New Britain herald., 1927-05-07
BY NRA SEyWB0 nc

their bedroom d6or.
 The message was to the effect
 that anyone knowing personally
 the late Garrett Folsom, or anyone
 knowing any fact that bore upon
 his tragic death, must immediate ly communicate with the manage ment of the hotel.
 In the minds of most of the readers of this notification, there was aroused only curiosity and the sort of excited interest that the news of . murder usually sirs up.
 Yet there were many who felt themselves called upon to respond 10 the summons.
 Some. to be sure. were merely urged to such a course by a mor- bid desire to mix into the matter. Some from pride that lured them to the limelight under any pretense. And some felt con- scientiously bound to tell what ! they knew in the cause of right and justice.
 Wherefore a goodly number of | the hotels guests presented them- ] selves at the desk. and were di- rected to Room J, where they were met by Mr. Pelham himself. CHAPTER XIII A group of people sat on the deck of the hotel and watched the kaleidoscopic crowd already assem- bling on the boardwalk and the beach.
 One of these was Ned Barron, who had stood next to Garrett Folsom at the time of his sudden collapse.
 "Of course I must report, Mad dy." he was saying to his wife. T stood next to Mir. Folsom. I had been talking with him. As l had never seen or heard of the man before, my evidence can be of no help. but I must offer It."
 T wish you wouldn't" Made line Barron said thoughtfully. II see your point of view. of course, and 1t is logical in a way. But, as you say. 1t can be of no help. and 1t would get you 8 most unpleas- ant notoriety. Why, they may even think you knew the dead man. and they will call on you for testimony at the inquest and-and all sorts of horrid things!"
 "Bless your heart, child. what a fearsome picture you draw! can't fell, though, that I shall be greatly inconvenienced. except that it may cut into my time a little. But duty Is duty. and l certainly was next the man"
 T. too, advise you to keep out of 1t, Ned"
 It was Croydon Sears who spoke, who. with his son. Robin, and Angelica Fair, completed the party.
 T don't think 1t is your duty" Sears went on. You know noth- ing of the man: you have no per- sonal interest in the affair, and since you can be of no possible help, why mix in?"
 That's all right, dad" Robin SeuTS Sdlu. DuL IllcSc HOIICSS ask any guest of the hotel who knows anything about the mat ter"
 There you are." returned his father. Barron doesn't know anything about the matter. Hello, here's Tite Riggs. Let him advise us. Come here. Tite. sit down and give us some words of wisdom. Ned, here, thinks he ought to an- nounce to a waiting world that he 1 stood next Mr. Folsom, who was, they say. killed while in bathing"
 T saw you talking to lnm." said Riggs, sitting down near them. T assumed from that that you knew him."
 Well, T didn't.' said Barron. shortly. And wasn't talking to him; he was talking to me-"
 "A distinction with a differ ence?"
 "Nery much of a difference. 1 detest being addressed by strang- 1 CTS, especially those who have a rooted conviction that ocean bath. ing constitutes an introduction. | It's too absurd: Because you | stand next to another man at the l rope, or bump into him by reason of buffetlng wave. does that ! mean sudden friendship?"
 "No," Madeline said. decidedly. i And, Ned is foolish to give the 1 matter a thought"
 "Oh. know my duty. even though 1t is not in line with my You agree, don't you. Titc, that I am bound to tell the ! management--aftert these notices we 1 a1l received this morninc-that i