The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-30


 "Never thought of it. Too busy with you - and besides, my back was to the door. They just ap- peared after I reached the room but before we brought you here."
 For the last moment or two he had spoken vaguely, as if his thoughts were elsewhere. Now he broke the short silence hesitat- ingly.
 Linda can't exactly place 1t but there's something-"
 Something you saw?"
 'Yes, from that float. There szwas something about that man"
 When you saw him standing behind me?''
 Ut was only 8 second. you know. But I have a queer hazy | feleing there was something not quite right about his looks. Just tn eeffect as he stood there."f v "Oh, Tom, try to. think!" II am trying but 1t. doesn't come"
 She waited hopefully. He shook his head. Sorry! Can't get it." It'll come when you least ex- pect it." said Linda comfortingly, little guessing how long deferred how very nearly too 1ong-that sudden memory would be. We can settle that later. Now we must fix our stories so that they agree on the accident and what happened after. We must know exactly what we're going to say about every single point" Linda, have you thought of this? Cousin Amos spoke to you. The man was overhead and might have heard. In that case he'd see through the whole yarn. Wed give ourselves, away completely" She pondered this. T don't think there was a chance of that. Cousin Amos barely whispered. It was all I could do to hear, with my ear right down to his mouth. I did gasp his name = that gave away that was there but anyone two feet away wouldn' have known he spoke. No, think that's all right. I can bluff that through. Now. how does this sound for my story?
 room, hurrying after you, and the UOQy IllI LuS ICIIaC0 Juot d6 | SoAiAO out. I dashed forward and called him but he was dead"
 Tn that case, you should have stayed there till help came."
 II couldn't be sure he was dead. He might have been unconscious. And at that time in the morning help doesn't just come--you have to go get it. I rushed in to VI to telanhone-n &ia
 "The telephones downstairs in the hall. You would have stopped
 "Yes. We'll, my first aid sup plies are up here. dashed up for flor spirits of ammonia and bandages and anything l could lay my hands on."
 "Then how did you get into his room ?"
 She thought that over. .'Force of habit. We used to have 1t before we moved in here and l was so rattled that went there without thinking"
 "That's not very strong. Binks."
 .Hysterical women do things lots queerer than that. We'll. to go back, I dashed in - saw the balcony rail torn away and dropped in dead faint"
 ''No mention of the thing :..ound your neck?"
 "No. But that's dangerous. too -I couldn't help feeling that"
 There's another weak spot. Why not say you Selt as if you were choking"
 aYes--and I'll describe 1t as if I imagined something went around my neck-"
 Their eyes met.
 "We're taking an awful chance, Binks."
 NWhy, Tom? You said yourself that a man like that was-was quite all right after he had the-- the explosion. And if none of them has the sense of being sus- pected or watched, the one that did 1t won't become irritated all over again."
 "Ye-es. But, Binks, promise me this. Don't stir from the place alone with one. Don't fall for any suggestion to go off in the boat, or through the trees to the club. or anywhere out of reach--instant reach. On the lawn or in the house, you're in calling distance of a lot ~of people but If you go any further be sure at least two of them Ire with you - then you know 1t can't be bothl"
 ''I see. You think there's still
 If know it. want to back out. Binks? It isn't too late."
 She shook her head.