The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-23
And that's why I

have been so flattered if Flora had told him she killed Nita out of jeaI- ousy that he would have forgiven her on the spot. On the other hand,' she went on. If Flora had told him that Nita had documentary proofs of some frightful scandal against her. can't you see how vio- lently Tracey would have reacted against her? !. Oh, no! Tracey would not have taken the trouble to murder Sprague when Sprague popped up for more blackmail!"
 Perhaps he might have. if the scandal dated back before the mar riage." Dundee argued. Lets sup pose Sprague did pop up. and Flora turned him over to Tracey. When Sprague appeared apparently unin- vited last night, Flora must have been on pins and needles. trying to make Tracey treat him decently and hoping against hope that scoundrel all the blackmail he was demanding-'
 (Which is exactly what Tracey would have done. instead of taking the awful risk of murdering him in his own home," Penny cut in spir- itedly. Besides, Tracey wasn't gone from the porch long enough to go outside, signal to Sprague in the trophy room. shoot him when Sprague raised the screen and then hide the gun. told you Tracey was gone only about a minute when he went to see if Sprague's hat and stick were gone from the closet"
 "Did Tracey and Flora both step outside to see their guests into their cars?" Dundee asked sud- denly.
 Tracey did," Penny answered. Flora told us all good night in the living room. then ran upstairs to see if Betty was still asleep But remember we didn't leave until
 midnight. and Dr Price says Sprague was killed between nine and II last night"
 "Dr Price would be the first to grant a leeway of an hour, one way course, if Tracey did kill him, he let Flora believe that he had given Sprague the blackmail money he was demanding. For it is incon- ceivable that woman of Flora Miles hysterical temperament could have slept-even with two sleeping tablets-knowing that corpse was in the house."
 "Oh, I'm sick of your silly theo- rizing!" Penny told him with vehe- ment scorn. Listen here. Bonnie Dundee! You probably laugh at | 'woman's intuition.' but take it from me you're on the wrong track!"
 "Oh, I'm not so welded to that particular theory" Dundee laughed. T can spin you exactly six more just as convincing"
 And I shan't listen! You'd better dash home and pack your bag if you ! want to catch the five o'clock train for New York"
 "It's already packed and in my office" Dundee assured her laZily. the home edition of The Evening Sun" he interrupted himself. as a small boy, making his rounds of the courthouse, flung the paper into the office. He reached for it, and read the streamer headline aloud:
 ITALIAN GANGSTER SOUGHT IN BRIDGE MURDERS" l wager a good many heads will lie easier on their pillows tonight" Let me see!" Penny commanded. and snatched the paper uncere- moniously. "Oh! Did you see this?" and she pointed to a boxed SlOIy III lIlc oL tHC AAohS page. "'Bridge Parties Cancelled" she read aloud. "The society editor of the Evening Sun was kept busy at her telephone to-day. receiving notices of cancellations of bridge parties scheduled for the remainder of the week. Eight frantic host esses, terrified by Hamiton's sec ond murder at bridge'-oh. that's simply crime."
 'I'd rather not play bridge for awhile myself!" Dundee laughed, as he rose and started for his own office. And don't you dare leave if you have the nerve to play again, Remember. that gun and silencer are still missine."
 What do you mean? You don't think there'll be more-?"
 Dundee became instantly con- trite before her terror. "I didn't mean it, honey" he said gently. "I think it is more than likely that he gun is at the bottom of Mirror lake. But do take care of your- self. and by that I mean don't work yourself to death Any mes sages for anyone in New York;" Penny's rale face quivered. If you-happen to run across my 1atncf, Wnlcn or course you won |, tell him that-mother would like for him to come home"
 At intervals during the 16-hour run to New York. Penny's faltering words returned to haunt the dis trict attorneys special investigator. although hn would have preferred to devote his entire attention to mapping out the program he in- tended to follow when he reached the city which. he fully believed, had been the scene of the first act of the tragic drama he was bent upon bringing to an equally tragic conclusion.
 As soon as he had registered at hotel near the Pennsylvania sta tion, and had shaved and break lasted, he took from his bag a large envelope containing the pho- tographs Carraw had made of Penny alive and of Nita dead, both clad in the royal blue velvet dress. Tn the envelope also was the white satin, gold-lettered label which the dress had so proudly borne: "Pierre Model. Copied by Simonsons, New York city"
 ing the photographs and the label to a woman buyer in the French salon of Simonson's, one of New York's most ''exclusive" depart ment stores.
 Gan you tell me when the orig inal Pierre model was bought, and when this copy was made and sold?" he asked.