New Britain herald., 1927-05-20
G),927 NY NRA SERVICE INC.

l I'm sure he will not only be glad tC
 come to my assistance but he will
 enjoy a few days down here" 1 Your assistance?" and Tite 1 Riggs looked frankly curious.
 Yes. just that. No, Tite, didn't
 murder Garrett Folsom, not that. | But there are reasons, strong req sons, why I want the murderer found, the mystery solved.'
 CHAPTER XXNV Then" said Riggs, you know i the police are interested in your-'
 My activities in the auction room? Yes, I know it" replied Sears. And I can't wonder at 1t. ] prowl around buying antique wea- pons and first thing you know a chap is killed with one of them, or similar one. Why wouldn't the average detective link up the two facts?"
 But lots of other people bought those old stickers. Meeker. for in stance.'
 But Meeker had no reason to kill Folsom"
 Had you?"
 Depends on what constitutes reason. How do you differentiate between reason and motive? But that's splitting hairs. I'll tell you what, Riggs. if you'll leave your question to be answered until after my friend Stone gets here, I'll give you some sort of answer then. How'd you like to sit in on our conferences and see what we can do, all working together, about the Fol som affair."
 "Td like 1t first rate. of course reminding you that I'm working for Miss Folsom. At least, she says l am, but I've not done much yet, ex- cept to stir up things"
 Good to have things stirred up. Easier. maybe, for Fleming Stone to settle.'
 Robin, meantime having handed in his telegram, went out on the deck in search of his fiancee, Angel ica Fair.
 She was there, with the Barrons, in their favorite corner, and he joined the group.
 Near by, Miss Anastasia Folsom was talking with Mrs. Barnaby and Carmelita Valdon.
 You see, Duchess" the spinster was saying, for she had become rather fond of these two women. things are not moving fast enough to suit me. I have faith in that nice Mr. Riggs. and I know he's doing all he can, but I don't like the way he's heading"
 What way is that?" asked Car melita.
 T won't exactly mention names. but he has Garry's notebook, and just because it's full of a lot of mysterious names and initials, Mr. Riggs proposes to run down all those people and see if any of them are implicated"
 Just because they are in his notebook?" cried / the Duchess. "Why, my goodness, they might be the merest business matters. or"
 "Of course they might" agreed Anastasia. "Dan wants to drop the whole question; says it cant help Garry to have somebody swing for him but don't look at it like that. A Folsom has been murdered, and if the man who killed him doesn't pay the penalty it won't be my fault. One third of Garry's money Is mine now. and I'll spend every cent of 1t before I'll stop chasing the wretch who killed him."
 Don't they say" the Duchess asked, "one must always suspect those who are beneficial"
 "Oh, yes. But that amounts to nothing. Of course, the minor bene- ficiaries might be thought of. but they're only servants and a few old friends. No, the motive for this crime was a deep one, and the method was planned and carefully carried out. It was no sudden im- pulse; it was premeditated. and so we must look for a motive of big import and a murderer of cunning. And I'm going to get him! I say he but do you know I sometimes think 1t may have been a woman. The cleverness of that stab under the water somehow suggests a woman's ingenuity. What do you think?"
 "No," Carmelita said. emphatical- ly. "The idea may have been a woman's, but the criminal was man. A woman. even If she had strength enough to drive that blow. couldn't have managed it in that tossing sea. It was awfully rough, you know. We were knocked about by the waves-'
 "Pooh." said Miss Folsom. ''the woman of today is as 1.-the and as man. And that's what i it required, that and cleverness in taking the exact moment for the 1 rush of the wave-''
 What it required" the Duchess l sr man or a woman could have 1 struck that blow. had it been inspir- ad by hate or revenge strong 1 There wasn't such a lot of ] physical force needed. It was a 1 question of aim and of choosing the light momen. l shouldn't wonder if | more than one attempt had to be | made"
 "Oh, do stop talking about it." cried Carmelita, her face drawn ! with emotion and her long slender fingers twining tightly about them selves.
 T shan't stop talking about it." i Miss Folsom announced. If you 1on't like it, you needn't listen. Oh, here's Mrs. Barron-good morning, ny dear"
 Anastasia had taken a fancy to Madeline from the first, perhaps l fhav uara eo 1;fForont ;p