The Coolidge examiner., 1936-12-03


condition"
That's a good thing!" comment
ed Matte. you're in for a long
stretch of hard work, Patrick. un.
less this thing is cleared up pretty
SOON"
You're telling mel" Patrick
answered with a wry smile.
Have you anything to go or
yet?" Matte went on.
Listen, you girls Patrick
declared. 'T'll tell you what I've got
because we three have been friends
ever since I can remember. Ano
at present it's pretty nearly moth
ing"
Weren't there any finger
prints?" I asked.
mo. The state finger print expert
has looked everything over. He
says that the murderer must have
used handkerchief or gloves
when he stabbed Ace and when he
Strengthened him out"
But could he have stabbed him
without Ace realizing he was going
to do it?" Matte demanded.
Because whoever he was-Ace
thought he was a friend.'
Matte sighed. She came over
and kissed me. Call on me any
time, old thing!"
First of all, Mary" Patrick be.
gan briskly, when we were alone,
tell me what you did the night Of
the masquerade. Gee, I've left my
pencil at the P.S." He turned tc
my desk; took up my fountain pen;
wrote few words; dropped it in
favor of pencil.
I gave him a complete and cir.
cumstantial account of my move
ments from the time I dressed un.
til I returned to the house with
Sarah at two. II think / have a
watertight alibi, Patrick" conclud'
ed a little drearily, because
scarcely left the corner where
sat the whole evening. Yes, 1 even
ate my supper there. I think any
number of people can testify tc
that"
well, Mary" Patrick assured
me, my Irish intelligence seems
to tell me that you didn't kill Ace.
Now will you ask the maids tc
come in?"
l rang the bell. Sarah appeared
Sarah" explained, MIR.
O'Brien wants to ask you and Bes.
sic few questions.
Sarah and Bessie appeared in
the doorway. Bessie looked worse
than Sarah. Sleeplessness had
ironed the dinples out of her face;
it had set into an ashen mask.
Patrick was extremely gentle
Now girls" he began, I've
got to ask you a few questions.
don't want you to get frightened
There's no suspicion of you what
ever. But of course, to keep the
record straight I have to know ex
actly what you did the night of the
masquerade.
Sarah spoke first. ''Of course we
know that, Mr.. O'Brien," she de-
clared, with a catch in her voice
We've expected that you'd ques
ton us and we're all ready"
Patrick took Bessie's story first
1t was perfectly simple anc
straightforward. Working all day
at the Stow house, returning tt
the house once to prepare my
luncheon; the whole evening at the
Stow house again, returning with
Sylvia before Sarah and I came
home.
What time was that?" Patrick
asked.
"Just twelve" Bessie replied
She looked unhappy.
"You may go now, Bessie" Pat
rick permitted gently. "And thank
you'll"
Bessie disappeared noiselessly
Patrick turned to Sarah. Nov
you tell me your story, Sarah"
Sarah's story, of course, dupli
Gated Bessie's SO far as it con
cerned what happened in the day
time. She had gone with Bessie
over to the Stow house and re
turned only to prepare our dinner
had helped Sylvia and me to dres:
and then had gene back to thu
Stow house. She stayed there un
til I left at two; returned to m.
house with me.
Yes, that's exactly what all tn,
other girls say of you," Patrick re
assured her.
Suddenly Patrick shot at her
Are you sure that's all, Sarah
Haven't you something else to tel
me?"
Sarah's answer was conclusive
She burst into tears.
Nov don't get frightened, m.
girl" Patrick soothed her. Il kney
you hadn't spilled all of it. Nov
pull yourself together and tell m
your story in your own way. Nc
body suspects you of anything"
Sarah's sobs died down. Sudden
ly she became her composed, quie
self. Il don't like to tell thing
about people," she explained quiet
ly. Il never give away the sc
crets that my friends tell me an
I always keep the white people