Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1928-08-09
BY EDISON MARSHALL

the closest of friends"
"And where were you just before
the bell rang, when .Southley told you
to get out the carr"
"In the kitchen"
"How long?"
AT least an hour before
And he told him what he was do
ing to prove it.
Ernest corroborated my story per-
fectly.
And what did you think of the
elder Hayward" he was asked.
Il didn't like him."
"And why not?'
II didn't like his attitude with my
father. He was too arrogant, and
demanded more than a guest should.
His manners were often boorish. Nor
did | like the way he threw his son
with my sister"
Il believe that was your sisters
part to object-not yours"
perhaps it is"
And she made no objection
Never. Of course / don't know
sis very we'll"
The detective and | looked at him
in amazement.
"And what do you mean by that
unusual speech" the former asked.
"That you don't know your sister
very we'll"
Because we went to different
schools. Both Of us are comparative
strangers to Southley Downs.
The detective turned to Josephine.
"And what light have you to
throw on this matter, Miss South
ley?" he asked.
None at ALL" the girl replied.
"And where were you, after the
scene in the DEM"
Il went straight to bed. My maid
helped me undress."
"And the Haywards must not
have been SO unpopular with you as
with your brother and Ahmad?"
II was with both of them a great
deal"
"And / think you took Villas part
against DR.. Long"
Her voice lowered.
Yes"
"And why did you do that?"
Because | couldn't do anything
else under the circumstances"
you evidently didn't like DR..
Long?"
Il did like DR.. Long. But his re-
lation with me was greatly different
from that of Villas"
She looked squarely into his eyes
as She talked. The room faded ex-
cept for her. The faces of the watch
ing circle became as mist. | don't
know why each answer she made
seemed to go so deep into me-each
word-each infection of voice an in
delible imprint in my memory. ]
couldn't turn my eyes from her white
face. | hardly heard the detectives
questions when he turned to South
ley. They came from somewhere far
off.
please tell me, Southley, just
what were the relations between you
and the Haywards."
"The elder Hayward and | were the
Oldest friends" the old. man answer
ed. He spoke falteringly, in the
hesitant way of age.
"They had been here almost q
month? ?"
Eyes"
"How long did you ask them for?'
His voice changed ever so slightly
"As long as they would remain
"You were in the den, in the
scene between DR.. Long and the
younger Hayward"
"Yes."
you sided in with Villas Hay
ward?"
"Yes."
did you think he was in the
right?"
Il don't know-for sure"
"Then why did you take the stand
you did,"
His answer called me from my pre-.
occupation. 1t rang in the quiet
room. He spoke it softly, h~esitantly
yet all other sounds became as no,
thing.
Because, Inspector Freeman" hi
said simply, 81 couldn't do any Other
thing with wisdom. Because Villa!
Hayward is going to marry my
daughter, Josephine"
After dinner / met Inspector Free
man in the hall. He called me to one
side. Perhaps he was a little NOR,
intent, a little more nervous ant
n quick of motion than in the after
noon.
"I'm in need of your help" HI
told me.