The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-12-08
downstairs though he was last

doWnstalrs tnougH ne was iast U come."
 'IIe believes in doing everythins without lost time or motion--like fireman going to q fire. Anyhow, MT DeVos said that when he and MT Statlander got there Marvin had just picked me up"
 He didn't say where Statlander came from?"
 NO, nor which got there first. Spoke as if they came together"
 "As a matter of fact I got there first. I turned around and saw the two of them in the door"
 80 you did" She remembered her husbands description of the scene. He said MT Pratt had already lifted you as MT Statlander and came in. We could only offer assistance. Then when your hus- band came, he naturally took com- mand'."
 "Thats a contradiction but a small one. He was reused from sleep. And anyhow, Binks, they say two people cannot tell the same story about the simplest thing that happens under their eyes" "Still, he spoke later of your run ming upstairs all dripping wet, aa if he'd sen you"
 Did he actually say he had seen me coming up the steps?"
 "No = don't, think his words could be interpreted that way. He just said he ran upstairs, drip ping" Linda stopped rather ab- ruptly. She doubted whether 1t would be polite just now to sug- gest that someone else had noticed the tension between Marvin and her husband.
 Tom, meditating, did not notice her sudden stop or thought she had come to a period.
 "Well--we won't forget 1t. It may be a bad slip It's a contradiction at best. You told the story about fainting-how did he take that?"
 "How should he take it? Per- fectly natural--but rather bored as developed my sensations. l got that in about feeling as if I were strangling. Did it very nicely. if l do say so myself. Oh, his manners s perfect, Tom. He really seemed sorry about the whole occurrence and sorry, but not too sorry. about me-"
 
 She hesitated whether to men. ton the talk about the boat. After all, DeVos had not actually asked her to take him out in 1t and Fleur's appearance in hers was such an obvious reason for the turn of the conversation. Then Toru struck off another track and she forget this vague possibility.
 Linda. you didn't go into Cou. sin Amos room before 1 locked Il up, did you?"
 Not since = it happened" she said, "Why?"
 That business of the railing be- ing put back worries me. I don't quite like 1t. I suppose anyone might do it abstractedly. Parsons perhaps. when he inspected tho place. But whoever did 1t might have gone back into the room There may have been something some proof of the attack on you After all, you haven't shred of proof now"
 She had slipped off her sports dress and put on soft afternoon chiffon that was cooler but not too dressy in its effect. Standing by the window, she looked out on the darkening waters of the sound.
 "Yes," she said slowly, "I think have. From tho feel of what went around my throat, I'd say it was a | towel--a turkish towel. Now it happens that yesterday, at the ten his tournament. the back of my : eek got sunburned. was sore all ! evening so after we came home from the dance and took off my dress l smeared on great gobs of salve. l thought was going 10 | bed, you see. Then we decided on a dip so just shook off my clothes on the floor and got into my suit without thinking of 1t again. That | towel---it was pulled tight, Tom and ther'd be smears of sticky salve on 1t where 1t rubbed the back of my neck"
 | Sure 1t was a towel?"
 .Yes--practically sure. It Wa, rough and wadded up thick. think I sort of clutched at 1t. Any. how, I've been turning 1t over 1T my mind while you were talking and my impression Ms clearer ant clearer"
 "Binks--if it's in the house. vol must find that towel!' | "Yes."
 l A little premonitory shiver wen over her. Then she went on calmly i "It's probably just hung ove somebody's towel bar. No on, I.would think 1t would be a give away. Oh, Tom, that's a cIew! To, really think that whoever hal I
 tT0 Be Continacd)
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