The Coolidge examiner., 1936-01-31

pretty blank prospect"
But you like a difficult problem
better than an easy one?"
81 wouldn't take on an easy one.
There are others to do that"
"Then you'll take it on?"
IF / find it is a case There's
much to do before that can be de-
cided."
Can you begin at once? And
can I help?"
You'll have to do most Of it
at first, anyhow"
"And how do l start?"
by a brief story of it all right
now"
well, I was married on Satur-
day, four weeks ago tomorrow. We
planned motor trip, through
Washington to Richmond, winding
up at Maiden House, the old home
of my husbands family"
you're telling it well, but you
didn't start right. Go further back.
When did you decide on the we'd
ding day.?
1--WE were engaged about six
months, and we planned an autumn
wedding from the start. 1 think it
was in September that we settled
on the date"
"And then you selected your
bridal party soon?"
"Yes, but rather slowly. That
is, Corey chose his men quickly
enough; he knew just whom he
wanted; but 1 couldn't settle on my
bridesmaids so easily"
And were they at the house over
night, the night before the we'd
ding?"
Nearly ALL" and Perilla gave
him a list Of the men who were
there overnight. Then she told of
the rehearsal for the ceremony, of
the two Tenney girls coming over,
of Malcolm and Bob taking them
home, at which time she and Hilda
left the party and went to their
rooms.
why do you want to know these
things?" she asked Stone. "They
can't possibly have any bearing on
the case"
Not much accustomed to detec-
tives, are you?" he said. what
seems Insignificant to you may
prove of utmost benefit to me-"
But you don't suspect any of
my bridal party!" and Perilla
stared at him.
mo, but you do," Stone returned,
for Perilla had suddenly turned
white and her eyes gazed at him
in wonder.
"Tell me about it." said Stone,
gravely. "Who was it?"
"Oh, it's too ridiculous, but one
of the ushers, a friend of my
brother, told me long ago that if
ever married anyone but him,
he'd kill the bridegroom or kill me
or kill himself don't know what
he did threaten, but he didn't mean
anything-I mean, anything seri-
ous."
"What's his name?"
'Bob Coles. Why, he's a year
or so younger than l am-he's just
a boy"
Boys can have hot passions. Did
he ever follow up tnat speech, say,
when you became engaged to Mr..
Malden?"
well, he acted up the day of the
wedding, but that was only"
"Only whatr'
Perilla had been about to say,
"only fooling," but she knew that
was not true. So she said, 1T was
after we were in the car, ready to
start, he put his head In the win
dow and kissed me in a conspicu-
Gus, even insulting way. But after
ward Corey said to forget it, and I
did. You see, beside Corey, Bob
seemed like a-oh, like a whipper-
snapper. I used to like him, but
after he got the notion he was In
love with me, he was unbearable. Z"
"A friend of your brother? He's
all right?"
Socially he's above reproach.
And he's all right, anyhow. He
was just teasing me-"
Now, no other act of jealousy
or discontentment at the wedding
party? None of the other men in
love with you?"
"Not that I know of. The best
man, Tony Gaskell, is a brick. I
think he had given Bob talking
to, but Bob evaded him at the last"
"All right, Mrs. Maiden. Now I
want you to give me a list of all
these people, and their home ad-
dresses"
But you don't think-you can't
think that any of these people"
And please get over that jump
ing at conclusions. Because l speak
Of anyone I'm not accusing him, not
even suspecting him. 1 want to
know these people, as far as 1 can,
including your parents and brother.
Remember, a list of the addresses,
and any line or word of description
you can think Of"