Evening star., 1936-09-22
INSTALLMENT XII.
TINE studio manager was ha1

TIME studio manager was happy
to see Riley Blackwood, al
though they were only slightly
acquainted. What can I do
sor you. old man?" he asked familiar
y. Like to take a turn on the air"
This is the Oil of Wintergreen
program, with Lotta Wintergreen,' -"
said Riley Blackwood. Mothers,
here's a tip for you. Oil Of Winter
green can be had in IA assorted
havors, including raspberry and
orange. and is particularly recon-
mended for dyeing curtains. II"
The studio manager smiled. Il
know. I know" he interrupted sadly.
What do you know about Percy
Jones?" asked Blackwood.
"He hasn't showed up yet" The
executive spread his hands. There's
q detective waiting for him.
II see!" Blackwood looked across
the cluttered chamber to where a
group of privileged spectators were
seated. "Oh, it's Nethersole," he said.
He stared across the room until he
caught the detective sergeants eye,
then motioned him outside. Neither
sole obeyed the summons nervously.
I'm almost scared to talk with you,
Mr.. Blackwood," grinned the big de-
tective. Dallas gave me hell for let
ting you in last night"
He was courteous enough to me
today" said Blackwood. He'd found
something at Percys rooms that
pleased him He was feeling pretty
proud of himself. Some letters, I
think"
"Yeah?"
Sergt. Nethersole was cautious.
"You don't know what they were?"
Honest, don't"
"Tell me one thing, Nethersole. He
hasn't found Percy yet, has hep"
Not that I know Of. That's
straight, Mr.. Blackwood! I'd hardly
be here. would 1. if ne had?"
Perhaps not" admitted Blackwood
"Silly question-what? But you
might be looking for redhead."
I'm not finding any," said Neither
sole.
None here last night?"
"Well, yes-a couple. Don't say ]
said so. They were on the program,
though. This manager-Vardon-
doesn't know anything about the au-
dience. He didn't notice anybody
leave with Percy. That's what he
says, anyway"
Blackwod sighed. Two more, eh?'
l.. tol r;1 "pnth NrnfpS-
sionals. Who are they. Nethersole?"
Fay Rood and Marta Wilson are
their names" Nethersole spoke reluc-
tantly, but he was fond of Blackwood
and didn't like to turn him down.
"Hmph" Mr.. Blackwood made
regal gesture We'll. you can have
'em. Nethersole. Lifes too short to
round up all the redheads.'
There was little to be gained, he re-
f1ected. by hanging around the studio
With the police in charge, there was
small hope of any individual triumph
And. anyway, he doubted that there
was anything important being con-
cealed at this point of the trail.
Besides, he had other fish to fry
There was still the matter of Zelda
Lansing and the Hindu to look into
It promised better than anything the
studio could offer.
He was grateful to his hotel proprie
tor friend, Tony Widdowson, for his
suggestion about Zelda. The suspicion
piling up against that young woman
was considerable. Why. unless she
we're desperately afraid, had she
lodged a meeting with him? Why
had she suggested, or countenanced,
the ridiculous falsehood at the Hindu's
iat-the statement that he was alone
that nobody had been there.
How good was her own alibi, for
that matter? There was Janice
Hume's party, to be sure, but who
could be certain she had not left it
for 10 minutes and descended to an
other apartment? Any one of them
there might have vanished for time
and no one have been any the wiser.
He determined to ask Janice Hume
some leading questions.
In a short time he was getting out
of a cab again at the doors of the tall
building at 1140 Lake Shore drive.
He had dined late with Widdowson,
and the subsequent visit to the studio
had taken time. 1t was now close to
10 o'clock. He glanced around for the
hitt mon uoe mt in