The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-12-19
Wggkg07 MNRDER5SasE:ZzE!!E Co. !

"All remember about De Vos.
who arrived last and stayed in the
background, was that he had on a
dark, very long robe. He was calm
and poised but then he always is.
Not much to go on there. Is
that all you'll be telling me If it.
nothing left out?"
"One thing" Again Toms voice
was troubled. Il spoke of this to
Linda, but it keeps coming back TO
m mind. just as I saw her fall
and the man behind her-and dove
II had queer impression Of some
thing wrong-not quite normal,
son1ehow-about that mans appear
ance.
i've tried to locate it, but it seems
always just over the edge of my
mind and I can't drag it back
Something tells me 1 must remem-
ber-that it's awfully important.
limp! Those fugitive impress
sions are the divvil and all to cap
ture. Best not try too hard. Twill
pop back some time in the dead o
night. And now for my small con-
tribution-if il is a clew-"
They sat forward eagerly as
Shaughnessey took several endless
seconds to light his pipe.
Il was downstairs through all
this, you know. standing by the
body and feeling very much at sea.
didn't know what to do-and
consequently did nothing.
But after seeing the poor old
man was dead, did move up and
down the terrace a little. That was
the only way I could work off my
restlessness. On one trip I heard a
slight sound overhead and, being
turned toward the lawn, I kept 60
ing quietly, thinking you had come
out there, Mrs Ayerill I look up,
as any one would, from curiosity.
Our friend, Mr. Statlander, was
there and for the life of me ]
couldn't figure out what he was
doing. He moved very quietly and
furtively, you might say, and he
was in the queer rig you describe.
First he crouched down and
pulled the upright ratings into
place, but when he did, he turned
his head away as if he didn't want
TO see what he was doing.
Then he stood up and did the
same with the upper rail, laying ii
in place all neat and tidy-like or
the top so you could hardly sec
where the break had been. Then
he busted off his hands, very care
fully, with something he had in
them-too big for a handkerchief
and then smoothed it across the top
bar.
And then he went quietly back to
the other easement door-that
would be the nursery?-and never
looked down to the lawn all tbs
time he was there
r linda was quivering with excite
IL ment and Tom was tense,
though he contrived rot to show it.
HE rubbed-oh, do you think
he was rubbing off finger prints?
Linda cried eXcitedly.
That's what had me wondering
then and now. It was a queer thing
to do at all, at all, and what was
it he had in his hand but that toWe
you mention?"
Linda broke in again.
THAT ties up with what he said,
she exclaimed. 81 talked with him
while Tom was getting the bridge
game under way and led up tC
it so that he told me he had beer
out on the balcony tWice-once ap-
parently just sort Of exploring the
house.
THE other time, he said, he was
Just looking about little He adj
mitted he was curious about the
scene of the accident and / sup
pose he might well have been"
Hes very inquisitive, in his self
important way" unused Tom
That's just what he would do. But
why fix the railings?"
It asked sim if he did. First he
wouldn't admit to knowing any
bI1lllk dDOuO lbs A4CAA 1lC 9elAA liz
might have done it, 'absent-mind-
edly!' Oh-and Tom-just remem-
Der"
What, honey? Take your time!'
well, 1 asked him if he saw any
thing else that was interesting.
acted quite casual, but I noticed
he flushed right up, and he said
nothing in the curtest, quickest
way-as if he were all ready and
waiting for me to ask that"
y
TIE wouldn't be very gooc
l. Il liar. Too much of an ego
fist" murmured the Irishman. "But
that nothing was all he
said?"
yes. Shut up like a clam"
1T probably meant something.
THE towel?'
I'm thinking perhaps he went
back just to find it,"
TO Be Continued
- c..