The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-10-16
BY MARION WHITE
CAST OF CHARACTERS


and murderer victim.
JIM KERRIGAN-Cilly's fianee.
HARRY HUTCHINS - Amy S
strange visitor.
SERGEANT DOLAN--offieer
assigned to solve the murder of
Amy Kerr.
Yesterday: Exploring Mrs. Ell
lots apartment, Ciily finds a
mans topeoat in the closet. And
in that instant mans hand
reaches in from the living room,
switches off the light. A second
later that hand grips Cilly''
throat.
CHAPTER NNNllI
This was the mUruSyc". Cilly
thought, vet she had not seen him
nor could she guess his identity.
This was the murderer. &c..
For one eternal second, the
world spun madly around; Sh"
could feel her lungs bursting for
air as those powerful hands slow
ly. relentleSSly. chOked off her
breath. This was the end for her,
rs il had been for Amy, Just a
few nights before. This was
death. the inevitable. go.
Eventually she returned to 4
dull consciousness. Al first she
dared not opcn her eyes, for fear
il was another world to which she
would awaken. She had died, even
Us Amy had died, and this was a
new beginning, a new life. ...
Ii was familiar voice which
reused her. A voice which she
had come 10 fear in these few
days, but which would forever
ring in her ears a. the sweetest
music.
That's right, young lady"
Sergeant Dolan said kindly,
open your eyes"
Cilly opened them, looked
around. Why, she was back in
her own living room, stretched
out on the divan, Perhaps she
had never gone on the fire escape
adventure; perhaps 1t was all
wild dream. But
Another 10 seconds and you'd
have been 4 goncr." Dolan told
her "Whatcycr took YOU Up
there
Cilly sat up. smiled. q little for
lOrnly. There were a thousand
demons pounding in her head,
and her throat still felt as IL il
were encaScd in an iron band. but
she was glad 10 be alive.
She held her hand out weakly
20 Sergeant Dolan.
Thanks for saving my life"
she said simply. you've got
him."
Dolan pounded his knee with a
vicious fist.
NO, damn il. we haven't, My
God, 70 think We were only 10
seconds behind him.
What happened"
"Wcll, hadn't gotten out of the
front door after leaving you
when Martin drove up. Seems he
got a report from Connecticut.
They checked on every old lady
within Il dozen miles Of the town
this Elliot woman was supposed
20 be visiting. There's no such
person. There's nobody with q
mother living on ST. AIMS avenue
in Brooklyn. Mrs. Elliot is q
phony. So ! came back and got
Johnson mere 10 let me into pa
with his paSSkey. Just aS soon as
we opened the door, we heard
something like glass Scrunching,
and by the time we got into the
bedroom, the bird had flown.
Down the fire escape. of course.
There wasn't a trace of him, eX-
cept the footprints where he
landed when he jumped. and a
few tracks 20 the sidewalk. But
We did get there in time 20 pre-
vent his finishing you off
thank heaven"
Thank heaven. indeed" Cilly
repeated, with forced cheerful
ness She stroked her throat ten
derby.
"Now tell me-" Dolan insisted.
what took you up there?"
"CuriOSity,s guess. had
feeling that we'd find something
in one Of the vacant apartments,
either the one above me or Car
ruthers'. Only" she slumped back.
despairingly, Il didn't see. He
turned off the light before |
could get a glimpse of him. Lord
To think how close we were. =. ."
What did YOU find up there"
Cilly told him about the empty
chest of drawers, the mans coat
in the closet; she emphasized the +.
barren atmosphere of the room,
as If IL were not really a woman's /.
permanent home.
I'm sure the secret 70 the !
whole affair is in that apartment
upstairs" she finished.
Dolan nodded. you're right
about that we're going back
for more thorough search. II
wanted TO be sure you were all
right first"
I'm fine now. thanks. /
guess don't choke so easily"
Dolan stood up and began TO
slip himself into his enormous
raincOat. Within 10 minutes"
he assured her, "thercll be a man
from headquarters 20 spend the
night in Mrs. Elliot'S apartment.
just in case our friend does come
back. In the meantime, you're not