Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-12-28
Murder At |. Bridge

ably the snappiest streamer head
line the News has had for many q
day. Now let's see" He was silent
for two minutes, while his eyes
leaped down the lesser headlines
and the story Of the murder. Then:
Good old Strawnl Not q word, my
dear Watson, about your absurd
masters absurd performance in
having the death hand at bridge
replayedl Not q word about Ralph
Hammond. the missing guestl Not q
word about Mrs. Tracey Miles being
hidden away in the clothes closet
while her hostess was being muir
deredi.. in fact, my dear Watson,
not q word about anything except
a word about anything except
Strawn's own theory that q hired
gunman from New York or Chi
cago-preferably Nita's home town,
New York, OF course-Sneaked up.
crouched in her window. and bump
ed her off. And life-size photo
graphs TO prove his theoryl.. BY
eOllss AZ y IACo4l III bOs " tC4A
my former chief that I'd found
Nita's will and note to Lydial He'll
think ! deliberately held out on
him. ". WE'LL can't sit here all
day gossiping with you. Work
much work-to be done. then
Sunday dinner with poor little
Penny"
-Four hours later a tired and dis
spirited young detective was climb
ing the stairs Of the five-story
walk UP" apartment house in which
Penny Grain and her mother had
been living since the financial fail
ure and flight Of the husband and
father. Roger Grain.
Hello. there!" 1t was Penny's
friendly voice. hailing him from the
topmost landing Of the steep stairs.
"All winded, poor thing?"
His eyes drank her in-the fresh
ness and sweetness Of a domestic
Penny Grain, so different from the
thorny little office Penny who prid-
ed herself on her efficiency as Sec
rotary to the district attorney. -.
Penny in a lowered wolfe, with a
saucy, ruffled white apron 49,. But
there were purplish shadows under
her brown eyes. and her gayety
lasted only until he had reached
her side.
"Sh-h-hl- Have they found
Ralph" she whispered anxiously.
He could only answer mo"
Mothers all Of a twitter at my
having a detective to dinner" she
whispered. trying to be gay again.
She fancies you'll be wearing size
IL shoes and a 'six-shooter' at your
belt Yes. Mother! It's MI. Dun
dee!"
She did not look "all Of a twitter,"
this pretty but rather faded middle
aged little mother Of Penny's. A
gentle dignity and patient sadness.
which Dundee was sure were habit
ual Of her, lay in the faded blue
eyes and upon the soft. sweet
mouth.
But Mrs. Grain was ushering him
into the living room, and its charm
made him forget for the moment
that the Grains were TO be pitied.
because Of their come down" in
life. For every piece of furniture
seemed TO be authentic early Ameri-
can. and the hooked rugs and fine,
brocaded damasks allied themselves
with the fine old furniture to de-
feat the ugliness with which the
Maple Court apartments architect
had been fiercely determined to pun
ish its tenants.
"'Scuse mel Gotta dish upl"
Penny flung over her shoulder as
she ran away and left him alone
with her mother.
Dundee liked Mrs. Grain for max
ing no excuses about a maid they
couldn't afford. liked the way she
settled into a lovely. ancient. rocker
and set herself to entertain him
while her daughter made ready the
dinner.
Not a word was said about the
horrible tragedy which had occur
red the day before in the house
which had once been her home.
They talked Of Penny's work. and
the little gentlewoman listened
! eagerly with only the faintest OF
signs as Dundee hunorously de-
scribed Penny's fierce efficiency and