Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1920-09-16

rectly unueE Iulue. Inc SNACAthS AAAN
hesrd-and the shOt-had seemed to
come from under my very feet.
Although the lights in the front OF
the hall were burning, the sitting room
was in darkness. AS / reached the
door, my fingers sought the button,
and as the flare of light Illuminated
the room l looked hastily about me.
There was no one there, but my one
quick glance showed me that the door
of the wall safe, located similarly TO
the one in the apartment above, was
standing wide open,
Quirkly l sprang to inspect the room
corresponding to mine, a room, 1t VIII
be recalled, opening off the sitting
room. Here, too, was darkness, and
as | turned on the lights, l stood
aghast with horror.
On the floor, close up to the inner
wall, lay the contorted body of beau
tiful young woman. Her eyes were
wide open and staring. One arm was
twisted under her, and the other hand
was clutching at the front of her
bodice, where a blotch of CHASTITY red
indicated the path of the shot that l
had heard.
ITS Miss Lutan," said Mr.. Wick's
voice behind me.
shes been murdered" cried; "get
the police at once"
AS l bent over her to see If there
was any evidence of life, / saw i'm
printed in her tender white throat the
marks of her assailant's brutal fingers.
Come" said, help me lift her on
to this couch, and then telephone at
once for a doctor"
Mr.. Wick had been all the while
standing there, staring at the body as
if stupefed by the tragedy, but ne
obeyed my directions, and with him at
her feet and at her head we laid her
down on the couch, where l proceeded
to loosen her gown and to try by artl-
ficiai respiration to restore her blood
to circulation.
Get the doctor at once" COM
manded again, land phone for the po-
lice"
John" called out Mr.. Wick, Ego
to the phone and tell Miss Kelly to
send for Doctor Hunt to come at once"
Tell her TO get the police, too"
insisted.
"And let the burglar escape while
we're doing it," objected Mr.. Wick.
Come on, let's look through the apart
ment. He may be hiding somewhere
STILL"
Together, while the boy was 'phon-
ing. we went from room to room, peer
ing into closets and under beds. There
was no one there and no traces or the
murderer's presence. Even the serv-
ants quarters were untenanted. Only
one thing happened that struck me as
peculiar. AS l started up the hail 10
search the bedrooms, looked back
and caught Mr.. Wick furtively closing
the wall safe. His action in surrept1-
tiously closing this without saying
ANYTHING to me made me suddenly sus-
picious Of him. 1 recalled that Detec-
tive German had put Mr.. Wick into his
circle of suspects along with the bur-
glars wife. Could it be possible that
the superintendent of the building him.
self was in connivance with the band
of criminals who had been harassing
the Bradfords and me2 / determined
to watch his every move.
"There's no one here" said, as we
completed our round of the various
rooms. "The murderer has made his
escape. Hasn't that boy 'phoned for
the police yetT
Mr.. Wick seemed so averse to carry
ing out my suggestion about the police
that I think he must have sensed the
suspicion in my voice.
II think 1 had better ask Mr.. Kent
about it first" he said nervously.
"Who's Mr.. Kent?" I demanded.
NV thoughts were so taken up with
the unexpected tragedy that the name
at first meant nothing to me. Sud
denly 1 remembered. It was to the
apartment of Mr.. Henry Kent that
Miss Kelly had 'phoned last night
when she was dining with me. / re-
called, too, that German had charged
me to find out all could about him.
"Who's Mr.. Kent?" repeated
sharply. whats he got to do with it?'
Hes the owner of the building" ex-
planned Mr.. Wick. HE doesn't like
the Granddeck to be mentioned in the
papers. He says any notoriety is bad
for its exclusiveness. 1 don't believe
he'd want the police called in. In
fact sir, I'm sure he wouldn't"
whether he wants it or not" / said
firmly, "it's got to be done. You can't
keep murders out of the paper. Either
you call the police right away or else
l will"
NV threat forced him to telephone
against his will. / could quite under
stand his employers aversion to hav-
ing crime In the Granddeck made
public. But there was no help for 1t.
There had been a dastardy crime COM
mitted, and the police must be In
formed. Yet 1t was not to the police
that Mr.. Wick was telephonlng. 1t
evidently was to Mr.. Kent's apartment
In the building.
"Miss Lutan's been shot by a burglar