The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-03-29

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
Spears guilt And yet the logic ap-
piled BY the detective was sound. 1t
was Spears who had attempted to halt
the wedding, Spears who had In
volved Rylle Carmody, and probably
he. also, who had been the author of
those telephone calls to Choo Choo
Train and Ambrose Carmody. He had
quit the church In time to commit the
crime, making some remark In regard to
hating the wedding. and certainly he
had not told the full truth when ques-
toned. Opposed to these arguments,
Peter had only the conviction that he
could not have reached that dagger
on the wall and a reluctant sympathy
for Calls Shipley who was so mex
tricably involved In any case made
against either Spears or Ryle Car
mody. Peter thumped the arms OF his
chair and glared modify into space
Had a dlsturblngly beautiful girl who
was obviously trying to protect some
one warped his judgment completely
Again and again he reviewed the evil
dence as Kilday had developed 1t.
Each time he argued completely
around the circle, arriving back at
Calls Shipley. What had there been
between this girl and Spearsf Or
franklin II Spears were guilty.
hadn't his love for Doris Carmody
been the actuating motive for the
crime7 II so. why was Calls protect
Ing hIm7 That didn't 1T But neither
could he make the sympathy which
this girl had aroused In him t1t In with
the fact that she had withheld the
truth concerning her visit to Webster
Spears. Nothing seemed to fit In this
strange case.
His reverIe was interrupted by the
door-bell.
In spite OF his effort, he did not
know how we'll he succeeded In con-
cealing his surprise His visitor was
Calls Shipley.
The friendly warmth of her blue
gaze was clouded with trouble.
She looked past him, into the book
lined room, exploring 1t with rapid
glance before she spoke.
II had hoped to find you alone. May
come in7'
"Of course"
Peter drew his own wide chair closer
to the table for her and turned on the
reading light. The waning afternoon
had filled the room with shadows.
For himself. be chose chair still
recessed In gloom. where the lamps
pale rays might not betray the alert
CLEAN of his eyes. and waited for the
girl to speak.
II suppose you know Web has been
arrested she began uneaslly.
He nodded.
"And Rylie is being followed by de-
tectives.'
Peter thought briefly how angered
Kilday would have been, had he known
the activities Of his detective had been
so promptly discovered.
"Do you think either of them had
anything to do with the crlmeg the
girl demanded.
She leaned forward. lips parted, try
Ing to penetrate the dusk which pro
tected Cardigan's expression.
do. you think so?" the novelist par.
ried.
tits unthinkable,p declared the girl
vehemently. "They aren't the sort who
murder people. They are just nice
boys, both OF them.o They aren't Grim
mails"
"You ask me to have more conf
dence In them than you have" Peter
pointed out. "You admit that you
we're afraid Rylie Carmody had some
thing to do with 1t. at first. You were
afraid to tell US that you rode home
from the church with him. You at
tempted to deceive us about your visit
with Webster Spears last night And
after that visit. you changed your testi
mony In regard to the remark Spears
made when he left the church"
Peters intent gaze studied the ex
preston OF the girls face you mus
admit" he concluded, "all this ISM
calculated to increase our belief In the
innocence Of these two young men,"
Two spots of color famed In the
girls cheeks. The earnestness of hel
manner, as she leaned toward him
impressed Peter more than he wished
to admit. That's why lam here" shs
declared fervently. 1T is largely m,
fault that they are both under sus
picion. II was trying to help Rylie
That's why | attempted to deceive
you. And Web was doing the same
thing. Oh" she caught her lip be
tween her teeth, 'you don't need to tel
4. r