Evening journal., 1922-02-13
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER
1922, by NEA Service, Inc.


whats the real dope, ChiefT
Captain Hoey OF the homicide bureau
asked as he and his superior skim
med in a swift little runabout over
the road toward Hollywood. Il
know that Fowler was the theatri-
cal wizard of his day and this new
play he was about to produce has
been hailed as his crowning triumph
but where did he come from ?"
"Thats a nice little lead, Hoey'
but II won't get you anywhere" the
chief replied dryly. 1T happens that
about Is years ago John Evans
Fowler was Jordan Everitt Foster
with a family and swell social posi-
ton. We dug up his picture from
the morgue this morning, sent out
broadcast at the time OF his disap-
pearance. IL had me going until l
got in touch with Frisco and learned
that his family and former asso-
ciates had been wise to his change
OF name for a couple OF years and
had let him slide There's no mys-
terry there. no suggestion Of enmity
or financial trouble. no woman in
the case"
There have been plenty since
Captain Hoey observed. They we're
plumb dippy about him, especially
the three that he made famous. He
never seems to have fallen for any
OF them. though, or a bullet might
have reached him before It did last
night. He made a star OF Justine
Revere. turned Pierrette Howard
from a rough soubrette into the
cleverest comedienne on the screen
today, according 10 the critics, and
put Winnie Willis in the forefront
OF the ingenue class. They were
all TO be in this new picture, weren't
they?"
And all three OF them were out
here at his dinner party last night
chief Newton nodded. That doesn't
prove anything, though; Revere Is
wrapped up In her career, Pierrette
makes her way with no favors and
little Winnie Willis has announced
her engagement TO that young mil
J nonaire, Jason Brooks"
''Who else were in the party ?
asked Hoey.
"Only two actors, newcomers tS
the company. but there was one un-
invited guest who put IN a tardy ap-
pearance; at least, he was seen
sneaking out OF the back door by
Mrs. Maxwell-who has the next
ungaiow-immediat after the
shot was fred. and two minutes
later another neighbor met him
three blocks nearer the trolley line"
The chiefs tone was significant.
"Both OF them recognized him as
Oren Beach, a fellow who sponged
on Fowler for months and then
forged his name TO a couple of
checks. Fowler forgave the first Of
Tense but when the second check
turned up he swore out a warrant
for Reach's arrest. Looks like ar
open-and-shut case to me when We
, land him"
, "why didn't Mrs. Maxwell star
, an investigation when she heard tn
! shot?" Hoey was discreetly noncom
r initial.
h Thought It was the backhre o
y one OF the motor cars" responde
% his superior. adding, Here we are.
n The announcement was superfiuou
a as he pulled up in the space whic
e had been kept clear for him befor
- A pretty. low-roofed bungalow SINUS
e rled between two more pretenuou
e ones in the heart Of the colony, fo
milling crowd OF men and wome
" we're surging about IL and a scor
% or more OF cars were parked alon
" the boulevard.
l. Get the furs and the diamondsl
Hoev remarked in an underton'
ct l,ooks like society crush"
10 We'll. Il amt" his companion r.
N torted. They're the top-notchers (
the movie world though. Come on
= The front door at the left OF n
veranda opened as they elbowe
= their way through the crowd and
distinguished looking man with iroi
IA gray hair appeared on the threshold
IA cantain Hoey whistled softly.
~ "That's Paul Benedict, the ira
ID ton king! What is he doing here
backing the new hlm; his mr.
OF theatrical venture, I understand
ID The chief added as they mounted n
Ia stems: "Glad you received my me
OF sage. Mr.. Benedict This is might
s bad business.
W 1T is horrible almost unoelie'
Of abiei" the magnate replied in a lo'
rd shocked tone. young Brooks hi
he been waiting with me in the dinir
oy room; in accordance with your O.
iy ders we have not entered the stud
where poor Fowler was killed ar
he the three ladies' OF the company WI
Id dined here last night are upstair
lis I believe"
~. "Ai right. Mr.. Benedict We
es ioin YOU and Mr.. Brooks shortly
The chief turned TO his subordina
nd Go in and have look aroun
tn Hoey."
nd He handed the other key, m
tioning toward a door at the rig
ed and the detective entered. A cha
had been overturned. sinister sta
clotted the rug between 1t and q
desk and just at his feet the n
itself had been doubled back.
ia. simmer Of white showed beneath
to and Hoey stopped for a moment b
he fore advancing into the room. Sor
N. 20 minutes later he emerged al
IS quietly letting himself out by q
on front door he skirted the house. e
aminiDg the ground with each ste