The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-26

NO" Lois answered. after con-
sidering a moment. I'm sure she
didn't notice him until I pointed
him cut. The face in this group
that seemed to interest her most was
Flora Miles.
Flora played the part Of Lucy
Lockit,' the jailer's daughter, and
Karen Marshall the other feminine
lead, Polly Peachum, you know.
But it was F1ora's picture she lin
gered over, so showed her this pic
ture," and Lois Dunlap reached for
the portrait of Flora Miles, unex-
pectedly beautiful in the eighteen
century costumetight bodice and bill
lowing skirts.
"She questioned you about Mrs.
Miles?" Dundee asked.
yes. All sorts Of questions-her
name, and whether she was married
and then who her husband was, and
if she had had stage experience, "
Lois answered conscientiously.
she explained her interest by
saying Flora looked more like a pro-
fessional actress than any of the
others, and that should give her a
real chance when we got our Little
Theater going.
4 asked her then If that meant
she was going to accept my offer,
and she said she might, but that she
would have to talk it over with a
friend first. Just before midnight
she telephoned me at my hotel that
she had decided to accept the job"
Dundee's heart leaped 1t was
very easy to guess who that friend"
wasl But he controlled his excite
ment, asked his next question cas-
ually:
Did she show particular interest
in any other player?"
yes. She asked number Of
questions about Polly Beale, and
seemed incredulous when I told her
that Polly and Give were engaged.
Polly played Mrs. Peachum, and
was a riot in the part. But Nita's
intuition was correct. Flora carried
off the acting hOnors. . Oh, yes,
she also asked, quite naively, if all
my friends we're rich, too, and
could help support a Little Theater.
I treasured her on that point"
" A ND" Dundee reflected silently,
N upon a point much more i'm
portant to Mia Selim." Aloud he
said: Il don't see you among the
cast"
ooh. haven't a grain of talent"
Lois Dunlap laughed. I can't act
for cents-can I, Peter darling?
Here's the redoubtable Robin
of Bagshot' in person, Mr.. Dundee
my husband"
THE detective rose to shake hands
with the man he had been too alb
sorbed to see or hear approaching.
you're the man from the dis
trict attorneys Officer" Peter Dun
lap scowled, his hand barely touch
ing Dundee's. Il suppose you're
trying to get at the bottom of the
mystery of why my wife brought
that Selim woman"
Don't call her that Selim woman
Peterl" Lois Dunlap interrupted
with more sharpness than Dundee
ever had seen her display before.
You never liked the poor girl,
never were just TO her"
We'll, it looks as if my bunch
was correct. doesn't it? the
stocky, rugged-faced man retorted.
Il told you at the beginning to pay
her off and send her back to New
York"
You knew I couldn't do that,
even to please you, dear" Lois
said. "But please don't let's quarrel
about poor Mia again. She's dead
now, and I want to do anything I
can to help bring her murderer to
justice"
There's nothing you can do,
Lois, and I hope Mr-ah-Dundee
will not find it necessary to quiz
you again
Dundee reached for his hat. 81
hope so, too, Mr.. Dunlap. BY
the way, you are president of the
Chamber of Commerce, aren't your"
Eyes, I ami And we're having a
meeting tonight, at which that
Sprague mans bid on making a
historical movie of Hamilton will be
turned down-unanimousl
Nov that the Selim woman isn't
here to vamp my ellow-menlbers
into doing anything she wants, I
think can safely promise you that
Dexter Sprague will have no further
business in Hamilton-unless it is
police business"
Thanks for the tip, Mr. Dunlap"
Dundee said evenly. II hope you
enjoyed your fishing trip. Where
do you fish. Sir?"
"a tactful way of asking for my
alibi, ah?" Dunlap was heavily
sarcastic. It left Friday afternoon
for my own camp in the mountains,
up in the northeast part of the
state. I drove my own car, went
alone, spent the weekend alone,
and got back this noon.
Il read of the murder in a paper
e r q 3 70