New Britain herald., 1929-07-11

Well. cant see him-that's final" Morgan decided flatly
 Please, Mr. Morgan" Nan broke in. Shall we go into you: office and talk it over for minute? There's time enough, I'm sure"
 Neither she nor her husband noticed that sch had called him by the old familiar title. They were again chief and trusted subordinate husband and wife relationship tempora rilu f"rootta" - as Morgan led the way into the new suite of offices. They did not even pause for Nan to get her first pridefu! glimpse of her own private office.
 After working hours the night before and while she was being married this morning - Nan had gone direct from her little apart ment to City Hall-the move had been almost miraculously accom- plished. Everything from the old offices was in place, even to tele- phones.
 As matter of course. Nan dropped into the stenographer's chair drawn up 10 the side of the big desk, and Morgan took the swivel chair It was as if nothing had occurred 10 change the old re- lationship of employer and secre- tary.
 "I don't want the case Nan and even if I did, I wouldn't take 1t today of all days" Morgan began firmly.
 Because everything points to the boys being guilty?" Nan chal- lenged him tensely. T don't be- lieve he is. l don't care if he did seem to be in hiding while the po- lice searched for him, He's com ing forward now, voluntarily, to give himself up for questioning. If he does reach this office without be- ing stopped by police, I want you to see him. Please give him five minutes, If he isn't here by then, we can still make our train-''
 "You've always put business be- fore pleasure, haven't you, Nan 9" Morgan asked. with queer smile turning down corner of his mouth. For d moment Nan had fleeting, heart-twisting fear that he was hurt
 There was knock on the door, immediately followed by Kathleen O'Hara's vivid. excited little face. Hes here!" she gasped in a thrilled whisped. And he doesn't look like a murderer at all! Isn't it marvellous that the police didn't catch him before he got here? Shall I show him in?"
 Yes" Morgan answered curtly. Then, to Nan. in a low voice: We can take later train. I suppose"
 Kathleen O'Hara was right. No one could have looked less like a patricide than David Blackhull X slender, wellgroomed boy of about 20, with wavy nut-brown hair, frank eyes, a, fair. freckled skin. he might have posed for picture to be en- titled Composite Portrait of American College Youth"
 Nan liked the way he thrust out steady hand, as if it did not oc- cur to him that anyone might hest tate to clasp it. She offered her own hand unflinchingly when Nor gan performed the introduction:
 My law partner and-my wife Mrs. Morgan"
 Ironic, Nan thought, that the first time those words. my wife" passed his lips in reference 10 her. they should be addressed to a boy suspe cted of the murder of his father.
 Well, I made it, sir David BlaCkhun said with just a trace of boyish bravado. But I can't blame the police for not spotting me right off. l look too much like most other fellows. I wasn't in hiding. sir. I-I didn't know my father had been-killed until I saw a paper this morning. I've been up north in the woods with a pal Of mine. He has a hunting lodge and when he came in at dawn this morning from Mountain Niew-that is the nearest town 10 his lodge with q paper, why, Of course. there was nothing to do but to come and give myself up. but I wanted to see you first"
 And the plane?" Morgan prompted. after he had seated the young man in the armchair across the desk.
 "Oh, he has Moth monoplane that he buzzes around in" this son Of wealth explained easily. Ste phen Grants his name. Maybe you've heard of the family" At Morgan's nod. the boy went on eag- erly: He offered to bring me in and we stopped just once on the way. to telephone. I put the call through a pay station in village. using Grants name, but when l got your office. l told who I was. I thought maybe the police would have the operators listening in. but it looks as if they didn't"
 Your luck was certainly with you" Morgan interrupted dryly. Now, about your father"
 Nan sprang 10 her feet, excused herself with q word and ran out of the office, to return a minute later. breathless. Jerking out the stenog- rapher's leaf of the desk, she flung open her notebook and began to take rapid shorthand notes of the boys story.
 In spite of her half-fearful half joyful absorption in her approach ing wedding, Nan had taken an enormous interest in the sensa- tonal murder of the millionaire automobile manufacturer. Thornton Blackhu]l The papers had shrieked the news of the disappearance Of the cld mans son within q few minutes Of the murder. The mil honaire had been found dead, shot hrA rrl, l.