The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-05-06

He put on his hat. rs that all,
Lieutenant"
yet, that's all, Doctor saun-
ders. I'll get the body to the
morgue right away. And the
sooner we can have the post NOR
tenn the better. oh, one thing
more" he added as the coroner
nodded and prepared to leave.
Would you say the weapon that
was used to kill her could have
belonged to this?"
He led the way to the door and
paused there and pointed to the
wall beside it.
For the first time, then, 1
noticed a small object on the wall
just to the right of the door. 1t
was a scabbard, possibly seven or
eight inches long. Evidently it
had originally Sheathed a straight
bladed dagger of some sort. It
was suspended by a little silver
chain from an inconSpicuous glass
headed thumb-tack, and on draw
ing nearer 1 saw that it was OF
dull silver, or something very like
it, and finely engraved.
Doctor Saunders Squinted at it
closely through his heavy glasses
and peered down its open end, TAX
ing care not to touch it. He
studied it deliberately for a min
ute or two before answering Crop.
sy's question. Finally he stepped
back and nodded.
UNLESS am badly mistaken"
he announced, "the murderer's
weapon came from this sheath; or
else it was q blade almost identi-
cal in size and shape. An Italian
dagger or poniard, I believe" he
added, turning once more to a
study of the little scabbard.
though I'm no authority on such
things. Evidently very old, too
possibly a valuable antique. Pos
sibly such a weapon as young
Romeo himself might have worn
through Verona's streets on his
way to the Capulets' balcony"
He smiled alphabetically. We'll,
I mustn't get romantic, Lieuten-
ant. But your lethal instrument
probably came from here, all right
). BY the way, you haven't found
the weapon, have you?"
IF had" Cropsy told him,
"you know I'd have shown it to
you"
"Of course, of course. Well, I
must be going. I'll have my re-
port ready for you in the morn
ing"
Silence Asked About Mystery
of Tapestry
He bowed to all Of US and de-
parted.
When he had gone Crosby said,
"You newspaper men needn't print
anything I said about that tap.
estry. Maybe robbery was the
motive and maybe it wasn't. But
it's good enough for a newspaper
story"
Of course we knew what he was
driving at. He simply couldn't
shake that notion about the tap
estry. It was false, Earring note
in an otherwise plausible theory.
But he was satisfied to let the
world at large, the murderer in
Guided, think that the police had
adopted the burglary idea. I de-
cided to have lengthy and private
conversation with him later.
I was Immediately concerned,
however, with getting back to the
Express office and writing my
home edition story. 1 had the
maids account, and the managers,
and the coroner had fixed the ap-
proximate time of death. Howard
Wrenn had said he was on his way
to the apartment and I wanted to
hear what he had to say; but
headlines don't wait, so told Har'
riS to stick close and call me up
as soon as he got anything new.
"And I'll check up with the tele-
phone operator on my way out"
whispered.
But the lady didn't want to talk,
and I had my trouble for my pains.
"I1l answer any questions the po-
lice ask me-" she said tartly, but
I'm not talking to newspaper re
porters."
"On orders from the manager
I'll bet," said on a guess, remem
bering a hostile glance from Weiss
upstairs when he had seen me TAX
ing notes.
She closed her lips firmly anc
turned her back. WELL" said
'if you don't want to talk. al
right. But your story will be If
the paper anyway, and I'll bet q
nickel you clip it for your scrap
book"
Don't flatter yourself" she re
torted. grinned and went my
way.
At the door I met Cantwell, thu
fingerprint expert, and his assist
ant coming in. They were totint
a bulky camera and a tripod, anc
/ knew Cropsy would have to clea,
the reporters out of the murde,
room now, for Cantwell was a no
torious crouch and wouldn't worl