The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-04-12

Franklin intimately. or else knew some
one who did Otherwise. how could
he have obtained the revolver?"
"All right" Peter continued. $50
far we agree. Now. when did the
murderer change his mind about using
the gun and decide In favor OF the
knffe?"
"When he came through that door.
The knife was hanging exactly oppo-
site the back door. He probably zig.
ured 1t was quieter and would give
him a better opportunity to escape.
incidentally. that proves he did come
through the back door"
ave still agree" declared the nov
eiist, .but from this point on, we
differ. Let me tell you why. In my
opinion, only large powerful man
would have abandoned revolver In
favor of knife. It seems to me that
was the action of man who had con-
siderable confidence in his own
strength. Remember. Franklin was .
big man. Webster Spears is compara-
lively small. not more than five feet
nine" He shrugged. "Oh. know
we're branching off into psychology.
but it's the truth. isn't It? Big men
want to get at grips with their ad.
versaries. Little men back off. They
want long-range weapons.
Kilday stroked the bristles on his
chin thoughtfully Usually. that
would be right" he admitted cautious
". "But other elements entered into
this. The dagger was quiet. The re-
volver would make noise. That was
q powerful argument In favor Of the
dagger. one that would upset these
other calculations OF yours"
Possibly" conceded Peter. 'But In
times of stress. men are more apt to
run true to form than otherwise. And
have reason for believing Spears
could not have been the wielder OF
that knife"
Kilday showed his skepticism.
The novelist walked to the wall,
reaching toward the empty scabbard.
Had the dagger been there. he could
have withdrawn It without any great
III was dulIy Cl6ht
feet from the floor.
'But / am six feet two" he pointed
out. while 1t wouldn't have been
any great trick for me, or for anyone
six feet or more in height, that's quite
q stretch for man of Spears build.
Had he been able to reach 1t at all,
he would have had to stand on tptoe.
What would Franklin have been doing
while he was stretching for that knife9
II doesn't fit. Kilday. I can't picture
Webster Spears as the murderer"
The detective smiled blandly.
"You'd better join the other side" he
said. You'd make good witness for
to explain Spears attempts to halt the
wedding? We know he did. We know
he had motive for the crime. The
Shipley girl gave some damaging evil
dence against him, although she
changed 1t after her visit to his house
last night--a visit, mind you. which
both she and Spears deny. but which
we know occurred. nevertheless.
"Oh. know" he shrugged, shat
we can find q motive for dozen
people. But Spears Is the only one
who appears to have been doing any
thing about 1t. He and Rylie Car.
mody. The guilt lies somewhere be-
tween those two and think ] have
the right one.''
"Then you don't attach any further
significance to the woman In blue
Or to Daniel Bullis?"
s'Not unless the woman In blue was
Calls Shipley,' declared the detective
grimly. "And as for Bullis-welI you
just eliminated him yourself. Bulls
was Franklin's enemy. Would Frank
lin have permitted him to enter with.
out making any 0utcry which would
have warned Royce Of the situation7
Yet you have just demonstrated that
Franklin certainly must have known
his murderer and thought the visit
friendly one I think that let's Bulls
out. No" Kilday persisted doggedly,
"all trails lead to Spears The only
bit of evidence you have produced in
HIS defense is that he might have had
difficulty in reaching the knife. You
have shown that the rear door
creaks. which might have warned
Franklin when his assailant entered.
Yet we know that several persons pre-
viously left by this d0or-Bullis, the
woman In blue and Choo Choo Train.
They might have left it open. Spears
might have entered silently. secured
the knife before Franklin was aware
of his presence. and struck him down
before he had time to make any out.
cry. Everything you have developed
here is purely along the line Of sup
position"
They left. Kilday to return to his
Office. the novelist to his apartment.
but Peter was dissatisfied with the
conclusions reached by his friend. In
his own mind, there existed consid-
cradle doubt concerning Webster