Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-08
CHAPTER vi.
"ONLY A GAME"

n wine and put the glass down.
IA I'VE shall assume, meSsieurS
l. ct mesdames, that I have just
found the body of monsieur on
the floor of his library and the patio
window is closed. Comprenez vous!
Monsieur has been dead some little
while. How long I do not know. 1t Is
now 9 o'clock.
1--WE shall also assume" Fhque con-
tinued. that Mile. Jahries informed me
this evening that monsieur desired me
to come to the library. / knocked on
the door He did not answer. l as
sumo that he was dead. 1t was then Z
o'clock"
Flioue twirled his mustache.
HE was alive at half past g." said,
accepting the cue. 81 left him then.
Miss Jahries saw him, too"
"Bravo!" Flique glowed. Monsieur
was shot between half past and T."
ST saw Mr.. Annersley 60 into the
library shortly after half past g. Mrs.
Parados drawled.
"You did not!" he shouted. II
haven't seen Mr.. Parados since noon"
st must have been mistaken then"
Mrs Parados said ironically.
But you did see Mr.. Parados early
this evening, Annersley," reminded
him. Towards half past you came
into the library with newspaper in
your hand. I was there"
His eyes were desperate.
well, you saw him after did, Hunt.
How about that?"
81 last saw him go back into the
library at half past g." replied Any
how. / had no motive for killing him."
do you mean I have?"
eyes"
1t was Mrs. Parados who flung the
word at Annersley.
what do you mean by that. Mrs.
PARADISE" Annersley asked.
THE Fleetwood Trading Co.." Mrs.
Parados told him. Hasn't Dan swim
els that motive enough for murder?"
This Fleetwood Trading Co., mon
gieur," Flique murmured. You will tell
us about 1t, yes?"
1T is land company Parados formed
10 years ago." Annersley said. He got
me into it-about everything had.
The company prospered until he de-
cided to ruin me-"
And why did monsieur desire to
ruin you?" F1ique inquired.
Tell them the truth, Claude" Mrs.
Parados tainted.
why don't you tell the TRUTH" Celia
demanded. About yourself and Dan
Parados! You loathe him with all your
soul"
"True enough, Mrs. Parados admitted.
coolly. 81 hate Dan, but wasn't fool
enough to kill him." Mrs. Parados
paused. But you managed to get on
nicely with him, didn't you, dear?"
You always were beastly to mep
Celia stormed with tears in her lovely
eyes. II detest himl"
But you managed to put up with
him. wonder why. Perhaps you have
O little motive"
"How dare your" Celia gasped.
The game seemed to have gotten COM
pletely out Of the hands Of its origi-
nator.
eff you want motives" Annersley said
hotly, look around. Dan Parados'
household is rotten with hatred Of him.
Johns dislikes him-he's told me so.
I've heard him-Parados-ins Miss
Jahries. He has q thousand enemies
outside"
Fortunately Anatole FIique looked UP
then, reminding me it was only game.
M. lie professor has the word to say
for himself, perceive"
Really, ! don't think I have much to
say" Prof. Johns murmured Mr.. Pa
radios and 1 knew each other many
years and we had our Disbursements,
but certainly never had any such
motive as Mr.. Annersley has attributed
to me"
Monsieur is of the faithful ones"
and Flique bowed. And now shall
we-um-consider the clues? There
are two. First, blackneSs on the blue
ticket clasped in the dead hand of
monsieur"
That was going too far. After all,
It was only game.
Mrs. Parados said suddenly:
Come in, Miss Jahries."
Miss Jahries appeared In the door,
."Did you shoot my husbandp" Mrs.
HArados asked.
vThe womans body rocked.
IL don't know what you mean, Mrs.
eAradoe," she said.
"Oh, it's Just a game. Tell Granger
% put some wood on the fire."
The man, Granger, came In. He
was an elderly fellow with a bronze
face.
"Grainger," Mrs. Parados said.
The man turned, log in his hand
What is that mark on your face?"
"a eucalyptus slashed me across the
cheek, ma'am," he explained.
A sharp intake of breath on my left
caused me to look at Celia. Her lips
were pressed tightly together
You'd better have it attended to-"
Mrs. Parados said. WAS 1t you who
shot Mr.. PARADISE"
Are you making game of me,
rna'am?" Granger asked.
Mrs. Parados laughed. cts just a
Joke. Look to the fire"
Monsieur even won the hatred of
that admirable Lum We" Flique NUT
tered "Cest incroyable! Now M.
Annersley shall tell us where he was
between $50 and T."
IN do nothing of the sortl" An
nersley shouted, leaping to his feet
'I'm through"
He strobe toward the hall door, but
Flique was ahead of him.
You will remain, monsieur" he said
quietly.
Get out OF my way!" Annersley
shouted.
At that instant we heard pounding
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