Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-02
ABOVE SUSPICION
b. ROBERT ORR CHIPHERFIELD
Copyright by Robert syndcae

I Joseph Bernhard" replied Letitia.
You know him. don't you?''
II know him. all right" The man
| called "Geoffr was still staring down
at the body. II wouldn't swear that
was him, though, unless I seen his
face"
] II left him here smoking last
| night and he said he'd finish lock-
| ing up" Carp repeated the only
fact which his stunned mind seemed
gtill able to grasp. I'D already
tended to the ground floor windows
| and big front entrance door over
| there on the other side of the house.
The ladies had all gone to their
! rooms. land there wasn't anybody
else on the place but Lefty and the
on that bench. lounging careless
| like, and the terrace doors were
standing half open. Just the way you
| found them when you came in a
| minute ago. He-he couldn't have
| fell over backwards and hit his head
on something. and then fell forwards
Again.
Henry Carp. stop talkin' like an
old fool!' Lefty seized his arm in
her turn and gave II little shake.
There's been AN accident, or
somethin'. What do you think.
Geoff?"
Hes dead. anyways" the individ-
ual appealed to responded, 1aconi-
cally. Better let the folks know
and, mebbe, Doc Hood. "Tain't my
business: got to git back to my
work"
He turned as though to go out on
the terrace once more. but at the
word dead" Carp had reeled and
would have fallen if Lefty had not
caught him.
"Geoff Peters. s'pose you'd be
mixin' concrete. If the skies fell!"
she exclaimed, witheringly. Help
me to case him down on the
bench"
Seems to me I wouldn't do that
If was YOU" Geoffs mild eyes
glanced once more speculatively at
the PROSTATE, motionless figure as he
relieved her of the old buffers limp
weight "'Course. faint my BUSH
ress. but. If you ask me. seems to
me I'd stay away from that bench
and everything round il, and keep
other folks away. too. till the Doc
gifts here. Kinder think I'd put
Henry on that stone over there in
stead"
'"Why?" Lettys sharp tones were
hushcd as she helped to lead Carp's
tottering steps in the direction indi-
Gated.
"Footprints." The workman spoke
in as matter-o u manner as
though he were discussing a detail
in masonry.
doc Hoods medical examiner
used to be called coroner when
Sunny Beach was just Miller's Cove
and outside the city limits-and he's
mighty particular about footprints IN
this kind of accident"
THAT kind" Lefty repeated.
horror stricken. For once in her
capablc existence she was at loss.
How'll keep Mrs. Cayley and the
rest from crowdin' around soon's
wake 'em and tell 'em that-that
somethin's happened to Mr.. Benk-
ard 30 -.
"You go git me n piece o rope
Geoff suggested There's some out
by the concrete mixer"
when She had flown out to the
terrace. Gcon strolled. at discreet
distance. about the bench and the
body lying before ii. Then his glance
rovcd around the patio. but every
marble seat and bower urn was IN
its place. with no trace in the sand
to indicate mat ANYTHING I'tu oeeii
disturbed The circular fountain
bed. still awaiting the statue which
was to crown it. was dry and empty.
and through the center of the glass
dome overhead the slender flaGpole
could be discerned. the gilded eagle
ut it's top cleaning in the sun.
Geoff shook his head slowly, and
his gaze Travelled UP tho marble
staircase and around the stucco bal
cony with its ornamental railing and
posts here and there. each sur
mounted by u ball which he himself
had helped to set, mushroomllke,
in the mortar Behind the closed
doors on that balcony lay the MEM
bers of the household. as yet un-
aware of the tragedy which had
overtaken them in the night. The