The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-24

I Wait-a-minute! StraWn or
dered sternly. How do you know
he was her murderer? If it was a
| he"
1T was a man, all right! Or a
beast wearing trousers!" Arnold in
terrupted violently.
Keep your shirt on Now, be-
gin at the beginning and tell exactly
what you know"
I had date to meet Doris at the
summer house last night" Arnold
began ierkily. I'VE we're engaged to
be married. Wicket. the butler,
had been trying to make things
easy for us, and 1t was him that
gave Doris permission to see me for
awhile last night.
Il was to watch for her from my
room over the garage, because she
didn't know exactly when she'd be
free"
XXTHEN was this date nlade?"
w Dundee interrupted the
chauffeur and his own rapid notes.
while we-all the servants, I mean
were eating our dinner in our own
sitting room" Arnold explained i'm
patiently. Our dinner is from six
to half-past, an hour before the
family dimes"
Then all the servants heard you
make the date?"
Sure! They all knew we were
engaged. We asked Wicket then
and there. and he said it would be
all right. but he cautioned Doris to
put the chain on the back door lock
when she came in"
Did she have a key?"
Eyes, because Wicket lent her
his. Ordinarily. when any of the
servants are out after Wicket has
gone to bed. they have to ring the
back door bell. which connects with
his room. But he-he trusted Doris,
and gave her his key
Strawn and Dundee exchanged
glances. No key had been found on
the girls body or in the pocket OF
her apron.
"All right. Get along with your
story" Strawn ordered.
We'll, Id been told that would
not be needed during the evening,
but about 11:15 the phone in my
room rang. It's an extension Of the
house phone. It was Wicket. say
ing that the Benjamin Smiths
wanted me to drive them home to
Westview.
Il was pretty sore-they're always
mooching Our car, to save gasoline
and when Wicket told me that he'd
heard Dick Berkeley bully Doris
into saying she'd meet hirn-well I
was ready to throw up my job right
then, but I thought I'd better stick
around as long as Doris was here. to
protect her" And he dropped his
head on his arm and sobbed.
80 Wicket told you. did hep"
Strawn repeated thoughtfully. We'll,
pull yourself together, boy. q.
What's next?'
I took time to write Doris a
note. when I couldn't reach her on
the house phone. I begged her, if
she loved me, not to leave the house
last night.
You see. I didn't think she would
meet Dick Berkeley, but I did fear
she might figure how long it would
take me to make the trip to West
view, and try to see me when I got
back. I didn't want her to do that,
sir. for fear that Berkeley puppy
would be laying for her"
And you gave the note to Wick
EFT. to give to Doris?"
Yes. When I brought the car
around for him to announce. He
said Doris had gene up to her room
to write to her sister in England.
He said he'd give it to her, but she
never got it! If she had Oh.
my God"
How do you know she didn't get
the note?" Strawn bounced.
Here it is" Arnold answered, his
voice dull and fiat with grief. Della.
the upstairs maid, had it all the
time.
She gave it to me not more than
ten minutes ago. right after the re-
porter asked us what we knew about
the lady's maid murder" he quoted
bitterly.
CTRAWN Snatched at the note,
- but before he opened the en-
velope he asked: How did Della get
hold of it?"
She says she came down the
back stairs at II last night to get a
piece of fruit out of the ice box
they don't feed us any too heavy
in this dump-and as she passed
+t,~.o.,rt, %t<e hool- 1off che eo,r, ,,,x,