The Ely miner., 1936-12-10
Murder. Masquerade
n~ 9s%sf ns%s Irwin By Inez Haynes Irwin wnusr4~
By I1lez Haynes Irwin



fast" Patrick said in his off-hand
way. "I'm always in pretty good
condition"
That's good thing!" comment
ed Matte. you're in for a long
stretch of hard work, Patrick, un-
less this thing is cleared up pretty
soon."
You're telling mel" Patrick an
swered with a wry smile.
"Have you anything to go on
yet?" Matte went on.
Listen, you girls" Patrick de-
clared, "I'll tell you what I've got
because we three have been friends
ever since 1 can remember. And
at present it's pretty nearly moth
ing"
Weren't there any finger
prints?" / asked.
mo. The state finger-print expert
has looked everything over. He
says that the murderer must have
used handkerchief or gloves
when he stabbed Ace and when he
Strengthened him out.''
"But could he have stabbed him
without Ace realizing he was going
to do it?" Matte demanded.
Because whoever he was-Ace
thought he was friend"
Matte sighed. She came over
and kissed me. "Call on me any
time, old thing!"
First of all, Mary" Patrick be-
gan briskly, when we were alone,
"tell me what you did the night of
the masquerade. Gee, I've left my
pencil at the P.S" He turned to
my desk; took up my fountain pen;
wrote few words; dropped it in
favor of a pencil.
/ gave him a complete and cir
cumstantial account of my move
ments from the time / dressed un-
til l returned to the house with
Sarah at two. 81 think I have
watertight alibi, Patrick" conclud-
ed little drearily, because
scarcely left the corner where I
sat the whole evening. Yes, l even
ate my supper there. I think any
number of people can testify to
that"
'Well, Mary" Patrick assured
me, "my Irish intelligence seems
to tell me that you didn't kill Ace.
Now will you ask the maids to
come in?"
l rang the bell. Sarah appeared.
Sarah" I explained, ''Mr.
O'Brien wants to ask you and Bes-
sic few questions.
Sarah and Bessie appeared in
the doorway. Bessie looked worse
than Sarah. Sleeplessness had
ironed the dimples out of her face;
it had set into an ashen mask.
Patrick was extremely gentle.
"Now, girls" he began, "I've
got to ask you few questions.
don't want you to get frightened.
There's no suspicion of you what
ever. But of course, to keep the
record straight I have to know ex-
actly what you did the night of the
Sarah spoke first. "Of course we
know that, Mr.. O'Brien," she de-
clared, with catch in her voice.
We've expected that you'd ques-
ton us and we're all ready"
Patrick took Bessie's story first.
straightforward. Working all day
at the Stow house, returning to
the house once to prepare my
luncheon; the whole evening at the
Stow house again, returning with
Sylvia before Sarah and I came
home.
''What time was that?" Patrick
asked.
"Just twelve" Bessie replied.
She looked unhappy.
"You may go now, Bessie" Pat
rick permitted gently. "And thank
you'll"
Bessie disappeared noiselessly.
Patrick turned to Sarah. Snow,
you tell me your story, Sarah"
Sarah's story, of course, dupli-
Gated Bessie's so far as it con-
,erned what happened in the day.
lime. She had gone with Bessie
over to the Stow house and re-
:urned only to prepare our dinner;
had helped Sylvia and me to dress
and then had gone back to the
Stow house. She stayed there un-
ii / left at two; returned to my
house with me.
eyes, that's exactly what all the
'ther girls say of you," Patrick re-
assured her.
He smiled at Sarah. Very few |
could resist Patrick O'Brien's smile. |
It brimmed with a kind of elfn
I noticed Sarah did not return his
smile.
Suddenly Patrick shot at her,
Are you sure that's all, Sarah?
Haven't you something else to tell |
ne?"
Sarah's answer was conclusive.
She burst into tears.
''Now don't get frightened, my
GIRL" Patrick soothed her. 81 knew
you hadn't spilled all of it. Now
pull yourself together and tell me
your story in your own way. No
body suspects you of anything"
ITO BE CONTINUED)