The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-21

hull made after she left, and after
he knew whatever it was that made
him quarrel with his son, leaves
everything but $4,000 to Nina, -
Morgan pointed out.
"That's So" Nan admitted. She
propped her round little chin on
her right fist and scowled as f1ercely
as her husband.
Then her face clearing, her eyes
shiningt ''How's this? Sounds wild,
I grant, but I've got a bunch it's
pretty near correct! AS L said be-
fore, Nina BlackhuI vamps young
David until he's mad about her. He
forgets for a minute she's his ia
theirs wife and makes love to her.
Probably only kiss or two. But
enough for Nina'S purpose. Very
much the scandalized, virtuous wife,
she goes to her doting old husband
tells him that his son has taken ter
rible advantage of her motherly in
terest-has, in short, madee love to
her, and she can't live under the
same roof with him another day
The boy was away the day she left
and did not return till the next aft
ernoon late, you knoW-the night of
the murder"
Which Nina could hardly have
committed, if she was in Chicago"
Morgan interposed.
"Of course she Couldn't Do you
think she'd risk doing it herself?"
Nan was blithely scornful. She
knows, because the old man has
told her-she made sure Of that,
of courseI-that he is making a
new will, cutting off his villainous
young son and leaving everything
to his loyal and loving wife, SO
grossly insulted by that villainous
young son. See?. She goes, with
all arrangements made for the MUIR
der to take place after the will has
been safely made and witnessed and
after the quarrel which will throw
suspicion upon the boy. See?"
Il grant that of the two, the
woman had the stronger motive, p"
Morgan agreed thoughtfully. Get
ting rid of an old husband and &C
curing a fortune at one blow. But
what about an accomplice?"
All! Thought you'd catch me,
didn't you?" Nan laughed. But to
tell you the truth, I had a bunch
about the actual murderer before
I became suspicious of the lovely
Nina. I read all the stories in the
paper before 1 knew the case was
coming to us, you know. And two
or three days ago there was an
obscure paragraph about the Black,
hull chauffeur. Remember? He'd
been questioned by the police, along
with the other servants, the day
after the murder, and had nothing
of interest to tell. Then suddenly
the police woke up to the fact that
he was missing. But Nina Black
hull explained it by saying she'd
discharged the man-Bassett, his
name was, I believe-for imperti-
nence to her"
NTORGAN'S face seemed to catch
1V1 the glow from hers. All part
of her scheme. you think?
She has a scene with the chauffeur,
carefully staged so that it will be
overheard, discharges him, so that
he can have an excuse for leaving?"
"Attaboy!" Nan applauded glee-
fully. The row and the diSmis-
sal we're clever, weren't they? If
anybody's interested q year or two
from now, it might be enlighten-
ing to look up Mr.. and Mrs. Bas-
Sett. The only way to explain it
all is on the assumption that the
chauffeur and Nina were lovers and
plotted together to kill the old man
for his money and her freedom"
Now that that's settled" Nor
gan laughed, suppose the firm of
Morgan & Morgan goes TO call on
the fair murderess."
Nan was sorely tempted. but she
shook her head, mo John. You
90 alone. If Nina'S the siren I
think she is, she'd resent having
me tag along. She wants to vamp
some information out of you, and a
a" she was about to say wife"
but could not utter the sacred word
so casually yet-"a female lawyer
would cramp her style dreadfully.
No. you run along. I'm tired,
anyway"
Il must say you're anxious to
get rid of me-" Morgan protested
Indignantly. I'm not going to
leave you-you mercileSs little
slave driver!" And he put an arm
about her shoulders and Rugged her
close.
oh. yes, you are!' Nan assured
him, pushing him away with mock
severity, WHEN every nerve in her
body clamored to have him hold
her closer and closer. II suppose
the junior partner of this firm has
some say-so! Go along I'm crazy
to find out if our theory has any
basis in fact"
oh! All right Morgan agreed
abruptly, turning sharply away from
her. For one precious moment Nan
thought that he was hurt and angry
with her for sending him away
from her on their wedding night.
But-She reminded herself-She
had touched bottom, leaving hope
far behind. Of course, for very
decency. he had had to pretend.
But hope had not been so COM
pletely crushed as Nan had be-
lieved. After her husband had