The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-06-04

have lot Of men friends"
No men ever came TO see her here.
I'm positive of that" said Mr.. Wick.
"Of course net," said the rector sar-
castically. @The reputation Of the
Grandcack 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,
How was this woman killed."
BY a revolver shot right through
the heart"
"Who is sheY'
'Daisy Lutan, the actress"
"Who did it,"
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
wave of his hand.
The detectives turned to Mr.. Wick
first.
''Tell US about it." one of them d.
rected.
MY name is James Wick" he began
as If he was reciting a familiar lesson.
Il am the superintendent of the
Granddeck apartments. l was in the
elevator about half an hour ago when
heard woman screaming and then
the sound Of the shot. I 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. 1 took out
my pass key and we went In"
Were there any signs Of the bur-
glar?" asked the other man.
NO, we looked all through the
apartment and found no one"
"Was anything missingT'
waited with bated breath to hear
If Wick would tell of having found the
wall safe open. II he did not felt it
would be conclusive evidence that
there was something he was trying to
conceal.
Il didn't notice anything missing"
he said glibly. 81 wouldn't know, any
how. I don't know what stuff 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 a chauffeur"
''Then she was all alone in the
apartment"
'Yes. Shed gone out all dressed up
about seven in her own car. She came
home Unexpectedly in a 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-
hitting. 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-
pec~ed 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.
wondered If 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 so con-
veniently ready?
The detective who had been ques-
tioning Wick turned to me.
"Who are your"
"Spalding Nelson"
"what do you dor Where do you
work.
I'm a clerk"
"a clerk living at the Granddeck
apartments" he sneered. ''You must
have good job"
81 haven't any at present" 1 re-
piled. I'm living here in Mr.. Gas
while he and his wife are away"
1 could see that my statement that
I was only clerk and was not at pres
emit employed had not made a favor
able impression on the detective.
"win you explain what you were do
ing at the door of this apartment
when the superintendent arrivedT' he
demanded with growing suspicion in
his tones.
THAT'S easy to explain" retorted.
II was in my apartment directly over
this one. heard her scream and then
the shot. IT seemed to come frSsu tks
floor right below me, so ran down 70
investigate"
as that rightf" he asked, turning TO
Mr.. Wick.
The net about Nelson is
III drawn eInSnr