Evening star., 1936-02-21

~ side opened to let her pass
~ through their ranks, up the
4 a steps and into the vestibule
Of the Jail.
A deputy was sitting there, talking
to two men. He arose and came to
the railing.
"I've come to see about the Sorki
brothers." Anne said. "I am Anne
Farnsworth.'
"oh, yeah?" grinned the deputy.
looking at the slicker, the rain
soaked beret and bedraggled slacks.
81 know" she apologized for her
appearance, then anxiously, "tell me.
have you heard how Uncle Lee is?
is he" she couldn't say the word.
Don't know yet; the hospital
hasn't reported. He was still alive
when they brought him in. You say
uncle?" he mused.
One of the men in plain clothes
stepped up, scrutinized Anne. "She
could be the Farnsworth girl" he
told the deputy. "You know she dis
appeared after the will was filed:
supposed to have gone to a sani-
tarium."
st didn't" Anne explained with
stoical patience. II came down here
to visit my old nurse. I've been liv-
ing in Union Town ever since"
Yeah, all right. Admitting you're
the Farnsworth girl, which maybe
you are and maybe you amt, what
have you got to do with the SorN
brothers?"
They're my nurses sons"
"Then it's just too bad for your
nurse"
But, you see, they didn't shoot
Uncle Lee" Anne's voice was vibrant
with intensity.
"How do you know" asked the
plain clothes man with interest.
Because was in the boat with
them. They hadn't left the engine
and the wheel when .. . when Uncle
Lee crumpled up" Her face was
chalk white and her voice faltered
rs she was forced to relieve the scene.
Better take her in to the sheriff."
advised the plain clothes man. "Wait,
I'll see him first. Now listen, sister,
don't try to get away from here.
Better come on inside the railing.
Keep your eye on her, Harry: she's
liable to bolt when she gets over this
at of honesty"
Anne looked at him with calm con-
tempt. but willingly she came into
the inclosure. She was aching with
fatigue and numb with an unreason-
able chill.
Come here" voice ordered as
soon as she was settled.
HE means you," prompted the
deputy to Anne. She turned toward
the door, where stockily built man
stood waiting.
AS Anne entered the liner Office she
was aware of several men watching
her She paid little attention to any
Of them until the man who had sum-
moned her, evidently the sheriff, spoke
us this the Farnsworth girl?" he
asked of one.
"It is" came familiar voice, and
Anne wheeled to find Tom Farley fac
ing her.
For a moment their gaze met, locked.
Anne thought she detected in the dark
eyes of the man relief. condemnation
and triumph. She was sure her eyes
told nothing of what she felt.
"Are you ready to answer some ques-
tions, Miss Farnsworth?" the chief
asked.
'Her name isn't Farnsworth," came
In contemptuous tones from Farley.
"But-"
"she was never legally adopted"
Farley explained
Then, miss, if you'll let us have
your name as a matter of record"
Anne was silent.
"Your name, miss. What is your
name?" The sheriff was patient, but
Anne could tell from the dark circles
under his eyes that he was more than,
merely weary. Lee Farnsworth was
his friend.
"I don't know" she answered.
The man looked at her and she saw
pity in his eyes. What name have
you been using?" he asked kindly.
"Nikki, Nikki Nelson" she an
gwered.
ANY reason for that choice?"
"I had to have something. My
nurse had called me Annikki as a
baby, so we dropped the Anne and
used the Nikki. She had relatives
by the name of Nielsen and suggested
] use that It didn't matter to me-"
my deputy tells me you were in
the Sorki boys boat. What were you
doing here? just a minute" He
reached for the telephone, which
buzzed insistently.
There was a moment Of silence,
then a voice came over the wire, the
words not decipherable to those in
the room. The chief murmured, "Is
that so, hmmm," and then, "All right;
we'd better wait until morning."
He turned to those in the room,
spoke to Tom Farley, but looked at
Anne.
"You should be at the hospital, Far
ley. I don't see why you can't depend
upon us down here to take care of
this"
Nothing can do there" barked
Farley.
"You're right" agreed the sheriff
heavily. "Lee Farnsworth just died"
Anne sat stif1y on a wooden bench
and stared at the sheriff.
"Are you going to be able to 60
on with your testimony" the sheriff
asked, and his voice seemed far away.
She stared at him with unseeing
eyes. Testimony. What queer word.
She would like to cry. She would like
to see John, ask him to talk to these
men, tell him things her stiff lips
couldn't utter. But she couldn't cry,
her eyes were dry of tears, they seemed
30 have congested about her heart.
"You wished to ask me something's"
she managed to say.
''Yes. and I want to. caution you to