The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-04-04
THE STORY SO FAR
CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XIV
 Jane looked up and saw Linda Bayes standing before them. Her eyes were blazing. 'Tino's no opera starl" she said. T know, him. I'm the only one on this ship who ever knew him, or heard him sing-ex- cept Dutch Lenz. Tino worked at the Tip Top Club. We have both worked for Dutch Lenz in our day. He's a rotten singer. That's why he refused to sing at the ships cabaret. His name isn't Tino Rossi. He isn't even Italianl"
 The detectives eyes were keen with excitement now. "Is that why Tino twisted your wrist? Is that all he had on you the fact that you had worked for Dutch?"
 Her eyes sought Ken Martins, and the look he gave her was aS- surance enough of his trust. That was all," she said. "Tino was mas querading as an opera star, making a play for Jane. knew his kind. He was 8 phoney all around. l had warned him to leave Jane alone. But I didn't tell Jane he was pho ney because I was afraid of him. I didn't want Ken to know that l had worked the hot spots in New York; Tino held that over my head. But 1t doesn't matter now"
 Snowshoes looked at Linda sQuarely. Did Tino send you that warning note?"
 'I believe he did. But it could have been Dutch. At the time l rather suspected Dutch of the mur- der. I was afraid to talk! never suspected Tino. But Tino was afraid of me. I. knew too much about him."
 Do you think he was the masked man who attacked you in your stateroom? If we only had one clue! You can't accuse a man of murder because he's maSquerading as an opera singer"
 q don't know. It could have been Tino! It sounds rational enough. He was afraid I'd talk. And he would have been mortally afraid of Dutch Lenz. Dutch knew he was no good. If Tino did kill Mamie Jackson, he would have feared Mannie's pal, Dutch. Dutch would have found him out. Tino would have wanted to do away with Dutch in the storm"
 But the detective was still per- plexed. He turned to Jane. What prompted you to say outright that Tino is the man we're looking for? You must have some bit of evidence. Think hard. Mamie was murdered between eleven and midnight. You were with Tino on deck. Was there any time that Tino could have left you and entered Nora Lanes suite to kill Mamie Jackson?"
 Jane couldn't answer, for her eyes were glued on the panes again She could see Dirk crawling along the boat deck on his hands and knees. She couldn't see Tino, but suddenly three shots rang out in rapid succession, the flashes reveal ing Tino's position at the far end close to the wall. A ships officer rounded the deck, and Tino turned to empty his gun at the other man, who ducked to safety.
 Then Dirk was on his feet, lurch- ing against the wind. He sprang across the deck like leopard and ptnioned Tino. A short struggle and he had Tino's arm twisted al the back, and was struggling with him toward the lounge, the wind al his back. They let Dirk in.
 Ready hands wrenched the life belt away, and Tino stood still quaking. T know I'm a coward, he said. 'I don't want to die. Now leave me alone. I'll behave"
 Tino regarded the incident as closed. They were handing the life preserver to the baby girl when Jane, with delft movement, took the cork in her hands. She ripped open a seam in the cover, plunged her fingers in and drew out the necklace with the Kokinor dia- mondl It blazed forth in the cleo trio light.
 There's the murderer" she said pointing to Tino. And this is al the evidence you need. That's why he risked his life to keep the pre-. server"
 Tino turned and threw his weigh against the door again. It yielded and he plunged headlong on tht deck outside before anyone coulc lay . hand on him. He got to hi! feet, struggled against the wind but then a great wave, cascadint down the deck threw him agains the rail. He clung there, as tom of water poured back out in to tht sea, and slowly his grip was torr loose. He screamed, and was sWep overheard into the raging sea, z