The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1934-04-12
Characters figuring
IN our new serial
The Wedding
March Murder
An Unexpected Appeal
CHAPTER VIII

An Unexpected Appeal
Aside from the arrest of Webster
Spears, there were no new develop
ments that afternoon. The newspa-
pers, of course, made much Of the ar
rest. Whatever else he had done, the
sergeant had placated the press. And
there seemed to be no doubt In his
mind concerning Spears guilt.
With Peter Cardigan 1t was diff
ferent.
aLet's go back to ST. Matthew's" he
suggested, as he and Kilday were re-
turning downtown. "It's only q few
blocks out Of our way"
sWe've been over that place with q
fine-toothed comb the sergeant de-
INJURED. There's nothing more to find
there"
Nevertheless, he accompanied his
friend for another visit to the scene
Of the crime. Except for one circum-
stance, he had been correct. That was
the empty scabbard which had con-
tanned the knife with which Franklin
had been killed. It still hung where
Peter had first seen 1t, on the west
wall of the rector's study, just to the
right of the door leading into the
sacristy and about eight feet high
on the wall.
Peter whistled tunelessly as he sur
veyed the room, his eyes finally coming
to rest on the scabbard. The sergeant
who had been watching him curiously,
scowled thoughtfully.
"H'm," said Peter. Then, turning
to his friend, .Tf Spears is guilty." he
said, che entered through the rear
door. We know that, because there
was some one In the sacristy all the
time and we have been able to ac-
count for every one who came In the
other way.
LET US try to reconstruct the
scene. You move over to the rear
door. There. Now I'm Jim Franklin,
standing here In the door leading into
the sacristy. Nick Royce was stand
Ing out there. This. door is open, and
my back Is to you. I'm looking toward
Royce Now open the door, Sergeant,
Just as quietly as you can"
The detective cautiously turned the
knob. There was no sound. But as
the door swung slowly back, It
: creaked, mournfully. Cardigan smiled.
~At least we know the murderer
. didn't surprise Franklin" he declared.
: ssBut we haven't thought 50. all along
All right, / turn and see you standing
: I'm the door way. l recognize you, dom.
II You don't think Franklin was
: alarmed by the sight Of his visitor. do
: your
Franklin knew Webster Spears"
was Kilday's laconIc reJoinder. II
don't think the sight Of him would
have frightened him."
Regardless Of who II was" Peter
declared emphatically, "Franklin wasn't
alarmed. We know that because Nick
Royce, his best man. was only Q few
feet away In the sacristy and the door
between was ajar."
sAll right" Kilday agreed Neither
Of us believes Franklin was alarmed
snow, one Of these two men had
Franklin's revolver" the novelist con-
tinued. 81 think 1t was the murderer.
II Franklin had had 1t, he surely
would have tried to use 1t, when his
assailant reached for that dagger on
the wall. Remember, the murderer
had to come all the way across the
room to get that knife. In addition,
you could hardly have expected Frank
lin to be carrying q weapon to his
wedding, unless he had very unusual
reasons for believing his life to be In
danger. If he had thought that, sure
" he would have been alarmed when
the murderer entered"
sThat's part Of my case." replied
the sergeant impatiently. "I've told
you-the man who came here to muir
der Franklin didn't want to be seen.
He wasn't taking any unnecessary
chances. Those people who entered
the other way deliberately destroyed
any possible alibi In advance. That's
ohy I'm inclined to believe they didn't
do It. Besides. we know that Spears
left the church just few minutes BE-
fore the murder occurred. He just
had time to get back here
Peter glanced again at the empty
scabbard, high on the wall THAT'S the
only way can make 1t At"
More proof" observed the ssT-
Reant, "that the murderer either knew