Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-03-28
By MONTE BARRETT

lack definite proof. but there's only
one person who could have done 1t.
1t was the same fellow who helped
me along when I took that dive
through the window the other
night.
You see. Sergeant" he contin-
ued. I'VE have been hitting pretty
close to the truth almost from the
first. Ever since I've been lying
here, I've been going over the evil
dence, trying to make 1t fit. l
couldn't get away from that woman
in blue who visited Franklin in Doc
tor Abernathy's study, just before
the crime. The very fact that she
was the only one of the visitors
that we couldn't locate, in spite Of
all our efforts, made me doubly sus-
plcious of the part she played In
the crime. Still, that was only sup
position, until the night Franklin's
apartment was searched. The prowl-
er passed up a few Jewels of value
while ransacking the place. II
seemed obvious that he was no or
binary thief and that his search
had some connection with the
crime. But we have been wei that.
| need only point out that our pre-
vious search of those rooms made
us reasonably certain that nothing
had been found there. felt sure,
then, that the search would be ex-
tended TO the office. Whatever the
murderer wanted, he wanted pretty
badly.
"That was a lucky bunch, al
though 1t nearly proved the finish
of me. And 1t proved another
thlng-this was a hot trail.
THE murderer had admitted him.
self to Franklin's apartment with
a key-a key given him by, or
taken from, the woman in blue or
Choo Choo Train. We can dis
cover nothing against Choo Choo.
so let's follow up the other lead. II
the key came from the woman in
blue, the motive for the crime vas
established, but / was still as far
from identifying this woman as
ever, apparently"
Peter brushed his hand YEARLY
across his eyes. His face showed
the strain the events Of the after
noon were imposing upon his linn
tied strength.
Then there Ia the matter Of the
phone to Choo Choo Train, just
before the wedding" he continued
presently. "She thought 1t was
Fletcher calling, by Franklin's or
der. We know that Franklin didn't
tell Fletcher to make such a call,
because Nick Royce tells us Of the
mans surprise when she appeared
at the church. Fletcher denies he
called. Then who did call?"
webster Spearsi" Kilday sug-
gested.
Peter shook his head. II think
not. Spears was interested In get
ting the Carmody family to stop
the wedding. Besides, he has adj
mitted his conversation with Rylie
and his anonymous call to the elder
Carmody. But he denies calling
Choo Choo. What reason could he
possibly have for not telling the
truth on that score, as well?
mo, 1t wasn't Spears. The muir
derer called Choo Choo. He did II
because he knew her Relationship
with Franklin, Of course, and
hoped that her presence at the
church would divert suspicion from
himself. l believe that was the
only reason she was called. OF
course, this tells US very little. II
does reveal that the man knew
Franklin well enough to know his
habits. But half Of New York
knew of his infatuation for thi;
actress. Nevertheless, this man wa,
no casual acquaintance. He hat
either visited in Franklin's apart
ment, or talked to him by telephone
there"
How do you know that?"
HE knew Fletcher's name anC
was familiar enough with his voice
to initiate 1t when he talked Il
Choo Choo over the telephone" Pc
ter explained. "A mere casual &C
quaintance couldn't have done that
Besides that, we have another proc
Of the fact. When the murderer en-
tered the rear door Of Doctor Aber
nathy's study, Franklin turned L
meet him. He was not surprises
to see his visitor. II he had been
1t would have been only natural TO
him to have made some exclama
ton that would have attracted tn
attention of Nick Royce, STANDING
only a few feet away. He didn't
Royce never knew when the mur
derer entered. Franklin is boun.
to have considered his murdere
one of his intimate friends"
Peter paused to light a fresh Gig
arctic and inhaled Of 1t, deeply, sex
eral times, before continuing.
(To BE CONTINUED.)
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