The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-12-16


 Bannister felt that he wanted to change the subject. Speak ing of blonds," he said, we've been talking to one-Denise Lang." McNeal looked up, interested. "So she can talk now!" he ex- claimed. What did she tell you?" ''Not much. Didn't have a chance. Her father appeared on the scene"
 McNeal tapped the desk sharply with g lead pencil. Say" he said, "did it strike you there is some thing queer about that bird?"
 There's plenty queer," Gainey put in indignantly, about the way he treats reporters! I'd like to take a sock at his. Practically threw us out of the house!" McNeal gave him 8 whitening glance. "Well, that's too bad" he said tartly. Maybe he's not so queer as thought" He went on seriously, turning to Canister Maybe you think we're not getting anywhere on this case, but we've done a lot work. ots of people involved. Have to talk to 'em and check their stories. Arthur Lang's a big man in this town, but that doesn't give him all the privileges he thinks 1t does. No, sir! Lang says he was in his office from S:30 until 10 o'clock last night. Nobody saw him go there, or leave, 50 far as we've been able to check"
 "You're not accusing him of shooting his prospective son-in- law, are you?" Bannister asked. 'I'm not accusing him of any thing" McNeal said, "-yet. But truth. don't believe he was in why someone wouldn't have seen him-the elevator boy CT a night watchman or someone."
 "Listen, McNeal," Bannister said suddenly, there's some thing I picked up this afternoon that may not be important, but l think you should know it."
 "Picked up where?"
 "Out at the Shelby Arms. I went out to have a look at the place oh, not that I expected to find anything you'd missed! just wanted to see the layout"
 "What'd you find out?"
 "A few things. Did you know that last week one of the other tenants quarreled with Tracy King and their voices were so loud at least a dozen people heard them? Did you know the other tenant-a woman = swore she's find some way to get King out of the hotel?"
 McNeal's blue eyes widened. "Where'd you get all this?" he de- manded. "I didn't hear anything about it. was out there all morn ing"
 "Then I guess they were holding out on you," Bannister said. Ut was this way"
 He reported the story Mrs Ken nebec had told, the story of Mel vina Hollister's quarrel with Tracy King after his cat had killed her canary Bird. He told about the burial of the canary with flowers from the florists and about Mel vina Hollister's threats.
 McNeal listened in silence, was silent for several minutes after Bannister had finished.
 "What do you think of it?" the younger man demanded. Do you think it means anything?
 q think" said the chief of the detective staff slowly, that I'll be going out there and having a talk with the Hollister woman myself. Why wasn't she around this morn- ing, I'd like to know?"
 Captain McNeal was scoWling and Bannister understood why. It burned the captain up to under take job and then slip up on it. It was an affront to his dignity and
 "Listen, Cap" said Bannister uuickIyq, "do you mind if I go along with you? I didn't see Miss Hollister myself and I'd like to-"
 "Are you going to-night?" Gainey asked. why, it's" he looked at his watch, ''it's 10 after 9. Gosh, thought it was later than that!"
 Bannister, too. had thought 1t was later than that. He was glad to know it was not.
 McNeal rose to his feet, snapped the half-open drawer of his desk shut. Come on!" he said crisply to Bannister. Let's be on our WY