The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-19

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erect and peering over the stairs
On the other hand, a person stand
ing here could not be seen unless
someone came directly to the side
entrance. The stairway overhead
gave him perfect protection. II
he needed more, he could open
another door and go down to the
basement.
"You can see the boy, put he
couldn't see you unless he had the
eyes of a cat" said Brant. cts
too dim, this light. AL Wrenn
had to do was to stand here until
the boy left the desk on some
errand. Even if there were no
elevator calls, he at least must
have visited the wash room. When
ever he left, it was then that our
Mr.. Wrenn slipped upstairs"
Cropsy nodded and stuck a cigar
between his teeth and we left the
building. In Calhoun's car once
more, we headed downtown, and
on the way Brant pieced out the
rest of his theory.
"When Wrenn left his apart
ment," he said, "he went directly
to the building where Margie
Shannon lived. It's only a short
walk. He knew she was going out
with Rinehart, so he waited, hid
den, until he saw them return.
Then he went around to the rear
and went up the fire escape to her
floor. There he waited on the fire
escape until Rinehart left. When
he had gone, Wrenn went in -. t.
What a calculating devil he isl"
"I'll write a lead" said, "just
to flash it on Sparks when he
comes in"
Cropsy and Brant were talking
and I stopped beside them to
listen. THAT tapestry" said
Cropsy, chad me buffaloed from
the first. That was what turned
me cold on the crook theory"
ut was certainly illogical"
Brant agreed. II suppose Wrenn
hated Rinehart so much that he
couldn't resist taking a Swipe at
the tapestry, knowing it was Rine-
hart's gift to Margie Shannon.
And then he thoughtfully set his
own gift outside the door. That
was where he miscalculated. He
figured that of course whoever
picked it up would notify the
apartment manager-or someone
But Janice Fowler calmly took it
home and found herself in a mess.
Suppose anyone else had found it
there and, after knocking at Miss
Shannon's door and getting no
answer, had taken it downstairs
to Lewicki. Lewicki, remembering
who had left Miss Shannon not
long before, would have started
ball of evidence rolling that
would have taken Rinehart right
along with it. But even Wrenn
isn't perfect.
"And poor Pink Flint" said
Brant, shaking his head. Poor
Flint, standing there dumb with
fear. No wonder he ran from
there"
"Of course" said Calhoun,
throwing himself in chair. who
wouldn't run? But I can't get
over this guy Wrenn. What q
subtle devil he isl"
Subtle is no name for it," said
CropSy, and he sWore. why, just
think of him skipping around that
apartment and tearing it up-not
to make it appear like a real
burglary, but to give it the phony
appearance of someone trying to
cover UP. But I wouldn't have
left that dagger outside the door
if I'd been him."
"Nor would I have chosen the
night that Pink Flint happened
to be visiting next door," said
Brant. smiling. Neither circum
stance helped him. The first got
an innocent young lady into
trouble, and the second got her
out. Between the two the man
Wrenn had designs on managed
to keep clear. That must have
been maddening. And when the
opportunity to get Rinehart pre-
Sented itself he couldn't resist
it,"
Calhoun, who had been furi
ously biting his nails, got up
from his chair. Get busy" he
said to me, IF you expect to
have a lead to flash on Sparks
And, Brant, we want a first per.
son story from you on how you
thought this thing out. Damn
my soul to hell-a copy reader
solving the biggest murder story
in a lifetime. Well set this mans
town on its ear"
But Brant Smilingly shook his
head. He said, mot a chance. y
He said it firmly, too.
1t was an empty threat. Brant
laughed. II don't mind being
fired" he said. and Calhoun
was licked.
Francis Miles tried to keep Mel
son Rinehart's name out of the
paper, on the ground that he hao
been cleared of suspicion and was
entitled to a break. But I wrote
the story, and saw that it went
in. 1T will come out anyway al
Wrenn'S trial." I told Miles
"Rinehart will have to testify
What I didn't tell him was that
thought he deserved a break him
self.
Rinehart did testify. Wrenn was
never tried for the murder of Mar
gle Shannon. For that matter,
doubt if he could have been con
victed, because moral certainty l.
; one thing and evidence is another