The Washington times., 1930-10-04
CHAPTER 54


burned in the corridors, and
the hush Of the night still hung
over the jail, a strange matron
came to bid Cathie get up.
"Put on your clothes quickly,
and get into the visitors room,
Mrs. Farnsworth. Your attor-
ney and Mr.. Moore and some
others are waiting
did - did something hap
pen?"
"Now. don't ask me. Just
get dressed"
So Cathie dressed, with
fingers that were all thumbs.
She was shaking with nervous
ness, and q half crazy certainty
that the Chinaman'S yelled pre-
dictions had all come true over
night, and Gordon had come to
take her away.
When she saw him, pale as
death, his dark hair all tumb-
led, his eyes shining, her chin
began to tremble. "Oh. Gordon
tell me-tell me"
Slayer Caught
We've got the murderer.
The Spinney womanl" Mr..
Allan shouted. pounding the
table In his excitement. -
Signed confesSion!" some
body else shouted.
"It was Marguerite. Think of
1t. Marguerite, all the time!"
Gordon cried.
Cathie sat down suddenly.
Her knees. They were doubling
up, the way they did in the
courtroom.
The men went on talking.
Gloating over it. Marguerite
Spinney. "a good nights work
:. lucky break for Mrs. Farms
worth. clears her all right!
"It was what I looked for
from the first" Inspector Bid
well was saying.
What YOU looked for.
You!" Inspector Horgan had
to laugh. "Ha, ha-what you
said! That's good. You. You
was saying, the last I remem-
Der, when I said that was MY
theory, that the idea was
lo0sy!" |''
"EIave it your own way: You
will, anyhow" said Inspector
Bidwell, with dignity.
Ideas. Are Rare
Listen to the flatfeet STEP
ping on each others bunions,"
Jesse Allan chuckled, so far for
getting as to slap Cathie on the
back. Neither one of them
ever had an idea. It was my
theory-worked out with the
aid of my good friend Moore"
"And our good friend, Che
ong." Gordon put in rather
curtly.
Cathie whispered, "Marguer-
ite. You say it was Marguerite
:. confessed, to killing Mr..
Farnsworth
eyes, Marguerite spinney.
Cathie. I'll admit it's kind Of
a shock. want a drink of
water, honey?. .Cathie, don't
please don't-look that way!
why, you should be happy. It
clears you, darling. It makes
you a free woman"
Cathie tried to speak, gave up.
Don't take it so hard" Cor
don begged. when you under
stand why, it will make so many
things clear Don't cry,
Cathie, it's all over. You can't
bring him back you
can't undo the past oh,
Cathie, dear-don't-don't feel
so bad!"
That's not it." she said in a
small, strangled voice. I'm
just being selfish, that's all.
I'm crying because thought
it was all over. and it's not
Murderess Dead ...
''Why, the new trial will be
nothing. They may not even
have it. With you cleared, and
the spinney woman dead"
Dead Marguerite,
dead ';oo2 Oh, Mr..
Atlantis just-too much"
"No-listen! Listen to me.
Mrs. Farnsworth. My God, If
you all keep on talking, how
can I tell her? The girl
doesn't even know what's hap
pened yet. Listen. This Spin
ney woman confessed, see? And
then she committed suicide.
See? We found her-traced
her over to a rooming
LET me tell her. Darling,
It was Marguerite. She shot
Farnsworth. That was why she
escaped-afraid of the cross
questioning. She hid in. this
rooming house, and waited to
see how it came. out. If they
had acquitted you she'd never
have confessed. But rather than
Cop Disguised
That's it. Rather than have
me sentenced she took 1t on
herself. Mono, don't stop me,
Gordon. 1 know. It couldn't
have been Marguerite. She
wouldn't have let me go through
all this If she did 1t herself.
Not couldn't be-"
But she confeSsedl" Mr.. Al
Ian cried, waving the paper in
his fat hand, "She confesSed!" !"
Suppose she did!" Cathie