The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-11-08

1 Der cashing it.
 Now suppose you people act sensibly and tell us the truth. Why did you kill Morden, Esther?' | T didn't kill him!'' she flared. "I'll take the responsibility for l that" Boone said sullenly. | "Kanny! she screamed, Don't say that! You don't know what you're talking about" Griff stared steadily at the young woman. Suppose" he said, you tell me the truth?" She made gesture of resigna- tion. There were, however, no tears in her eyes. She stood slim, straight and white-faced.
 1T didn't kill him." she said, but Kenny thinks killed him." LAW, Esther" he muttered re- pronchfully. Don't interrupt, Kenny" she said. You keep out of this." She turned to face the criminologist with dry-eyed defiance. You can believe it or not" she said. o"I found Morden in my apartment and found him dead. I don't know how he got there. I should have ltelephoned the police, but I lost my head and telephoned for Ken ny instead. He said there was no reason why should set mixed up in a scandal; that we could leave him there until dark and then dump the body some place"
 sThat," said the criminologist, lis all right so far as it goes. It doesn't go far enough"
 What do you mean?"
 sI mean" he said, that your reason for not telling the, police isn't credible. Even Kenneth Boone who is infatuated with you didn't believe it.. You can't expect us to believe it and you can't expect the police to believe it."
 She was silent, white-lipped.
 "Go on," Griff said, tell us the truth"
 She shook her head in mute, white-faced negation. You can question me all you want to-" she said, "but you won't make me change my story. That's the only reason that I did what I did. didn't want the newspaper mo- Griffs eyes were staring steadily and appraisingly at her lips as she talked.
 "Did you." he asked, "know who Morden was when you saw him ?" "No," she said. Did you have any idea?" No"
 "You searched his pockets?" "No."
 Griff's smile was cold and cyni- cal.
 I'm not entirely certain just who you think you're protecting, Miss Ordway." he said, "but want to assure you that your attempted protection is simply going to make things harder for both of you. Why don't you tell the truth?' 'I am telling you the truth" the truth at any time since I've come in contact with you. You lied to me most dramatically and al- most convincingly. ."
 "Only about not being Esther Ordway," she said. About Esther's disappearance, with all the weird story about her having taken her. pictures, the photograph album, and the way EShe was dressed when she left. About how she happened to pick you up when you were down and out, and all of that stuff" She remained silent. | Lay off of her." Kenneth Boone muttered thickly. You can't pin q murder rap on her." | "Shut tp!" Griff snapped. | There was an interval of silence. The eyes of all three men were focused upon the girls face, a face which was as white as the back of an invalid's hand. The orange makeup on her cheeks fiared into crimson brilliance against the con- trast of the dead-white skin. "I think" said Griff slowly, "that you're trying to protect MT Frank B. Cathay, aren't your"
 Here lips quivered. She tried to say something, but the words did not come.
 Boone glowered at her with cud- den suspicion distorting his fea- lures.
 Say" he said, "am I a sucker in this thing? What the hell is Frank B. Cathay to you?"
 The girl made no answer. It was the .criminologist who answered the question. speaking in low tones, his eyes boring steadily into the girls face.
 T think" he said softly. ''that he's her father"
 She looked at him, her eyes dark with pain. Slowly her head dropped forward. She pressed her hands Iagainst her eyes. Her shoulders lshook with sobs.
 ' Boone put comforting hand on her shoulder.
 ! She shook off the hand savagely.
 Don't touch me, you beast!" she screamed.
 ! Boone's jaw -sagged. He touched