The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-22

grillings in detective stories-but I
never shall again! UghW and she
shuddered.
I'm glad you're not as angry
with me as you should be" he told
her humbly.
after all, murder has been COM
mitted," she justified her own toler-
ance. And you're my friend"
CHE gave him her hand with a
- new shyness, which he found
very sweet and very touching. They
were still standing. with hands
.clasped. when Captain StraWn came
Striding back into the room, his face
thundercloud
With that hot little hand in his,
Dundee could not restrain the i'm
pulse to decrease her anxiety.
Did you find any perfume on
Mrs. Berkeley's skirt or on the soles
of her shoes, chief"
mol" he admitted, his scowl
deepening. But 1 did make her
acknowledge that she'd gone to
Miss Clorinda's room and found it
empty.
Says she thought her daughter
was taking a stroll with Crosby. and
didn't worry. But that's the third
lie we've caught her in," he added
savagely
The third? Then look no fur
ther" Gigi cut in fippantly. "Abbie
has an iron rule never to tell more
than three fibs in one day! She's
funny that Way-doeS everything by
the rule Of three"
Well, let's see what's your limit,
young woman!' Strawn addressed
her sternly. When did you last see
Doris Matthews?
The spotlight at last!" Gigi
seemed delighted. Now let me think!
. Ummm. What time would you
say it was when I was talking to
you in the third floor hall, Mr..
Dundee?"
Five minutes to H." Dundee an
Swered promptly, then turned to
Strawn to explain: 1T was when
was going Up to my room, after
the Smits had left. Gigi was in
the third floor hall, waiting for
friendly word from some one before
trotting off to bed. She had"
Let her tell it" Strawn COM
manded shortly.
Delighted! You see it was this
way" Gigi began eagerly. Il had
gone to bed-let'S see; it was about
1870 when I went upstairs-but 1
couldn't sleep and 1 thought I'd
have a little powwow with Dick.
7 knew he'd gone up, because
he'd stopped at my door while I was
undressing to call Good night,
Honey! He knew I was feeling
pretty low, because mother had
slapped me-"
Friday seems to be her day for
slapping, doesn't it?" Strawn cut in.
oh, deserved it! I'm an awful
trial to Abbie, and I had been a
little beast. wasting her perfume
like that" Gigi said cheerfully.
Anyway, when I couldn't sleep,
slipped upstairs, in my pajamas, to
see Dick, and I found he wasn't
there, though there was smoke in
the room and knew he'd just left.
Then Mr.. Dundee came along, and
We talked a little bit"
"Gigi what was that dreadful
thing you spoke about having
done?" Dundee asked gently.
Obi That? I shan't tell
you!" and the Puckish little face
famed red.
So you confessed to doing some
thing terrible, did you?" Strawn in
terrupted, smiling. Then the smile
was wiped out by new sternneSS.
l think I can tell you what you
did, young woman! You'd been to
your mothers room and stolen that
flask of perfume. to get even with
her for having slapped you for vast
ing it"
NIGI stared at him with appar-
~ entity genuine admiration.
Haven't you got tAe most gorgeous
imagination" she marveled. Say.
Big Chief. you ought TO write detec-
tive stories. instead Of fiddling
around with real murders, where
you're so hobbled with factsl
Meaning, wrong againI And I'm
not going to tell you what did do!
Arrest me, if you hkel" and she
laughed as she held out her little
brown wrists invitingly.
i asked you when you last saw
Doris Matthews" Strawn reminded
her. Scowling prodigiouSly.
And III tell you if you'll stop
interrupting, she promised sweetly.
After I said goodnight to Bonnie
Dundee, I went down stairs 10 the