The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-12-03

see Nita and demonstrate privately
with her for having so involved
Ralph Hammond, when he was
tacitly known to belong" to Penny
Crain-one Of the sacred crowd.
Failing that, she had found Ralph
himself, and had not expected to
find him; had talked with him
about Mia, had quarreled a bit
with him, perhaps, over his be-
havior.
And the crisis had become so
acute that Polly arbitrarily had
called upon Give Hammond and
then had forced Ralph to accom-
pany her.
do you know, Miss Beale, why
Ralph Hammond did not keep his
engagement with Mrs. Selim this
afternoon? Or rather, his promise
to appear for cocktails and to be
Miss Grains partner for the rest Of
the evening-dinner and dance at
the Country Club?"
Il do not!" Polly said crisply.
Hammond"
Neither do ]" Hammond retorted
angrily.
Then it was not to discuss Ralph
Hammond and his-affairs, that you
beckoned Miss Beale to meet you in
the solarium upon your arrival?"
Twas not!"
A SHADE too much anger and
N emphasis, Dundee decided. And
he wished heartily that Strawn's
detectives would not delay much
longer in bringing the missing
young man into this already in
volved examination.
"You say that you both were in
the solarium from the time Of your
arrival, Hammond, until Mrs. Mar
shall screamed" Dundeescontinued.
"Just what did you see and hear?"
Dundee watched their faces
keenly, but again they were we'll
bred, expressionless. 1t was Polly
Beale who answered: Naturally
there was not a deathless silence,
but I am afraid we were not listen
ing. We were rather engrossed in
our conversation.
eve were seated-near no win
doWs-and I for one saw nothing,
as we'll as heard nothing that can
recall"
"Hammond?"
THAT goes for me, too-abso-
lutely!"
Abruptly abandoning the engaged
couple, Dundee turned to Miles.
you were the second arrival,
then?"
Eyes, I parked my car along the
curb in front of the house" Tracey
answered readily. "And I came
right on in, and Mia jumped up"
eyes. We've had all that twice
before" Dundee interrupted cruelty.
Nov, Judge Marshall"
lone Of my friends gave me a
lift from town." Judge Marshall VOL
untered pompously. Chap named
Sampson. You may have heard of
him-fine fellow, a good lawyer
eve played billiards together at
the Athletic club, and when I was
about to call taxi-ny wife hav-
ing the car here-he offered to drop
me here on his way to the Country
club. N-no, I don't remember
the exact time, did not consult my
watch"
"You came directly from the road
into the house, Judge Marshall?"
Certainly, Sir!"
Did you-er, see any one?"
you mean, sir, did any one see
me?" Judge Marshall demanded
with pompous indignation. mo, no
one, sir! If my word is not good
enough for you, you can think what
you damned pleased"
1T think we are all getting little
too tired, Mr.. Dundee" Penny Grain
suggested, almost humble in her
WEAKNESS.
I'm truly sorry" the young de-
tective apologized. But 1 can't
leave things like this. g. Mr..
Drake, you have said you walked
over from the Country Club.
house from the driveway, the side of
the house which contains Mrs.
Selim'S bedroom. Is that
right?"
MORE or less, except that I
NAskirted the house rather wide
Iy and arrived from the road, step
ping upon the front porch, and
walking directly into the hall. I
saw no one outside or near the
house when I arrived" Drake an
swered, with less than his usual
nastineSs.
And saw no one running away
across the meadows?" Dundee
pressed.
mo one at all" Drake retorted.
II wish to God I could truthfully
say that I saw a gunman,, with
mask and a smoking revolver, skulk-
ing through the wildflowers, but
the absolute truth is that 1 saw no