Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1935-01-31
Sister Act
BY THAYER WALDO
@. Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

to the district attorneys office. This
because she was a movie stars sister,
LeOna showed more than a little nerv-
BUSINESS when she came. That because
Jock Brenneman had been found dead
at her feet in the mountains.
OF course it was suicide, and this
interview only fOrmality. The dis
trict attorney explained as much to
LeOna while she sat In the big chair
by his desk and twisted her necklace
please understand" he said, that l
truly regret the necessity of this, par
ticularly so soon after your-ah-try-
ing ordeal. But routine must be fol-
lowed.
"NOw I'd like you to tell me-" he
urged. everything that happened. Be-
gin at the beginning and take your
time and think carefully, please"
Il was visiting Marge. l came out
from Cleveland, where we all used to
live, about two weeks ago. Marge was
going to get me screen test at Zenith
studio. l thought that would be fun.
Il guess it was right the first day
after I got here that l met Jock-Mr.
Brenneman. He came out for lunch
and Marge told me they were engaged,
but it was supposed to be a secret.
He was there two or three hours
every day after that, and when he and
Marge went out dancing and places in
the evening, he'd suggest taking me
along. l didn't know right away what
1t was all about, but four or five days
ago l began to realize that he'd fallen
for me. He was paying me attention
and following me around so much I
thought sure Marge would notice; but
she didn't seem to.
II felt terrible, but l hated to speak
to Marge because l could see how crazy
about him she was and how she kept
thinking of their marriage. So instead
of saying anything just tried to make
Mr.. Brenneman understand / didn't
want him.
Yesterday he stayed away until
about six, and when he came Marge
was with him. She said they'd been
out together all afternoOn-takinga ride
in an airplane, l think. l was awful
glad, even though was still sure he'd
never keep his promise to marry her.
swell, after dinner Marge said they
were going up to Mile-Hi lodge at Stag
lake for over the weekend, and she
asked me to come along. l thought it
was just to have chaperOne, so l said
all right. But, of course, now l look
back l can see Mr.. Brenneman must
have suggested it.
1T was late when we got to the lake
and we all decided to go right to bed.
Marge had rooms at one end Of the
hall on the second floor, and Jocks
were about halfway down it, and mine
near the other end.
After l undressed remembered my
slippers were in Marge's bag, so put
on robe and started down the hall
Brennemann'S door he opened it and
called me, and when l turned he
grabbed my arm and pulled me inside
and shut the door.
1T was all dark in there except
for the light that came through the
transom, and l was terribly frightened.
When l cried out for him to let me
go, he put his hand over my mouth and
kept saying, You can't go-you can't
go! And when l tried to fight loose
he said, oh, this is all the devil Of a
mess!
Then l pushed him backwards and
he fell down beside chair that had
his suitcase open on it. The light
from outside shOne right there, and I
saw gun lying on top of his shirts.
Suddenly Mr.. Brenneman jumped up
again, saying, All right-if you don't
listen to me! and then he-he-oh,
l just can't go on"
She slumped down, face in hands
The district attorney sat forward,
"NOw, nOw-that's all right. There's
just one more thing l want to know:
did he say anything else before he
shot himself?"
Her bObbed head shook from side to
side. She was crying softly. without
restraint.
II see." Into the rectangular black
box at his elbow he said: "Will you
kindly step in now, Miss Gray?"
Margaret Gray entered through the
door on the right. Her face was
drawn with suffering, but entirely dry.
You heard everything?' the district
attorney asked smoothly. Margaret
nodded. Have you anything to add?'
Yes. | can verify all that she said.
l was in his bedroom. IL had just
gone in through the other hall door,"
The district attorney looked hastily
away from her steadfast grieving eyes
and cleared his throat. Then Leona
Gray cried out sharply and sagged
over in her chair.
She regained consciousness seven
minutes later. lying on leather couch
in the adjoining rom. Only Marge
was there. sitting by the couch and
staring down at her incuriOusly.
Leona ran her tongue over very dry
lips At last she whispered huskily:
'Why-why didn't you tell?"
Margaret Gray'S smile did not move
one side of her mouth at all.
THAT you shot him? What good
would that do? Telling about my sis
ter's silly vanity that made her i'm
agine intrigue from little kindness !
won't bring back the man loved-my