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

Begin Here To-Day
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 TO Nita's
house the morning OF the murder
10 estimate the cost Of remodeling
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 Mia
and breaks the luncheon engage
ment and forces Ralph to have
lunch with her and his brother
Give. Dundee suspects that Ralph
shot Mia with a gun and Maxim
sileIlcer ne stole that afternoon
from Judge Marshall. Nita's land
lord. 10 whom she paid No rent.
and then ran away.
Flora Miles. another suspect. who
was in Nita's closet reading o note
which she thinks is from her hus-
band. couldn't have heard any
whispers that passed between Ralph
and Mia. Penny accuses Sprague
OF the murder, but the Ease Is
stronger against Ralph. Lydia. the
maid. who was horribly burned BY
Mia and TO whom Nits left all her
money, including a mysterious
$4,000 which Dundee thinks Is
hlackmail. j. 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 ne
doesn't even know Nita is dead.
Now Go On With The Story
CHAPTER XxVI
"Of course / recognized his voice
instantly when he said. That Won.
Penny?' and it's a wonder to me
I didn't scream" said Penny Grain.
fighting her way up through dazed
hawilderment to explain in detail.
IN answer 10 Dundee's pelting
questions. IL said. or course.
Ralph Where have you been2'..
And he said. in that coaxing. teas
ing voice OF his that / know 50
well: 'Peeved. Penny?....I don't
blame you. honey. You really ought
not 70 let me come over and X
plain why I stood you up last night.
but you will. won't you?.. .Ni-i-e
PennyF.. That's exactly how he
talked. Bonnie Dundeei Exactlyl
On. don't you see he couldn't know
that Nita is dead?"
Did YOU ask him where he vase
Dundee asked finally.
No. I lust told him 10 come On
over. and he said / could depend
on i that he would't waste "
time oh, Bonnet What shall
We do7"
Listen, PENNY" Dundee urged
rapidly. "Ycu 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? II 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 to
whisper a warning-it any warm
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 70 him; but Dundee told
himself now that he would hardly
have recognized the young man