The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-12-04
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SYNOPSIS

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 On Q stormy November cyen- inR DAVID HARVESTER meets . pretty blond girl and offers her . lift in che cab in which he is riding. Her handbag opens and lpe secs a revolver inside.
 Next morning Baunister reads that TRACY KING, orchestra lender in Q movie tlleafer, has been found dead in his apart- ment. Police are searching Tor an stunkn0wn blond" who visited KfnT the night before. Bannister, remembering the girl in the taxi cab, is puzzled.
 lie sees her again that morn. ing. The girl tells him her name fs JULIET FRANCE and that she knows nothing of the mur. der. She begs Bannister to help her and he agrees.
 He goes to SC his old friend, JIM PAXTON, editor of the Ire. mont Post.
 CHAPTER VI
 Jim Paxton's face lighted as he saw the figure in the doorway. Hello there!" he exclaimed. "Glad you came around" Paxton put aside the cigar he had been chew ing and leaned back in his chair. "Lord!" he sighed. What morning!"
 Bannister sauntered to chair beside the editors desk. The desk itself was piled high with a litter of newspapers. galley proofs, large manila envelopes and a stack or letters that had not been opened.
 How much did you lose Last night?" Bannister demanded: :.
 "Oh. it isn't that. l followed your example and went home early" Paxton assured him. "but I've been down here since six o'clock. That blasted murder last night hit us in a bad way. The Times had all the best of 1t, or course, coming out this morning. Did a good job too"
 The Times was Tremonts only morning newspaper but the same publishers issued the evening News-Press. Against such opposi- tion the Post had prospered but 1t was a continuous fight.
 'Tt hit us in @ bad way" Paxton repeated. Kennedy, the city edi- tor, is laid up in a hospital and his ASSlStAHt Ad O. lVW VhOs OAAy ~SN~A on the job two months. Besides that" he frowned, raising his two hands in a gesture of defenseless- ness we're short-handed. One man off on late vacation and an- other quit without notice. There are couple of youngsters filling in but they don't know what it's all about"
 "What's new on the murder?" Canister asked.
 Nothing-apparent (. guess they're still looking for the myste- rious blond. More promises that they'll have her at headquarters within 24 hours Say, it's 8 whale of story, isn't it? You don't know what sensation that grooming or- chestra leader has been in this town! Girls and women all crazy about him. Sending him letters and cakes and all sorts of pres ents. Asking for autographed pic- lures. Why, our telephone opera tors eyes are red and swollen and they say one of the girls in the business office has been crying half the morning"
 "Must have been popular" Ban- mister agreed shortly.
 "Popular's no word for 1t! And then there's the society angle-his engagement to Denise Lang, the richest girl in Fremont. Why, it's the sort of story that doesn't break once in five years and," bitterly, i've don't even start on 1t before the Times has cleaned up"
 '.I wouldn't say it was cleaned up," Bannister commented. Mot until they find out who killed him."
 "Oh, no. of course I didn't mean that. But the Times had the whole story - all anyonels been able to get so far. If Kennedy were only here or had two more re- porters-!"
 Bannister had been sitting with his chair tipped back. He brought the two front legs of the chair to the floor now. strengthened and said quietly, You want more reporters, do you? Well, I'll take the job" -
 "You'll take it!"
 Bannister nodded.> 'I'd like to take a fling at it." he said. "Re- member what we were talking about last night-about the thrills and excitement we used to have We'll, I'm bored. I've been bored for months. Haven't a thing to do with myself or my time. Here a cracking good murder breaks and I'd like to get in on 1t. Maybe it's because I'm back in Fremont"
 ''Why, Lord love you Dave! You don't mean you want to be a re- porter on the Post again, do your"
 ''Why not Bannister was talk ing eagerly now, 'rd like to find out who killed Tracy King-and why. oh, I don't suppose I'll be much help to you! Probably I'm stale; been out of harness too long. But I can do leg work. I'd like to be on the inside of 8 murder story once more and see the wheels go around. I used to have a pretty good standing with McNeal and I'll bet I still know half the force--''
 "Go to it." Paxton told him curtly. There was never 8 better police reporter in Fremont then you were. Dave. Maybe you'll get some ideas you can use in a novel v
 "Yes, and maybe I'll get my neck broken" Suddenly Dave Bannister