The Coolidge examiner., 1937-01-28
THURSDAY-COntinued

then another, another ana announcer.
Il cannot keep pencil" !" he
muttered.
l moved in the direction of my
desk. Before 1 could reach it. how
ever, Doctor Marden had offered
Patrick a fountain pen. Patrick
busted himself a moment or two
writing, handed the pen back.
Thank you very much, Doctor
Marden. l won't detain you any
longer"
"Oh by the way, Doctor Mar
den" Patrick reached into his
pocket again do you recognize
that?"
Doctor Marden answered instant
ly, Yes"
Does it belong to you?"
YES"
when did you last see it?"
1.-The last time I noticed it was
when i put on my slippers to go
to the masquerade. It's one of a
pair of old paste buckles that l
= bought some years ago in Paris.
lost it that night"
Had you any idea where you
lost it?"
II thought it must have dropped off
in that walk / took. 1t seems to
me that had it been lost in the
house, l would have noticed it."
Did you make any attempt to
find it?"
Yes. l got up very early Sun
day morning and went over the
road l took, to see if l could find
it."
Don't you think that that might
look suspicious?"
Perhaps. But suppose / would
also think that whether it looked
suspicious or not would depend on
my standing in the community
my reputation for decency and hon.
or. 1 am perfectly willing to ad-
nit that l didn't want to be in
volved as a witness in this case.
Naturally did not want to get into
it. Moreover, the buckle is an eX-
tremely valuable one. 1t is part
of a set and although that was
not. in view of the great tragedy,
of momentous Importance, it was
of some importance.
We'll" Patrick decided, 81 guess
that will be ALL"
Doctor Marden arose. He bowed
to Patrick; came over to my side;
bent low over my hand. Dear la
ady." he said, II cannot tell you
how much 1 think of you in these
distressing days"
Something in his voice brought
the tears to my eyes again. Then
with his quick, light step, he started
TO go.
I'm afraid, Doctor Marden,
Patrick said his last worn, Il shall
rave to ask you not to leave the
Head until l give you permission. !"
Il give you my word I shall not
leave it,
We'll. Mary" Patrick said in a
weary tone. 1T all makes sense.
Here we have a perfect design
Torriano first, Margaret next, then
Marden No one of them seems
to have told anything but the truth.
They're all dying to tell the truth.
If somebody would only lie, maybe
| could get the answer. OF course
Margaret said she thought she
heard something stirring in the
bushes. Marden apparently noticed
nothing like that. Now there may
have been another person involved
or any number. For that matter,
Margaret Fairweather may have
returned and Oh, l don't know
who killed Ace Blaikie. I'm no
nearer knowing than l was Satur-
day. Who's that?"
Vaguely in the back of my mind
l had heard Doctor Marden drive
off. In the back of my mind
heard a second motor turn into the
drive. 1t stopped. Presently light,
swift step came through the hall
and into the living room-a light,
oLllAGLlSO Dy
determination.
I've come back to tell you the
rest of my story, Mr.. O'Brien,
said Myron Marden. Il haven't told
you all of it yeti"
Involuntarily we all three sat
down.
Il will begin it by telling YOU"
Doctor Marden took up the story
in the quietest voice l had ever
heard from him, something that
will, l think, come as a great sur
prise to you" He paused as though
to summon his strength for the
revelation. ACE Blaikie is the IA
ther of my granddaughter Caro-
Prentiss."
He paused again as though for a
question or comment from us.
But neither Partick nor l spoke
We did not stir. His statement had
worked too great a paralysis for
us either to speak or move.
III have to 60 back Of course to
tell you how it came about l will
hn