The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-05-15

Miss Fowler, but I wish you'd tell
me why you lied about that dag
GER"
She didn't bat an eye. She Just
looked at me and was coldly silent,
and I felt like a correspondence
school detective.
"All right" I said, "let's forget
that and talk about something else.
No more questions like the last one.
One thing I am going to do,
though, is to give you some good
advice. You need a lawyer badly;
and, if you're wise, you'll let me
call up Stanley Evans and tell him
to come down here. # you don't,
there's no telling how long they'll
keep you here. A lawyer would
see that they didn't hold you for
more than "a hours without def
mite charge against you. He'd get
a writ Of"
"Habeas corpus" she finished.
IT can't make up my mind whether
this is the third degree or a lecture.
understood it was to be an inter-
view"
Her smile returned to flicker on
her lips. She began casual study
Of her nails.
I didn't know whether to be mad
or disguised. From this point
on" I said, IT cease being the
Dutch Uncle and become the In
curing reporter. Now, then, now
long have you lived in Cleveland?"
1.-TWO years."
where are you from?"
"You wouldn't believe me II I
told you"
you might try it and see."
"All right. Ottumwa, iowa.
There, I knew you wouldn't"
1T sounds incredible" I ad-
mitted with a laugh, but If you
say so it must be true. Are your
parents living there?"
She became Immediately serious.
my parents" she said with some
hesitation, ARE divorced. I'd
rather you didn't mentioned them.
It's not really necessary, is it2"
mo, it's not. How long have
you been living at your present
address,"
LET me see. August, September
about is months. Three months
longer than Margie Shannon, If
that's what you're driving at. I
moved in in August, Margle the
following November"
did you know her very wen?"
Janice nodded. For while we
were very good friends. For the
last few months, though, we hadn't
seen quite so much of each other"
WAS there any special reason
for that?"
mo"
when did you first learn Of the
murder?"
when the police came for me
I hadn't seen the papers,"
How do you account for the
presence Of the dagger in your
apartment"
1--WE already told the police !
can't account for it."
Nor your fingerprints on it?"
She shook her head. "Of
course. I've handled it any mum
Der Of times while visiting with
Margie."
But the murderer handled 1t
since then" reminded her.
Eyes, I suppose So" coolly.
WAS there anything else?"
There's this: My own private
opinion is that you're covering UP
for somebody, and think you're
making a big mistake"
Her eyes flashed impudently
Am I being lectured AGAIN."
Call it that if you want to, but
for young lady who's as close to
being indicted for murder as you
are. you seem strangely uncon
cerned."
Janice'S manner changed in
Stantly. She said, contritely, 81
didn't mean to be flippant, but
how is one supposed to act who is
under suspicion of murder? I'm
not covering up for anyone:
I give you nay word am inter
ested in protecting no one but
myself. and am as innocent as
you are"
She claSped' her hands and was
silent, nibbling at her under lip
us it as serious" she asked
finally, "as you say?"
Pm afraid it is. They'll feel
they'll have to indict somebody
Margie Shannon was murdered
about midnight. Even if you
could prove that you spent the
evening downtown, you returned
to the apartment. according to
your own story. shortly after mid
night :. Not too late, you under.
stand"
To Be Continued
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