The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-04-13

 of politeness which indicated that his call was official, that he was aware of the amenities of the situ- ation, but that his primary pur- pose was to uncover a murder. | You're Millicent Grabes?"
 '.Yes."
 You knew Harry Fielding, the dead man ?"'
 "I had seen him, that was all."
 He shot the next question at her with the impact of blow. "Who killed him?"
 'T'm sure," she said. ''I couldn't tell you"
 "Know anything about what was happening here last night?"
 I'm afraid I can't tell you very much"
 He crossed to a chair. smiled at her, and said. Mind If sit down ?
 Not in the least"
 Care if I smoker"
 Not at all."
 "Will you join me?"
 "No. thank you"
 Don't smoker
 Sometimes. but not now"
 He sat, watching her for few moments with quizzical express sion on his face. He lit a cigaret and the blue smoke seeped from his nostrils, curling upward so that his eyes seemed to stare intently at her from blue haze. ! T can see." he said. "that you're all primed to answer the orthodox type of questions"
 He laughed and said. "The kind I seldom ask. What do you think of Vera Duchene?" The question took her by sur prise.
 | "She's rather beautiful" she said.
 He nodded slowly and went on, And she's going somewhat out of her way to impress Detective Buchanan with his manly impor- tance, don't you think?" Surprise showed on Millicent's face. Good heavens!" she said. ''How long have you been here?" l About 15 minutes"
 And you've found that out in so short a time?" "Oh, yes." "You've seen Miss Duchene?" l 'I saw her few minutes ago. She was carrying dress over her arm. She tried to conceal the dress | when she saw mo. gathered that there might be some mud stains i on the dress. and I wondered 1T you know anything about it."
 The brown eyes stared intently at Millicent and she squared her shoulders, tilted her chin and said. "Yes, 1t was mine." He waited for her to go on, but Millicent stood silent. After a few moments, Sergeant Mahoney said, I'm very glad in- deed that you told me that" "Why?" she asked. "Because," he said, "I knew 1t was your dress. but I didn't think you'd admit It." "Did Vera Duchene tell you" "No, she was trying to keep 1t secret"
 Millicent nodded. and said mo- thing. Sergeant Mahoney glanced at her, smiled, and said. And now you're steeling yourself to give me answers to the questions that you think I'm going to ask, questions about how it happened your dress got muddy, what you were doing last night, and when you got back. Isn't that right?" She couldn't help but nod in in- voluntary acquiescence. 1T haven't analysed my feelings perhaps quite as exactly as you have, but guess there's something of that in my mind. all right" "Therefore." he said. suppose we try another line of question: ing ?"
 what ?". she inquired. "Why was Miss Duchene trying to conceal the garment from me? Did you ask her that""
 "No, I'm asking you"
 "I would prefer not to tell you"
 "Do you know?" "Yes, I think do." "There's nothing in common between you and Miss Duchene, IS there?"
 "Nothing whatever" "Then, looking at the problem from an impartial standpoint, U would appear that either Miss Du- chene was trying to hide the dress in order to shield you. or because she had discovered some piece or information which was damaging and wanted to use 1t as a club over you. Naturally, if she disclosed her information. 1t ceased to be some thing she could use as clup. How's that for a guess?"
 She did not answer him. but he laughed and said, You really don't need to answer. I can read the answer In your face. Now then. suppose you tell me what 1t was that Vera Duchene was trying to force you to do."
 You're having such success