Evening star., 1935-10-04

date we've pushed the investigation
In two directions, first to trace Wells
movements before he came to WASH
ington. In this we have completely
failed.
z And tnen we've tried to check the
story in this thing you've just read
about. The Cairo police insist that
angle OF the story is nonsense, and
the authorities at oxford scof at the
idea that any one answering Wells
description was student there. Which
leaves us with just two established
facts: The two books mentioned as
being the work of Wells. The Police
Are Puppets" and THE Strange Case
of DR.. Chezzlee," were published in
London at about the time this diary
thing says that Wells was there
and the identity of the author was
never discovered"
Mollie found Carl waiting at the
Office. He said Senator Runbrecker
had received a ransom note.
Z Fifty thousand smackers," said
Carl. THE note said they would
send him instructions as to where,
when and how in the next few days
Z. What do you think about it,
Mollie?"
"Me?" asked Mollie. struggling.
I'm like Ann. I don't think any
more, but I can't quite get it into
my head that Selma was kidnapped" )"
-. And I can't either" Carl agreed.
PERSONALLY, I think the Senator is
of his nut"
f>,As Mollie told Bill when he came
Unexpectedly to the apartment We'd
nesday evening, things were popping.
Senator Runbrecker had received a
second note raising the ransom to
S75.oo0 and advising that he would
receive specific instructions before the
end of the week
! Carl, who had been on the go night
and day since Selma's disappearance,
had finally collapsed and been rushed
to hospital suffering from what was
diagnosed as a form of epilepsy.
And Bill himself had brought the
news concerning the now famous case
Of the two pine boxes.
The two boxes, it seemed, had been
delivered to the Capitol some time
around the middle of December.
Tackled to the top of each was a
neatly printed card, reading:
VERY CONFIDENTIAL!
THE exhibits contained herein for
use by the Munitions Investigating
Committee. To be kept on the floor
Of the House Of Representatives until
Congress convenes, when the Speaker
of the House will have them delivered
to the chairman of the committee
f A member of the Capitol police
had opened one of the boxes and found
it filled with large, empty brass shells
The boxes were then placed in the
center aisle of the House of Repre-
sentativeS.
AS Bill had got the story, the boxes
had remained on the floor of the
House until the day before Congress
was to convene, when they we're re-
moved to an ante-room. There
they had been forgotten and not until
the day before had an attendant
come across them by accident and
notified the Speaker. Suspecting a
practical joke, the Speaker had had
them opened. One box contained
empty brass shells and weighed ap-
proximately $50 pounds; the other
was thickly lined with absorbent cot
ton and under loose layer the cot
ton was stained over space of about
2 feet and was bedded down into
a mould that suggested the outline of
q human body.
The Capitol police recalled the dis
covery of Deane Runbrecker's body
in the Speakers chair and notified
police headquarters. A truck driver
and his helper told detectives that
they had taken the boxes from a
plane and we're given to understand
they had just been flown down from
Boston by Lee Monday. The truck
ing company surrendered the letter
which had served as their order to
do the hauling. The letter was on
stationery of the Senate Military At
fairs Committee and bore as sigma
ture, the name of Senator Run
brecker.
Sickened by the thought that Lee
may have brought Deane Runbrecker,
dead, from Boston, Mollie said.
=" They'll want to question Lee now,
of course"
Naturally" said Bill. They're
already wired and got a reply. He
promised to land at the airport not
later than Saturday evening"
Mollie groaned. Poor Ann! I sup
pose we ought to let her know Lees
coming ahead of schedule"
For what?" Bill demanded. "She's
coming back from Elmville Sunday,
anyway. Let her alone. She needn't
know anything about this. The police
ought to be through with Lee before
she blows in He got up and took
turn around the room. Have you
ever stopped to think how much un-
pleasantness we've had crammed into
our lives these last six months, Moll?"
A sad little smile grew on Mollie's
lips. I'm afraid I've thought of little
else. 1t all began the night Ann and
Rita came. Odd how we've changed
since then. We're not the same
people. You, less than any of us.
All the fun's gone out of you. Bill"
He nodded, gravely. Suddenly his
eyes sought hers. Look here, Moll;
you're not holding anything against
me?"
Her quiet smile answered that be-
fore she spoke. Because you thought
you were In love with me-and then
discovered you we're not?" She shook
her head very slowly. Think what
D tragedy it would have been If you
hadn't realized 1t in time That's
one reason I'll always be eternally
grateful to Ann"
{ Bill stared. II don't get it,
: About Ann? Don't pretend with
me, Bill. I think I knew you were in