Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1933-11-29

AAAhC " TIC oCNOh0 OAA hA6ah IA
CURED. With his eyes he measured
the brawny size of the dead man.
women can do lots of things
we're reluctant to give them credit
for" Royce retorted. Besides, how
do we know which blow was struck
drst7 Perhaps the deep thrust was
the first one and the other came la
ter, when Jim was weakened and
dying. That would eliminate your
theory that a woman couldn't have
done It."
The novelist shook his head, slow
ly. his shaggy brows knit In a re
Elective scowl. Il don't think there
was much struggle left In him after
that blow" he said. 1T must have
come last"
Lets begin at the beginning"
Kilday suggested. "You say you
were In the next room at the time
this happened?"
The newspaper nan nodded.
Suppose you show me where you
were standing the sergeant lnvit-
ed, and Royce crossed to the door
leading from the sacristy into the
church.
Doctor Alternately had gone In"
he said, land | was watching for
our cue to enter. The last | saw of
Jim, before the crime, he was stand
ing right where you are now. |
turned my back to him and was
watching the choir enter, waiting
for the Wedding March to begin.
But when 1t did begin. Jim was
dead"
And you heard nothing at all In
the room behind your" Kilday's
voice sounded slightly incredulous.
Royce shrugged his dapper Shout
ders. 1--WE said that / didn't. For
one thing, they were singing, and
the organ vas playing. That would
have drowned out any but a loud
noise"
"Mr. Royce" Kilday's bland tone
deceived no one, "you hadn't, by
any chance, quarreled with Jim
Franklin, had your"
In spite of the smile on his thin
lips. there was an unpleasant ex-
preston on the newspaper mans
narrow face. Sherlock" he said,
with a mocking bow, don't tell me
you have guessed my secret. That's
why | was the best man at this we'd
ding"
Just the same" Kilday retorted,
"you weren't overcome by grief.
You discover the man you say was
your best friend, murdered, and the
first thing you do is call up your
newspaper"
He turned abruptly to Doctor Alb
ernathy. where were your"
I'm the church. | was standing
at the choir steps, waiting for the
bridal party"
"Could you see this man, stand
ing here In the door, from your po-
sition In there?"
The rector hesitated. II could
have" he agreed. "But you see, |
wasn't facing In this direction"
"Well. when you glanced over
here, did you see Royce? That's
what I'm asking you. Doctor Aber-
nathy."
mo, | didn't see him." the rector
admitted.
II wasn't standing where / could
be seer from the church." Nick
Royce interrupted. "The door was
only open a crack, and | was stand
ing well back"
"You didn't say that, at first"
Kilday challenged.
Il took your intelligence too much
for granted, I'm afraid" II the
officer heard, he gave no sign.
Were taking one of the curtains
out Of your study" he Informed the
rector. 1.-THE slayer wiped the knife
there"
"Did you find the weapon?" 1t
Milo Dunbar who asked.
met yet. Probably the murder
er took 1t with him."
"And so that convicts me-" Nick
Royce interrupted ironically. "0f
course I've had time to run home
and hide the knife"
"You ran outside to get In the
back door of the study, didn't your
Kilday demanded. Then, turning to
one of his assistants, Take a look
outside there, Pat. Maybe the knife
was dropped around there"
You can't fool old Sherlock"
Royce ironically remarked, and
walking to the window, he watched
the detective as he searched the
shrubbery outside for some trace of
the weapon.
Peter studied the newspaper
mans back with puzzled blue eyes.
What was wrong with Royce? Did
he really have something to con-
ceal2 The thought seemed p~reposter-
GUS AS he had so pointedly made
clear, Jim Franklin would scarcely
have asked any but his most trusted
friend to be bis best man. Where