New Britain herald., 1927-05-18
WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE

Death strikes Garrett Poison while swimming at Ocean Town. N J. It is thought at first that he 1 a stroke victim, but investigation 1 shows he has been stabbed to deatl I under the water.
 Folsom's swimming companions were Roger Neville, business part ner: Mrs. Helen Barnaby and Car melita Valdon. Folsom. just befor, his death. had been standing nex to Ned Barron, known as the cop per kind.
 Anastasia Folsom. eccentric an6 masterful sister of the dead man arrives and takes command. At the inquest it is learned that the death weapon was pichaq. an Oriental knife, and it had been bought or the boardwalk.
 It is also learned that one Croy. don Sears, who was in Barron's party. is fancier of curious knives Anastasia engages Titus Riggs, an architect to work on the case. Dan Pelton, the dead mans nephew arrives and is intrigued by the curi- ous French dolls In Folsom's room
 He believes his uncle had been blackmailing several people and he and Riggs discover suspicious documents in Folsom's effects bear ing the initials of Croydon Sears.
 Riggs and Pelton meet Madeline, wife of Ned Barron, and Riggs is puzzled at her nervousness. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XXX
 As matter of fact, Madeline Barron took not the slightest inter- est in Pclton; she had merely re- sponded to his pleasant courtesy, and felt momentary relief in the way he picked up the responsibility of the situation.
 Intuitive himself. Dan saw her gayety was superficial, and won- dered what ugly fears had stirred her souls depths.
 For he read fear in the haunted eyes, apprehension in the quiver- ing lips, and realized that what ever else she was. Madeline Bar ron was a strong, self-controlled woman. who was in deep mental distress.
 T wonder if you'd like to meet my aunt" Pelton said. They had been talking of eccentricities in general. "She is the most eccentric person I know. and the strangest combination of gentleness and feroeity."
 That sounds delightful" Made- line smiled: "rather like the lion and the lamb in one identity"
 That's just what she Is. Here she comes now"
 "Why that's Miss Folsom." said Madeline. astounded.
 "Yes,' she's my aunt. Hello, Aunt Stasia. take my place. This Is Mrs. Barron. Miss Folsom"
 "Oh, we're not entire strang- ers," Anastasia Folsom said, sit- ting down. How do you do. Mir. Riggs? Now I bet you two'll march off-see"
 And they all laughed. for even as she spoke Tite Riggs had risen and he and Pelton were just about to fade away.
 They had the grace to redden a little. but Madeline Barron only laughed.
 Let them go: we don't want them." she said. Its quite all right. Miss Folsom. 4 man wants to talk to a woman about so long, then he wants his own kind again."
 She smiled gaily and Anastasia Folsom nodded her head.
 Meantime Dan Pelton was ask ing, excitedly:
 Good heavens, Riggs, who is that woman and how did you hap pen to run me up against herr"
 "You ran yourself; I didn't do it."
 Well. who is she?"
 Mrs. Edward Barron. If you think shes mixed up in the case. she isn't. Her husband stood next your uncle at the rope when your uncle went under. And Mrs. Bar ron stood the other side of her husband. But neither of them knew Mir. Folsom or had ever seen him before. Not picking her for the murderer are you?"
 NO, don't be silly. But I've seen her before, only I can't place her. Seen her under some strange or in some queer surroundings"
 Not questionable, I hope:"
 ''Of course not" Pelton spoke quite seriously. T mean when I saw her 1t was she and yet 1t