Evening star., 1936-10-12
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the dramatics," he said. II was just
setting my scene" He shrugged. II
had intended to let you have your
dinners first, but sooner or later, what
I propose is to tell you the true story
of the murder of Rita Wingfield and
the two other murders that fol-
lowed it,"
He lifted his own glass and slipped.
We'll forget the toast-it's probably
in bad taste. But in a nutshell-and
without naming names-this Is what
happened. Rita was murdered by q
man she had previously known. Her
name was originally Margarita How
ard, and she was engaged to be mar
ried to a man named Foster Valance.
That was in Montana-a number OF
years ago. Shortly before the wedding
was scheduled to occur. however, VAL
lance up and murdered somebody and
skipped the State. He was never cap
tured. The man he murdered was a
man named Pendergast, but I don't
think he figures. Later, Rita, too,
left the State-to forget, maybe-and
went East to have her voice trained.
She was singer"
He swung hand in easy explana-
ton.
Later she came to Chicago. and
that brings us to what happened on
Saturday. Saturday afternoon she
met Janice Hume in the elevator OF
their building. and Rita was badly
shaken. Janice lent her a revolver.
Whatever had happened to upset her.
had obviously just happened. l sug-
gest that she met this Valance IN
the street, and that they recognized
each other. I suggest that he muir
dered her that night, with Janices
revolver"
How'd he know where she lived?"
demanded Dallas.
He may have followed her, or he
may already have known where she
lived. Her pictures had been in the
papers for him to see and follow up.
But the meeting was accidental. Per-
cy's connection with the episode"
continued Blackwood, a trifle less GER
tainly, "can only be explained by the
supposition that he was With Rita
when she met the murderer on the
street. Ergo, Percy also had to be re-
moved-since he had probably been
told the reason for her sudden shock.
So Percy was framed. A fantastic
alibi, which couldn't be proved and
which nobody would believe-a red
head, Hindu and kitten-was
manufactured for him. Then he was
murdered, leaving the police to as
sumo that he had murdered Rita
Wingfield and run away"
Dallas eyes were popping.
I'VE did find a man who had seen
the Wingfield woman and Percy Jones
on the boulevard together, Saturday
afternoon" he admitted grudgingly,
at last. "Our Interpretation Of the in
cident was-er-slightly different. he
added dryly. What else?"
That's practically all" said Black
wood, smiling. Isn't 1t enough?
Janice, of course, was killed because
the murderer thought she knew what
Rita and Percy had known"
The chief of detectives frowned.
Its a clever argument" he agreed.
IF you've really found the body Of
Percy Jones'"
"Oh, I've found the body, all right"
said Riley Blackwood.
Dallas was tired Of fencing. He
leaned across the table.
Where is it?" he asked bluntly.
What are we here for, Blackwood?
Have you found this fellow Valance.
too?"
Another voice was speaking at
Blackwood's elbow. He looked up
into the cherubic face of Happy"
Chance, the manager of the club.
Excuse me, Mr.. Blackwood,"
smirked the ex-pugilist. You were
asking for me, heard. I'm sorry
couldn't get here sooner. I've mes
sage for you"
He bent his head and whispered in
the amateurs ear, then stood back
rapturously.
II See," said Blackwood. He hesi-
tated, then pushed back his chair with
significant look at Dallas. Serve
the dinner, Chance" he ordered ab-
ruptly. and stood up. If you will all
excuse me for a minute or two-I
have just received delightful sum-
mons-from the charming and-er-
dangerous young lady who Is shortly
to-ah-dance for u.s.
His eyes went round the table and
fingered for an instant on the face of
Lulu" Fentress. Then, with a little
nod and smile, he strode off in the
wake of the gorilla chieftain.
(To be continued)