The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-05-03
by MONTE BARRETT
Copyright. 1883. by tho Bobbs-Merriii Co.
WNu Service.

was following you. The accident oc-
Cured 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 time? What were you doing"
Rylie hesitated. 81 was just going
for a ride. I wasn't going anywhere
In particular
You said you had an appointment
at nine. With whom?"
THAT doesn't have anything to do
with the case" the young man replied
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" declared the
sergeant gruffly. "Who were you go
Ing to meet. and where?"
The young man remained silent.
All right declared Kilday. I'll
tell you. Your engagement was to 90
to Franklins apartment. That's why
you can't tell me about it, That's why
1t was necessary for you to give my
man the shake first. He last saw you
late In the afternoon. There Is no rec
ord Of your movements between then
and the time you claim this accident
occurred. near Westport. The fact Is,
after you had searched Franklin's
apartment you went to his office, where
you had the struggle with Peter Cardi-
gan. Then you became frightened.
You needed some means Of account
Ing for your movements at that time.
Besides" the sergeant leaned back and
studied his man thoughtfully. You
were badly battered In that fight You
were going to have to explain those
bruises. What better explanation could
you find than an automobile accident7
1.-THE apartment was searched some
time between four-thirty and six-thir
ty. Your struggle with Cardigan oc-
cured about eIght-ffteen because that's
the time he went through that win
dow. There are number Of wit
nesses who saw his fall. Fast driv-
Ing would have taken ynn to the scene
Of the so-called accident by about the
time you appeared at the farmhouse. II
was no trick for an experienced driver
to roll his car Off the road In loose
gravel. I'll admit, you couldn't have
made 1t by the time you say the acct
dent occurred. But you didn't have To
make 1t quite that fast. You claim you
laid unconscious In the ditch for about
half an hour. Yet no one saw you
there. No passers-by discovered the
accident. 1t hardly seems likely that
no one passed the spot In thirty min
utes. The roads In that section are
| fairly we'll Travelled.
Nevertheless. you were not discov-
cred until you regained consciousness
Of your own accord, you tell me. Then
you llmped to the farmhouse. That
gives you the added time necessary to
complete your allbi. Carmody, there
was an accident, all right. But 1t was
deliberate one. planned by you, to
| throw us off the track. You were
never unconscious. That part OF your
story has been added to make the time
| flt into the events at Franklln's office
so that 1t would appear to be impos-
sible that you were there"
kilday glanced slowly about the
room. Where are the clothes you
were wearlng?' he next asked. Il
want to have look at them"
I'm the dressing room, suppose. .
Rylle indicated door across the room.
ut was a brown tweed You'll recog-
nize 1t, because 1t was torn bit"
AS the detective rose, he drew his
revolver. "stay right where you are,
he commanded. you aren't going to
pull any tricks on me like you did on
Cardigan. I'll be watching you"
He backed carefully to the dressing
room and, leaving the door open In
order to keep the young man In sight
found the suit.
This settles It, he said "come on
Get some clothes on. You're going
down to headquarters with me-"
you have lost your mind" declared
Rylle Carmody hoarsely. Suppose
told you who intended to meet al
Westport at nine o'clock last night
Would you believe me then?n
KIlday smiled. Sure he agreed
Maybe you did have an appointment
to meet some one at Westport. II you
were clever you did. 1t would
strength your allbi.
But I'll tell you something else.
He leaned forward, all trace of th'
smile vanished into the stern lines o
his face. ''Ill bet you hundred dol
lars that you never kept that appoint
ment.
You couldn't. Not and be at Frank
Inns Office when you were
CHAPTER XIII