The Washington times., 1932-04-23
CHAPTER TEN

District Attorney Dougherty
faced Colt in the middle of the
> room and laid two red hands
on the chiefs shoulders.
For once you and I agree,
Thatcher" he announced. This
is murder!"
Colt nodded somberly.
And 1 think I've got the so
.. lution!" added the district at
> torney in a husky whisper.
(Which is"
-. Inside job-those death
threats-killing Of a dog and
., parrot-all that stuff-get this
&C. roommate woman and give her
y, the works."
you mean Christine Quires
killed Lola?"
- COR knows who did,"
. ''Motive, Dougherty?"
"The dead girl knew too
much-about jewel robberies."
But how was it done?"
81 don't know how it was
- donel But no matter what
kind of hocuS-pocus they used.
= we can find it-give us time"
proclaimed the District Attor-
ney with an oracular wave OF
his mighty arm. You'll see
that the jewel ring is at the
bottom of thiS!"
There was a telephone beside
- the bed. Escaping from Dough
erty's grasp, Colt lifted the re-
ceiver and called for his private
number at Police Headquarters.
Inspector Flynn, please" the
Commissioner murmured into
the transmitter, and then turn
-. ing his luminous eyes on me. he
= added:
Tony, get Lieutenant Fallon.
Tell him what's happened. Have
him check up on his men, to
see If any of them heard any
thing unusual. Then report to
me here in five minutes. And
Tony"
- I was at the door.
Find out who was in charge
. Of this apartment house-no
employee goes home until re
leased"
II understand, chief"
The Police Act
AS I hurried from the death
chamber, I knew full well what
was now happening down at
Center Street. Once the Com
misSioner's message was re-
ceived, action commenced. In
stantly the Bureau of Criminal
Information was notified that
women named Lola CareWe had
died suddenly and mySteriously;
murder was suspected. All the
facts Colt gave over the tele-
phone were transmitted to this
central bureau and thus made
available, if and when neces-
sary, to the entire force. Mean
while, a corps Of specialists was
being organized and dispatched
: to the scene; detectives from
the Borough Homicide Squad,
:. with their official photograph
ers and stenographers. With
-. them would come the Medical
Examiner or one of his assist
ants. Probably the Inspector
commanding the particular de-
tective division which included
Eola'S apartment house in its
boundaries, would also appear,
in company with the Captain
of the local precinct.
49, Knowing that these troops
from the homicide squad would
soon be in possession of the
premises, l was also sure that
80, Thatcher Colt would follow
his usual custom of learning as
much S possible before his re-
Inducements arrived. 1t is
-. sensible police practice in the
conflict between authorities
and witnesses to strike at the
earliest possible moment. In
the shock that overcomes all
except the most hardened-.o or
the most inSane-of criminals,
Just after a violent death, the
barriers of deception are diff
"ficult to sustain. A murderer
may prepare in advance the
most convincing story and
yet, Immediately following the
execution of his dark deed,
find himself utterly unable to
speak a syllable Of his lying
tale. felt positive Colt would
begin his inquisition at once.
The fact was, as I learned
later, that Colt gave orders to
Inspector Flynn to arrive half
an hour late, so that he might
-have time to begin his inquiry.
Closing the door behind me,
I crossed the wide expanse Of
the living-room floor. In one of
the easy chairs by the fireplace
sat Doctor Hugh Baldwin, Smok-
ing a cigarette. His bag lay be
tween his feet. The physicians
alert gaze searched the fire and
ashes in quest of what, only he
could have revealed. Standing
b between the windows, his hands
folded at his thighs, was Chung,
his great and ugly face a little
to one side, the badness of his
nS,a,sV,oo11a a7.ouyYo Tlao Y1ain0 NM.