Evening star., 1936-09-24
E'SMM4hz1aMa>4q31
I@ @I-7-HezcY30 Zones ~
IA lMvINCENT SfARREn ~

"Good enough" Miss Lansing's an
swer was abrupt.
But there is another-er-young
| woman?"
Several, should imagine"
HIN! Did he know this Rita
Wingfield?"
II think so-I'm fairly certain Of
It," Her eyes lifted. "Oh. I know
he did!"
"Have you reproached him about
her?"
II suppose so-yes!"
He thought again Of the letters Dali
las had slipped into his pocket. In
writing. possibly"
Possibly"
"It's a sweet mess" admitted Black
wood. "You may have thought you
had q motive for abolishing Rita
yourself. Well, stick tight to the story
you told Dallas Saturday night-for
think he's found your letters to
Percy"
Her cheeks went pale for . mo-
ment. then Redeemed again. He
couldn't think that l."
MY dear girl" said Blackwood, not
unkindly, "you have no idea what
thoughts that bulldozing policeman
can think. For all know, you may
really have killed the girl-though I
think you were almighty quick about
it, If you did. Your story hasn't
helped to clear things for me. sup-
pose you are convinced. at any rate,
that there is a connection between
the murder of Rita Wingfeld and
Percy's disappearance"
She smiled family. I'm afraid I
am. It's what started me to investi-
eating. But I didn't kill her myself.
Riley! Probably because I never had
an opportunity. I'd just as soon."
II know" said Riley Blackwood,
but don't tell Dallas that. Just 60
home and wait for him to arrest you,
| If that's what's on his mind. And stick
to what you've already told him
that you don't know anything about
| it."
He resolved to startle her again, as
he had about the kitten.
Listen, Zelda" he began, signifi-
cantly. Last night I was on the
fire escape outside Of Rita's apart
ment. Something was going on in
side-in that back bed room occupied
| by the housekeeper.s
She met his eyes with frowning in
terest. but without visible motion.
What do you mean?" she asked.
He told her, then watched the ex-
citement develop in her eyes.
Janice Hume!" she said at last.
He could almost hear the pieces Of q
puzzle clicking together in her mind.
Then she was paler than ever he had
seen her before and her hand reached
quickly across the table and seized
his wrist. Then she did it. Rileyl
What time was Rita Wingfield muir
| dered?"
Some time between 1890 and
O'Clock"
"And Percy came at q quarter Of /!
She was on hand when he arrived.
But, before that, we were dancing
you remember"
! Il was with Janice, myself, Sald
Blackwood. "for a few minutes be-
fore Percy's arrival. What's on your
mind?"
Janice was on that fire escape
herself that night-after the police
arrived-after you had gone down
stairs to join them. saw her.
even spoke to her. thought it was
just her curiosity. I went into the
kitchen to sneak drink Of good
whisky. after that sloppy punch, and
she was just coming back"
Through the Window"
Don't be silly! Through the rear
door. It's only step from 1t to the
| door In the passage. looked q little
guilty, I suppose, and so did she. but
she spoke up bold as brass. I've been
on the fire escape she said. I think
the troubles three floors down. I
can almost hear their voices"
"It's interesting" admitted Black
wood, "in view of what I saw last
night. Some time after 1:30 that