New Britain herald., 1926-09-09


 Cunningham, who is trying to solve the crime, and others. Some believe Heath the murderer. Others, includ- ing Anderson, disagree. Cunningham learns from Mrs. Prentiss of the mysterious lights. Todhunter Buck her nephew, suggests that Heath also may have been murdered.
 Emma, a waitress in the Heath Home, tells Detective Mott of seeins Bunny Moore ascend the stairs after the murder, her vanity case In her hand.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XXI
 You see,' Mott said, breaking the 1 silence that had fallen, Osborn gave me a tip about Miss Moore. A pretty serious one. He asked her a string of | questions early Is morning, before she had time to make up anything. We'll, he asked her if she saw the two candles burning, at the head and feet of Mrs. Heath. And Miss Moore said she did. Now, you see, when Miss Moore came downstairs, and went to the S dio to look on the body of Mrs. Heath, for the first tune, after Carter had told her the news Doctor Conklin was there, and the two went II practically at the same time"
 "Well?" said Cunningham, as Mott paused.
 Well, then the candles had gone out-burnt out, you know-but they were out. Now, Miss Moore agreed, when Osborn referred to her seeing the candles burning. When did she see those cardles burning?"
 Cunningham looked thoughtful.
 "1f that Emma persons story Is true" he said. then Miss Moore was downstairs, just before one-thirty--"
 And went upstairs, with her van- ity case. at half past one," declared Mott. Having either been down and viewed the dead woman-or, having been either principal or accessory to the fact of her death"
 He put the case so simply and in q tone so devoid of real accusation that Toddy Buck, at first inclined to deny vigorously Bunny's possible connection with the crime thought better of that. and said slowly:
 You suspect the little girl, then. Mir. Mott?"
 Suspect Is too strong a word, Mir. Buck. But ] do think some parts of her story call for investigation, and I think shc lnows more than she has told"
 "She certainly does, if she was downstairs at half past one o'clock" Cunningham said. In tense, strained voice. Yet, the doctors agree that Mrs. Heath died about two o'clock. It may be, therefore, that Miss Moore was down there, that in a spirit of fun, the two wom- en made use of Miss Moore's vanity box, and that Mrs. Heath was party to the making up Of her own face"
 "No, Mir. Cunningham" Mott said, that won't do. The doctors proved that the makeup was put on Mrs. Heath's face after death. Of that they are certain. As to the time of death, that is not an easy matter to state positively. l have seen many cases, where the doctor has been out two or three hours in his reckoning regarding thIt matter. They can't tell exactly. The best of them admit that"
 Then, what do we gather from Miss Moore's presence on the stairs ho1 ct har Ipnia of it 2" asked Cunningham, gravely.
 That we mt decide about, until we question Miss Moore further" Toddy Buck broke in, his young face aglow with interest. I've only met Miss Moore today. You fellows doubtless think that because of her beauty, I've fallen in love with her. I don't say that I have or haven't, but 1 do think she is a helpless girl with a lot of possible or apparent evidence against her. And, I propose to take up her cause, and carry on for her, till l find out the truth of the affair. To agine for a mo- ment, that that baby faced chit oom- mitted a murder is just too ridicu- lOuSi BNL -OL or udTu-DOlleu utltt- tives may think differently. And so, unbiased by any prejudice in Miss Moore's favor, I'm going 10 do all can to see that justice Is done her. That's all"
 You're fortunate in having her under your own present rooftree,' Mott said, little dryly.
 II am," Buck agreed, courteously, and without smile. "She is now under my aunts protection, as far as gossip and islander are concerned. If she should prove 10 be mixed up in this thing, other than as an in- nocent onlooker, I shall be greatly surprised. But, anyway, I'm going to get at the truth if 1 can"
 Let the chips fall where they may?" asked Cunningham.
 "Yes," Toddy said, where they may" ...... ..........
 "All right" ott said, heartily. you're the right stuff, young man. If you don't fall too hard for the charms of the Moore Baby, we'll find you a valuable assistant, I'm sure"
 rha tbree man seosratod for the