The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-01-03
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you had something to tell me?"
he asked
YES, I have. It's about this
murder" The woman leaned for
ward and the jeweled ear rings
shook violently I wasn't here
when it happened" she went on.
I've been in Chicago and just
got back this afternoon. I wasn't
here when the detectives we're ask
/ ing questions of every one and that S
Why I wanted to talk TO you. You
see there's something I think the
police ought 70 know"
She paused dramatically. It's
about Melvina HOLSTER and her
brother Mrs. Kennebec went on.
Has anybody said anything TO you
about those tWo?"
DANNISTER was listening in
Id tently.
Il didn't think they had" the
woman continued with an I-told-
you-so nod of the head. Every
body around here's too scared! But
I'm not. And there's plenty that's
queer been going on. think it's
time the police should know about
it,"
1t seemed a lengthy preamble
and Banister was beginning to grow
FESTIVE But in another instant that
restiveness was gone.
If you're detective, young man
or a special investigator or what
ever you call it-you'd better find
out where Melvina Hollister was
last night when she said that she
wasn't at home. You'd better find
out about the tongue-lashing She
gave Tracy King and how she Swore
she'd have him out of this hotel or
know the reason why. You'd better
find out about those crazy goings-
on at the cemetery"
The cemetery" Bannister could
not conceal his amazement.
That's what I said" Mrs. Ken
nebec went On emphatically. per
sonally I think the wOmanS out Of
her head. Did you ever hear Of
a sane person having a regular
funeral for a canary bird? Bury
ing it in a real cemetery with
flowers bought from the florists and
having a special box made like a
basket for it?"
Just a minute" Bannister in
terrupted. Where does the canary
bird come into thiS?"
ut wasn't the canary bird that
came in. 1t was the cat. That
queer looking one they call Rajah.
Tracy Kings cat, you know 1t
came into the HOLSTERS apartment
one day last week. The bird was
in the cage and the cat jumped
and knocked the cage over. Mel
VIVA heard the noise and ran into
the room but when she got there
the bird was dead.
We'll, sir, she threw a fit! Had
Mysteries. Matthew-that's her
brother, who lives with her-had
to call a doctor and it was hours
before they could quiet her. Crazy
about that bird, Melvina was.
Thought more of it, I declare to
goodness, than she does of her
brother. AS soon as she was able
to get out of bed she went up to
Tracy Kings apartment and carried
on something terrible Mr.. King
said he was willing to pay for the
bird, but that only made her worse.
She said the cat had to be chloro-
formed"
A FTER that. Melvina had the
"a litlt casket made and put the
bird in it. She bought flowers from
the florist and she and Matthew
drove out to the cemetery and they
had regular funeral for the bird
But you don't honestly think"
Bannister said in a tone of dis
belief, that this Miss HOLSTER could
have been the one who killed King?
Not just because of a dead canary
Bird"
Il tell you that bird meant more
to her than her own brother. Why,
ever since it died she's been going
around with her eyes red, acting like
she's lost her last friend"
But surely"
Il think she's crazy" Mrs. Ken
nebec said with pursed lips And
crazy people will do anything. Mel
VIVA HOLSTERS crazy as a loon. I
don't say she did it, but I do say
the police should know about all
this. Don't you think SOP"
TO Be Continued