Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-12-30

mdlgnaJlOn against MN OF
Ralph Hammond. -. Did she con-
slider herself engaged to Ralph, In
spite of the fact that young HAM
mond had CALAMITY insisted upon re-
leasing her from her promise as soon
as he suspected that II had been
given merely to prove her faith III
his innocence?
1t was a decidedly unhappy young
detective whom Sanderson greeted
upon his arrival at nine o'clock.
The new district attorney. who
had held office since November, a
a big, good natured, tolerant man,
who looked younger than his 50
years because Of his freckles and his
always rumpled mop OF sandy hair.
But those who sought to take adj
vantage Of his good nature IN the
court room found themselves up
against as keen a lawyer and pros
ecutor as could be found in the whole
state. or even In the middle west.
Well. boy!" he greeted Dundee
genially but with an undertoae Of
solemnity. Looks like we've got a
sensational murder on our hands.
It's rot every day Hamilton can rate
a headline like BROADWAY BELLE
MURDERED AT BRIDGE o
quote a Chicago paper. But I'm
afraid there's not enough mystery
In it to suit your tastes
Dundee grinned wryly. I've been
pretty down in the mouth all morn
ing because there's a little too much
mystery. chief"
Fairly open and shut, isn't it7'
Sanderson asked. obviously surprised.
New York gets too hot for this Sc
lin baby-probably mixed up with
some racketeer. Lois Dunlap offers
her a job to organize a Little Thea
ter In Hamilton-which the fair
Nita would certainly have described
as a hick town and which she would
MT have been found dead in II she
could have helped it'-2nd the dis
trict attorney grinned at his own
witticism but Broadway Nita jumps
at it. Her racketeer sweetie has a
long arm. however. and Mia gets
hers. Justly enough. probably, but
I wish to the Lord she had chosen
some other town to hide in. Lois
Dunlap is the finest woman in Ham
ilton. but she's too damned promis-
cuouS in her friendships. AS 1t is
now some Of the best friends 7 have
in the world are mixed UP in this
mess, even If IL Is only as the inno-
cent victims OF circumstance"
Until then Dundee had let his
chief express his pent-up convic-
tons without interruption. and in
deed SanderSon's courtroom train
ing had fitted him admirably for
long speeches. But he could keep
silent no longer.
That Is what has been worrying
me, Chief" he interrupted. Cap
tain Strawn has given the papers
very little real information. but the
truth Is / am afraid one OF your
friends was not an innocent vic
tim Of circumstances"
District Attorney Sanderson sat
down abruptly in the swivel chair
at his desk. Just what do you
mean. Dundee?"
Il mean I am convinced that one
Of Mrs. Selim's guests was her mur-
derer. but I'd like to tell you the
whole story, and let you judge your
self"
My Cod" Sanderson calculated.
Slowly he drew out a handkerchief
and mopped his freckled brow. IF
I hadn't had a good many years OF
experience with criminals, Dundee.
I'd say il is obvious on the face OF 1t
that one of these four men-Judge
Marshall. Tracey Miles, Johnny
Drake. Give Hammond-could have
committed such a cheap. sensation
al crime as numbering a hostess dur
ING q bridge game .-.. Not that I
haven't wanted to commit murder
myself over many a bridge game"
he added, with the irrepreSsible hu-
NOR for which he was famous.
Then he groaned the rueful
twinkle still in his eye: I'm afraid
we re IN for a lot Of gruesoma kid
cling. Why. last night. in the club
car OF my train. three tables D!
hrlage players could scarcely ulav
a hand for wisecracking about TIE
dangers OF being dummy. Well
ooy. now that I've talked myself
past the worst shock, suppose YOU
give ne the low-doTn. But I warn
you I'm going to take a powerful
lot Of CONVINCING"
Psinstastngly. and in the great
est detail. Dundee told the whole
story. He was interrupted FIRE.
quently. Of course, scoffinFlv at
first. then with deepening solemn
ity and respect on the part OF the
district attorney.
Let me see the plan OF the
house again." he said, when Dundee
had finished. ALSO that table
you've worked up showing the ap-
proximate time and order OF ar
rival OF the four men. .Thanksl
... .Hmml... Hmm"
You see, sir" Dundee repeated
al last. "the list OF possible sus-
poets includes Lydia Carr. Dexter
Sprague, John G. Drake, Judge Mar
shall, Polly Beale. Flora Miles. Janet
RAYMOND. Give Hammond"
But Polly and Give were IN the
so'arium together all the tImel"
Sanderson objected.
SO they said" Dundee agreed.
But it Is a very short trip from
the solarium by way OF the side
porch into Nita's bedroom. And
either Polly Beale or Give Ham
mond could have made that trip,
on the pretext OF speaking to Mia
about Ralphi... Motive. murder
TO end blackmail. Naturally such
a theory would not include both OF
them, but II one OF them was be-
ing blackmailed and made use OF
the pretext Of warning Mia OF
Ralph's overweight condition"
"SDragtie's voiIr u1anfv Sander