The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-04-12

Grudgingly. he admitted to himself
that his instinct had been TO offer her
his assistance. He almost wished
he had called her back and made such
promise. Her argument as to Rylie's
innocence had appealed to his sense of
reason. Her defense of Spears had
conceded. In measure. with his doubt
that the latter could have grasped the
knife that ended Franklins life from
Its position high on the wall of the
rector's study.
His reverle was interrupted by the
sharp jangle of the telephone. 1t was
Sergeant Kilday calling.
Grab taxi and come on over here"
he urged. I'm at FranklIns apart
ment."
HAS anything happened7"
"Some one has broken into the
apartment. But come on over, tell
you, You can see for yourself"
1t was as Kilday had said. During
the late afternoon. Fletcher had been
absent on some errands. He had been
gone about two hours. When he re-
turned, he had found the apartment
topsyturvy. the rugs thrown back, the
drawers pulled out. the closets ram
sacked. He had. of course, immedi-
ately notified the police.
Have you discovered what Is miss
ing?" kilday was asking when Peter
arrived.
Everything Is so torn up, don't
know" the servant replied obviously.
II can't think what the burglars were
after. There was no money In the
house. What little iewelry Mr.. Frank
lin had, shirt studs watch and one
ring. was not taken. There was no
silver Of any consequence. Mr.. Frank
lin seldom took his meals here"
A cursory examination could reveal
nothing missing 1t was apparent that
the burglar, whoever It may have been.
had searched every corner of the apart
ment thoroughly. Whatever he had
sought had been we'll concealed, Ii 1t
were here at all. This was evidenced
by the confusion evident In every
room.
Now what" asked Kilday. was he
after7 II wasn't money. II 1t had
been an ordinary prowler he would
have taken that iewelry. There isn't
much OF 1t, but It's OF considerable
value. And II 1t wasn't money. what
was 1t and how does this fit In with
the murder7'
He surveyed the wreckage grimly.
His first effort, after his arrival, had
been to find finger-printa. auu although
an assistant had made a thorough
search. only one set had been found.
These had quickly been identified as
having been made by Fletcher. The
rooms had been busted thoroughly that
morning and, with the exception of
the unknown visitor who had left no
marks. there had been no one but
Fletcher In the apartment since
Zone thing is certain" declared
Peter. 1T couldn't have been Webster
Spears. He was already under arrest. I"
ut wasn't Rylie Carmody either"
the detective added obviously. IF he
had tried anything like this, we'd have
had report from the man who's
shadowing him. That leaves the Ship
ley girl II this had any connection
with the murder. 1t was she who
searched this apartment. But why2
| What was she after?"
| Peter turned to the servant with
quickened interest. what time was 1t
when you left the apartment. fetch
/ err
Il can't tell you exactly, sir. Prob
ably about four-thlrty."
And when did you returni"
/ ut was quarter to seven. I had
/ dinner while | was out. There was
nothing In the house"
Could It have been Calls Shipley
Peter wondered? Certainly 1t had
been fully tive-thirty when she left his
apartment. probably later He tried In
vain to think of some circumstance
which would help him estimate the
hour OF her visit. Aside from the fact
that he remembered turning on the
reading lamp when she arrived, there
was no way he could accurately check
the time His library windows opened
toward the east, on narrow canyon
OF street bordered by high apartment
buildings, where dusk crept In early
For Kilday's benefit he related the cir
cumstances OF that visit. II DOM
think 1t could have been the girl" he
concluded. This search took time
She was with me at least part of tho
time Fletcher was away"
The detective chewed refectively
upon his frayed cigar, Perhaps thi:
didn't have anything to do with thu
murder, after ALL" he ventured a
length. I'VE know 1t couldn't have
been either Spears or young Carmody
Who else. besides this girl, Is trying
to help the crimina7'
ut wasn't an ordinary robbery
Peter insisted. The place has beer
ransacked too thoroughly for that. It.
bound to have some connection will
the crime, In my opinion. It's up to U.
to find that connection.
Suppose we are on the wrong track