The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-04-17
CHAPTER FORTY-FIyE

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IA Dundee descended to the Ii
brary, put in call to the labora-
tory of DR.. Abel Jennings, city
chemist and toxicologist, and re-
ceived the report that wood alcohol
impurities had been found IN the
specimen of perfumed earth from
the summerhouse flooring.
Wen, there's your case, Dundee"
DR.. Jennings concluded cheerfully.
And all I have to do is to prove
It," Dundee retorted. Thanks to
certain interference, that win be
an almost impossible task"
He lost no time, however, in set
ting TO work.
Wicket. I'm going to bother you
again." he said to the butler whom
he found at work in his pantry.
you'd like some dinner, ex-
pect, sir" the butler suggested.
Not now. Later, if you'll be so
kind, I'd like you to bring plate
of sandwiches and a large thermos
bottle Of strong black coffee to me
in the tower room. I'm going to
be working there several hours.
1T is the only place 1 know of
where can be sure of absolute pri-
vacy BY the way, there's key
to the door at the bottom of the
stairs, isn't there?"
yes, sir" Wicket assured him.
removing the key from a large ring.
THE key to the room itself is in
the door"
Thanks. Wicket Maybe two
locked doors will keep Gigi out
Now, Wicket. I've been told that
it Is your job to fill the lighter
fountains and that commercial wood
alcohol is used"
Eyes. sir" Wicket agreed. with
faint surprise, but apparently no
fear.
Where do you keep your supply
of wood alcohol? Has any one &C
cess to it except YOURSELF"
mo one but myself, sir" Wicket
answered promptly. Il keep it
locked away in my pantry here and
the keys never are out of my pos
session, sir"
Good Mr. Berkeley told you to
Use wood alcohol instead of ben
zine. suppose?"
Eyes, sir. Either fluid works in |
the lighters. but Mr.. Berkeley asked |
me to use wood alcohol, because Of |
the black. sooty smoke and the odor |
of benzine'
Right. wickettl When did you
last fill up the fountains?"
Friday morning, sir. None of |
them was completely empty. but I |
filled every fountain in the house,
sir. There are six. all told: one |
in the drawing room. one in the |
library, one in Mrs. Berkeley's sit
ting-room, one in the guest room
which Mr.. Crosby has now, one in |
Mr.. Berkeley's room and one in Mr..
Dicks"
DUNDEE considered for a mo- |
- ment, then made a sudden de-
cision. Wicket, would it be posi- |
bic for you to collect all these foun- |
tains without being observed?"
The family is in the drawing |
room now, sir" Wicket demurred. |
That fountain is not important. |
But please get all the others, bring |
them here and measure the amount |
of wood alcohol remaining in every
one of them. AS soon as you have |
finished, report the results to me
in the tower room"
Very we'll, sir"
TyYe%
detained him. Please send Peggy
Harper and Della Blinn to me here.
You need not come in with them. /
however,
When the two maids, looking very
tired and frightened entered the
buffers pantry, the detective has
tened to reasSure them.
IN keep you only q minute.
girls, and I'm not going to accuse
either of you of numbering Doris
Matthews. But I want to ask you
a question and want you both to
think hard before answering it:
While cleaning bathrooms and
hand-baSins yesterday and today.
either downstairs or upstairs. has
either of you noticed the odor of
perfume about a drain pipe?"
The girls looked at each other
blankly, then shook their heads de-
cidedly In the negative.
Would you have noticed such an
odor if perfume had been poured
down drain pipe?" Dundee per-
sisted.
I'm sure l would sir. since there's
been so much talk about perfume.
or account of poor Doris being hit
on the head with a bottle of it."
Della answered. But 1 didn't
smell any perfume at all, yesterday
or today. That is, in the bathrooms.
All the clothes closets smell of
perfume. because Miss Gigi Sprinkled
II on everybody before Doris was
hit with the bottle. But I haven't
smelled any at all anywhere else"
Mrs. Berkeley uses violet bath
salts, but she hasn't even used any
of them since Doris was killed"
/ don't clean upstairS-just this
floor. but I didn't smell any per
fume in the lavatory down here"
Peggy assured him.
Then will you take particular no
tice tomorrow morning-both of
you-and report to me if there is
such an odor from a drain pipe?"
Dundee asked. with his friendEest
smile, reinforced by a SIS bill for
each of the girls. And don't men
ton to any one-not even District
Attorney Sherwood or Captain
FIO7Ce1,S c