The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-11-22
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 BEGIN uEuE TO-DAY
 AMOS PEABODY, elderly CoU1In cf LINDA AVERTriL, falls co his 1c1th from the eoc0nfl- floor balcony of the Averill's Long EeI1n0 home. Linda reach- c1 him just before ho dies, in tine to hear him gasp. He push od uie-p
 Thero arc four ruests in the house and all become suspec1s of the murder. All are strong physically, have violent teInpefs and all have Quarreled with COd- sin Amos. Inc four are: MIR STATLsANDER, nilddiesselfern rrlnnager of the Arm TOM AV- uf works for; MARVIN PRATT former suit0r of Tfnda's: CAP TAIN DEVOS, handsome Bel ginn representing European perfume manufactures; and HAN sHADGHNEsSEK, Irish writer and lecturer.
 Linda, realizing her cousin had tried Co scll her he was Tnur- dered, rRshes up the stairs to the balcony. Someone steps behind her, tries 10 strangIe her and she falls in q faint. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XII
 A door closed, very softly and gently. To Linda, lying white and motionless in the big bed, the sound came faint but unmistak- able, piercing the nothingness in which she seemed fathoms deep. A door. there was something ... .she must tell someone. about d door t*
 Of course not being able to open her eyes made it hard. If she could do that she could speak Another interval of nothingness, not unpleasant. but the im- pulse returned more strongly.
 Suddenly she was looking up at the ceiling and it's whiteness hurt her. She made a little fret ting noise and shifted her head on the pillow. The sound brought instant action. With troubled, affectionate look, someone was bending over her. Lnda's still tightly dazed regard travelled over the surprisingly young face up to the smoothly waved gray hair and down again.
 ''IIello!" she observed weakly.
 s'I1ello. Lind! Toms mother was nice-she took things so for granted. Always serene instead oi breaking into exclamations oi surprise or sympathy, she now acted as though Linda had simply walked from a brief nap. She was waiting, as 1t { happened. to see whether she would drop of again or was really able to talk. but Linda felt only the atmosphere ot casual calm. It braced her at
 sWeii.. she vouchsafed feeblyi sshere I amt"
 "Yes.s Kathleen Averill smiled, ssNo doubt about that!"
 "How long have I been here 2.
 ooh. ever since Tom teie- plioned mes Mrs Averill dis fnissed the matter of exact time airily but Linda was rapidly be- coming her normal - and persist
 STom - where is Tom? Why he was swimming Oh!p The mo rnent her nother-in-law had dreaded came sweeping over Lin- da. Tom !. .so far away ... that tight choking thing around ner neck Cousin Amos. the terrace. Linda sat straight up IT bed, her eyes suddenly brimming, like a chflds with silent tears
 leen.s lovely white hand, 50 aris- 1T.A AZ < M S1s,., v,n nranna1 naftad her
 :.i.m not going to fuss-but I dc want Tom!'s Linda burst out. Her need was not for sympathy but for com mprehenEion. "Oh. ! must see him! I mustlY
 Yvery well, kitten. you shall. He's having a little breakfast now. Hes been pretty busy, this last hour or two. Shall call him ?'' s
 That was a new idea. An hour or two! It had been early n before 2 .-breakfast? Her mother-in-law, instinctively guarding her much harassed son. seized the opportun-
 :4e,ll hurry back to you as fast as he can. | know. | made him eat first and told him Id go down 2 for \ cup of coffee when he came up. So he'll be back very soor Linda yielded. After all. per haps she really wanted a few minutes to collect her thoughts Now everything was in a tumble but she knew there was somethine very special that she wanted to teli rom, and he, would probably have much to tell her.
 "I'll just rest till he comes, she said and observed with normal shrewd penetration the satisfied smile of victor. Rest! Wna, she needed was action-but sheso have time to think things out
 It was in fact but scant ig minutes before quick steps n tne and Mrs Averill, rising with g re- sirned little sigh met her son al the door and tslipped out as he cams .Tanda ,i dsrlins.'' All the anx. ietv of the ;.iorning was in his ex- clamation. "You poor baby - you p0oT rha ; Tommy Tn all right no%l "But, honey, lie down! Yor shouldI't be sitting up this way!s'
 asrouldn,t be sitting up? Indeed not! | ought to be. up altogether She,wriggled under his firm grasp arF pointed accusinglj at the lit. tieFrench clock. Tom, is 1t really 9,sIf-uast s? Did Isgo out com plete- ' for so long? How could i? must get up this n1inute!"
 s.You,re to stay right here. StoT that, Banks- behave yourself. :"
 rom, what nonsenses How can with the doctor coming g-anc there'n be arrangements-
 'You,re not to talk. The doc { tors been here and
 And the police 2" inquired Linda in a small scared voice. He looked at her in utter aStonishment.
 Linda, what on earth? The police don't come forfor anything ike that. We teiephoned Parsons of course. and he got here just "a a. nothinr he could do for that is IA Attended to. you first. He did