The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-05-10

were tapped.
Good morning. Sergeant. What
brings you here so early in the morn.
ing?"
81 guess you know" was the laconic
rejoinder "You look as though you'd
run into q buzz-saw."
Rylie raised his arm, the better to
exhibit the bandage "Had an acct.
dent" he explained. .@.
"Oh. yeah?" The sergeant grinned
mirthlessly. IAN accident. Ell? Auto
mobile. suppose?''
Eyes. skidded 90 some loose gravel.
and" .
.'This was while you were trying to
give my man the slip yesterday after
noon?' .@. 5~.. r.,
The young man pretended not to un.
derstand. ..,5. Is. s%4s ~
The sergeant settled himself in a
comfortable chair beside the bed and
lighted cigar. $50 you gave US the
slip did you?" He pulled time or
two. "Well. won't deny you kept
half q dozen men busy last night, try.
ing to find you. Caused us q lot of
trouble. But won't complain. You've
helped us a lot in the solution of the
murder" 49,. @
HELPED you?" Rylie raised himself
on one elbow do you mean to say
you've caught the murderer"
81 can lay my hands on him, any
time please" Kilday asserted. 81
know who he is. where he is and what
he did last night It isn't mystery
any more" 3.
Young Carmody relaxed against the
pillows
81 suppose It's time to cheer" he
said. "But what has last night got
to do with it?''
"You ought to know" Kilday's eyes
never left the young mans face.
"Me?"
"You killed Jim Franklin"
At first Rylie smiled. .You have Q
queer idea Of humor." he said. Then
he sat up straight. Say. are You seri.
Gus? Do you think I-why. man.
you're out of your head!"
"You think so?'' The sergeant was
deliberately casual. "Crazy idea. Ell?
Listen, 1t isn't half as crazy as that
story you just told me about an auto
accident. I know where you got that
black eye I know where those bruises
came from. And you weren't even In
an automobile. young fellow.
II can tell you why You were 90
anxious to give my detective the slip
yesterday afternoon. can tell you q
great many things that you don't think
know. And the things I know are
going to send you to the chair"
Kilday'S cigar was forgotten and
cold now. He edged forward. the hard
lines Of his face no harder than the
bleak stare Of his eyes. II was on to
you from the first. II Cardigan had
|, listened to me. then. he'd be here with
me today. instead Of where he IL. But
you're not going to pun the wool over
our eyes any more.
'You killed Jim Franklin. Whether
you did 1t to prevent him from marry
ing your sister. after everything else
had failed. or for another reason
Wen discuss that later. We know you
quarreled with him In the study Of the
church, within half-hour Of the time
he was murdered. We know that Web.
ster Spears told you about Choo Choo
Train that very afternoon. at lunch
Spears Is under arrest. He admits he
told you, In the hope that you would
stop the wedding He even admitted.
this morning. that he was the author
Of that anonymous message your "a
ther received. He admits everything.
except the murder itself. and the
phone call to Choo Choo Train Per
haps that was your work. Oh. Spears
has tried to protect you. but he won't
any longer. Spears has talked. and
he'll keep on talking"
webster Spears?" Rylie's tone was
incredulous did he say that?"
ut doesn't really matter what Spears
says" Kilday brushed aside the In
terruption with an impatient wave Of
the hand We've got the goods on
you, anyway. After your quarrel with
Franklin you returned to the study.
entering by the rear door. 50 that you
wouldn't be observed. He was stand
ing In the sacristy door. with his back
toward you. You seized the knife that
was hanging on the wall and stabbed
him twice. Then you locked that door.
wiped the blade or on the curtain
and replaced the knife In it, sheath.
first being careful to obliterate your
nnger-prints on the handle.
franklin had revolver In his
pocket and attempted to draw It, dur.
Ing the struggle. You wiped It clean
Of hnger-prints. too. and then thought
Of leaving Franklin's own thumb mark
on the weapon. You pressed It into the
dead mans hand. then flung 1t into the
bushes Of the garden. In the rear.
! After that you left the way you had
come, but you couldn't 60 into the
| church because you had not had time
4 IN Apocm foy. he vundAsn~ Va, su,nv~