The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-04-19

expect me TO pretend any SoTToW loi
Jim Franklin's DEATH I hated the
man. The world is better off without
him. Better off. tell you." His voice
had grown suddenly harsh.
| .Do you realize what hi Doris
life would have been. married to him9
with a chorus girl mistress that half OF
! New York knew about? Have y0n
seen the newspapers? Doris picture
yes. and yours, too Haunted on the
front pages of the tahloids. together
with photographs of that actress!
"Pm not sorry for Franklin. I'm glad!
Glad that it happened! Glad that my
sister was saved from him. no matter
how it happened! I'll be glad If the
murderer gets away. hope they
never find him. He sank into a chair
and clasped his white face in both
hands. r
The girl was on her knees beside
him, her soft arms clasping his knees.
"You mustn't, Rylie, you mustn't" she
whispered. mo matter how you feel,
you must never talk like that again.
What If some one else were to hear
you? Oh, when think that it's my
fault that they suspect you"
Tenderly he took the girl In his
arms.
"It's no ones fault. and I'm in no
danger, really. honey. You must re-
member that. Keep repeating 1t to
yourself. There isn't any danger.
There isn't. There can't be, because
Rylie didn't do it."
'Tt's like terrible shadow. that Is
slowly coming between u.s." the girl
whispered.
Nothing can ever come between US.
dearest" murmured Rylie.
"Doris probably thought that, too.
just before the wedding, and see
what has happened to her." Calls
shivered.
ST wish we could figure out some
way Of running away from it all. l
never want to see another detective
again. OF course. that's foolish. We
can't do it, but"
eve can do iti' interrupted Rylie
eagerly. Lets. Listen. Bill and Flo
are at Martins Cove. Why couldn't
we drive up there this evening? If we
leave here at eight. we can get there
by midnight"
"And have detectives and reporters
hiding behind the hedge every time
we go for swim?" Her voice was
ironic.
'Tt isn't so easy as that, Rylie. And
think of Web. wouldn't feel right
about running away with him under
arrest We must stay here and see
things through. Whatever he has
done, has been done to help you. Rylie.
I feel sure Of that"
The boy turned away. his eyes grown
grave. "pm not so sure" he said. i've
talked to Dad. He isn't admitting II
to the police. but he is sure 1t was
Web who telephoned him about that
actress Web was trying mighty hard
to stop that wedding"
"You think"
81 don't want to think" When he
turned to face her Rylie's tortured ex-
preston revealed his inner agony.
"Web and have been like brothers.
He loved Doris. II he killed Jim
Franklin, he did no more than might
have done, had I been given the op-
portunity."
ooh, Ryliel He couldn't have done
It! Not WEBB"
And when he made no answer, she
added. "All the more reason we should
stand by him. then. We can't desert
him now"
eft isn't deserving him." rerorted the
boy sharply. Father will see to his
defense Everything that friends and
money can do, will be done for him.
Wen all stand by him. But remain
ing here won't help him. Why. he'd
be the first to advise rs to go. II he
knew"
They'd follow US wherever we
went" the girl objected.
TITS easier than you think. honey"
He glanced at his watch. Three
forty-five. Call Flo and tell her we're
coming. In the meantime promise
to lose my shadow. Once ont of town.
they'll never find us"
Calls walked to the window and
watched the lettering detective across
the street. Apparently the man was
engrossed In the newspaper he was
| reading.
Rylie peered over her shoulder. The
| taxi waited, conveniently. half block
| up the street. He had grown familiar
| with the mans methods. When Rylie
appeared at the door. the taxicab got
slowly under way, so as to be nearly
| abreast of the waiting detective by the
time the young man could reach his
i car. The detective invariably contin-
/ ued his perusal Of the newspaper, APP
| parently taking no notice of the pro-
ceedings Once he was In his car. how.
ever. Rylie always noticed the sleuth
was close at his heels. This proceed
/ ure had never varied.
The young man rumpled his hair