Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-28
CHAPTER XII.
THE INQUEST OPENS.

TT was Evelyn who broke the awk-
ward tension produced by Strings
strange attitude.
i Cant we talk of something more
cheerful" she asked. IF it must
be crime, perhaps Mr.. Haswell viii tell
us about some of his cases"
Jimmie, not given to discussing his
exploits, related an instance where
Scotland Yards ingenuity had beaten
him to solution of a mystery. lie
praised its detectives and said that 1t
would be good idea to let first Offend
ers see the Yards organization for de-
tecting criminals.
Delightful idea" sneered Stirling.
''Would-be criminals conducted through
Scotland Yard. Might help them lot.
No doubt it is easy to catch cid Offend
ers. One might still do a first crime
and get away with it.
Again there was uncanny silence.
Evelyn shivered slightly. shall we go
IMP" she asked. ITS getting cold"
AS they moved toward the house
Jimmie slipped to Marjorie's side.
This is trying time for you. he said
gently. but don't worry too much. The
truth will be discovered"
Can they prove Joe Allen did it?"
To Jimmie the form of the whispered
question sounded strange. She did not
ask if Allen committed the crime, but
If it could be brought home to him.
Was 1t tense eagerness for proof? Or
could it be that other fears or some
thing approaching knowledge would let
her sacrifice the innocent rather than
face a dread alternative?
If he did it." answered Jimmie, che
is not likely to escape. Not one muir
derer in so does"
The girl shivered, though it was a
warm night
Your sister said you had not been
sleeping" he went on. why don't you
get a sedative from the doctos?" She
made no answer, and he added, Have
you seen DR.. Netherton today?"
NO"
His mother said he was busy.
suppose he couldn't get over this eve
ning?"
we did not ask him"
So Bill Netherton had not been asked.
This to Jimmie proved they were not
openly lovers or he would have come
along without being asked. If they
were lovers in secret, they might wish
to keep apart until Richmonds Sus-
PIGEONS were lulled. Jimmie knew there
must be something hidden, but 1t baf-
fed him. Why had Stirling come to
the house? How was he concerned?
The dark-eyed Janet served them cof-
fee and cakes in what was still called
the young ladies' room. Stirling sug-
gested paying cards, but the idea was
not much liked, and when Duckworth
declined to sing, all seemed to agree
that music and mirth would hardly be
seemIy in the house of sorrow. Then
Jimmy had happy thought. He turned
to Duckworth.
rs it as easy fer singers to get en-
gagements today as it was in the days
before the movies and other modern
amusement virtually eliminated the
concert haIIs?" he asked
Duckworth, without directly answer
ing the question, pointed to the modern
demand that variety programs included
two or three good singers. Listeners
demand it" he added.
Speaking of listeners" said Donald,
show does the radio affect your"
Badly. The broadcasters hire a
dozen artists and put hundreds cut Of
employment"
How about the graphophone?" con-
tinned Jimmie.
II hate it. There are royalties. of
course, from records, but they reduce
attendance at entertainments
Il would never have one in my house."
said Evelyn warmly.
'Eave you ever tried one?" asked
Jimmie.
mo; Aunt Annabeile would never
allow It.
And so the talk went on, at least
making the evening more pleasant.
When Jimmie returned with his
friends to their home message was