Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08
INsTALLNIENT XIII.

he couldn't be sure tnat ne ohun - IL
fact, possess knowledge that might pc
of some significance; that some seem.
inely trivial bit of the information that
he more than any one else he knew,
had. concerning Tack and Martina ana
their tangled, strangely hysterical lives,
didn't have some bearing on TINS
tragedy. But then, slowly, he shook
mo" he said. "No, Inspector, I
don't believe 1 do. can't imagine any
motive any one would have for killing
Tack Thayer. He had no enemies Iiia'
I've ever heard OF" Z.
n queer word to be coming into your
mind, surely, Mr.. Wayne. It's seldom
an enemy does a killing - leaving OUT
the mess prohibitions let us in FOL"
He arose, slowly; stood, a moment
looking down at Peter, until Peter, too,
cot no and stretched himself IN the
chilly dawn. He was sttff; 1t had peen
colder than he had realized sitting
there so long. Once again the elevaCoL
came up, and a uniformeo P %aST,nIIv
atepped out and approached Connoliy.
"It's them reporters, Inspector, ne
said ,"They're raisin' hell about beln'
kept downstairs" ,,S
Fare they so-are they so, nowP" SAID
Connolly. ats sore my heart IS 10 pc
Rearing it, Tell them I'll be down
presently or, If they like, they can go
to the house and wait, where there's a
nice fire and the desk sergeant Iot
them to be swapping lies Win. DuC
tell them we've no room LOT tneih up
here, O'Brien." ,r,o, Of
q sound. he turned to the door OF tne
PENTHOUSE. in which Barclay appeared
The assistant district attorney came ou''
nodding absent-mindedly to Peter;
"Dr. Johnson'Tl have a preliminary
renort for us in a few minutes. lnSpec-
tor" he said. mfr. Wayne-Mrs. Inay-
er is ready to see you now, ui !, III.
You'll find her in the dining room; ne
shuddered, family. THE meoicai e~-
aniner is busy in the living room:
Peter went in. Martha was sitting at
the table: she raised her head ana
looked at him as he came III.
s0They think I did 1t. think they're
:zoinr to arrest me, Peter" she saidI In
q quiet, lifeless voice.
He dared not show his feelings,
Rot" said Peter. They know very
vel you didn't do it," And ne told ner
about the search for the revolver. But
she shook her head.
they think I actually fired the shot.
They think Evan did that. And-and-
that I helped him. That I'm what they
call an accessory.
"If they do they're crazy" said Peter
"0f course" said Martha. Peter
you-you know Evan didn't do 1t, don't
you? He didn't even come upstairs WIN
me when he brought me home. never
let him. just-just because he and
Tack-Oh. and tonight, Of all nights"
She got UP, and came around the
table. and put her hands on Peters
PETER she said. I'm afraid.
I'm terribly afraid I've never been
really afraid before In all my life. I"
In the next room there was an ex-
plosion, and cloud Of pungent smoke
came creeping through the inter"
stices of the closed door. Martina
screamed, and Peters arms closed
first time that he had ever embraced
STEADY, darling" he said. "They
must have used a fiashlight. They
they always take pictures, I've heard"
"Oh-Oh--I didn't knowl" she said.
She chung to him, sobbing. i didn't
know"
The door was flung open, suddenly.
Connolly stood, looking at them. His
eyes, as they met Peters were almost
sad in their ironic satisfaction. Behind
him loomed the gross bulk OF Charley,
his dead cigar still pendent in one
corner Of his mouth.
Peter stared blankly at Connolly and
Charley as they stood in the door, the
smoke from the haShlight still eddy
ing about them. Something about the
way Charley looked at him puzzled
him; there was a curious, almost a
friendly, CLEAN in the big detectives
eyes. They were going TO. arrest
Martha, Peter supposed; she had in
fected him with her terror, and he
stood quite still, his arm about her,
as II, no matter what they tried to
do to her. he would protect her. His
mouth was very dry: he tried to c1y
something, but he couldn't. It was
Connolly who spoke, and his voice was
gentle, friendly. even cheerful.
I'm afraid the nashlight scared you,
Mrs. Thayer," he said. I'm sorry. It
slipped my mind to tell you, so that
you'd be ready for it." But that wasn't
big, white-haired policeman forgot
nothing. except by design, except be-
cause 1t suited his purpose TO forget.
He'd meant Martha and Peter to be
startled; he had calculated the effect Of
that explosion, and, Peter supposed, he
had got what he wanted from it. You
see, we have to take pictures before
while everything's the way it was when
xe came in"
Martha was growing tense. Why
didn't the man get on with 1t?
Now" Connclly's voice was still
gentle. Now, you can stay here If you
please, Mrs. Thayer, but I'm thinking
you'd be better of at some friends
house, or a hotel, maybe. Well have to
be in and out. and therell be the news
paper men. Wed do all We could to
keep them of you, but"
He shrugged his shoulders. Martha
stared at him.
You mean I can go, If please? You
won't stop me?"
stop you? Now. what would we be
stopping you for. Mrs Thayer? guess
you won't be going so far that We can't
get to see you and talk to you when
there's need"
NO" she said, slowly. Her breath
was coming in great gaspS. mo. Butt
don't-I dent know where TO CO." She
shuddered. "A hotel couldn't go to a
hotel. Peter, what shall I do? Where
shall go?"
Lets see," he said. He was trying
to think. Your mothers away, isn't
yes. She's in California. And
fathers South. Sos Mary Young, or !
could go TO her L"
IT know" said Peter "Ill get hold CT
my sister Shes got loads of room, and
shed love 10 have you"
But, Peter-I scarcely know her
Forget it. Shes a good egg. I'll call
her I'D right Now Leave It to me. You
start packing bag.
He went out into the hall TO tele-
phone. 1t was about half past six; he
hadn't an idea. until he looked at his
watch of the time. It took him some
time TO get Carol at all, and then he
had TO wait while she woke up. But,
once she understood, she was all quick,
helpful sympathy.
"The nor child How DREADFUL