The Western news., 1934-02-22
CHAPTER VI
IL
Cross Examination

.Do you think Choo Choo Is lying
about that phone calf" Kilday In
quired as the two men started back
downtown. Il can't figure her out
Peter puffed his cigarette medita-
lively. "She received telephone call,
I'm satisfied of that" he replied final
ly. why else would she have changed
her mind about going to the wedding!
And she did change her mind. Frank
lin was surprised to see her
However, 1t wasn't Fletcher VINO
called. | can see no reason why ne
shouldn't tell the truth about 1t. What
I am trying to determine Is whether
Choo Choo really believed 1t was
Franklins servant. or is only trying
to make us think so. In order TO con-
ceal the identity of the person VINO
really did call"
"She seemed mighty surprised that
Fletcher didn't remember 1t, kilday
volunteered doubtfully.
II can't forget that she's an actress"
Peter confessed. Il find myself won
dering how much OF what she said and
did was sincere. and how much was
only for our benefit" He lighted an
other cigarette. blew out the match
and holding 1t between thumb and
forennger, inspected 1t slowly, as
though, In the charred match head, ne
might find the solution to the puzzle
which was worrying him. What II 1t
were the woman In blue-that would
provide motive for Choo Choo's visit,
and for the crime. don't think she
was acting when she told US she loved
Jim Franklin. 1t must have been that.
or else" he still scrutinized the match,
"the murderer knew of Choo Choos
relationship with Franklin, and tele-
phoned her In an effort to bring her
to the church. n that Is the case, OF
course this actress had nothing to DO
with the crime and was only drawn In
by the real culprit, in an effort to con
fuse the trail" Peter shrugged II
LEHI NUdl HdppSfiGit w ~ 80 e'ieA
from solution than ever"
The car had reached police head
quarters. and the novelist followed
Kilday up the battered steps. On tht
sergeant's desk lay the revolver dis
covered In the rectory garden, the dag
ger with which the crime had beer
committed, and the stained curtain OF
which the murderer had wiped th'
blood from the weapon.
Every blessed thing we have to &
on" complained the sergeant discon
Bolately. Except. OF course, III
thumb-print on the gun. The key
won't be much help now. The onl
one we haven't identified Is obviousl
not a door-key. 1t couldn't fit tn
apartment Of our woman In blue
"Just because the pieces Of the pus
zle don't fit the first time we try then
is no sign we don't have all the pieces,
retorted Peter,
'.I'm merely pointing out that tn
keys are eliminated as one of tn
pieces to the puzzle" exclaimed Kilda
-uefuly. II was hoping that the
would help us identify this woma
In blue. when we found her. Bt
now" he tilted back his chair an
gazed ceilingward through the haze I
smoke that clouded the room. "No
think you have given me hint thi
is Just as helpful
He drew another long. reflective pu
ON his stogy.
1.-THE trouble with this case" he b
gan, presently, "is too many suspect
OF course, there aren't many genuil
clues, but we haven't needed clues
much. Not since we've had an 0
portunlty to talk to all these peopl
Peter, has anything struck you
peculiar about this case?'
aNot unless it's the fact that you
just mentioned-too many suspects. p"
The sergeant leaned forward, SIN