The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1936-05-07


It was November now, and Perilla
was settled in her beautiful apart
ment.
Jane was with her, but Jane was q
movable feast. Always around when
wanted or needed, but never in the
way. Much of her time she spent at
the Lovells' home, and naturally she
kept Ellen Lowell informed of Per
illa's progress.
"And," as Jane said one morning
after about weeks separation, "she
isn't so good"
whats the matter with herr"
asked the mother.
81 can't find out. Of course, there's
her grief for Corey, which seems to
grow more poignant rather than
less. But there's something else. She
is absorbed in something or some
body. Yet she is excited about it,
rather than depressed. Lots of peo-
pie want to come to see her, but she
always says, No, not yet. It keeps
me busy shunting them off. How
ever, whatever it is, it interests her,
and that's something"
In the meantime Mrs. Corey NAL
den was going about the business
that interested her so. CARRIED in one
of her smartest broadcloth gowns,
and swathed in becoming furs, she
directed Bailey, her new chauffeur,
to a number in the East Seventies.
Perilla had not kept Boynton, but
dismissed him as soon as she came
home from Richmond. Boynton new
er knew why, and would have been
greatly surprised to learn that it
was because of the CULVER of an eye
lash.
Reaching an apartment house, Per-
lila rang the bell of the suite she
wanted. Admitted to smart, inter-
esting looking living room, she wan
dered about, instead of seating her.
self.
After moment, she heard a pleas
ant voice say, ''Mrs. Malden?"
eyes," she replied, turning. "Mr.
Stone?"
Il am" replied Fleming Stone, as
he drew one chair nearer another.
will you sit here?"
Il don't know anything about de-
tectives," Perilla began, "but I know
little about lawyers, and I feel
rather in the position of one who
says to lawyer, My case is very
odd one, and I don't even know that
it is a CASE"
"Well, suppose you tell me about
it. Make it brief"
Every well, then. If you heard of
bride and groom, on their wedding
trip, and one night, when they were
alone in hotel room, she called out
for help, and the one who went to
help her found the husband dead on
the floor, and the wife rather be-
wildered, what would you deduce?"
"Not enough data. Were they in
lover"
''More than anyone ever was in
the world-or any two. They adored
each other, and had been married
only three days. The husband was in
perfect health, according to the doc
tors"
"To what did you attribute
death?"
what could I do but accept the
doctors diagnosis of an unknown
and unsupported weakness of the
heart. Moreover, I had no opinion,
save a-a-"
"A hunch?" asked Stone, helpful
ly.
eyes," and she smiled. II do be-
ieve a bunch is the only think to
call it."
"And now just what is it you want
to know"
''Who killed him." said Perilla,
promptly, "and why"
''Why do you think he was killed?
How could he be killed with no kill
er in the room, no weapon and no
evidence?"
ooh, Mr.. Stone, that's your part of
the detective problem! I can't guess
it,"
''No, of course not. And we don't
guess detective problems. We solve
them"
''Well, can you solve it,"
II trust so. But as look at it just
this minute, I must admit it's pref
ty blank prospect"
''But you like a difficult problem
better than an easy one?"
sI wouldn't take on an easy one,