Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-12-13

Franklin, and then went home to
try TO catch Doris before she left.
Failing In that, | came straight
back here. forgot all about dress
ing"
you have told US that several
times" said Peter. suppose you
tell us how you heard about this
actress. Who told your"
Once again Ryle hesitated. Then.
"Web Spears told me-" he said.
"He told me all about ii at the club.
after lunch. | didn't meet him I'M
til one-thirty. He said he had
something to tell me, but he kept 1t
to himself until after lunch.
1T was two-forty-fve," he con-
tinued more slowly now, Il remem-
Der the time. because | looked at
my watch. l wanted to see II l
had time to catch Franklin at his
apartment. But by the time / got
there he had left-gone TO the
church. his man said So | drove
on here. By that time it must have
been after three-thirty, as you
said"
"Who is this Web Spears?"
webster Spears? Why. he's
oh. every one knows Web. His IA
Their was my fathers partner. be-
fore he died. We've been friends
always"
"The families have always been
close friends. I gather|
"Of course"
"And was there ever anything be-
tween this young Spears and your
sister, Dorisf ANY boy-and-girl af-
fair. Were they ever sweethearts?"
YES" reluctantly. but that's
! all over, now"
"Since whenf"
81 don't know. For some time,
though. I'm sure of that"
Peters next question was adj
dressed to the senior Carmody.
II suppose you knew young
Spears pretty well. too, didn't you,
Mr.. Carmodyw
"Of course. I've known him all
his life"
"You told us, earlier, that some
one who refused to give his name,
telephoned you this afternoon and
told you about Choo Choo Train.
Could that have been Webster
Spears?"
The elder Carmody shook his
head d%oubtfully. Il don't know"
he said. II hardly think So"
"Why?"
Because Web would have given
me his name," declared the old man
with dignity.
Peter was evidently through with
the interview. With his hands
crammed in his coat pockets, he
ambled about the room, his fore
head corrugated In thought, his blue
eyes cleaning beneath their shaggy
brows.
The sergeant motioned Peter to
follow him and strobe into the
study. He made sure the door was
shut before he spoke. Nine sus-
poets already. and we know who
eight of them are. The devil of it
is, we can show a motive for most
of them"
Peter watched silently as his
friend crossed to the rector's desk
where the contents of the slain
mans pockets had been method
ically arranged. They had been few
"a bill-fold, some loose change, two
handkerchiefs, one of them still
folded, and a leather encased ring
on which there were seven keys.
Displayed on the folded handker-
chief was the wedding ring, a slen-
der platinum circlet studded with
emeralds. There had been nothing
more.
kilday picked up the keys, weigh
Ing them idly, his eyes still clouded
In thought. Mine suspects, and we
know eight Of them. But this wom-
an In blue-if it was Calls Shipley,
then Doctor Alternately is trying to
protect her. Why? If she was the
woman in blue" the detective con-
tinued deliberately, wen have to
find a way to shake Doctor Aber-
nathy's story. That shouldn't be
hard.
but If she wasn't"-again he ex-
amined the keys in his hand-"these
keys may tell us something. If the
woman In blue killed Franklin, jeal-
ousy was probably the motive for the
crime. We know Choo Choo Train
was his mistress. He had a repu-
tation for intidelity, where women
were concerned. If that is true, then
one or these keys probably fits the
door of her apartment"
Peter examined those keys mi
nutely. Two were small, of the
type frequently used for desks and
files. The other FIVE were larger.
Any n of them might fit an apart.
ment door. Kilday might be on the
right track.
How about young Carmody?" the
novelist inquired. "What do you
think of his story?"
Il can't afford to think about II
till check up on It," the detective
replied grimly. Come on, let's &c
visit Calls Shipley. I've got to know
1 ~ Chn xyn q Hlz - Ill.,.