The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-04
GO ON WITH THE STORY.


In the meantime Sergeant Barry
engaged Martha, the cook, IN con-
versauon.
Had she any enemies here IN
Sandy Cover. the sergeant asked.
"A girl as pretty and lively and
fascinating as she was, would be
apt to arouse jealousy"
Jealousy, it is? l guess there s
plenty that would like to have stood
in her shoes with the young men
that have been hanging around
here, especially that wh1ppersnap-
Der lieutenant, but none would tie
soiling their dainty hands with
murder. Not that hundred cor
oners could make me believe there's
been foul play. Wasn't l the first
to find her, and didn't she look as
though she'd just dropped off IN her
sleep? There's the lieutenant
now"
A young man had leaped the
hedge which separated the Tudor
place from the Country Club golf
grounds and was striding hatless
across the lawn. His face was
aghast, and his mild round eyes
seemed protruding from their sock
cts as he approached the veranda-
Martha, it isn't true! Where IS
Mrs. Tudor? Can l see herr
shes with Mr.. Clayton NOW,
sir. but it's true enough if you
mean that Miss Laurel is dead
Dead 1t can't be! Why, only
last night she-she gave me her
word that the future we mad
planned"
He drew his hand across his eyes,
and Sergeant Barry took his arm
and led him off the porch.
Lieutenant Cadmus, l don't want
to force your confidence, but the
sheriff and coroner will have some
very serious questions to ask you
at the autopsy, and it may be pos
sible that l can save you from an
noyance If you will be perfectly
frank with me-"
".Autopsv!' Coroner" Lieu
tenant Cadmus exclaimed Good
God. was there anything suspicious
about her death? We heard-we
understood that it was heart dis
ease, that she died in her sleep"
Barry explained calmly, but the
ouick glance at his companion re-
yealed a peculiar expression upon
the young officers face.
And Fay was all right herself?
She didn't even know that anything
had happened to her cousin Inc
lieutenant halted in the path. 1T
mighty queer, isn't it, sergeant!
Il take it from what you said
lust now, lieutenant, that an under
standing of some sort existed be-
tween you and Miss Laurel. Were
you and the young lady engaged to
be marriedT'
st wasn't announced, sergeant,
and no one else knew, but there Is
no reason now for me to keep 81
lent 1 have been in love with
Miss Tudor for a long time, but
she only consented to our engage
ment last night. In fact, we both
felt it was our duty to wait
He broke off in evident confu-
sion, and the detective eyed him
sharply.
why? Was there a previous afr
fair on Miss Laurers part?"
Not on hers, sergeant, but on
mine" The lieutenant paused, and
added somewhat shamefacedly AS
a matter of fact, an understanding
of a sort had existed between my
self and her cousin, Fay Tudor, but
lit was all off two years ago, before
she went to France"
The words had come haltngly, as
though he were aware of their sud
den significance. Barry seized ais
opportunity.
"Then why did you consider 1t
necessary to wait? II you were
quite sure that the affair was over
what possible objection could you
expect from Miss Fay to your en-
gagement to her cousin?'
We'll, you see, our engagement
was not a formal one. She took
herself of to France, and then her
cousin and / found that We cared
for each other, but Miss Laurel
wouldn't give me her promise until
Fay had returned and we knew
how she felt about it"
did you know that Miss Laurel
intended to confide in her cousin
last night?" Barry asked casually.
Miss Fay told me not an hour ago
that you had asked her cousin 10
be your wife"
ST didn't know. OF course, the
lieutenant disclaimed hurriedly-
But Fay hasn't given a thought to
old affair Ia