The Washington times., 1936-02-27

| Mr.. Sinclair, the murdered girls
father, would arrive that evening.
But to continue the events Of
the evening Of October 20, as they
say In detective stories Il am read
ing them now, occasionally Mrs.
Sardoni had seen another visitor
enter about 8 O'Clock, young man
whose description she had given
police. Reporters had not discov.
cred who he was. OF course. Dicky
and I knew it was Melvin Wright.
He had left about $3.50, slamming
down the stairs as If he were
angry, too. The reporter pointed
out that from the number Of starts
and the length of the final let
ter, Miss Sinclair must have had
more time to spend on it than the
three-quarters Of an hour which
had elapsed between the teachers
call and the boys. In other words,
she must have been alive when
he left.
"I don't see that" said Dicky
II mean, I don't see why that
proves he didn't kill her."
"You don't think he did, do
you?"
"Well, no. But look. What was
to prevent his returning an hour
or so later and shooting her. if he
was so mad? And here's another
thing: how do these guys know
she wasn't working on that letter
ever since we left at 5? She prob
ably didn't take so much time for
supper. And it doesn't look to
me as If it took so long to write
once she got going. It sounds
pretty much the way anyone
might talk"
7 looked at Dicky with admira-
ton. That is the reason I like
him, I suppose. He isn't so aw'
fully handsome. but he does think.
'Well. I don't think Melvin did
it," answered. But you are
right. We oueht not to count him
out. He could have done 1t, If he
had a gun"
"You know" Dicky was awfully
serious, 'I think the French sys-
tenn Is right. A man ought to be
considered guilty until he proves
himself innocent"
"That's what some newspapers
do," said.
We went on reading. Mrs. sar.
doni had seen no one else enter.
She had had a headache and
gone to bed at 9. AS her apart
ment was right underneath Miss
Sinclair's, and as she had heard
no shot, the police supposed the
slayer had used a silencer. The
couple who occupied the apart
ment on the other side Of the
first floor, opposite Mrs. Sardoni,
had been out to a bridge party
and did not return until mid
night. Thev could offer no help
at all. The teachers had stopped
to eat after the show, which had
been a long one, and had re-
turned just as the police arrived.
The telephone call had come
at 10:45. The officers sent out
on the case had found the door
Of Miss Sinclair's apartment un.
locked. had opened it, and found
her in jade-green lounging pa
jamas, half-Supported by the
desk chair, her arms and head
Sprawled on the desk itself, and
a bullet through her breast.
I cried a little at that, and
Dicky was most awkward. Just
as he was patting my shoulder,
a newSboy called, "Extra!"
We both dashed to the street
and bought the paper. The po-
lice had revealed e new develop
ment.
Hymn, the Filipino janitor Of
the apartment house, had diSap-
peared the night Of the murder!
CHAPTER w
A bunch of the girls at the
high school always lunched at
the confectionery store across the
street. The five Of US were sit
ting around q table, over sand
wicheS and milk shakes. All we
could think to talk about was the
murder.
What I don't see is" said one,
why the police cannot trace that
phone call. You know there
aren't many getting off a boat
at that hour Of night"
To be COntinued)
(CoDV right. 1895. by King Features
lwmANmaAM Y~aN