The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-01-09
CHAPTER FoRTY-FvE

tograph of dead Mia, her black
hair in a French roll, her slim, re-
cumbent body clad in the royal blue
velvet dress. Beneath the picture
was the caption:
What part does the outmoded
royal blue velvet frock which Nita
Selim chose as a shroud play in the
solution of her murder?
That is the question which Spe-
cial Investigator Dundee, attached
to the district attorneys Office, and
due home this morning from fruit
1ul detective work in New York,
undoubtedly is prepared to answer:
Dundee still was seething with
futile rage when he climbed the
stairs to his apartment. On the
living room floor, touching the door,
nc found an envelope-unstamped
and bearing his name written on
a typewriter.
DONNIE DUNDEE set his travel
- ing bag upon chair and
picked up the sealed envelope which
bore no other inscription than his
name. The note 1t contained was
on paper as plain as the envelope,
was typed and unsigned.
IF Special Investigator Dundee
will consult Page 410 of the latest
WHO'S WHO IN AMERICA, he will
find a tip which should aid him ma
terially in solving the two murder
cases which seem to be proving too
difficult for his inexperienced"
A wry grin at the unfriendly gibe
of his anonymous correspondent Just
was twisting his lips when double
knock, with which he had become
very familiar, sounded on the living
room door, which he had not closed
completely.
Come in, Belle"
A morose, lack-mouthed mulatto
girl in ancient felt slippers sidled
into the room.
Howdy, Mistah Dundee" Belle
greeted him listlessly. You got
back, like the paper said you would,
didn't yuh? And l amt sayin
! amt gladl Dat parrot o. yoahs
slo is GaWd's own nuisance
nippin' at nah fingahs, an screech-
in his fool head off.
Course l amt sayin' it's his
fault, keepin' dat young gen'man
on de secon' flo awake las night.
But lax 1 say to Mistah Will
son, when he lights into me dis
maWnin', runnin' off at de mouf
cause 1 fo'got to put Cap'n's covah
on his cage las night, I amt de
onliest one what forgets in dis
house.
Comm home Gawd knows when
an leavin' de front do unlocked de
rest O. de night, SOS bugglers and
murderers and Gawd knows who
could walk right in hyer-"
Dundee, itching to consult his
own copy of who's Who" flung
glance at the parrots sage, in
tending to pacify the mournful girl
by scolding his Watson" roundly.
But he changed his mind and con-
soled the chambermaid instead:
Just tell Mr. Wilson that for
once he's wrong. You did not for
get to cover Cap'n's cage, Belle.
Look"
The girls full black eyes bulged
as they took in the cage, complete
ly swathed in square of dark silk.
- AWD'S sake, Mistah Dundee!"
" she calculated. Il didn't put
dat covah on dat birds cage! An
neithah did Mis- Bowen, cause she
been laid up with rheumatic eveh
since you lef, an even las endurin'
thing in dis OF house has been lef'
fo'me to dol
Then 1 suppose the indignant
Mr.. Wilson came up and covered
Cap'n' himself" Dundee suggested,
crossing the room to the bookcase
which stood within reaching dis
lance of his big leather-covered
armchair
"Hin?" Belle snorted. How he
gonna get in hyer widout no key?
Sides, he'd a-top me fin"
Belle, how many times must l
ask you not to misplace my
thingS?" Dundee cut in irritably, for
he was tired of the discussion. and
angry that his copy of who's
Who" was missing from its Gus
tomary place in the bookcase.
Me? 4. 1 amt teched none o
yoah things, 'cep'n to dus' EN- and
lay EN- down whar I foun' EN-, .
Belle retorted.
Dundee looked about the room
then his eyes anghted upon the
missing book, lying upon tapestry
draped shelf that extended across
the top of an old-fashioned hot air
register. set high in the wall he
tween the two windows.
The thick red volume lay close
against the wall, its gold-lettered
rib" facing the room.
Belle, tell me the truth, and ]
shall not be angry; did you put that
red book on that shelf" Dundee