The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-01-02
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Goumd dead in his hotel apart
 m1enk. Bannister, an author and
 former newspaper man, works
 on the murder case with
 GAfNEY, star reporter for the
 Posa.
 Among those suspected of the
 crime arc JULIET FRANCE,
 hzOnd and pretty, known to have
 vi1ited King shortly before his
 6Ieath; HERMAN SCURLACH
 who wrote King threatening
 letter; and JOE PARROTT,
 tiOwn.and.ouE vaudeville actor.
 1t is also known that MELVINA < HOLIdSTER, middle-aged spin- s1er, had quarreled with King re. < gently.
 : King was engaged to wealthy DENISE LANG. MATTHEW ! HOLLISTER, Melvina's brother
 tells Banister he believes his sis-
 Ger knows something she Is keep.
 ing from the police.
 All DRUGAN, friend of Kings, is found dead in . wrecked au- bOnObile.
 Baninster c0nvinces POLICE CHIEF HENLEY that the best way to get information about
 Juliet France is to release Her and then watch her closely. He takes her to his Aunt's home,
 0stcnsibly as a guest. Later he
 learns that Joe ParrOtt has been
 found.
 CHAPTER xxx
 The news of Joe Parrott's ar- rest had reached the Evening Post office by telegraph. Parrott had been picked up by St Louis police and was being held there. Already Captain McNeal had an- nounced he would send a man to bring Parrott back to Fremont. The detective was leaving on night train. Parrott was wanted McNeal said, for questioning con- and "another serious offense."
 Bannister talked it over with Austin, the assistant city editor. The repordt that had come on the teletype machine was nothing more than 8 few lines saying Par rott was being held until instruc- tions were received from officials in Fremont.
 ''so he went back to his old stamping ground!" Bannister ex- claimed. "McNeal told me Par rott was in some kind of & mix up in St Louis last winter. Ar rested or indicted - I've forgot ten. believe it had something to do with dope-'
 "Ill have Gainey check up on that" Austin said quickly. Aus tin had read Banister's novels and admired them. He couldn't quite bring himself to assign chores to this celebrated writer as he would have to a reporter. After all, Austin was only an assitant city editor, and young one.
 "What's McNeal mean by this other serious offense'?" he asked. "The boys couldn't get him to say anything more about it."
 Bannister shook his head. Don't know" he said. "McNeal's got something up his sleeve. Pe been sure of that for a long while. But he won't show his hand. You know McNeal wasn't sure Al Dru- gon's death was just an accident. He told me so. Maybe he thinks ParIett had something to do with it,"
 They talked for half an hour longer, mulling over the case. Then Canister left the office, took a. street car and rode home.
 As he stood before the mirror in his bedroom, tying his neck tie and then relying it, Bannister reflected this was the first even- ing in many that he had both cred to dress for dinner. It was, as Il matter of fact, the first even- ing in the week he had spent at home. Days and evenings, too, had become Very much alike. He spent them at the newspaper office, at police headquarters. now and then launching out on some wild and fruitless expedition. He had eaten his meals in cheap res taurants with Gainey and Gun ningham. So far as he was con- cerned there was nothing what ever in life except the Tracy King murder case and all the time he had spent trying to solve it had gone for nothing.
 Bannister studied himself in tho mirror, drowned and grasped the ends of the offending necktie. He pulled them loose and for the third time knotted them again. That was better. Yes, that would do.
 He turned away from the mirror, walked to the window. It was dark outside. Time to go down stairs. Still Bannister fingered.
 He picked up a paper knife, sat down on the edge of the desk.
 xuyoc cVn'f once more, that he had intended doing Julie France a favor by bringing her to his aunt's home. It was pleasantep for her here, of course, but that wasn't why he had done it. She was here be- cause Bannister believed Captain Henley was right. The girl was the key to the mystery of the murder. She knew more than she had admitted and finding out her secret was the task Banister had set for himself. Living here, unaware that anyone was watch ing her, she could be sure to give herself away.
 Bannister was pleased with the way he had handled matters. The girl evidently had accepted his story. Aunt Kate, likewise, had shown no signs of doubt. He had told her that Miss France was an old friend, a girl he had known in New York. He had happened to meet her, had discovered that she was remaining in Fremont for 0 few days until she had news about a job she had applied for, and felt 1t was no more than courteous to ask her to stay with them. To all this Aunt Kate had agreed.
 The rest of the task was going to be more difficult. Bannister strengthened his shoulders, stood up, He'd better go down and have a talk with Miss Juliet France. And he was aware of all her trickery now! She wouldn't fool him as she had before.
 But there was no time then to talk. Bannister went down stairs and met his aunt in the hallway.
 "Oh, there you are David!" she exclaimed. q was just going to call you. Everything's ready to put on the table,"
 Has Miss France come down?"
 "Yes, she's in the 1ivfng room.