The Washington times., 1937-05-11

found the dagger. 1t was in thu
bottom of a chest Of drawers II
Miss Fowler's bedroom, beneath
some clothes.
Janice Fowler, pretty stenog
rapher Of 20, told police she had nc
idea how the weapon got in hel
room. II had often seen it in Miss
Shannon's apartment" she said
land knew that she priced it highly
as a valuable relic. But had not
seen Margie Shannon for several
days. How it came to be found
in my room is an utter mystery tx
me-"
shes lying" Cropsy said witt
finality, because her finger.printE
were found on the dagger"
What" He brought me bolt
upright in my chair. This looked
like the solution Of the case and
until now, I had found myself &C
cepting Janice Fowler'S story that
she knew nothing Of how the dag
ger came to her apartment. I had
seen her, you see, and, despite the
looks of things against her, I hao
wanted to believe her.
don't know whether it was q
natural weakness for blondes Of
not. But how was a fellow going tc
believe that girl like Janice Fow
Ter had had anything to do with a
revolving murder? A cute little
trick with appealing eyes and hair
like sunshine. A stenographer in
law office, with a perfect record
from her employers. don't know
exactly what I had believed, but
the unacceptable fact remained that
if Janice Fowler had hidden the
weapon in her bedroom, it was
after Margie Shannon had been
murdered with it, and presumably
at the Fowler girls hands.
you've been holding out or
me-" I accused CropSy. why
didn't you come across with that
before?"
What do you want-every
thing? You'll keep that informa
ton under your hat until I'm
ready to release it," said Cropsy
grimly, cor the lids on from this
minute"
"All right" I promised, "but
DON'T don't get it."
Don't get what? Did you be
lieve that cock-and-bull story thai
she didn't know anything about
it? How do you suppose that dag
ger came to be in her apartment
if she didn't put 1t there?"
was bewildered at the rapic
turn of events, but not yet ready
to give up. "You went into Jan
ice Fowler's apartment" I re
minded him, "to look for the fling
erprints of a burglar, hoping t.
find a set that would match thosC
you discovered in Margie Shan
mons living room. If you hac
found what you were looking fol
you'd have been ready to gram
that the thief had murdered Mar
gle Shannon"
The detective Lieutenant
grunted. Maybe so. But finding
that dagger in there changes
everything. Let's even suppos'
that the fingerprints hadn't beer
on it. Do you suppose that a mai
engaged in the act Of burglar!
and forced to commit murder II
get away is nonchalantly going t,
enter the apartment next door t,
see what he can pick up? He l
like hell! He's going to beat it.
mo, sir. There might hav
been sense to the theory that {
crook murdered Margie Shannon
after robbing the Fowler apart
ment. But not before. Anyway
we have the fingerprints now. an
fingerprints don't lie. ! told 20,
from the very beginning, he n
minded me Importantly. that
didn't believe in any burglary the
DRY. Well. there wasn't any burl
lary-in either apartment. TIL
! Fowler girl lied this mornin
/ when she reported one"
But you can't convict a gil
|. on the strength of a fingerprin
;, alone
: "Fingerprint plus possession Q
: the murder weapon" he pointe
: out. "No: but it makes a goo
!. start" He smiled grimly an
p poured himself a drink.
: "At this point" suggested
+ some one might rise to ask 20
how you know the murder wa
committed with the dagger 20
found in Janice Fowler's room.
To Be Continued
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