The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-11-12
BEGIN HERE TO-DAY

When Charles Morien, reporter
for The Blade, is found dead Dan
Blocker, publisher, employs Sid
ney Griff. famous crimologist, to
solve the murder.
Morden had been investigating
the affairs of Frank B. Cathay,
wealthy and prominent, following
the arrest of an imppstor claim
ing to be Cathay and accompan-
led by a girl called Mary Briggs.
The day following Morden's
death Cathay dies of poisoning.
Griff learns Morden had visit
ed the apartment of Alice Lor-
| ton, pretty and unemployed. He
confronts Alice with Kenneth
Boone, accuses the pair of kill
ing Morden, and they are arrest
ed.
Mrs. Blanche Malone, for whom
Mrs. Cathay and Carl Racine, de-
tective employed by her, have
been searching, is located, Griff
and Blocker interrupt a confer
ence between the three. Later
they 60 to the hotel where Mary
Briggs, now known as Stella
Mockley, is staying. In the lobby
they meet Charles Fisher, Ca
thay's lawyer. who tells them Ca:
thay's insurance will be doubled
if it can be proven he died by
! accidental means"
| NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER XXXIV
Charles Fisher, the lawyer,
shook his head. 81 am not pre-
pared to go that far he said,
addressing Griff. 1T depends
somewhat upon the facts sur
rounding the administration of
the poison. 1 believe that the au-
thorities hold that a death by ac-
cidental means implies that the
means by which the death is
brought about must be accidental.
In other words, an accidental
death is not a death by accident
al means. It's rather a fine dis
tinction with which the layman is
not ordinarily interested, al
though he should be. because a
large number of persons have
similar clauses in their insurance
policies"
"a most interesting legal
point" Griff said. Blocker, who
had been standing silent, looked
from one to the other.
J Fisher suddenly smiled. "Well,"
he said, "I'm standing here CAB
bling like some gossipy woman.
I've got work to do and | pre-
sumo you gentlemen have, too.
1t was a real pleasure to have
seen you"
He bowed. smiled, turned alb
ruptly to the left, strobe purpose
fully down the corridor, paused
and knocked on the door of a
room.
Griff and Blocker stood by the
elevator where the lawyer had
left them, watching him atten-
lively.
The door of the room opened a
few inches. A woman's voice said,
"What is it?"
The lawyers booming voice
came down the corridor, plainly
audible to the ears of his listen
ers.
"You," he said. "were a witness
to the will of Frank Appleton.
Mr.. Appleton is dead. There is
a contest on concerning his will.
I am an attorney from Riverview
who represents the Appleton
heirs. 1t is important that l
should talk with you. You'll ex-
cuse me for not telephoning be-
fore 1 came up, but :"
"But l don't know any Mr..
Appleton" the woman's voice
said.
Il beg your pardon" the law
yer insisted, "but this is room
927, is it not?"
at is" she said.
"And you're registered here?"
Fisher asked. -,
Certainly I'm registered here"
she said. ''I'm Virginia Stratton
and l don't know any person by
the name of Appleton. l don't
know anyone in Riverview and !
didn't sign any will as witness.
"Most strange" said the law
yer. 81 can't understand such a
similarity in names. You've got
the same name as the witness TO
the will and l was advised by de-
tectives whom l employed to To-
cate the missing witness that you
were registered here in the no.
tel" ...
"Well," said the woman's voice,
81 don't know anything about the
will. It's probably a mistake in
identity. If you'll pardon me, Pm