The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-04-23

A letter comes from Alan Crosb, but after much inlecisfon Gypsy sends ft hack unopened. Later tlse { marriage Of MARCIA LORING Wallgces's former fianccc. to Brock Phillips, wealthy New Yorker, Is an- n0unccd In newspaper.
 Jim undertakes the defense Oi NINA ROBERTS, accused of muR. deripg bev employer. Tho case is sensational with circumstantial evidence strongly against the girl Gypsy becomes deeply interested in the murder case. She goes to sco Nina and tho girl gives her . letctr to be nai1ed in case she is convicted. MRS FOWLER, wife of the dead man, Is called as q witness and faints on the stand. NOW co ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER xxvIII.
 It was Mrs Fowler who had dropped back, apparently lifeless in her scat. There was a great buzz rushed forward. From somewhere ! doctor appeared. Presently the woman's eyes opened and she raised her head. She was able to rise with assistance and the doctor and another man helped her from the room. The physician returned and announced that Mrs Fowler was under severe strain and could not be questioned further.
 She could not be questioned on the following day either. Bonnet, the states attorney, announced that the health of his witness did not permit her to appear.
 At home that evening Jim Wal lace said to Gypsy, What do you think of that woman? I wish I could be sure she doesn't know something she's hiding."
 He was standing by the living room table filling his pipe with to- bacco. Gypsy. looking childish in . yellow crepe frock made with ahort sleeves, sat with her feet tucked under her at one end of the rested in the crook of her elbow.
 Do you mean Mrs Fowler?" the girl asked.
 Jim dropped into the heavy up- holstered chair that was his favor ite. As he held flame to the pipe he nodded.
 T couldn't understand why she fasnted." Gypsy admitted. "I mean unless she wanted to get out Of an- swering any more questions. Isn't there some way you can insist on getting her there again?"
 "Yes, there is-if it will do any gc cd! In the meantime Bennet's reading those damned letters and br. aging in witnesses who saw Mira and Fowler having dinner to- Sether, Say-did you notice the way he read those letters? Made them sound twice as discriminating as they are. I'd get Mrs Fowler down there in a minute if I thought had the right hunch. I can't get over feeling that she knows some- thing. But what?"
 Gypsy leaned her head back and studied the opposite wall between narrowed lids.
 ''Nfna said she'd never seen the woman but twice before. Said Fow- Ter didn't like to have his wife come to the office. She'd heard him talk to her over the telephone. though, and says sometimes they quar- reled.'
 ''Where was Mrs Fowler when the shooting took place?"
 "You heard her say she was home. didn't your"
 But. Jim-then she hasn't any better alibi than Nina!"
 Except that Nina was in the same building and Mrs Fowler was clear across town. Besides, there's no motive for the woman to kill her husband"
 ''How do you know that? There might have been 50 reasons! Jim, how long would 1t take for a per- son in a car to get from Fowler's onice out to his homer"
 Jim considered. "Oh. I should say off-hand about 20 minutes"
 "But then she could have done it! She could have-don't you see! Suppose Mrs Fowler came to the ofFsce after Nina left. Maybe they had a quarrel or a struggle and she fired the gun. She could have sur down stairs-the building has two stairways you know-and got into a ear and been home by the time the police telephoned at 6:30!"
 Jim had been listening thought fully. Now he shook his head. "lt won't work" he said. You haven'' any more case against her than any other person in town who hap pened to he alone at 6 o'clock that evening. No, I've got to fight the thing out as suicide. People don't get in and out of public buildings without someone seeing them There were half dozen witnesses in court to-day who swore that nc one came in or went out of tha, building who hasn't an air-ttgh' aIfbi. It must have been suicide!
 
 the evening
 Gypsy awoke next morning witf a headache. She sneezed half a dozen times while she was dressing and when she came to the break. fast table her eyes were smarting
 'Catching cold, aren't you?" Jim
 T don't think so. think I've already caught it." A loud .katchoo" punctuated the sentence.
 Jim put down his coffee cup "Take my advice" he said. "and stay home to-day. Go back to bed and have Matilda bring you some. thing hot to drink. That's the only way to break up cold"
 ''Oh. but Jim I hate to miss the trial!'
 aNever mind about the trial. One member of the family'll be on the job there. Now want you to dc us I tell you. Gypsy. Spring colds are dangerous"
 She was about to protest but an. other attack of sneezing inter. ruptcd. "All right" the girl agreed meekiy. Privately she decided she must look as miserable as she wal feeling.
 After he had gone Gypsy went tt the kitchen to talk over the day'i ordering and menus with Matilda 1t was Cora's day to do the ironing Gypsy gave Matilda instructions te take charge of the household. Ther she went upstairs to her room.