The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-16

quarters of mile from the Selim house.
 5:36-Xaren finishes playing of hand. and Dexter Sprague and Janet Raymond enter from front porch. proceeding into dining room 5:37-Penny Grain finishes SCOT Ing. and Karen leaves room to tell
 5:38-Karen screams upon dis dressing table.
 Dundee laid aside the typed sheet and reached for another, the typing of which was perfect, since Pennys efficient fingers had manipulated the keys.
 When he had telephoned to the office just before o'clock Monday afternoon to see if anything had come up, Dundee had learned from Penny that Peter Dunlap had is- sued an informal call to the croWd' for q meeting at his home that evening.
 You're going, of course?" Dun dee had asked. "Then, during the try to get the answers to some
 
 yourself in dutch with your friends Fine. Got a pencil 2"
 And now he was rc-rcading the report" she had conscientiously written and left on his desk Tues day morning:
 Peter, declaring he wanted to get at the bottom of this case, pre- sided almost like q judge on the bench. and asked nearly every ques- ton you wanted the answer to. Everyone In the crowd adores gruff old Peter and no one dreamed of rescnting his barrage of questions. What n detective he would make!
 First: Janet admitted she did not go directly to the front porch when she left the living room after her table finished the last rubber Went first to the hall lavatory to comb her hair and renew her make up. Said she was there alone about five minutes then went to the front porch. Gt"viscd her story after Tracey had said he did not see her on the porch when he arrived)
 Second: Judge Marshall said he glanced into the living room when he arrived, saw Karen. Carolyn and me absorbed In our game. and went on down the hall. to hang up his hat and stick. Proceeded imme- diatclv 10 the living room.
 Third: John Drake told Peter he entered the front hall and passed on to the lavatory to wash mp. Felt sticky after his walk from the Country club. Hung up hat in he guest closet. Went to living room within three minutes after reaching the house.
 Fourth: Polly and Give told Pc Ter they stayed together in the so- |arlum the whole time, stationed at , front win low. watching for Ralph. When Peter asked them if they 'ould confirm Judge Marshall's story and Johnny Drakc's story. they said they had seen them both arrive, but had paid no attention to them after they Were in the house. It occurred To Peter. too. to wonder If cit her Polly or Give went tO Nita's room To warn her that Ralph knew about SpraEu"'s having slept the night be- for" in the upstairs bedroom. They both denied emphatically that they had done so.
 "F'ifth: Judge Marshall volun- teercd the information to Peter that Nlta had not paid her rent. on Inc plea that she was short of funds. and that he had told her to let it go until 1t was quite con venient.
 Sixth: The word 'blackmair was not mentioned and Johnny Drake. because Of professional ethics. l suppose. did not tell about Nita's two deposits of 5000 in hls Da nk.
 Seventh: The secret shelf in he foyer closet was not mentioned.
 Peters verdict. after he got with us. was that only iprague could have done it-using he gun and sllencer wnich Nlta herself had stolen from Hugo. I 'ouldn't tell him that you are con 'lnced that Lyd!n's alibi for him Is genuine one. for apparently Lydia hasn't told either Flora or Tracey hat she was able { furnish ;prague an alibi.
 And that's all. except that Peter asked me 10 convey to you his apologies for his rudcncsa Monday afternoon. Penelope Grain"
 With deep sigh Dundee laid 'cnny's report aside.
 And that does seem 10 be all" 'e told the parrot. Exactly half q IOzen possible suspects, and not an tom of actual evidence against one | 'f them--except that Judge Mar | hall owned inc gun. Slx--count | em: Judge Marshall. John Drake. | Flora Miles. Give Hammond. Polly | 'ealc. Janet Raymond. Every | lngle one of them q possible victim If blackmaIl. since the girls all at- ended the Forsyte school. where Vita directed the Easter play for wo years. and since the men make eyeral trips year to New York.
 Six people. all Of whom un- oubtedly knew of the existence of he secret shelf. Six people 'ho knew Nita was in her bed- oom, either from having seen her o or from hearing her powder box nkllng It's damnable tune! es. Penny! You're right! That's ll--as far as Hamilton Is con-