick turned to me.
"Who are your"
"Spalding Nelson"
"What do you do? Where do yor
work"
'I'm clerk"
"a clerk living at the Granddecl
apartments" he sneered. "You mus
have good Job"
II haven't any at present" | re
Piled "Tm living here In Mr.. Gas
toms apartment. taking care of |
! while he and his wife are away"
I could see that my statement tina
I was only clerk and was not at pres
ent employed had not made favor
able impression on the detective.
"Win you explain what you were do
ing at the door of this apartment
when the superintendent arrived?" h
demanded with a growing suspicion II
! his tones.
4 "That's easy to explain" I retorted