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


swiftly.
Ell wasn't sure"
"And yet you never took the trouble
TO dress for t." the novelist pointed
out. "You are wearing q tweed suit"
Rylie glanced at his coat, as though
for the first time realizing fits exist
ence. His answer was deliberate.
From the time heard about Choo
Choo Train and Jim Franklin" he said,
81 forgot all about the wedding I've
told you about that. came here 20
see Franklin. and then went home to
try to catch Doris before she left.
Failing In that. ] came straight back
here. forgot all about dressing"
"You have told us that several
times" said Peter. Suppose you tell
us how you heard about this actress.
Who told your"
Once again Rylie hesitated. Then,
"web Spears told me-" he said. HE
told me all about Il at the club, after
lunch. didn't meet him until one
thirty. He said he had something to
tell me, but he kept Il TO himself until
after lunch.
ut was two-forty-Hve," he continued
more slowly now. 81 remember the
time. because looked at my watch. I
wanted to see n had time to catch
Franklin at his apartment. But by
the time got there he had left-gone
to the church, his man said. So
drove on here. By that time Il must
have been after three-thirty, as you
said" ~ 1
"Who is this Web Spears"
"Webster Spearsl Why, he's-oh,
every one knows Web. His father was
my fathers partner. before he died.
We've been friends always"
"The families have always been close
friends, gather?"
stOf course
Sand was there ever anything be
tween this young Spears and your
sister. Doris? Any boy-and-girl az
fair. Were they ever sweethearts?"
"Yes," reluctantly. sBut that's all
over, now"
"Since when?"
T don't know. For some time,
I0OuRu. sure VI
Peters next question was addressed
to the senior Carmody.
81 suppose you knew young Spears
pretty well. too, didn't you. Mr.. Car
mody?"
"of course. rye known him all his
life"
''well enough to recognize his voice
over the telephone?"
"well," Ambrose Carmody pursed
his lips thoughtfully. IT don't know.
I might"
Peter followed up this question with
another "YOu told us, earlier, that
some one who refused to give his
name, telephoned you this afternoon
and told you about Choo Choo Train.
Could that have been Webster Spears?"
The elder Carmody shook his head
doubtfully. 'I don't know" he said.
81 hardly think so"
"Why?"
Because Web would have given me
his name" declared the old man with
dignity.
Peter was evidently through with
the interview. With his hands crammed
in his coat pockets, he ambled about
the room. his forehead corrugated In
thought. his blue eyes cleaning be-
meath their shaggy brOws.
The sergeant motioned Peter to fol-
low him and strobe into the study.
He made sure the door was shut be-
fore he spoke. "Nine suspects al
ready. and we know who eight Of them
are. The devil of it is. we can show
a motive for most Of them"
Peter watched silently as his friend
crossed to the rector's desk where the
contents Of the slain mans pockets had
been methodically arranged. They had
been few--a bill-fold. some loose
change. two handkerchiefs, one Of
them still folded, and a leather en-
cased ring on which there were seven
keys. Displayed on the folded hand
kerchief was the wedding ring, q
slender platinum circlet studded with
emeralds. There had been nothing
more.
Kilday picked up the keys. weighing
them idly, his eyes still clouded In
thought. "Nine suspects, and we know
eight Of them. But this woman In
blue-if II was Calls Shipley, then
Doctor Alternately is trying to protect
her. Why? IF she was the woman I'm
blue" the detective continued DELHI
erately. 'we'll have TO find a way to
shake Doctor Abernathy's story. That
shouldn't be hard
"But II she wasn't"-again he ex-
amined the keys In his hand-"these
keys may tell us something. II the
woman In blue killed Franklin. jeal-
ousy was probably the motive for the
crime. We know Choo Choo Train
was his mistress. he could have had
another. He had a reputation for In
fidelity, where women were con-
cerned. If that is true. then one Of