The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-10-22

sidney Griff thanked her, drop ped to q chair.
 Believe me. Mrs Cathay." he said, "1 had no wish to intrude
 upon your grief. I came to make a suggestion ana suggestion merely"
 What is it?" she asked.
 That you will not" he said, "op- pose an autopsy"
 She shuddered and said nothing.
 ''I have" said the criminoiogist, "discussed certain phases of the case with your attorney, Mir Charles Fisher. He tells me that a hurried settlement was compiet- ed with The Blade because your husband was taken seriously i'll, and you both attributed that ill- ness to mental anxiety caused by the article which had been pub- lished."
 Not because of the article" said Mrs Cathay. "Not because of that alone but because of the tactics of the newspaper people. They were going to blacken Franks reputa- tion by every means in their power and Franks reputation was all that he had to live for. Money meant but little to him. That which he prized more than all was his reputation and standing in the community"
 Her voice was weak and tone- les, without animus, without enthusiasm, without vigor. She spoke as one would speak of thunder shower whcih had passed after doing damage to some prize bed of flowers.
 Did you" asked Griff, 'let your husband know that you were going to the city to negotiate settie- ment?"
 She stared at him steadily.
 Why do you want me to answer that question?" she asked.
 Let it go," he told her, his eyes now focused upon her pale lips. Tt Is, perhaps, of no matter. But would you mind telling me why you and your husband became so greatly concerned over the fact that reporter was making an in- vestigation for the purpose of de- termining facts about MT Cathay's reputation?"
 How do you mean?" she asked. Was there," he asked some specific fact that you were afraid the reporter would uhcoyer?''
 Certainly not. My husbands life has been an open book"
 "Then why were you so afraid of what the reporter might uncover ?' "It wasn't what he might un- cover," she said. Tt was the idea of the thing; the loss of prestige; the loss of dignity; the certain knowledge that some shrewd at- torney would twist and distort the little incidents, the minor matters. so as to make them seem big and important"
 ''What little incident? What minor matter?" pressed Griff. She said nothing. The corners of her lips quivered. Please" she said. "You didn't come here to bait me, but to ask me something or to tell me some thing. Please get it over with and go."
 Griff's voice was ow-pitched and confidential.
 'I want to ask you" he said, "if you knew that the reporter who had been sent by the newspaper to investigate your husbands reputa- tion was murdered, and his body was found yesterday afternoon?" | Had some electric current gall vanized her to sudden activity, she could not have reacted more quickly or violently to his words. She sat bolt upright. The filmy negligee fell open in the front and away from one shoulder. The dark l L. NA ix,%n us fled. Her bloodless lips quivered before they managed to mouth the on word-"Murdered!"
 "Yes," he said. You hadn't heard about it?"
 | 'Murdered!" she said. "Oh my God!"
 She dropped back against the chair and lay very still and very motionless.
 Griff went to her side, felt of her pulse, went to the door of the room and jerked it open. A maid was standing within few feet of the door, her face flushed. ''Your mistress" sair Griff, "has tainted. See what you can do for her.
 The maid stared at him accus- ingly. II think" said Griff, ".you had better telephone for a physician" !" He raised his voice slightly as he made the suggestion, and then turned to regard the still form which reclined in the overstuffed chair. That form stirred. A weak voice said, "No, don't want a physician. Get me some brandy, Marie."
 Griff faced the maid once more. Under the circumstances" he said, T will not make any fare wells, to your mistress. Please tell her that have gone and that am grateful for the interview" The maid said nothing but stared at him with hostile sullen eyes as Griff found his way out of the house. The butler reached the front door just as Griff had step ped to the porch. The butler ex- tended liveried arm, grasped the knob of the door and slammed it shut.
 Grjff walked rapidly down the cement to the place where his taxi | cab was waiting. "Get me-" he said to the driver. ito a public telephone where I can put in a long distance call. Don't lose any tirce."
 (TO Be COntinued) Griff makes n telephone call in the next installment and gives these instructions. '"Trail Carl