The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-01-14

Bob Hathaway eyes dropped Tor
a moment before the scorn and an.
ger and stricken love in Faiths
voice and face.
Churchill almost had me con-
WINGED, Faith, but. before God,
believe cherry is telling the truth
Well stand by her, darling, in spite
Of the grand jury and in spite Of
Stephen Churchill's doubts of her
innocence. She'll come out of this
triumphant, indicated. because
she's innocent. I'll spend every cent
can raise. borrow or steal, to
clear her name. if that is necessary.
Are you satisfied, Faith?"
The overweight girl collapsed in
his arms, realizing for the first time
since Cherrys arrest that her sis
cold fingers chung to his coat, but
the face which she raised to Bob's
was Illuminated with love and graf
itude to him. Thank you. Bob.
I'm sorry-I spoke as l did"
II don't have to remind you that
me-" Bob murmured tenderly. And
by the way, here's something that
may mean a lot-and nothing"
What in the world-?" Faith
easped, as he held up a short piece
of old brown leather strap, the
pointed end. with holes punched at
half-inch intervals. The bit of strap
had beer broken off at the wldened
hole by which it evidently had been
fastened countless times.
awful looking things, isn't ftp"
His voice was straining to be casual
and natural. IT found It tonight
in the snow under Uncle Ralphs
window. The place is being guarded
by the police. of course. but the bore
I'll know that I'm a friend Of More
house, and that it was my uncle who
was killed Matter of fact. I found
it when no one was looking"
you think-it's a clew?" The
bright color Of hope famed into
Faiths wan cheeks.
May be-" Bob admitted. ct was
tanning the snow off those footprints
I told you about, to see If they were
still visible at all. They were
family, but very much blurred as TO
outline. And 7 found this thing
buried under the window. DO you
get what that means? There was
snow under it, as well as over
it.
(Which proved II was dropped
there after the snow began to fall, 4"
Faith interrunted in breathless ex-
element. ooh, Bob it must have
been the murderer who dropped it.,
somehow"
She paused, as she saw Bob lift
the bit Of broken strap to his nose
and sniff at It, a slight from Of
concentration between his eyes.
"Sweat," he explained briefly.
Human sweat. It's an unmistak.
able odor. Smell" he commanded,
thrusting the bit Of damp, dark
leather toward her.
No she drew back with a shud-
der. 1.-THE thing makes me feel
creepy somehow. Did you check M
servant or policeman"
"Wise girl" he applauded, smil-
ing ut her. Tony Salvatore, the
GARDENER. swore that it had not been
there before the snow began to fall.
hut.of course. he might easily over
look little thing like that. But
he's positive that it was broken from
nothing connected with my uncle's
house or grounds. I thought at first
II might be a piece OF cops belt
or from the strap on which a cops
hillev swings. But the billeys are
carried on leather thong, not at
all like this, and the belts for the
gun holsters fasten with wider
strap. I managed to find out with.
out giving any secret away. There's
lust one thing that occurs to me-"
he frowned at the bit of strap, as
If trying to force it. by power of
his will, to give up its secret.