The Washington times., 1935-08-17

her breath caught in her throat.
why" she gaSped, "thiS can't
be true. 1t must be some hideous
mistake!"
He looked over her shoulder.
"That?" he said casually. "Oh,
yeS-that was on the radio, when
we left Honolulu on our way out
that murder on Long Island.
Some fast society party, I sup
pose. They said that Donetta
Dane Millbanks had been killed,
and that Lawrence Vane was ar
rested for her murder"
ION our way out?" she re-
peated his words vacantly. Then
it's true. Donetta is dead-she'S
been killed." Her voice rose, and
the doctor alarmed, took her arm
in his grasp and placed one
steady hand on her quivering
shoulder.
Come, Mrs. Thornley," he said
gently. "Get a grip on yourself.
Here, give me those papers and
come to my consulting room with
me. You will be- more private
there"
He took the papers from her
unresisting hands, and led her to-
ward his office.
"You knew this Mrs. Millbank?"
he asked quietly to break that
vacant calm Of hers.
Knew her?" she repeated.
KNEW her?"
Suddenly she laughed.
"Oh, yes. I knew her." she
cried, her voice thick with tears.
IT knew her very well, indeed
and I knew the others, too." Her
voice became consciously calm
and careful.
"See the lists Of guests at the
party" she said, pushing the
paper toward him. Read them.
There they are. See?"
cat the fateful Christmas
party at MiNbank Manor" he
read, /" were, beside the bereaved
young husband and the unfortun-
ate hostess, Mr.. Wilbur Renton,
Miss Betty Potter, Mr.. Lawrence
Vane, Mr.. Bobbie Nichols, the
Baroness von Richter, Mr.. Roger
Thornley,, Miss Babe Fisher, and
the tennis champion, Willie Poin'
dexter
"Wen," he said reasonably,
nothing there to get excited
about. Surely you knew your hus'
band would be going to parties
while you were seeing the myster'
les of the Far EaSt?"
"It isn't that" she said hastily,
then caught herself. Il mean'
it's a terrible shock. You see
Donetta and I were in a show
together, and I was awfully tond
of her." Her voice broke, and
her eyes became fixed upon the
list of names in her hand.
MRS. Thornley-Millie," he said,
and frightened his clasp at her
startled glance. II want to ASK
you a very personal question.
Are you afraid Of your husband?"
A Cablegram
He held her struggling hands as
they Strove to withdrew from his
close grip.
"Why, no! Whatever made you
think Of such a thing-of course
not!" she cried. Then, suddenly.
she bowed her golden head across
their clasped hands and moaned:
"Oh, what am I going to do?
What am I going to do?"
His head bent, and for a mo-
ment his lips rested upon her soft
hair. Then he said:
Here's something else in the
paper that may interest you-
see?" And he read aloud:
"'Cyrus K. Mantel, the famous
detective, arrived unexpectedly
lust as the body was discovered.
At the request Of Mr.. Millbanks
he took charge. This makes q
stranpe tumble, as Mr.. Mantel
was already on the case OF Law.
renee Vane, who was out on ball
as a material witness in connection
with the murder Of his wife,
Isobel, whose hea ''esS body was
found on the roof terrace OF their
honeymoon penthouse apartment
last October. It seems strange
that this second murder Shoul6
also be q honeymoon bride, ana
that her body, as was that OF
Isobel Vane, should be found on
a terrace just outside the Artist
Ivane's window. The most fan
fastic occurrence Of all was when
Mantel requested the Mineola
police to arrest Vane for the
murder of Donetta Vane MIL.
banks. Mr.. Roger Thornley,.
His voice faltered, and he stopped.
The girl snatched the paper
from his hands and read:
"Mr. Roger Thornley,, an OLD
friend Of the murdered woman
said that he knew Of no reason
why anyone in the house should
have wished to do away with the
charming, beautiful young host
eSS."
IFS that SOP" Her teeth gritted
on the words. "Get me a cable
blank, can you?"
"Cyrus K. Mantel,
eco Police Headquarters,
"New York City.
Arriving Tenyo Maru San
Francisco. Will take fast plane
direct New York. See you at
once. Important news"
The doctor did not see the rest,
nor did he see the signature.
"Millie," he whispered. "Millie?
Am to lose you so soon?"