The Indianapolis times., 1930-03-11
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i BT ANNE AUCTIN C0o1RNHZ 81 YEA HRuG1

Z Berkeley, I'll ask you to show Mr.
| Dundee and me to your Wife'S
room"
George Berkeley started to pro-
test angrily, then checked himself
abruptly, but his darkly handsome
face was flushed and his noStrilS
faring as he answered: Certainly.
This way"
Just a minute. You folks stay
right here. 1 don't know your
names, but"
MY daughters, Clorinda and
Georgina; our guest, Mr.. Seymour
Crosby" Berkeley obliged, his lips
Tightening over the name.
"Ohl SO this is Mr.. Seymour
Crosby?" Strawn pretended vast
surprise. I've read a lot about
you, Mr.. CroSby-always thought
Id like to meet you," he added, his
eyes narrowing significantly,
Seymour Crosby flushed, but
bowed, without replying.
Sorry you've got to run up
against the police again, Mr.. Cros-
by" Strawn went on wickedly, but
I hope you'll come out of this case
with as clean a bill of health as you
did out of the other one, sir"
Again Gigi sat up with jerk and
her round topaz eyes flashed ex-
cited, startled questions, but Strawn
wheeled, grinning, to follow the
master of the house from the room,
Dundee hurrying after him.
=
NTRS. BERKELEY'S rooms occu-
1V1 pied the noreast corner of
the house, her bedroom on the
front and fitting into the tower
which rose one story higher than
the rest of the mansion.
Between the enormous bedroom
and the smaller sitting room, facing
east, were the foyer and large
bathroom, all connecting so that
the mistress of the house could pass
from sitting room to bathroom,
thence to her bedroom, and from
the bedroom to the hall by way of
the foyer.
In addition, the sitting room and
a door of its own directly into the
hall.
The detectives did not note all
these details in those first mo-
ments, however. They were listen
ing for an answer to George Berke-
ley'S knock upon the bedroom door.
"She must be sleeping pretty
sound" Strawn whispered gustily,
as Berkeley raised his knuckles to
knock again.
The little foyer was not brightly,
but sufficiently, lighted from the
sun that poured into the sitting
room from the four French win
dows that opened upon a stone and
wrought-iron balcony overlooking
I the east lawn and the lake.
The blinds had not been drawn
and the sun rioted through cur
tians Of finest gold lace, so that
there was more than light enough
/ Tor Dundee to see George Berke-
ley's face go gray with fear.
/ Good LordI Does he think she's
dead. too?' he asked himself.
But at that moment a querulous
voice called out: why are YOU
( knocking, Doris? For heavens sake
come on in! I can't bear any ham
mering this morning!"
StraWn and Dundee exchanged
/ glances as the millionaire called
/ soothingly: Its George, Abbie. May
7 come in?"
( Have you thought up a lot OF
new arguments. George Berkeleyi
Well, so have I! But come on in
{ if you must! I'm still in bed ano
I've still got an awful head
/ ache"
Rather hastily, as if to cut hel
short. Berkeley opened the door and
the two detectives. the younger
with a word of apology, followed
him into the enormous and over
poweringly luxurious bedroom OF the
mistress of Hillcrest.
! While Mrs. Berkeley SQuealeo
and protested and questioned futile
| ", Captain Strawn strobe to the
darkened windows which filed the
senli-circle formed by the tower of
which the room was a part, and
jerked up the shades.
Painfully embarrassed, Dundee
halted Just inside the door while
George Berkeley. in low voice, eX-
7 planned that Strawn was a captain
/ Of detectives and that their guest,
as an amateur criminologist, was
there as his assistant.
But what in the world are de-
tectives doing here, George?" Mrs
Berkeley shrilled, drawing an or
| lchid satin comforter up to her chin,