The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-05-21

kind of man that the dictionary
means by conservative. When he
gets a bright idea he sleeps on it
to try it out. He'll talk tomorrow"
When I had finished my final
edition story I looked around for
Lowell Brant, for it seemed rather
natural now to take the latest
developments to him for discus
sion. But he was busy reading
copy and I didn't stop but went
directly to Central Station to see
Cropsy.
Grady Williamson was there
ahead of me, sprawled lazily in a
chair; and Cropsy, with his days
work done and load off his mind,
was in an expansive mood. Right
off he said Il forgot to thank you
for that tip about her clothes.
1t might have been embarrassing
if 1 hadn't found out about it."
Lieutenant Cropsy," said Will
hanson glibly, sis a modest man.
He's too good a detective not to
have thought of it sooner or later,
but he shudders to think what
might have happened If the de-
tense had sprung it on him at the
trial and found him unprepared."
Cropsy laughed. II can't think
of everything" he said. I'm just
a policeman trying to get along"
"And what's your theory of the
crime now?" Williamson asked.
what do you mean-'theory'?
Janice Fowler did it, didn't she?
We're dealing with facts, not
theories"
Theories and Motives
Thrust Into Discard
"Her motive?" said Williamson.
IT don't look for motives"
Cropsy told him grimly. II look
for murderers. When I catch
them I generally catch their mo-
tives along with them"
"Still," said, I'VE have yet to
find out why Janice Fowler did
IL, IL she UIQ uO H.
Cropsy leaned back in his chair
and propped his feet up on his
desk. 1.-THE police" he said sat
isfiedly, haven't been loafing al.
together. We know that the day
before the murder Margie Shan
non and Janice Fowler had a devil
Of a row."
"Who told you that9" William
son asked quickly.
Never mind. You'll hear 1t at
the trial"
what did they fight about?"
81 don't know; but what do they
usually fight about? A man, most
likely"
"Ah, nuts" I said in disbelief.
'What's the matter with you?"
demanded Cropsy.
Nothing. 1 just can't believe
that Janice Fowler is capable Of
committing a murder as brutal as
this one. There's something
wrong some place, or else I'm just
a big sap"
"You think she stuck a knife
into Margie Shannon's heart,
eh?"
Grady shrugged. why not?"
he answered, smiling. every
body'S capable of murder. All Of
us have experienced homicidal i'm.
pulses at some time or other.
Why, I get them nearly every day.
The only reason I haven't bumped
off that goofy day city editor Of
ours is that he has a wife and
three kids"
That's just it," I replied.
Being somewhat civilized, you
have too many damned inhibitions
to indulge your homicidal i'm
pulses. That's why you're not a
murderer and never will be. I
wanted to commit one myself this
morning. I wanted to wiring Cal
houn'S neck for that rotten trick
he has of snatching my copy out
Of the typewriter. But he's still
alive, isn't he? And why? Be-
cause"
Because he's lucky" Grady
finished. ANY city editors lucky
to be alive. But don't try to tell
me that any Of us is psychology
cally incapable of murder or I'll
laugh in your face. That's the
kind of stuff they feed you in de.
tective novels nowadays"
Cropsy grunted and lit a fresh
cigar. "WilliamSon's right" he
said.
To Be Continued
Copyright by Michael o'MaIleyI
(Diakributad hv KInR w0n t,,vo-