The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-03-28

head upf1ung, his aristocratic nos
trilS f1aring. IF you will kindly
permit me, I shall tell you the truth
concerning the earrings.
II might add that 1 shall tell you
the exact truth concerning any
questions you ask me, provided you
have any right or authority to ask
me the question"
Strawn's bushy eyebrows shot still
higher. Yeah? . Well, shoot"
My wife. who, as you doubtless
know, is dead" Crosby began in his
icy, well-controlled voice. was a
brunei. Her favorite stone was the
ruby, which became her-enor-
mouSly.
Il myself have a weakness for
Sapphires, and when saw this pair
of earrings in London jewelers.,
could not resist them. Phyllis-my
wife-admired them and thanked
me for them, but as soon as she put
them on L saw that I had made a
mistake.
Doris, who was her maid then
was present at the time and Phyllis
took them off and laid them against
her maids cheeks. The effect was
enchanting, as the stones were
almost exactly the color of Doris
eyes.
Il am sure Phyllis would have
presented them to the girl then and
there, If she had not been afraid of
hurting my feelings.
She did, however, laughingly re-
mark that she. would leave them to
Doris in-in Her will"
His voice broke here, and trem-
bled slightly as it went on: She
died suddenly, as you know. and
without having made will"
Which she would have done, Il
she had really contemplated sui
eide" Strawn interrupted, with slow
and terrible emphasis.
II do not believe my wife con-
templated' suicide" Crosby retorted
vrey quietly. Il believed then, anc
1 still believe, that she became sud-
denly deranged, a not uncommon
Og AAAJbNfAil Vi
Yeah, she was going to have a
baby, wasn't she?" Strawn inter-
preted callously. Which makes il
a double murder!"
IWIrH the agility Of an athlete
w Crosby sprang for the detec-
tive captains throat, but Dundee
interposed. selling the mans arm
and forcing him backward, step by
step.
please, Mr.. Crosbyl' he advised
gently. Violence can only make
matters worse. You must believe
that Captain Strawn has good rea-
sons for the conclusions he has
reached, and"
"I-beg your pardon!" Crosby
bowed slightly, again in superb
control of his anger. Let me re-
mind you, however, Captain
Strawn, that a coroner's jury in
London returned a verdict of sui
eide while temporarily insane as
the cause of my wife's death"
"A verdict which, you probably
know, Crosby, failed to satisfy your
wife's relatives and friends, anc
even some Of your own friends!'
Strawn pointed out sternly. "A YER
dict which you owed to the testi-
mony Of maid in your own en-
ploy-to Doris Matthews. in factp
Testimony which was absolutely
true and accurate in every detail!'
Crosby retorted colby.
And now Doris Matthews. the
only eyewitness to your wifes sui
eide lies in the morgue. foully muir
dered within eight hours Of Seymour
CroSby's arrival at Hillcrest to cele-
brate his engagement TO another
rich grill" Strawn pointed out. en-
phaSizing each significant word with
the tapping of his pipe bowl upon
his palm.
Surely. Mr.. Crosby. you did not
expect the police department OF
Hamilton to overlook the obvious
connection between those two
factS?"
Crosby made no answer.
And what would you say, Mr.
Seymour Crosby, if I told you that
the Hamilton homicide squad did
not wait until you murdered Doris
Matthews TO take vital interest
in the Crosby case as the news
paDers called il sixteen months
ago?"
81 did not murder Doris Mat
thews," Crosby answered steadily.
Yeah, we pricked up our ears
when We heard who Clorinda Berke-
ley was going to marry" Captain
Strawn went on. In the genial voice