Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-12-29
Begin Here Today


Special Investigator Dundee,
having dinner with Penny Grain
the Sunday after Juanita Selim Is
murdered at bridge, tells her the
latest findings: Suspicion centers
heaviest on Ralph Hammond. in
love with Nita, who came 70 Nita's
house the morning OF the murder
to estimate the cost Of Temodeling
the attic and found in the attic
bedroom traces OF Dexter Sprague's
occupancy there.
Polly Beale. calling for Mia.
finds her gone, and seeing the
state Ralph is in, telephones Nits
and breaks the luncheon engage
ment and forces Ralph to have
lunch with her and his brother
Give. Dundee suspects that Ralph
shot Nita with a gun and Maxim
sllencer he stole that afternoon
from Judge Marshall. Nita's land
lord. TO whom she paid no rent.
and then ran away.
Flora Miles. another suspect. who
was in Nita's closet reading Q note
which she thinks Is from her hus-
band, couldn't have heard any
whispers that passed between Ralph
Mia. Penny accuses Sprague
murder. but the case Is
Jt7sainst Ralph. Lydia. the
,as horribly burned by
/, AZ whom Nits left all her
: .luding q mysterious
TN Itch Dundee thinks Is
clackmail. is practically cleared OF
suspicion. The evidence against
Ralph hasn't been made public
yet. as the papers all carry Cap
tain Strawn's theory that a New
York gunman killed her. Penny
goes to answer the telephone. and
returns. Mortified. and tells Dundee
that Ralph has just called and lie
doesn't even know Mia Is dead.
Now Go On With The Story
CHAPTER XVI
"Of course I recognized his voice
instantly when he said, That you.
Penny?' and it's a wonder to me
I didn't scream" said Penny Grain,
fighting her way up through dazed
bewilderment to explain in detail.
IN answer 10 Dundee's pelting
questions. II said. OF course.
Ralph. 80. Where have you been?'..
And he said, in that coaxing. teas
Ing voice OF his that l know SO
well: 'Peeved, Penny?....I don't
blame you. honey. You really ought
not to let me come over and ex-
plain why I stood you UP last night.
but you will. won't you?.. .Ni-i-ze
PennyP... That's exactly how he
talked. Bonnie Dundeel Exactlyl
Oh, don't you see he couldn't know
that Nita is dead?"
Did you ask him where he WASP"
Dundee asked finally.
No. / Just told him TO come on
over, and he said I could depend
on It hat he would't waste
time. oh, Bonniel What shall
we do7"
Listen. PENNY Dundee urged
rapidly. you must realize that I've
got to see and hear, but I don't
want Ralph Hammond to see me
until after he's had a talk with
you. VIII you let me eavesdrop
behind these portieres? ~ know
It's a beaStly thing to do. but"
Penny agreed at last, and within
10 minutes after that amazing tele-
phone call Dundee, from behind
the portiereS that separated the
dining and living rooms. heard
Penny greeting her visitor In the
little foyer. She had played fair;
had not gone out into the hall 70
whisper a warning--if any warn
Ing was needed.
He had seen Ralph Hammond
enter the dining room OF the Stuart
House the day before. IN company
with Give Hammond and Polly
Beale. when the three had been
strangers 10 him; but Dundee told
himself now that he would hardly
have recognized the young man