The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-04-15

would not accept MS Irlenosnll
I had watched the papers close
" for any break about Bruce.
Nothing happened. Dad said that
oBrien was questioning him. He
was surprised himself that no
charge had been lodged against
him. On Friday, o'Brien asked
me to stop at the office after
school, and learned part Of the
reason for the delay. He had
waited to investigate another
angle.
when you and I visited Mrs.
Sardoni, Miss Julie, your bright
eyes saw a thin spot in the cell
ing. Atwater went up there and
found out that it covered an I'M
used register in Miss Sinclair's
living room. The register is open
from the upper apartment, but
covered with the ceiling paper
from the lower, a relic Of the
days before steam heat was in
stalled"
docs that mean anything, In
spector?"
He shook his head. Probably
not. But I decided before pro-
ceeding against anyone else to in
quire a little more closely about
Perkins. We've had him here on
the grill all day. All we've got
out Of him is that he was in love
with Miss Sinclair"
"He waS!"
"He went to see her often, but
was always discreet, he says, about
leaving early and about keeping
their relationship casual and
friendly, nothing more"
do you believe that?"
''WeIl, yes. But what we are
trying to find out now is what
objection there was to their
friendship progressing into nor
NAL love affair, into marriage"
ooh, Inspector, Connie could
never have loved Mr.. Perkins,
Besides she was engaged to Bruce
Lloyd"
"That Is true. But I should
say q man of Perkins type would
be somewhat insistent on his own
worth and Importance. I don't
think he would withdraw from
the picture so gracefully"
what does he say about it?"
Nothing. But I believe he'll
break tonight"
Looking at the Inspectors firm
Jaw and hard, set face, I didn't
doubt it..
ooh, Inspector, If he does.
won't you let me be in on it?"
He smiled, 7 guess you have
that coming to you, julie"
By reason Of Inspector O'Brien's
Indulgence and fondness for me, I
was installed in my little closet the
next morning when Mr.. Perkins
made his statement to the police.
He was a different man from the
high school principal had known.
The hardness and GOODNESS were
gone, replaced by fatigue and
agony. He was not in physical
pain, but each of the Inspectors
questions was a weapon that made
him writhe. His hair was cut in
pathways clawed by his fingers.
Being Of that pale brown still va
riety, it stood in little spikes all
over his head. His white face was
marked by sleeplessness and his
mouth twitched. His hands kept
clenching and unclenching. He
must have gone through a bad
night.
at understand that you are ready
to talk" began O'Brien.
Perkins nodded.
do 1t in your own way. You
called on Miss Constance Sinclair
on the night Of october 20 at 8
o'clock to return a book. Tell us
what happened"
"She met me at her door. She
was not expecting me, but she in
vited me to come in. ! did, closing
the door behind me-"
what had she been doing?"
"She had been writing letter.
The unfinished pages were still on
her desk"
did she tell you to whom the
letter was addressed?"
mo"
ibid you have any ideap"
81 imagined it might be to her