Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-05-04
CHAPTER SO

L COULD see that Keyes wasn't
satisfied with my taxicab alibi in his
heart. that he still suspected I might
have had something to do with Mar
galo's death, with Miss Randalls.
AS there was no further way to ex-
plain. had to let it go at that.
That's not fair" Van Every put
in Indignantly. you've no right to
accuse Maughan-"
I've as much right to accuse
Vaughan as to accuse you, Van
Every" Keyes' cold eyes looked
piercingly at Van Every.
II admit that the death Of Mar
gallo Younger points suspiciously to
me. the same as it does to Maui
CHAN, but will you tell me how I
could have murdered Laura Randall.
when I did not leave the house?"
Did Soon leave the house?" Keyes
countered.
why not call Detective Nc
Manus? He was here through it ALL"
He motioned to the Chinese who
was still in the room, and without
word Soon left, to return later with
McManus.
''Sit down, McManus." Keyes said.
when did you first hear the ruby
was missing?"
about it was sir. I was in the
dining room, eating something the
cook had fixed for mel hadn't had
any lunch yet, Soon came III all ex-
cited. said the ruby was stolen, and
that his master wanted me to call
you. l jumped UP, and found Mr..
Van Every all upset in the library.
A man was with him, a Mr.. Sellers
We all went down to Soon's room,
and searched. then when we couldn't
find it there. we started a search of
the house. I couldn't believe at first
that it had been stolen; / thought it
was just mislaid. Mr.. Van Every
and Soon were positive it had been
stolen. Seems Soon had hidden it,
and no one knew the hiding place,
except. Of course. Mr.. Van Every.
Well. the house was all in confusion.
Mr.. Van Every had the servants
down interviewing them. I called
headquarters for men and tried to
get hold of you. No luck. Mr.. Van
Every kept calling Mr.. Vaughan.
He was sure Mr.. Vaughan was with
you. captain. I tell you this was a
crazy house for q while. We searched
every place, and the ruby sure had
disappeared. Mr.. Van Every kept
telling us it was crazy to search for
1T. that 1t was gone, but I was work.
ing on the assumption it was still in
the house"
did Soon leave the house after A
o'clock?" Keyes broke in.
Soon was with me all the time"
ivan Every?"
"Ife was here, too"
WAS there anything said about |
Miss Randall--that she might have
taken the ruby?''
mo, we didn't think Of it. Neither
did Mr. Van Every think that any
OF the servants had taken the ruby"
AT o'clock-say from 5 to G.
was anyone missing from the
house?"
mot that I know of. sir. Soon
was with me all the time, as I said. |
The other servants were in the
Kitchen. Miss Van Every came in a |
little after G. say 10 minutes after. |
Mr.. Van Every met her at the front |
door, and. tried to persuade her. to |
eat something, finally led her into the |
dining ROOM"
You're positive, then, that no one |
left the house from S to 81"
positive, SIR" McManus was
hurt. and showed It.
Reyes turned to Van Every. "Who |
Is this Sellers%
lie was interested in the ruby
wanted to buy 1t. The appointment |
for his visit was made yesterday. I
toio Soon that as soon as Mr.. Sellers |
came ne was to bring tho ruby up to |
the library. Well. Sellers came. and
when Soon had brought him up. he
went downstairs again. He came up
In Few moments and told me that
the ruby was gone. You can imagine
how felt",
Van Every. Miss Randall men
IONS white-haired gentleman,
rather young appearing. too. who
visited you some time last week. |