Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1936-05-09
;EsM1xGANDEN, RUBY dtRDFRM)
~ ADAM-BLLSS lSsEQ)
CITATION
LEASED BY CENTRAL PRESS ASSOCIATION

another jar Ur cream from the
counter, ! saw her face. 1t was
Edith Bryce! What was she doing
here talking to Joyce? The warn
ing! Could she be
Joyce was waiting on her cheer
fully. crowded closer to the
counter, watching Mrs. Bryce in
tently. She was picking UP her bag
opening it. The thought
came to me wildly that she had the
peculiar gun which carried silent
death /. the gun that shot those
strong lethal needles!
Joyce turned her back to the
counter and reached on the shelves
for something. 1t was then that !
knocked my elbow against Mrs
Bryce and muttered an apology. In
a second I was STOPPING to regain
her bag which had fallen to the floor
with bang. Heavy-it might easily
contain a gun! My fingers en-
countered something hard in the
brief time held the bag before re-
turning it to the woman. She looked
at me coldly. then recognizing me.
smiled graciously.
I'm very sorry" I said. "These
department stores are so crowded"
But Edith Bryce didn't wait for
more. She hurried away and when
Joyce turned around, another jar of
cream in her hand. she saw her GUS
toner far down the aisle.
"Why-" she said, looking at the
array Of jars on the counter, jars
she had evidently brought out one
by one for Mrs. Bryce.
Hello" smiled. I must reassure
Joyce. She mustn't think she was
in danger.
"Hello. Gary" it was the first time
she had called me Gary. Always be-
fore I had been "Mr. Vaughan.
Funniest customer hAd-now why
did she go off like that?"
'Why was she funny?"
"Oh, I don't know. She sort of
hung around until I was at leisure.
I noticed her, of course, because she
was so we'll dressed; unusual for the
basement. I was waiting on some
one else when I first saw her. Then
when I finished with the woman I
was waiting on. she came up quick
ly before I had time to give this other
woman her package. and said she
wanted to look at cream. Gosh, I've
brought out all the cream in the
place, and now she goes off without
buying anything!" The girl giggled.
You'll have to buy something again,
to you"
picked up one Of the Jars on the
counter, then another and another.
"Tell me more about this woman
Have you ever seen her before?"
Joyce said she had not.
Never. Joyce?"
"Never. I'm sure"
My thoughts toward Mrs. Bryce at
that moment were none too friendly.
I was certain that if hadn't come
along when I did something would
have happened. Now. what to do
about Joyce? She couldn't remain
here any longer. That was certain
The sooner got her out of the store,
the better. She made too good a
target standing there back Of the
counter.
How had Mrs. Bryce found out she
was at Gribbers? Probably searched
the library for her. and when she
couldn't find her there-that was I'M
reasonable, though, unless she had
had her followed. That was it.
"Have you noticed anyone follow
you-yesterday and toIay?"
mo, why?"
II can't tell you why. Joyce, but
you must leave here. now. with me.
Right away" The more l thought
about Mrs Bryce's purse the more
convinced I was that it was too
heavy for woman to carry around
It had landed on the floor with such
bang. OF course. I had purposely
knocked it from her hands. A fair