The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-04-06

lightly, almost breezily. "I heard 1t when the body was discovered. Millicent butered a piece oi toast. "Tm afraid.' she said, "l slept quite late this morning. was very tired. I had hard day yesterday"
 T heard that you came here yesterday" Miss Duchene said. T wasn't here last night. you know"
 "No." Miss Duchene went on. "I was off for the evening. didn't get in until early this morn ." She checked herself hastily and said, until very late At that moment the door open ed, and the officer who had inter rogated Millicent entered the room toward Vera Duchene, said You're Vera Duchene?" Miss Duchene raised her gray appraising eyes to the officer loked him over with cool specu lation. "Yes," she said, breaking off ; piece of toast. "How long have you beei 'here?"
 1 About six months" .-. ] "You knew Harry Felding?" l "Of course" "Did you know he was dead 2"
 "I heard 1t this morning. yes" "You weren't here last night?' Not in the evening. It was my night off,"
 Where were you?" t. "With friends"
 What time did you return here?"
 Sometime late last night"
 "How late?"
 Really, I couldn't say"
 "Was 1t as late as midnight?"
 "It may have been. I didn't look at my watch"
 Did you go to sleep at once?"
 "Oh, yes"
 Where do you sleep?"
 "In a room in the back of the house."
 lover the garage. isn't it?"
 "1 believe so, yes"
 ou SIOuiu, lHcu nave ucdI u a shot if it had been fired while you were in your room."
 Vera Duchene poured more coffee and said, with what Milli- cent thought was inane stupidity, What sort of a shot?"
 "A pistol shot a shot fired from an automatic"
 "Yes."
 Well, didn't hear anything"
 "Did you hear the garage door being opened? Did you hear the sound of a car leaving the ga rage?"
 "No."
 I'm afraid ri have to ask you to check up on the time you re- turned"
 Perhaps my friends will know "You might give me theii names"
 She stared at him with the i'm. pudence which only a pretty wo- man dares to show a masculine of fieial.
 And again." she said, "I migh' not. If you want me to find out I'll find out-that is. if my friends know--but I wouldn't care to tel you who they are--not now at any rate"
 The officer said slowly. Well | there's probably no question bu what it was stick-up man oI a prowler that did the job. bu what we can't find out is why liar. ry Fielding should have been ou driving, Bob Caise's car."
 Was he driving Caise's car?" "Yes. He started out with it, rar out of gasoline and walked back.
 Doesn't Mir Happ know?" 1 "No, he can give us no informa tion that is of any assistance"
 'If he couldn't Miss Duchen' said, tits cinch can't"
 A stolid-faced cook appeare, with softboiled eggs and som fried bacon. Millicent ate the foo, ravenously. Miss Duchene toye' with toast and coffee, let her eye apraise the officer.
 My" she said. but you're bi and strong! Tell me, do you hay to be good pistol shot in orde to be an officer?" | You certainly do," he said These days they make you prac tice. They send you to a rooki school.'
 Tt must be fascinating"
 He smiled at her and said, "Wel IL has its advantages"
 You going to be back here.' sh asked. making more investiga tions?"
 "I might arrange to come" h told her.
 Her eyes fiickered up to his. the dropped back 10 the coffee cup. ! And you didn't hear anything he asked.
 "Sot thing" she said.
 He left the room. Miss Duchen finished her breakfast smile across nt Miliiccnt and said, hope you'll like 1t here. but l don