The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-03
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"THEN why ask me?" Hammond

f1EN why ask leE ftdmLuOIlQ
Il shrugged, but his red-brown
eyes flickered toward Polly Beale.
I thought perhaps you could
give me a little additional informa-
tion," Dundee soOthed him. You
see, 1t happens that saw you, Miss
Beale, and another young man come
into the Stuart House dining room
about 100 today, just when I was
thinking Of lunch for myself"
The mysterious other young
man was Gives brother, Ralph
Hammond" Polly Beale cut in
brusquely.
Your decision to lunch with your
hancee and his brother was quite
a sudden one?" Dundee asked cour-
teOusly. Just when did you change
your mind about Mrs. Selim's lunch
con party at Breakaway inn, Miss
Beale?'
The tall girl threw up her man
nishly cropped chestnut head.
'There is nothing at all sinister or
even queer about it, Mr.. Dundeel
I was on my way to the luncheon,
when 1 decided to drive past Nita's
house on the chance that she might
like me to drive her over
Then you didn't know that Mrs.
Dunlap already had arranged to
meet Mrs. Selim downtown this
morning and to take her to the
Imp" Dundee asked, with his great
est casualness.
mol I didn't hear Of the arrange
ment," Polly answered decidedly.
You were a close friend Of Mrs.
Selim's perhaps?" Dundee prodded.
Not at all! But that would not
keep me from doing my hostess a
courtesy. 1t was about quarter
to l when I got here, I should say.
Mia wasn't here, nor was her maid,
but 1 saw Ralph's car parked in
front Of the house"
Ralph Hammond's carp" a wom-
an squealed, but Dundee let. Polly
continue.
Il rang and he answered the door
Said he was alone in the house,
going over the premises at Judge
Marshau's request" Polly said
evenly.
"TTHATS right-thats right"
A Judge Marshall agreed hastily.
"Nita-Mrs. Selim-wanted the un-
finished half of the gabled top
story finished up. Wanted a maids
room and bath, and a guest room
and bath added to the living quar-
ters already completed.
I gave the commission, for an es-
innate, at least, to the Hammond
firm, or course, since they had built
the house originally for Grain
Penny's father"
L see" Dundee agreed. "And
you sent your brother, Mr.. Ham
mond?"
He was the natural one to send"
Olive Hammond retorted. Small
job. All he had to do was to get
together an estimate on additional
furnace lines and radiators, electric
wiring, plumbing. plastering. etc"
Go on, Miss Beale," Dundee di-
rected.
"Thanks!" There was sarcasm in
her brusque voice. But that's
really about all I have to tell.
Ralph complained that he was hun
CRY and charged me with giving
him too little of my time-the usual
thing.
L picked up Nita's phone, called
Olive and made the date for the
three of us. Then I called Break
away inn, Cancelled the luncheon
part of the bridge party with Nita,
and Ralph and I drove back to
Hamilton"
Dundee studied her strong, clever,
almost plain face for a long min
ute. Certainly Polly Beale did not
look like a liar-but he would have
taken his oath she was lying now.
Or rather not revealing the real
truth behind the actual facts of her
movements that day.
For instance, could a simple plea
OF her future brother-in-law make
her do so discourteouS a thing. as
to break a luncheon appointment,
especially when such a course not
only would diSappoint her hostess
and her friends, but disarange the
seating plan of a rather formal
party?