Red Lodge daily news combined with Carbon County news., 1934-03-14

udu u lucky DAcoh hucQ tleICner
went out for a couple OF hours.
But you couldn't find what you went
after there and decided Franklin
had kept 1t at his Office.
81 don't know what you we're aft
er-yet. But I'll find out. Probably
some evidence that connected this
Shlpley girl with the case. Or
perhaps 1t connected you. or even
young Spears with the crime. At
any rate, that's where Cardigan out
guessed US both. It's too bad |
didn't have more confidence in him.
II I had, I'd have been with him
last night, and he would be here,
right now. Next time, I'll play his
bunch, If there ever is a next time"
The detective scowled. II don't
understand how you caught him so
completely off his balance. He was
armed. But somehow or other you
did. And in the struggle which fol-
lowed, you knocked him out Of the
window. But not" he paused to
glance significantly at Rylie's BAN
dages, mot before he had put up an
awful struggle. He left his mark
on you.
you gave our detective the slip.
Why? Because you couldn't afford
to be observed when you went to
Franklin's apartment and office. You
knocked Cardigan through the win
dow, but not before he had left his
mark on you. This accident story
won't get you anywhere, Carmody."
Suppose" replied the boy sober
ly, "that I a prove there really
was an accident?"
do you have witnessesr
"Not eye-witnesses, but / can
produce the wrecked car. That
should be pretty strong cIrcumstan-
tlal evidence, as you call it."
Kilday pulled thoughtfully. 1.-THE
wrecked car, eh7 What time was
this wreck?"
About eight-thirty, or perhaps a
quarter to nine, Oh a gravel road
about ten miles from Westport."
where did you go? What did
you do? How did you get back to
town? What time was II then7"
The sergeant shot his questions with
staccato rapldIty.
II was stunned. | guess 1t was
this blow on the head that did It,"
Rylie fingered the discolored eye
gently. II don't know how long /
was out 1t was quite dark, I re-
member. The car had overturned
and | had been thrown clear. /
didn't realize, at first, that l had
been unconscious. Then | looked at
my watch. 1t was nlne-thirty. That
worried me, because | was supposed
to meet some one at nine. And the
last thing I remembered before the
accident, I had had plenty Of time.
There was a farmhouse up the
road about half a mile. | could see
the lights. So | limped up there and
asked for help. / telephoned West
port from there and got a car. Then
| returned home"
what time was IL when you
reached the farmhouse?"
II don't know, exactly. It might
have been about ten. Not much
later, I'm sure"
The sergeant smiled-a slow I'M
pleasant sort Of smile In which
there was no trace of mirth. pretty
clever, Carmody, but II won't work.
II was somewhere around four
o'clock when you started for the
country. About four-forty-f1ve you
lost the man who was following
you. The accident occurred nearly
four hours later, within thirty miles
of the spot where you were last
seen. 1t didn't take four hours to
travel thirty miles-not at the rate
you were going. Where were you
all that timer What were you do
Ing?"
Rylie hesitated. II was just go
Ing for a ride. wasn't going any
where In particular"
You said you had an appoint
ment at nine. With whom?"
'"That doesn't have anything to do
with the case" the young man re-
piled slowly. Il merely mentioned
1t to fix the time Of the accident.
you'll have to let me be the
Judge Of what's important now" de.
clared the sergeant gruffly. "Whc
were you going to meet, and
where?"
The young man remained silent
"All right" declared Kilday. Ell
tell you. Your engagement was tc
go to Franklin's apartment. That's
why II was necessary for you Il
give my man the shake first. He
last saw you late In the afternoon
There Is no record of your move
ments between then and the time
you claim this accident occurred
near Westport. The fact Is, after
you had searched Franklin's apart
ment you went to his Office, where
you had the struggle with Peter
Cardigan. Then you became fright
ened. You needed some means Of
accounting for your movements al
that time. Besides" the sergeant