The Washington times., 1936-03-14

kins' killing her while Hymn had a
pretty clear one, indicated that the
police opinion conceded with that
of the public.
The Board of Education had a
special meeting Monday noon
must have been pretty hot. Some
were all for firing or at least sus-
pending the principal right then.
Others wanted to go so far as to
give him a vote of confidence. Dad
said it was largely political mat
ter which I didn't understand.
They compromised by doing moth
ing, but calling a meeting for a
week later, hoping new evidence
might arise by then. So Mr.. Perk-
ins came back to school Tuesday
morning.
On Wednesday, he lost the spot
light for a while as it came out
that more had been found out
about Melvin. 1t seemed that the
police had investigated his habits
and associates further, and had
discovered that he was a member
of regular gang, and that he had
acquired the gun the very Gay of
the murder!
CHAPTER XIV
It was Dad who brought us the
news about Melvin. He had been
down to headquarters and had
picked up a lot of new informa-
ton. I heard some of the rumors
around school late that afternoon.
but the papers had not got hold
of it yet. So I pounced on Dad as
soon as he sat down to eat.
Dad, is Melvin Wright really
a gangster?"
II don't know whether he is
quite as bad as that. Curly, but
he is certainly mixed up with
some bad characters"
Who are they?"
-Four or five men. older than
Melvin, who hang around the pool
hall where he spends most of his
time. The girl to whom Miss Sin
clair objected is sister of one of
them"
IF they are so bad, why don't
the police arrest them?"
Two of them have served terms
and they have all been up for
questioning on one job or another.
They just haven't anything on
them at present. You can't put
a man in jail because you know
he's no good, Julie; you have to
have some definite charge against
him"
What about the Wright boy?"
inquired Mother.
He knew these men, has been
seen riding in cars with them, is
known to have taken the girl to
dances and so forth. He is pretty
stubborn and close-mouthed about
his acquaintance with them, prob
ably he is afraid to talk. He ad-
mits that he got the gun the
very day of the murder"
DO the police think it is the
one that fired the shot?"
mo, they don't. But there is
always the possibility that the ex-
perts might be wrong"
How does he explain having
it?"
That is where he has more
persistence than most boys, or
men either. In all this time. he
has refused to tell them anything
more about it, to make any ex-
planation. No threats or means
of-er-persuasion can sh a ke
him"
What is the police theory,
Dad?" was Aliens only question.
They think of course that one
OF these notorious characters gave
him the gun, for what purpose
they still have to find out. They
are next in line for questioning"
"Gee!" I exclaimed, this gets
more involved every day. We have
half dozen murderers and we
only need one: Bruce, Melvin,
Perkins, Hvm-"
And Mrs. Carrington," con-
cluded Dad
"Oh, what about her?"
You remember that Darlington
had a water-tight alibi for Thurs
day night but that he made the
statement that his wife had left
him the Sunday before?"
Yes"
TO Be COntiuued)
(Copyright. 1885, King FeaturAa