The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-05-21

him either in a business or a per-
sonal way?"
II never met him in any way
whatsoever"
us it possible that you might
have had some dealing with him,
directly or indirectly, that has
slipped you mind?"
Il greatly doubt it."
"I see ... You're positive you
never met Ramon Worth and you
never heard of him? Well, will you
look at these pictures? DO you rec
ognize any Of them?"
They were pictures Of Ramon on
surf board; in tennis fannels; ir
swimming suit. Douglas recognized
them only, because he had seen them
in an album of Sandy's.
Look at them carefully, If you
please"
He went through them again,
little guessing the trap they were
springing. "No-I don't recognize
themw
Meager massaged the red joints Of
his long, bony fingers. well, L guess
you never saw him, then. I wonder,
Mr.. Keith, if you may have CHANGED
I to meet the woman who was Worth 8
friend? DO you recall having been
out with girl who may have men,
toned his name, or who may have
bowed to him while in your com.
pany and mentioned her intimacy
with him."
why should you persist In these
questions, Mr. Meager? I've told you
as emphatically as l know how that
1 never met Worth. I'm not aware
Of having the remotest acquaintance
with him in any conceivable way"
I'VE have, OF course. adequate
reason, Mr.. Keith. The coincidence
is odd, extremely odd"
Douglas flushed. He noticed his
hands shaking and folded them pug
naciously under his arms. What
adequate reasons could they have?
What odd coincidence? Were there
letters giving Sandy's name and his
name? Had he been traced and
identified as the fellow who carried
girl from Ramon's office?
lie tried to restrain the instinct
to swallow--relive his parched, tri-
fling throat. He was suddenly con-
scious Of a false. high note in his
voice.
What reason have you that can
alter facts? I don't know him, anu
that's all there is to it"
"Yes-the odd thing is tSAt he
knew you. In the last hour or two
of his life you were in his thoughts.
He scrubbed YOUR name hundreds Of
times. The tracing Of 1t Is in the
blotter found in his desk. OF course,
no suspicious attaches 70 this. We
thought you probably knew him and
would shed light on a battling case.
Can you account for his frenzied
writing OF your name?"
"No-I cannot. He may have
seen it under a drawing and picked
il out idly. He never met me so far
as I knew. I never met him."
The detective nodded slowly. all the
while rubbing his knuckles; II see.
OF course, you understand, we
wanted to clear up this angle. Sorry
to trouble you, Mr.. Keith"
In a sudden rush of his over
charged emotion, Douglas put out
his hand. gave a deep, uncertain
laugh: TOO bad I couldn't help you
haitian l,rnly tiOoaV'
He rose unsteadily. He went out
MISUNDERSTANDING. rubbing his teeth
over his lower lip. Out OF It! Ye
gods, out of 1t! He went, half run
ming down the steps. He wanted to
grab some one by the hand, laugh
uproariously.
The sun swept the old plaza; made
cut across The park. hands dug In
his pockets. The luck! Wild, IN
heard-of luck!
Saturday morning he'd drive
down and tell Judith--tell Sandy
make them riotously happy.
He got in his car-swinging down
the highway-road clear-no one in
S4SHl. GRADUALLY ne DetdIue aware
OF a machine behind him-close be-
hind
He was nervous and slowed down.
Let it pass him.
AS soon as it was ahead of him he
began creeping. He distinctly no.
ticed the other machine slowing. He
put on all speed and went dashing
furiously-kept this up for fifteen
minutes.
He turned. The machine was
within 200 feet OF him. Shadowed-
they were shadowing him.
He wondered with a sickened pang
what they knew, what they suspect
ed. lie turned off at DAILY City, re
tracing his way.
He thought, his hands shaking on
the wheel: "God-this takes it out
Of fellow! God-Ill be glad to get
out of this"
The evening papers and the Sun
day morning papers had nothing