The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-18

I sheet of paper from his desk blot
ter and read:
al. What motive took Lena into
the laboratory?
SO. Why did she NEEDLE with the
cylinder?
"3. Did she or some other person
turn on the electric current?
q. Was her death wholly acct
dental?
IS. If murder was intended, who
was the selected victim, and what
was the motive?
IS. What connection, If any, was
there between Lena's death and the
stealing of Mrs. WilberS diary?
Answer those questions, Maize,
and everything will be as clear as
daylight"
Il would suggest another" sug-
gested: What person would have
cause or inclination to seek the life
of any one who was at the WILDER
home last ngiht?"
Good girl, Maizie!" he exclaimed
delightedly. That undoubtedly is
our main line of inquiry until the
murder theory is discarded. I al
ready have taken some steps in that
direction.
eff anybody's life was sought it
was Wilber'S-that's cinch. Just
before I left I had long talk with
Sheila. She is sure her father has
no enemies. Without letting her
know what I was driving at, I led
her to talk of all the members of
the household and all their close
acquaintance.
She told nothing Of value until
she touched on Andy Masters. Nos
'Sy around this afternoon after I
left the Wilbers, I collected more
information about that irresponsible
youth"
Mr.. Sheridan paused and looked
at me intently.
HE is the only logical suspect,
barring the burglar and for the life
of me I can't see how Riley fits in"
mo" I agreed, "if your surmise
that Riley was there to steal the
cylinder is correct, and he was en-
ploying Lena as a tool to that end,
it is absurd to think that he even
had been in the room, for had he
been there he easily could have
taken the cylinder without Lena's
help.
"In any event, he would not have
set a trap to kill some one; it would
have defeated his very purpose, as
it evidently did"
Right" he replied, 81 see I'didn't
pick such a dumb secretary, after
all" He laughed as I wrinkled my
nose at him.
'Nor is the case against Andy
Masters very much better" he went
on seriously, "but it is the only lead
we have. I have learned that no
love is lost between Andy and his
uncle. WILDER tolerateS him only
because of Sheila's affection for him.
Andy once was under Wilber's
guardianship and they frequently
clashed. Andy still resents certain
disciplinary measures WILDER was
compelled to take to keep him in
the path of righteousness and In his
cups he frequently has voiced his
grudge to all and sundry."
He smiled as I shook my head.
We'll, say i'll" he laughed.
That's not much to go on" I
said. "a boyish grudge isn't suffi-
cient motive for murder. In addi-
ton. you are looking for the per-
petrator of cold-blooded, premedi-
tated murder, and Andy Masters is
far from that type. A quick-tem-
pered, self-willed boy easily could
kill someone in a flash of passion,
! but"
you've picked the flaw" he broke
in. but stranger things have hap
pened. Do you remember that case
of the meek little churchwoman.
who wept at the sight of a crippled
cat and was forever afield on err
rands of mercy, but who. day after
day. and week after week, put small
doses of poison in her husbands
coffee and calmly watched him slow
ly die, so she could get his life in
surance?"
ct don't care" I said stubbornly.
I'm sure Andy Masters never de-
liberately attempted to kill anyone. Z"
Perhaps you are right" he con-
coded, "woman'S intuition and all
that, you know. However, I'm going
to keep an eye on young Masters
movements.
do you know a stenographer
named Mercedes Riverton, employed
by Homer Mention over in the First
National Bank building?"
NO"
We'll, neither dc I. but I'm going
to make her acquaintance this very
afternoon This Mercedes person.