The Coolidge examiner., 1937-06-10

We'll, buddy, what's your story?"
Jim told it briefly. He sketched
his position in Mr.. Vaughn's en-
ploy, told of being awakened, of
running across the fields, of finding
Dolly alone in the disabled car. He
knew, before either of the officers
spoke that they did not believe him.
His -momentary hesitation, circum-
stantial evidence was all against
him.
That's not an entirely convinc-
ing story" the sergeant said when
Jim had finished.
It's as full of holes as a sisve,"
his companion remarked. He turned
to the boy and the girl who were
watching and listening with wide
eyed interest. You're riding along
the road and you find this fellow,
here with the car and a girl who s
Out cold. Did you see anybody
else?"
mo, sir" The boy stepped for
ward eagerly. 1T happened like
that. We're driving along and we
stop and he asks me to go down to
his place and call a doctor. When
l told Information there'd been an
accident she put in call for you.
l didn't see anyone else"
He might be telling the truth,
though" the girl offered, glancing
at Jim. There was light on in
his place. He might have left like
he said, when somebody knocked at
the door"
The sergeant took the names and
addresses of the Witnesses-Frank
Wilson and Gladys Smith-and sent
them reluctantly on their way.
We'll take you over to head
quarters" he said to Jim, leading
the way to the police car.
How long will you keep me
there?" Jim asked.
THAT depends. We can arrange
a preliminary hearing tomorrow.
Can you get bail?" he asked, not
unkindly.
Ball Good Lord! He was under
arrest!
81 think So" he said. ''It will
be necessary for me to get in touch
with someone at 'MeadoWbrook. "
"You can call from headquar-
ters," the sergant said.
Miss Vaughn's carr" Jim asked.
We'll send a man out here to
take care of it. Let's get going,
Kelly"
Jim liked the sergeant. He had a
clean cut, intelligent appearance.
His manner was neither bullying nor
inflated with self-importance. Jim
squeezed himself into the police
coupe with the two men and re-
signed himself to the unpleasant as
poets of the immediate future.
ChestertoWn was a sizable Dor.
ough eight or nine miles from Glen
dale. Jim's mind was occupied with
thoughts and conjectures. 1t was
Tommy, of course. But where had
he gone?
There was some explanation. He,
Jim, would have to keep the kid out
of the mess until he could get in
touch with Mr.. Vaughn. He felt
responsible. He shouldn't have let
Tommy believe that Dolly might
make trouble with the moon-calf,
puppy-love letters the boy had writ
ten her. He'd probably taken her
out tonight in an attempt to get
them. Dolly had looked so small
and so still on the Stretcher. Was il
possible that Dolly was going to
die
When he had gone inside the high
way patrol station with the officers,
Jim asked if he might make a tele-
phone call.
Jim gave the operator MacPher-
sons number. After an interval of
lnslStent Whirring, he heard Mac
Pherson's voice at the other end of
the wire. Feeling grateful that Mrs.
MACPHERSON had not answered the
call, Jim, sketched his predica-
ment, asked Macpherson to go up
to the house and make sure that ev.
cry member of the family was there
and come at once to the troopers
headquarters at ChestertoWn. Mac.
PherSon'S voice, controlled, calmly
efficient, reaSSured Jim. There was
no cause for alarm, he told himself
The following hour was unpleas.
ant enough. The sergeant and his
associate asked a wearying number
of questions Jim knew that they
did not believe his story. Why
should they? he thought. The evi
dence was all against him. He hac
to keep Tommy out of it. Or
well, it was only for time
When the hands of the clock haC
crept around past half past three
Jim heard in the early morning
stiffness the sound of a car stop
ping in front of the house. A mo
ment later, Cecily came into the
room, followed by Macpherson. She
had not changed her clothes; obvi
ously she had not gone to bed. She
still wore the filmy floating dres:
and the short jacket of brillian
brocade buttoned snugly at hel
waist Was it only this evening tha
he had seen her walking across the
side lawn at ''MeadoWbrook." wait