Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-02-07

- A'eAAhe thdt you hdNS doAet Dul
something concerning Mr.. Franklin
that you think had best remain un
known" His tone was kindly
Now | IA Franklin's friend, too
Fletcher. II there is some incident
that should remain a secret, | car
promise you that neither of US is
anxious TO make II known, provided
Of course, that Ii has nothing to dc
with his death. But you must LET
us be the Judge OF that"
Fletcher shrugged. I'm sorry,
you misunderstood me, sir. There's
nothing to conceal. It's only that
don't recall just who came here that
day."
WAS Bulls hese?" Kilday de-
manded.
mo, sir. I'm SIRE of that. I've
never seen Mr.. Bulls. although I've
often talked to hin, on the phone"
who was The woman here that
day, FletcherfaN / was Cardigan
questioning now.A
The woman?T The servant
stared blankly. What woman?
don't recall any woman visitor"
Perhaps 1t was Choo Choo
Train Peter continued. ignoring
the mans reply. V she came here
often, didn't sheY'
Fletcher hesitated. apparently
searching his mind. 81 can't be
sure" he said. "She may have been
here that day. She did come here
every once In a while"
Kilday snorted. Every once In a
while! Why she was here nearly
every day, wasn't she?"
NO, sir" The man glanced first
at the detective, then at Cardigan,
uncertainty. "That is the truth"
he volunteered. "0f course | know
you gentlemen are aware of MI.
Franklin's ah--" he CROPPED for a
word-'ah-connectlon, with the
actress, but just the same, she did
not come here as often as you might
expect. They maintained separate
apartments, and | believe Mr.. Frank
lin visited her there"
Did she have a key to this
placer" Peter asked next.
The mar nodded.
Then perhaps she could have
come here yesterday, or the day be-
fore, without your knowledge"
Possibly" Fletcher shrugged.
But 1t doesn't sound plausible, sir.
was here all the time. | think |
should have known it, If she had
been here"
Peter sat astride of a chair, fac
ing the man. His lean brown fin
gers drummed a tattoo against his
knee, in time to his racing thoughts.
For the moment he seemed to have
forgotten the man he was question
ing. "Who else had a key to this
place, Fletcher?" he demanded.
Il beg your pardon, sir?" The
question evidently had caught the
servant off balance. But he had
heard the question, clearly enough,
for after a long interval of hesita-
ton, be answered. IF there are
any other keys, sir, | don't know
who has them"
There have been a number of
other women in Franklln's life"
Peter continued evenly. "A great
many, before Choo Choo, and prob
ably some since. How long has 1t
been since n Of these women Wis.
tied your master here, Fletcher
Il think" the servant replied
slowly, that Mr.. Franklin was very
much in love with Miss Train, sir.
| don't believe there have been any
other women he has cared for, re.
Gently, except" he added apollo
getically, Miss Carmody, of course"
The novelist pulled thoughtfully
on his cigarette and studied the man
before him through the pale cloud
of expelled smoke. You're very
careful how you word it, Fletcher"
he observed. Il notice you say
nothing about any women who may
have been In love with Mr.. Frank
lin, regardless of how he felt in the
matter. 1t isn't always easy to break
off q love affair with q woman. even