The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-07-20
CHAPTER x-continued

Il
say the smaller chance there is of
anyone finding 1t out"
John Reagan laughed. i.
"Kid yourself, Jim-if you want
to-" he said. "But don't try to kid
me-"
AT their destination, the under
taker conducted them into the cubi-
Gle where Thayer's body was being
held under police orders. Harvey
was frankly frightened by the sight
of death, and didn't even look at
the body as Reagan gave clinical
dissertation on the killing.
''Tell me that later" suggested
Harvey hastily. 81 want to get out
of this place quick"
"Good Lord, Jim-if you didn't
want to look things over, what did
you come here for?"
$40 find that diamond ring. You
see, John-at the time Pat Thayer
was killed, he was wearing q Ola.
mond ring which Ivy WEIGH had
given him. want to see If he's
still wearing It."
Reagan bent over the body. When
he Strengthened his expression was
one of complete bewilderment.
"You sure you got your dope
straight, Jim?"
"Yeh."
"Then there's something darn
funny-because Thayer amt got
anything on his fingers except q
signet ring with some foreign let
tiers on 1t"
Harvey turned reluctant eyes on
the body.
''It's gone all right, John"
"I'll say it has" Reagan's fore
head was creased with intensive
thought. Suddenly he smashed his
right fist into the palm Of his other
hand. "And you know what 1t
means, Jim-that diamond ring be-
Ing gomez"
"What does 1t mean, John?"
"Just this: Thayer was alive
when Larry WEIGH went to see him.
Larry saw the ring and knew what
It meant. He had it out with Thayer
and killed him. Then he took his
sisters ring off Thayer's finger, be-
cause he knew If he left It there It
could be traced back to her. Am ]
right?"
"Durned If I know, John. But
whether you are or not, you sure
sound reasonable"
The Marland Jail bulked forbid
dinghy against the full moon Of q
perfect May night. Citizens of Mar
land were proud Of their Jail; OF
It's staunch concrete walls, Of its
marble portico. of the heavy iron
bars which proclaimed to an erring
world that it would do well not to
err here.
Jim Harvey stood at the curb
and commented In complimentary
fashion on the building, thereby
bringing a thrill to the heart of the
local detective. Then they walked
through the big gates and thence to
the warden's Office. The big man
was to have access to the prisoners
at any time. The warden conduct
ed the two men to the little room
which was occupied by Antoinette
Peyton.
"You understand, Miss Peyton,'
said Harvey quietly, "you don't
have to talk IL you don't want to-
ST have no objections to talking
| she answered calmly.
"Good. | shall have to ask ques.
lions which might be kind dwell
direct. Is that all right?"
EYES,"
The big man reached for the gold
en- toothpick and clicked it open
It seemed impossible for him to tall
unless his pudgy fingers were busy
with that CHASTITY instrument.
"I'm not going to waste your time
with lot of silly questions, Miss
Peyton. reckon could start al
the beginning and check up witt
you on all the things know al
ready just to see if you'd tell me
the same story. But I won't"
"Thank you,' said Tony CRATE
fully. e.
I'm ONLY going to ask you abou
those things that nobody else cal
tell me-" A broad. engaging girl
split Jim's lips "That's fair enough
amt it?'
Yes. ;" She found hersel
warming to this big man. III
seemed honest; genuinely. deepl.
honest.
81 know" continued Jim softly
"that you overheard a sort Of low
scene between Mr.. Thayer and "
WEIGH. You butted in, and q ger
eral row followed. 1t don't matte
just what was said The point
that you and Thayer and Ivy wer
all sore, weren't your"
Eyes"
Now the first important thin
I've got to find out is this, mis-
Peyton: What was your relationsni
!: to Pat Thayer? What | mean Is
IN