New Britain herald., 1927-05-13
(C)H27 BYNEA SERVICE n,c

answered for him. and little be wildered, Robin sat down.
 With a gesture that seemed t fling the rest of her crowd int nearby seats. Miss Folsom. sittin directly ins front of Robin. began , fire of questions.
 CHAPTER XXIII l Anastasia Folsom was not at al unkind!y, but she was straightfor ward and direct of speech and he eyes flashed with ! sort of veilet warning.
 "Your father bought several dag gers at that auction?"
 Two, madam" said Robin, quiet ly.
 What for?" "As he stated at the inquest, tt add to his collection"
 "Yes. I heard him. Why did ht go out late. on a stormy night, tt buy daggers for his collection?" i Because that was the night or which the auction was held. Mir Meeker also bought daggers at thai sale."
 T know that. But Mfr. Meekel was not acquainted with my broth CT. Your father was."
 T don't think he was, Miss Fol. som, though l am not sure. But even so, he had a perfect right tc buy antique curios if he chose" "Oh, yes, a perfect right. That is if he bought them for antique curioA But if he bought them fol use as deadly weapons. his right is not so unquestionable."
 Robin had had about all he could stand.
 Naturally courteous, he hesitated to speak sternly 10 a woman; yet he felt the time had come. Tite Riggs was watching him closely: so was Pelton.
 Neville and the two women with him had taken chairs nearby and were curiously listening to this dialogue.
 Anastasia Folsom was regarding Robin Sears with an eager gaze that held in it not so much of enmity as inquiry. almost as if she hoped for some plausible and satisfactory ex. plantation.
 But Robin was at the end of his rope. The word deadly weapons had 50 reused his ire that he felt direct response was called for.
 Miss Folsom,' he said. my father did buy those daggers for his collection. But your insinuation isis too definite to be ignored, and I think I must ask you to cross to the other side of the deck and say to him what you have said to me"
 T shall be very glad to do so," Anastasia said. rising at once. Come with me. Dan. And you, too, Mr. Riggs. No one else"
 And led by Robin. white. faced and flashing-eyed. they crossed to where Croydon Sears sat reading 6 newspaper.
 Dad" Robin said. twill you put down your paper. please?"
 Surely" said Sears. rising as Miss Folsom drew near.
 She spoke at once.
 T am here to ask you. MT. Sears" she began. about the dag gers you bought at the auction last Thursday night"
 "Yes. Miss Folsom: what about them ?"
 Croydon Sears was what is often called a gentleman of the old school. He had a fine old fashioned courtesy. and though not an old man. he showed a polite deference In conversation not generally seen in today's social intercourse.
 You bought two, that were among the finer specimens Of the lot, l understand"
 You have been correctly inform cd: did"
 Then you left the sale room, in company with Mir. Meeker?"
 Yes. I did"
 Then where did you go?"
 T walked a bit on the board . walk"
 Up or down?'
 "Oh, both ways. Just a stroll back and forth. Then home to my hotel"
 Not going into the sale room again?"
 No. Miss Eolsom"
 The quiet tone carried an im- pression Of veracity and composure, but a close observer might have seen a slight quiver of Sears lips. a slight throbbing of a pulse in his cheek, and a nervous movement of his hands.
 At any rate. his son saw these things and marveled, for he knew they meant his father was disturb ed in some way, and he failed to connect it with Miss Folsoms catechizing.
 "Mr. Sears" the insIstent lady went on. T have no reason to sus- pect you of any complicity in my brothers death. have no motive to attribute to you, no evidence to point your way. and no clue that suggests you. But I am Investigating every possible avenue Of inquiry, and so, since you can have no ob- Ject in refusing to answer. I ask you where you were in the ocean at the time my brother met his death."
 Croydon Sears looked at her calmly.
 My dear madam" he said "T am truly sorry for you. l know how anxious you are to learn the slayer of your brother, and l am glad 10 be of any help can. do not resent your questions. for I know they are the desperate efforts of an anguish ed heart. AS to my position in the ocean that morning. I can only say I was bathing in the midst of. a crowd of people long distance away from the spot where your brother met his death. As many standing near me can testify, was standing near the next rope, fully fifty feet away from fba ropa nt