The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-05-10
CHAPTER XIIT-Continued
Copyright. 1888.
BIZ tho Bobbs Merrill Co.
WNU Service.

discover how FranklinS apartment was
entered? Did the person who searched
those rooms have key or were you
able to find where he forced his en-
tranceT'
''He must have had key. Mono of
the windows had been forced and the
locks showed no signs of having been
tempered with"
well, who had keys to Franklln's
apartment We had Franklin's, on his
key-ring. Fletcher had one with him.
We'd better talk to Choo Choo Train
again. She had key to that apart
ment. Our burglar either used her
key. or else"
'Or else what7"
"Or else our woman In blue had
q key. too"
'I'll soon find OUT promised the de-
tectIve He used the telephone to call
Choo Choo Train, who promised to
come to the hospital Immediately.
bringing her key to the murdered mans
apartment NTH her.
Good bunch, Peter Either the MUIR
derer borrowed Choo Choo's key. or else
there was fourth one. There were
no marks anywhere to indicate that
the prowler broke into the place.
"WhIle we're waiting Peter sug-
gested, tell me about Franklin's office.
Were you able to determine how my
assailant got In there7"
The detective admitted he was puz-
Fled. THE reception room was
wreck" he said. "You must have
staged quite a battle there That's
about all we were able to find out,
however. There was no f1re-escape
from which any OF the windows could
have been entered. The main entrance
was the only means of access to the
suite. II that door was forced, we
couldn't tell It.
Dunbar helped us, too. Aside from
his key, and Franklln's. which you
had. there were three other keys to
that door. Two Of them belonged to
clerks In the office and have been ac-
counted for. The third was the janI-
tors. He, too, tells straight story"
$50 1t looks as though our visitor
walked In through locked door, eh o.
Cardigan unused.
He recined against his pillow and
stared fxedly at the ceiling through
the smoke Of constant procession Of
cigarettes.
But how about the outside OF the
building? Was there any ledge by
which the intruder could have reached
those windows7 Every sensible ques-
ton has an equally logical answer. If
1t can only be found"
Before they could explore the ques-
tion further, the actress arrived. Choo
Choo's black-lashed eyes turned first to
Peter.
I'm sorry" she said THE papers
said you were seriously hurt"
The novelist smiled briefly. 1.-THE
doctor says I'm to have a short leg
that Will make me limp Bit" he
said. "But I'm getting used to the
idea. After all, I'm fortunate to be
alive, even II must carry permanent
souvenir Of the experience with me.
How about it. Miss Train? DO you
care for men who limp7'
II adore them." declared the actress
swiftly. Il detest men who either
walk, act or talk just like every one
else" But she was obviously at a
loss as to how to continue the con-
versation and turned abruptly to Kill
day with the question. "Why did you
send for meY'
you have key to Franklin's apart.
ment I want to see It."
The actress searched In her purse
and produced the key.
Without saying a word, Kilday care
fully compared 1t with the other key
In his possession, the one on Frank
Ln's key-rlng. 1t was Identical
This is the only key he gave you
isn't IT." he asked.
Yves.
Miss Train. has this key been In
your possession all the time since
Frankln's death?"
"Why, yes, of course"
How can you be so sure?" inquired
Peter. where did you keep the key
Miss Train?'
Choo Choo looked at him In be
wilderment. "Of course I'm sure" shs
replied. Il always kept It In my purse
This morning, when Sergeant Kilda,
telephoned, | looked Immediately. r
was there where | had always kept 1t.
Unless the murderer had taken thu
key and then returned 1t again. with
out her knowledge, 1t seemed obvious
that It had never been out OF her pos
session. Apparently Mis- was anothe
of the many false traffs-they had en-
countered since the beginning of thi
investigation.
$50 there was fourth key" Pete
unused aloud, after the actress had de
parted. 1.-THE woman In blue had II
Sergeant, and passed 1t on to the muir
derer. Evidently he was just await
nag his chance to search the apart