The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-04
&NDC1 /
and
SUMMER
BY Anne Austin

f..
note Tor her sister. FAITH. saying She
could not 60 on with e, the wYesdIdippg
becomes known. News of the murder is
kept, from Cherry's invalid mother. but
she knows OF Cherrys marriage.
Cherry has been engaged several times
8Rfs she ffd Il run maTrsyd T tTaYe Ah
BoB ArH a4d Ssf FANCY es Faith and
KEARtNRsY nqg tes Of the Bob %ad Hat RARY
finding CLUNY. his uncle. Immediately
after his death, Cherry admits that
G6 ni Attempted sbd to force the Udd marriage
Faith suspects Chris Wiley. thinking
ne knew Cluny had willed much money
Dad, you're not eating! You'll be
sick, honey. You look dreadful now
And for mothers sake, you must
keep up. Well both go to see her
after the inquest is over, and she
mustn't suspect anything"
Looks to me like you two young
sters are forgetting something" Jim
Lane said heavily. IF they get hold
of that will business at the inquest,
it will furnish them with a motive
against Cherry. God have mercy on
us II that story gets out
Don't, Dad" Faith pleaded. Be
sides, the story can't get out until
the will is probated, can it. Bob?"
Don't see how it can," Bob avoid
ed her eyes and spoke with false con-
fidence. Anyhow, Cherry's got the
coroner eating out of her hand, and
every man on the jury is convinced
she's the cutest and sweetest little
thing that ever ran away to get mar
ried to a worthless scamp"
You don't think Cherry'll be men
toned in the coroner's report, them"
Faiths voice quivered with joy.
mo, L don't" Bob treasured her
stoutly. IF they don't hear about
this will business, they won't be able
to pin a motive on her. And she
hasn't tried to lie about being there
or the time she was there. She's
freely admitted everything, even
when it has been against her. That
will have weight with the jury, tell
you. They'll think she has nothing
to hide-and she hasn't"
But Bob, everybody's wondering
the same thing--if Cherry didn't do
it, who did? There's not shred Of
evidence to connect anyone else with
the crime, and there's the time ele-
ment, too. There literally wasn't
time for anyone else to do it. You
arrived within five minutes after
Cherry had left. You didn't touch
him, did your"
mo. 1 testified that I didn't. 1
saw at once that he was dead. OF
course DR.. Paxton made exhaustive
tests when he got there. But it's
pretty sure that he was struck down
as soon as Cherry left the room-by
someone lying in wait to do it, by
someone who knew that Cherry
would be accused"
That's what I've been saying to
myself over and over" Faith gasped.
But who, who? The man who made
those queer footprints, or someone
concealed in the house? Robbery was
not the motive. Not a thing was
touched"
When the inquest was resumed
Chris Wiley took the witness chair.
After preliminary questions, and aft
err Chris had been allowed to tell
his story of the elopement, an &C.
count which corroborated Cherry's
story in all essential details, the
coroner asked:
Nov, Mr.. Wiley, while you were
waiting for Miss Lane, who is now
Mrs. Wiley, did you get out of your
carp" 1t was a crucial question: it
pointed directly toward Girls Wiley
as a possible suspect and every per-
son in the room strained forward IN
eagerness to hear the answer.
1T did not get out of my car"
Chris Wiley answered firmly.
did you see anyone during your
wait, either entering the house, by
any means whatever, or did you see
anyone on the lawn"
IT did not"
did you Sc Mr.. Cluny through
the open window of his room?"
II did not"
did you ever quarrel with Mr.
Cluny about Miss Cherry Lane OF
anything else?"
II did not. 1 made no effort what
ever to dissuade him from marrying
Miss Lane. concentrated my eff
forts on her." Chris Wiley smiled
slightly.
THAT is all, Mr.. Wiley, for the
present. Call Mr.. Charles Reilly
Neff"
ooh, Bob!' Faith whispered in an
agony of dread. He drew up Mr.
Cluny's will VIII he tell, Bob? VIII
he tell?"
NEXT: A motive for murder is
pinned on Cherry.
] Downright. 1925. NEA Services. Inc