The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1933-11-13
soft waves about the girls face.

= !; x
For the first time Bannister in
spected that face closely, and
registered approval. She was pref
ty-but by no means the pref
test girl he had seen. Hundreds
of perfectly featured Hollywood
faces routed that claim. This
girl had something else-char,
acter and distinction. He liked
the rather high forehead, the tilt
of the nose, the lips drawn gen
erously and, though undoubtedly
covered by rouge, of a shade ap-
preaching naturalness.
And this girl was wanted for
murder.
,"Well," he said uneasily, you
were going to tell me about it"
She nodded. "Ill tell you
everything" she agreed, "if only
you'll help me. II must tell
someone. can't stand it any
longer"
"Maybe we'd better begin with
Names" he suggested. Mine is
Bannister, by the way - David
Bannister."
OH She eyed him inquiriag-
ly. 1--WE heard that name some
where. You're not"
"No one of the slightest i'm
portance. assure you. Pm
well, just now Pm out of a job
He thought for a moment there
was sympathy in the gray eyes:
Then they turned away. Out Of
job" the girl repeated. "Thaas
why | came to fremont. |
thought l could get Job here"
"But you haven't told me who
you are?"
"My name," she said, ''is Juliet
/ France. | don't live in fremont.
I've never been here before. but
had to have a job. That's why
| came"
/ She was reciting the words
slowly, intently. 81 sing a little"
the girl went on. mot profess
sionally, but I've often sung IN
public"
"You knew Tracy King?" Ban
mister asked.
Her face, that had seemed pale
, before, whitened. "Pd never seen
him before in all NV life" she
exclaimed. 'Never-before last
night. And l didn't kill him! [
swear I didn't! Oh, please believe
me when I tell you that"
Bannister leaned forward.
"Then you were there" he said.
"You were in Kings apartment.
You're the girl the police are
looking for" 80,
"But l tell you ] didn't kill
him! I didn't"
"The gun"
at wasn't loaded. l told you
that last night! My father rave
it to me years ago. lts-one OF
the few valuable things | own. |
thought that if | needed money
could sell it"
An extremely unlikely story,
4ennister very well knew. but he
must hear the rest of it.
"And so you went to Kings
apartment" he prompted.
The girl hesitated. eying him
as though uncertain whether or
not TO continue. Then the words
came with a rush.
eyes. I saw his name outside
theater-Tracy King. I've sung
in benefits in theaters and J
thought maybe he could give mo
q Job or help me get one. | was
afraid they wouldn't let me talk
to him if I went to the theater.
so I looked up his address in the
telephone book :,
Last night | went there. II
took me a long time to find the
place but finally did. The clerk
told me Mr.. Kings apartment
number and over the telephone
he said l could come up. | mean
Mr.. King said so. He let me IN
and l asked about getting a
chance to sing in the theater. He
wasn't very encouraging but ne
told me that if | would come
thereto the theater-this morn
ing about II o'clock he'd hear
my voice.
"Then / thanked him and said
good night and came away. When
| got outside l saw that it was
raining. There was a cab out IN
front and l ran for it. You-you
know the rest"
"There wasn't anyone else
there with King?" Bannister ask
ed. "You didn't see anything IT
the least suspicious, anything to
explain = what happened after
ward?"
mo, there wasn't anyone else
there. Just Mr.. King. He didn't
seem worried or anything. | don't
know anything about what hap
pened after that. l didn't know
until this morning"
"Well, them" said Bannister
easily. 81 don't see that you have
much to be frightened about. The
best thing for you to do is to tell
the police this whole story, just
as you've told it to me. On,
there'll be some routine question