Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-01-02
3EMURDER UpSTAIRSP
N| M/ADAM BLISS \sHeZI
CHAPTER AZ

TILL TAKE the knife to Lieuten-
ant Larrabee myself" I told Mar
celia Cambridge.
First. however, 1 would confront
Janet with it. l couldn't understand
her reticence about the dagger-if
it were IlerS-for she had shown me
all of her other things.
Janet's clothes, bits of iewelry she
had inherited from her grandmother,
q collection of earrings which had
been her mothers Every time she
bought anything new. whether il was
book or trinket. even pair of
shoes. she displayed it with child
like pleasure TO me. It was almost
as though she considered me q close
relative.
The handle OF the dagger was
especially beautiful. Soft white jade
carved into the shape Of q serpent.
The whole knife. with the handle and
Made. wasn't more than seven
.iAclles long. It was dainty. too, the
blade hardly any wider than half an
inch.
If 1t was hers. Ii /. had
never seen the weapon before in my
life. In fact, / had never seen one
like It before. 1t might not belong
70 the girl. That was tire comfort
ing thought in the back OF my mind.
II might have been put into her room
by someone else. But who would do
such a thing to q child like Janet?
Trust Miss Cambridge to ferret it
out. With her passion for neatness.
Strengthening that old print of the
Grand Canal. :.
I'll leave it in your hands. Mrs.
Penny. and IL Lieutenant Larrabee
wants confederation. I'll give it.. of
course. much as I hate to do so. for
I'm very fond OF Janet. too
I went downstairs alone. Janet
wasn't in the living room or library
and the sitting room door was
closed. I found her finally. sitting
on the back porch with Robert Tai
bot. He got up when I called the
Girl. She looked surprised when /
asked to see her alone. but she came
along with me into the library which,
fortunately. was empty.
Now. Janet" / began. as closed
tire door. / didn't want Sergeant
Burke bursting in. 'Is this yours"
] pulled the dagger from the pocket
Of my apron where / had hidden it
behind Grace's letter Of reference.
She glanced at it, and turned away
She was standing. but I was seated
in a chair. My poor feet were
aching.
1T is. Mrs. Penny"
~Yours?"
YES, mine. 1 suppose you found
n back Of the print over my desll!"
She was defiant, and II was too
amazed to do anything but look at
her. Janet admitting ownership of
the dagger. Janetl When my faith
in her mad been so supreme up to
now. When from the first l had
discounted Martin Hemineway's
story that she had threatened to kill
Mr.. Darien. and he had heard her.
Even after she had admitted that.
couldn't believe it. Now she was
claiming the dagger.
you're sure?"
"Of course. lit belonged to my
father. I've had it for years"
you never showed it to me-"
~ forgot I had it until-well, these
things happened. Then. L got it out
I've slept with it under my pillow
for two nights. Mrs. Penny. I didn't
give it 20 the police last night be-
chuse-well. because wanted it for
protection. 1t was the only thing I
had. / haven't q gun. And I felt
safer with it near me. Even il it
isn't very sharp, it could do some
damage"
] believed her. Perhaps l was n
fool. but did believe her. She was
afraid like the rest OF us. and she
was using the only weapon she had
Ia protect herself.
and yon left it behind the print
this morning Y'