The Washington times., 1937-06-07

ing that one who had maintained
such superb indifference and bra
vado during the long days Of her
Imprisonment and trial should
have wilted so; but I suppose there
are logical explanations for such
things. Brant's was this:
"She was living on her nerve
alone, you see. 1t cost her some
thing to refuse to crack, and now
that it's all over she's very tired"
Janice and I went to the Play
house that evening, where they
put on something dismal and Rus
sian. We left after the first act.
Janice pleaded a headache, so I
left her early. I think she was
just being nice. think she wanted
me to get my share of Howard
Wrenn's champagne, but she
wouldn't admit it.
l called for Brant then, and it
was about half past ten when she
reached the studio. Wrenn vel.
coined us warmly, expressed pleas
ure at meeting Brant and without
further delay departed for the
pantry to fetch a bottle.
Outside, a cole rain was falling.
It had begun to turn to snow and
a raw wind was whipping in off
the lake. So it was cheerful to be
inside, to stretch out comfortably
in front of a wood fire. There
were paintings all about, most OF
them only dimly visible in the sub
dued light of lamps.
Interesting place." commented
Brant, looking about him.
Wrenn returned then, with q
bottle wrapped in a napkin. The
cork made a loud noise and he
filled our glasses.
When he had filled his own he
held it aloft. well, what shall
it be?"
ITO Mr.. Flint's capture" said
I'm way behind in my Sleep"
ITO Flint's capture, then, d
Wrenn smilingly, and we drank,
1 smacked my lips apprecia
lively. I'm glad I came"
said, watching the bubbles rise
in the hollow-stemmed glass
Did you get hold of William
SOM"
TITS his night off. it seems
said Wrenn, and he can't be
located. Do you suppose he's
out sleuthing?"
mot Grady" I laughed. ION
his day off he goes in complete
hiding so the office can't reach
him. Mr.. Flint's safe tonight SC
far as Williamson is concerned
Cropsy came into my MIND
then. "Cropsy." I said, sis in
for a time of it, I'm afraid. It'll
go pretty hard with Pink Flint
when they catch him-f they
do"
Brant leaned back comfort
ably in his chair and slipped his
champagne. And yet" he SAID
slowly, I'm not at all convinced
that Flint's guilty"
you're the only one who
ISL I, 1 Sd1u'
Brant laughed. Howard Wrenr
looked at him in some surprise
but said nothing. Brant con
tinued to chuckle. and asked
him what was eating him.
Nothing, he told me. He mere
" thought it funny thai I, who
had been loud in my defense Of
Janice Fowler when things looked
the blacklist for her, should take
it for granted that the next sus
pect was guilty.
But Flint's a crook" I pro
tested. You're not fail"
IT suppose not" Brant &C
knowledged. But, crook or nj
crook, Flint's not the man"
"And why isn't hep"
Because" said BranL, Crook
of the stripe Of Pink Flint ar
not creatures of very great sub
tlety such as this murderer pos
sessed. To me. his failure to dis
pose of any of >'argie Shannon
missing valuables to Marks, tn
fence, means Just one thing: H
QluIl nave GllS'Ii W uLopOSS VI.
He laused to let us think tina
over. his gaunt features softener
by a shrewd smile. when the pc
lice arrested Marks. you will re
member" he continued. "the
found Miss Fowler's ring. TIL
. necklace Marks had already sole
But Marks-you remember thi
too-said that was all he ha
bought from Flint So if Film
didn't sell Margie Shannon
stolen jewelry to Marks what dj
he do with it? The answer is h
didn't have it. You can't imagin
o low-grade Second-Story worke
like Flint segregating the tw
hauls and making separate diS
positions of them can you?"
Suppose Marks lied about it,
I ventured.
Marks was in enough troubl