The Coolidge examiner., 1933-10-27


ter you wrote the boy"
"No explanation is necessary, Mr..
Rankin" the woman returned The
truth is that | didn't want such a
foolish note to fall into my hus-
bands hands or those of the police.
! swear il has no connection with
Stuart's tragic DEATH"
Despite her distress. she was
alert not to yield the account Ran
kin sought from her.
1T isn't so simple as that" he
countered. LAS | was certain, even
before | read the letter. you were
fond of him. And you were with
him twice. On Saturday night, at
the fraternity dance, several wit
nesses saw you upstairs together;
then again late od Monday. If your
letter isn't enough proof, have
also found the farmhouse on the
Mill road from which ne phoned
you after being stranded. You
picked him up there in your road
ster."
Momentarily. Rankin's knowledge
shocked the lawyers wife into ST.
lence and she wisely recognized the
futility of trying to maintain her
claim.
"But | only did 1t to help him
out" she insisted HE was prac-
tically marooned; he had no money
and couldn't have got back to town
otherwise. | drove him directly to
the fraternity"
He had not returned there by
two-thirty Tuesday morning" Ran
kin pointed out significantly. And
so late at night, you could easily
have covered the distance to towr
in halfhOur."
Mrs. Fletcher hesitated. mo E.
we that was because we had
breakdown along the Stone road 1t
delayed us for
Il am very sorry, Mrs. Fletcher"
the detective cut curtly across her
explanation, you persist In refus-
ing to be frank with me. Perhaps
you would prefer to make your let
ter and your relations with young
Jordan public In court" His voice
rang impresslvely. Remember, you
are attempting to cover crime; and
the coroner and the judge won't be
easily deceived"
Her gasp of fear. as she caught
her breath. told him his threat had
been effective.
Court? A 1udge?" she ex-
claimed. But tell you that what
| wrote Stuart has no connection
whatever with his death !"
I'm not convinced about that"
Rankin pressed his advantage mer.
cilessly. Your husband was close
to him when be collapsed-right be
side him. in fact. He had opportu
nifty enough to harm him."
Surely you don't suspect Edward
of numbering him?" Mrs. Eletcher's
fear deepened TO horror and she
clutcned at the pillar of the veranda
for support.
The detective BIT off his words
Isn't even that possible. under the
circumstances? You, yourself, dread
ed how far he might go for salts.
faction. And your admission would
do much TO influence a Jury. In fact.
your actions today were prompted
by the fear he might be responsible
for the tragedy"
NO no." the woman protest d
yehemently. lie had absolutely no
motive for killing Stuart. There
was nothing improper in our friend
ship swear; what | wrote proves
that my interest in him was perfect
ly innocent"
But unfortunately Mr. Fletcher
couldn't tell that" Rankin declared
He was guided by the apparent evil
dence of your unfaithfuIness. II
must have seemed to him that >"
But he never found us together! !!
When he got back. he only saw me
and had no idea my companion was
Stuart !"
The detective was swift TO seize
on her first acknowledgment of the
true facts; nevertheless, mis- ques
tion held note of uncertainty.
HE didn't know Stuart? How
was that possible? He had plenty
of cause to remember him from the
dance"
Too late 10 retract, she manifestly
regretted her panic; but having
made the tell-tale admission. she saw
she had no choice but to explain IL
mo. what mean was that Ed
ward saw him only from a distance
Stuart slipped away without ell
countering him. before he arrived
So that he discovered me all BY nv
self. That Is why | am sure be
couldn't nave harbored any real an
ger against him. Mr. Rankin"
Rankin disregarded her conclu
sion. where did Ill this happen
your husbands interruption and the
boys escape" he Queried. "YOu
brought him back here. I suppose.
after you picked him up at the farm