The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-17
V GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XXXv

the district attorneys private secre- tary Thursday morning at five min utes after nine. Any news from Sanderson?"
 "Yes." Penny Grain answered list lessly. "A night letter. He says his mother is still very low and that we're to wire him at the Good Sa- maritan Hospital in Chicago if any thing turns up"
 Then I suppose I can reach him there by long distance" and Dundee lifted the telephone from Pcnny's desk to put in the call.
 What's happened?' Penny de. mandcd. her brown eyes wide and startled.
 And hurry 1t up. will you plcase?" Dundee urged the long distance operator before answering Penny's question. That's just the trouble nothing's happened. and nothing Is very likely to happen here. Pm determined to go to New York and work on this pesky case from that end which Is where it all started"
 Then you've come around to New York gunman?" Penny asked hopefully.
 Not by jugful. But what's the matter with you this morning young woman? You're looking less like a new penny and more like one that has been too much in circula- tion.'
 "Thanks.." Penny retorted scr- castically, then she grinned wryly You are right. as matter of fact. l was up late last night - bridge at the Mileses'"
 "l3ridge!" Dundee calculated in- credulously. "So the bridge party did take place. in spite of the so- ciety editors discreet announce nent yesterday that owing to the tragic death of Mrs Selim, the reg ular every other w Wednesday dinner bridge of the Forsyre Alumnae As sociation will not be held this eve ming at the home of Mir and Mrs Tracey Miles, as scheduled
 Tt wasn't a 'dinner-bridPe' and it really wasn't intended to be q party" Penny corrected him. "1t just sort of happened, and of all the ghastly evenings"
 '"rell me about it." Dundee sug- gested. Knowing this towns tele- phone service as I do. I'll have don't know how all-agog I am for inside gossip on Hamilton's upper crust"
 "Idiot." Penny flung at him scornfully. "You know society would bore you to death, but don't think you would have been exactly bored last night. knowins, as l do. your opinion of Dexter Sprague."
 "sprague? Good Lord! Was he there? This does promise to be interesting! Tell me all!'
 Give me time!" Penny snapped. "Ralph called me up last night at dinner time, and asked me if 1 felt equal to playing bridge again; He said that he. Olive, Tracey and Johnny Drake had lunched together yesterday as they frequently do- Judge Marshall, who had been lunching there at another table with his friend, Attorney Sampson, stopped at their table and suggested bridge game at his home for last night, Hugo said he wanted to coax Karen into playing again. so. she would get over her hysterical aver sion to the game since she had 10 replay that awful death hand" You see." Penny explained paren- medically. Hugo is regular bridge fiend, and naturally he doesn't want to be kept out of his game"
 "Brute!" Dundee cried disgust edly. ''Why couldn't he give the poor girl few days more?"
 That's what I thought Penny acknowledged. But l didn't get any inhibition against bridge. and the idea rather appealed to me per- sonally. The last few days haven't been particularly cheerful ones, so I told Ralph I'd be glad to go. Tracey had suggested his house, in- stead of Hugo's, because Betty wasn't we'll yesterday and Flora wouldn't want to leave her for a whole evening. Well, Ralph and
 Are you going to marry Ralph rupted, as if prompted by casual interest.
 Penny's pale face flushed vividly. NO, Pm not in love with him, and I'm sure he realizes I'm not and won't ask me again. But I had to say yes Sunday! I simply couldn't let you walk in on us. after I'd permitted you to eavesdrop while he was talking. without first saying him that I believed in his innocence and hadn't set trap for him."
 "I see!'f Dundee acknowledged soberly, but his blue eyes shone with sudden joy. "Oh! There's long distance! Just minute, dar- ling! Hello! Hello! .. Yes, this is Dundee. Oh! All right! Try again in Is minutes. will your" He hung up the receiver and explained to Penny: "Sanderson hasn't reached the hospital yet. but is expected soon. Go on Witn your story. Who all played bridge at the Mileses'? You don't mean to say Dexter Sprague was invited. tool"
 Penny's face was still brilliant pink as she answered.: T refuse to have my climax spoiled! -. .. When Ralph and I got there at eight. we found that Peter and Lois had dined with Tracey ana Flora and that they were delighted at the prospect of bridge as a relief from endless discussions of the s murder. Wed hardly got there be-