Evening star., 1936-10-06
INsTALLMENT XIII.

- LEY BLAcKWooD knew that
Capt. Dallas was pleased with
himself. Not only was the de-
i \ tective chief convinced Zelda
Lansing murdered Janice Hume, but
he was going to force from her the
secret Of Percy Jones hiding place.
Dallas considered Zelda the key to
the whole puzzle.
And Riley Blackwood also was
pleased with himself. He tossed aside
the papers, which still found the dou-
BILE. murder and Percys disappearance
first-page news, and hattered his
aunt with a suggestion Of collabora-
ton.
"The photograph Is our clue, Aunt
Julie. We've got to find i'll"
Miss Blackwood slipped gently at
her coffee your idea is very in
genious, Johnny" she admitted, but
her tone suggested mental reserva-
ton.
1T Is q mastery deduction" said
her nephew. 1.-THE portrait itself Is
unimportant-we all know what she
looked like. But 1t carried clue
to Rita Wingfield's past: the name and
address of the man who made the
photograph. Particularly the ad-
dress. ! wish to heaven I could re-
member what it wasl"
Miss Blackwood's satin shoulders
rustled an eerie protest.
And you believe this night club
hussy has 1t because she used q GER
tain perfume" she murmured sadly.
MY dear Johnny, by the same argu-
ment might have taken the photo
graph myself I've no idea what her
perfume is-your description of it
suggests extract Of vanilla-but I
haven't doubt I wear it once a
week" Her aristocratic nostrils quiv-
cred. "As for this Zelda Lansing"
she added, shes probably no better
than she should be-"
"Oh, she's probably just that. Now,
my dear Aunt Julie, if you mean that
Zelda's-"
Miss Blackwood's long white fin
gers rose swiftly until they covered
her ears.
II won't listen to 1t, Johnny" she
protested. You needn't 60 on. That's
quits, enough about your friend Miss
Lansing. How well the naples are
looking this morning!' She stared out
of her window with determined en-
thusiasm. IT should think" she mur-
INJURED, that Mr.. Fentress might get
her out on bond"
Hes trying" said her nephew,
with grin. II talked to him on the
telephone a little while ago. The
murderess. He's holding her incom-
municado."
Don't use your long words on me,
Johnny" said Miss Blackwood.
He laughed quietly.
You see. Aunt Julie, it isn't just
that this West female uses that per-
fume. Its her connection with the
night club. also. It's the two circum-
stances taken together. If I'm right
about the dancer, the trails lead to
the night club, and the thing begins
to make sense. Darn it, the perfume
is only part Of It'll"
Don't swear at me, Johnny" said
Miss Blackwood kindly. I'm only try
ing to clarity your muddled thought"
"It isn't muddled. It's very clear.
The night club is the heart Of the mys-
terry. I figured 1t out last night. Half
dozen of us from Janice's party
were drawn there-almost psychically
after Rita was murdered. And
there sat Goliath. surrounded by
dancing girls. Another point Of as
sociation, you see! Last night he dis
appeared in peculiar circumstances
after a supper with Anne Gray. Col
bath knew Percy, and he probably
knows the Wesst girl. Suppose he
disappeared because he knew that
Perez had been there-at the club
the night he disappeared"
Miss Blackwood adjusted her cap.
what right have you to suppose such
thing" she demanded.
I've been supposing 1t now for .
number OF hours" said her nephew
amiably. Percy left Janice's party
at 2 o'clock in the morning or there
abouts, after telephone call. At ap.
proximately 3 o'clock he was seen by
Fentress. driving south on the boule-
ward and not far from the club. r
venture to think he was driving away
from the club-and why didn't think
of it before I can't imagine. The call
that took him from the party. I be-
heve, came from Miss West. Goliath
was certainly in the club between Z
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