Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-04-01
CHAPTER s

OEIECI1NE NE LID murmure0
something to DR.. Mario 1 saw both
of them stoop over the body. and
Marcos hand touch something: after
this. Mario took his hat and bag and
left Obviously the case was out of
his hands. and he was glad to go.
'Maughan! Van Every!" Keyes
said sharply. what do you know
about this?"
Nothing" said. Van Every
shook his head. too. agreeing with
me. II have no idea how Miss
Younger met her death. We were
listening to a story Van Every was
telling us. Listening intently. both
Of us. remember now that Miss
Younger's attitude seemed rather
strange. She was staring ahead At
40 time was there anybody but the
three of us in the room. Van Every
had dismissed his servant. Soon. and
until DR.. Mario came. there was no
one else in the room. but Van Every.
Miss Younger and myself"
"Could you swear to that?"
I hesitated. Was I so sure?
Would have heard anyone? II can
only say that I didn't hear anyone
else in the ROOM"
did you hear a shot Of any kind?"
mo. heard only Van Every"
Reyes turned to Van Every.
"Would you swear you were only
three in this room at the time Miss
Younger was murdered?"
There was no hesitation about
Uoa LNx,ory To eoopoad 70 Iox,o -
covered his poise by now. II could
not swear it. captain, but believe it.
! saw no one else in the room. I
heard no one come up the stairs
the door was open. so I could hear
my niece come in. I didn't hear her
rather wasn't listening for her
after a while. when got on with
my tale Of the ruby"
$50 the door was open?" Keyes
said slowly. THAT door into the
hall, l suppose?"
Eyes. that is the only door, I had
the other. leading into the bedroom.
taken out. and Grapes put up in
stead"
Twill you please take the places
you occupied this evening when Miss
Younger was alive?"
Obediently Van Every took tn.
chair. and moved 1t into the place
ne had sat. 1 did the same. / saw
now that neither of us was facing
the door.
Van Every's chair was turned so
that he faced both Margalo and the
fireplace. l was placed so that I
faced both the fireplace and Van
Every.
Margalo's back must have been d.
rectly toward the door.
"And Miss Younger?"
Silently / pointed to the place on
the couch she had occupied.
when did you arrive here?"
I'm not sure" / said, probably
around midnight. We ate first at
Emils on Forty seventh"
when would you say Miss
Younger was alive? What timer"
Van Every and / glanced at each
other puzzled. "She seemed alive all
the while I was talking" he said at
last II remember that I asked her
once whether l should go on with
my story. I think-although I'm not
sure-that she answered. What
about it. Maughan?"
shook my head. / could not be
sure. g
"Dr. Frank. will you examine the
body. and tell me just when you
think Miss Younger died"
We moved away from the couch,
Reyes with us. whats this?" he
asked Van Every, touching the ruby.
Van Every handed it to him silently.
"Miss Younger was wearing this
when shielded" Then as briefly as
! could ! went over the story Van
Every had told us this evening.
The detectives smiled when I An
ished. and looked at the jewel more
closely. Murder stone. huh? Sounds
like lot Of nonsense to me-"
1T wasn't to me. until Mario tolG
us about the needle. Reyes" Van
Every said quietly. II was sure IN
til then that the stone had killed