The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-10
Murder Al BRIDGE
1IEN h1 ANNE AlSl1N aS41ao * TIE BLACK PIGEON.
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flngerprints. he saw that its con-
tents we're in a hopeless tumble.
SO Strawn had beaten him to
this. tool Had he found an all
important clew in one of the many
little pigeonholes and drawers, stuff
fling it into his pocket just before a
bumptious young special investi-
gator arrived?
But Dundee's returning gloom in
stantly was dispelled. Here was
Nita's checkbook, flutter of filed
in stubs attached to only one re-
naming blank check. So Mia had
banked with the Hamilton National
bank, of which John c. Drake-who
apparently hated his fattish, fusSy
wife-was ? vice president.
Another tiny fact to be tucked
away She had opened her ac-
count, apparently, on April 81, The
day of her arrival in Hamilton
the guest and employe of Mrs. Peter
Dunlap. Probably Lois Dunlap had
advanced her the 5000 as first pay
ment for her prospective work in
organizing a Little Theater move
ment in Hamilton.
Turning rapidly through stubs,
Dundee stopped twice, whisrling
softly with amazement each time.
For on April %, and again on May
S, Nita Selim had deposited $4,000.
Where had she got the money!
Were the sums, possibly, transfers
from accounts in New York banks?
Hardly likely that little Broad
way hangeron had had so much
hard cash on deposit. Then where
had she got it-S5, 900 at a time,
here in Hamilton?
DLACKMAILP Hastily but
ID thoroughly Dundee ran through
the remaining check stubs. =.
No record at all Of a check for rent
made out to Judge Hugo MARSHALL
But there was a stub that inter
ested him. Check No. 17-Nita had
spent her money lavishly-was
filled in as follows, in Nita's pretty
backhand
No 17-S9, 900
May 9. 1890.
To Trust Dept
For Investment
Had John c. Drake, who as vice
president in charge Of trusts and
investments doubtless had handled
the check. wondered at all where
the $4,000 had come from?
One other revelation came out of
the twenty-three filled-in stubs. On
every Monday Nita Selim had drawn
a check for $40, to her maid, Lydia
Carr
Again Dundee whistle6. Forty
dollars week was, he wagered to
himself. more money than any
other maid in Hamilton was lucky
enough to receive! Nita in a new
ligllt-an over generous Mia! Or
was Nita herself paying blacknail
on q small scale?
He reached into pigeonhole
whose contents-a thick packet Of
unusued envelopes-had not been
disturbed by Strawn, and was about
to remove an envelope in which to
place the all-important checkbook,
when he noticed something slightly
peculiar.
An envelope in the middle of the
packet looked rather thicker than
an empty case should.
But it was not empty. And
across the face of the expensive,
cream-colored linen paper was writ
ten, in taht same pretty, very legi-
BILE backhand:
TO BE OPENED IN CASE OF MY
DEATH
-Juanita Leigh Selim.
His heart hammering. and his
fingers trembling, Dundee drew out
two cicSe- written sheets of creamy
notepaper. After all, who had bet
ter right than he to open it? Was
he not the representative of the
district attorney?
And he hadn't damaged the en-
velope- 1t had opened very easily
indeed-its flap had yielded instant
ly to his thumbnail.
Wait! 1t had been too easy. Be
fore unfolding the letter Or what
ever it was, Dundee examined the
flap of the envelope. Yes He
was not the first to open it since
its original sealing.
God grant he hedn't destroyed
any tell-tale f1ngerprints in his
criminal haste to learn any secret
that Nita Selim had recorded here!
Perhaps Mia herself had I'M
sealed the letter to make an add
ton or a ccrrestion?
Well, whatever damage had been
done was done now, and he might
as well read.
Five minutes later Bonnie Dun
dee was racing through the dining
room, pushing open the swinging
door that led into the buffers pan
Try. Where the devil were the steps
that led down into the basement?
A precious minute was lost before
he discovered that door in the