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

/ this Johnson crook IS back OF II all.
Don't you see2 He"
"Gigi, you must stop!" Mrs.
Lambert cried despairingly.
IF you don't mind too much, Mrs.
Lambert, I'd rather hear Gigis
theory" Dundee interposed quietly
but firmly.
"XXToULDN'T make swell de-
w tective, Bonnie Dundee"
Gigi exulted. "Wen, this is the
way I dope it out: Johnson was a
gentleman crook playing the
nightclubs in New York, or some
thing like that.
He meets Phyllis Crosby, or Phyl-
lis Benham, as she was then. She
| falls for him hard, doesn't dream
he's a crook. They have hectic
| love affair, and poor little Doris
catches a glimpse Of him-just
once, maybe, because Phyllis Is
meeting him secretly.
| Then somehow she finds out he's
a crook and bitches him, and he's
sore. of course. Pretty soon she
marries Mr.. Crosby and johnson
keeps bobbing up to blackmail her.
Probably he had letters or some
thing proving they had been low
erS-"
please make her stop, Mr..
Dundee!" Mrs. Lambert implored.
"She can't realize what she's say
ing. I was Phyllis Crosby's best
friend"
That's enough, Gigi," Dundee
agreed, but his smile at the ex-
cited girl had admiration and re-
spect in it. Turning to Mrs. Lam
bert he asked gently: Were you
in Mrs. Crosby's confidence, Mrs.
Lambert?"
Il was. We were devoted friends,
in spite of the difference in our
ages" Mrs. Lambert replied, her
ale lips trembling.
You were visiting her at the time
of her death?"
eyes. Seymour wrote mel was
at Biarritz-that Phyllis was not
well, and inclined to be morbid and
hysterical"
Il bet she was going to have
a babyl" Gigi cut in excitedly.
Mrs. Lambert flushed. "She was.
I believed then and 1 still believe
that her morbidness and her-her
suicide were due to her condition.
AT Seymour'S request, I went to
1 London to stay with Phyllis as long
as she needed me-"
Did she tell you why she was
unhappy, Mrs. Lambert?" Dundee
asked.
Il must refuse to answer"
Dundee and Gigi exchanged a
significant glance, Gigi hugging her
knees and shivering with excite
ment.
Did she conf1de to you, Mrs.
Lambert" Dundee persisted, that
she was being blackmailed?
"She certainly did not" the So
ciaI secretary retorted emphati-
cally.
I see" said Dundee. "Now.,
Mrs. Lambert, what was Doris at
titude toward her mistress at this
time? I mean, was Doris obviously
worried?"
Mrs. Lambert considered for a
moment, her tired eyes closed.
Then: Eyes, think she was. She
was even more tender and devoted
than usual. believe. The two girls
spent a great deal of time together.
Doris was with Phyllis even more
than I was, Doris serving then
more in the capacity Of nurse than
as lady's maid"
TT is quite possible then that
l. Doris was wholly in Mrs. Cros-
by's confdence?" Dundee persisted.
quite possible, of course" Mrs
Lambert agreed stiffly, though I
feel sure there was nothing to con-
fide."
Mrs. Lambert, forgive me for
what must seem like idle curiosity
to you. would you say Mr.. and
Mrs. Crosby were happily married?
That they loved each other?"
YES! Seymour lover Phyllis
deeply and truly and tenderly, and
Phyllis adored her husband"
And yet-Phyllis Crosby COM
nitted suicide" Dundee reminded
her gently.
Il know!" Mrs. Lambert sank
back YEARLY again. She was tenn
porarily insane. That is the only
possible explanation"
will you please tell me all you
can remember of Phyllis Crosby's
last EVENING""
Mr.. Dundee, I have been patient
under this-thiS ordeal; I have tried
to answer your questions as if you
had a right to ask them, but must
protest"
Because you feel sure there is
40 connection between Doris muir
der and Phyllis Crosby'S Suicide?"
Dundee suggested quietly, please
Dear with me, Mrs. Lambert, for I
honestly believe there is a connec-
ton, and that it is our duty to Doris
and to Phyllis Crosby-to bring
that missing link to light"
Mrs. Lambert was silent for a
long time, her eyes closed, her trem-
bling lower lip caught between her
teeth.
Impulsively, Gigi scrambled from
the ottoman into the white-haired
woman'S lap and laid her head con-
fidingly, like a child, against her
breast. Mrs. Lambert hesitated for
moment, then her arms went
convulsively about the small body.
Her eyes were misty with tears