The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-30
nnuIN HEnE TO-DAY


 1In of LINDA AVEH1rL. falls fo his death from Che second floor balcony of the AverIlls' Long Is- land home. Linda reaches him just before he dies, in time to hear him gasp, ~He pushed
 Linda, realizing her cousin hnd tried t0 tell her he was murder eo, ruehes upstairs Co the balcony Someone steps behind her, tries to strnngle her and she falls in c faint. Her husband, TOM, sees her fall and rusfcs to her. There arc four guests In the house and they all appear. The guests are: MIR STATLANDER, business as- sOciate of Toms; CAPTAIN DE VOS, hnuds0zle Belgian: MAR WIN PRATT, former sulfOr of I.fndass; and LIAN sHAUGH- nessey. IEfsh writer. Each of them have 1uarreled with Cou. sin Amos.
 DIR PARSONS takes charge. It fs assumed Cousin Amos death was accidental and that Linda tainted from shock. When she is finally able to tell Tom what happened she persuades him that they must keep the four guests with them until they discover who is the murderer. They tare unexpectedly aided in this plan when DIR BOYLE, official meiii- cal examiner, sends word that everyone in the house must rec main until he has questioned them. Boyle is on a fishing trip and can not return for several hours.
 Tom and Linda discuss the sit- uatlon. Tom says Pratt is the only one against whom they have definite accusations. Linda says, "Oh, yes, we have. Against. one other mani"
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XVIII
 Tom showed his surprise. "What do you mean?" he asked.
 Don't you remember what you told me about MT Shaughnessey!" Linda was deadly in earnest now. Tom, why should he be up then, much less prowling around? An hour before you'd helped him up the stairs-drunk!"
 well. not exactly drunk, Biuks."
 "Near enough! Did you see him start to undress?"
 s'No. I didn't need to stay. I was tired myself and he was able to navigate all right. Gosh, it seems a month ago instead of this very Inorning!"
 "I was thinking - he'd been drinking, Tom, and he was quar- relsome. even the little could see. Of course they all had trou- ble with Cousin Amos but MT Shaughnessey had been snubbed outrageously and he's proud as Lucifer. No matter how he did it he'd never forgive the way Cousin Amos talked to him that night at dinner. He probably could have gotten into the house somehow"
 Toms frown of concentration stopped her. You know, Linda, can't remember locking that door last night.'
 "The front door when we came in? I didn't see - oh, of course, you came up later after you took hirn over." :.
 'sYes. was hot and tired and pretty well tangled as to nerves by our delightful guests. Wanted to get my clothes off and get to bed"
 "You don't usually forget"
 T may not have. Just can't re- member doing 1t. One of the ordi- nary bits of routine that simply doesn't register either way"
 "You said you didn't See him to bed"
 "You mean he could have fol- lowed me?"
 "No, not exactly. But I was thinking that - he might have watched you from the window. He could have noticed that--if you'd just hurried in and left the door open"
 Tom made a gesture of weari- ness and distaste.
 Well, granting he got into the house and threw the old man over the balcony, how could he choke you and then show up on the ter rsce as I came up?"
 "He could that's just what l was figuring" Her voice was ex- cited, her eyes bright. Look. Tom, you were climbing on the raft-yOu saw me wave and 8 man behind me--and you dove. While you were in the air or under water he could step over me, run across