The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-02-15

"Probably earlier than that" added
Royce. "Rylie was the first one who
quarreled with Franklin. and that was
right after we came. We arrived at
twenty minutes OF four"
''Did understand you to say that
Rylie was the first one to quarrel
with Franklin, Nick" Peter Cardi-
gan leaned forward. elbows on knees,
his lean brown hands clasped to-
gether, watching the other man In
tently. "He had more than one quar-
rel here, then?
Royce nodded. but glanced at Car
mody. before replying verbally. "There
was a woman" he said.
Ambrose Carmody turned toward
the man stiffly. 81 suppose you gave
an account Of that to your newspa-
per, too?"
"Of course" And then. for the
first time defending himself. Royce
hurried to say, what else could !
do? Every paper In town will have
an account OF it-and of this woman,
too
EFT was Helen Train" he continued,
this time addressing Kilday. "Choo
Choo Train, Of the Scandals. Franklin
made no secret of his attachment for
her. The whole town knew it-every
one except, perhaps, the Carmodys."
Ambrose Carmody sat down heavily.
"When was this7" he asked. Before
or after talked with franklin"
after" Royce's tone was kindly.
"Sorry, Mr.. Carmody. but you asked
for 1t. Choo Choo came In after Doc
tor Alternately entered the church.
She and Jim quarreled. Jim wanted
to know what she was doing here. He
was angry. She claimed that he had
sent for her. hushed them up.
was afraid the sound Of their voices
could be heard inside the church.
Come in here Jim said and. grab
bling her by the arm, pulled her into
the study That was the last heard"
did you see her again7" Kilday
wanted to know.
'No. She must have left BY the
back door,"
"How about franklin Peter Car
digan inquired. did you see him
after that, either?'
Royce hesitated, as though for reflec-
ton. moo" he said slowly. "Come
to think Of 1t. that was the last saw
Of jim"
They were interrupted by one Of
Kilday's assistants. entering from the
study with the dagger.
"No prints. Sergeant" he reported.
1.-THE handle must have been wiped
clean"
.It was too much to hope for" re-
piled Kilday, as he drew It from it,
scabbard.
long and curved only slightly. The
most interesting feature Of the dagger
was its handle Of deliberately carved
ivory, with a curved metal hilt In the
shape Of two rams horns, their tips
pointing downward. There were no
stains on the blade.
Naturally, there wouldn't be-"
Peter pointed out. 1.-THE slayer
wiped It or on the curtain. But /
am sure this Is the knife which was
used"
"Why are ron 70 sursl" Kilday
looked doubtful.
"Simply this" The novelist took
the dagger from his friend and point
Cd to the curved hilt. .aThis explains
the bruise at either end Of the deep
wound. The dagger, you see, was
driven In all the way to the hilt It
was powerful blow. Each tip Of the
rams horn left its mark on the slain
mans body. Come and I'll show you"
In the study. Peters theory was
borne out by the wound which had
caused Franklin's death. The blue
bruises at either end Of the wound,
when measured against the hilt Of the
dagger, fitted perfectly.
"It begins to look as though Il
wasn't premeditated crime." Ser
geant Kilday began. "The murderer
or murderess, whichever the case may
be, grabbed this weapon from the wall
In a fit of passion. It appears that he
brought no weapon with him."
Peter stared thoughtfully at the rear
door Of the room. II wonder how
much this door had to do with It." he
said. He spoke softly, as though CIV
ing voice to his thoughts. rather than
expression to any formulated opinion.
"If that theory Is correct" he con-
tinued, "there was no reason for the
murderer to conceal his movements
when he entered the study. Then It
would have been some one whom
either Royce or the rector saw enter
Ing the room. II the crime wasn't
premeditated. there was no reason
why the murderer should have slipped
In here by the rear door,"
It was clear that Kilday. who had
paused to listen to his friends refiec-
lions, shared his doubts.
They were interrupted by an ex-