The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-10-15

out of her own room, but she
very carefully left it up from the
botto mabout one inch. That was
room enough to slip her fingers
underneath and open it again
from the outside. should she come
back by way of the fire escape.
The flimSy iron framework
shook rs she put her full weight
on it. and for one terrible instant
she feared that it would not hold
her. But apparently it was strong
enough. Slowly, step by step, she
climbed to the floor above, care
fully feeling her way lest she slip
on the wet metal. Eight steps
took her halfway up, then she
turned on the small platform to
ascend the second half of the
flight. It was like walking on
CREASED glass.
She hcSitated moment as she
finally reached the window OF
Mrs. Elliot's bedroom. and tried
to pierce the gloom within the
room. True, there might DC Il
murderer hiding in there, under
the bed. or in the clothes closet
ut the side. But Cilly did not
think so now. FearleSSly she peer
ed through the window only to
get glimpse of the rooms lay
out. Then she took the dress
makers tool out of her pocket.
Very carefully she cut semi
circle in the pane of glass direct
IL above the windows catch
Just enough so that she could slip
her fingers through and unlatch
the window. Some day, she
thought with smile, she would
confess 10 Mr.. Johnson and offer
to pay for the broken window
pane.
The small Scmicircle of glass
fell TO the floor within the room
and splintercd with a resounding
crash. But it could not have been
heard anywhere except in the
apartment below, and that was
her own. Cilly unlocked the win
dow and raised it slowly. An in
slant later, she slid off the sill,
careful not TO tread on the
broken glass at her feet.
She wished she had brought a
flashhght, but she did not own
one. She looked carefully ut the
window shade. Good, 1t was
as she had hoped. The windows
were equipped with two sets of
shades. light and dark, for this
apartment faced the south and
the sun shone in brightly all day.
She pulled down both sets OF
shades: now she could turn on the
light with little fear of being
seen from the outside.
In the full glare of the over
head fixture, the room looked
bare and cold. 1t lacked the coy
LONELINESS one usually associates
with old ladies rooms. There
were no magazines on the end ia
BILE. no intimate snapshots Of
nieceS or nephews or grandchil-
dren, no Snuggly cushions. ..
-
Cilly started on the chest of
drawers. One after another she
opened each drawer, and her eyes
widened in amazement. They
were entirely empty! There was
not even newspaper covering on
the bottom. Had Mrs. Elliot
moved out completely, bag and
baggage. as had Mrs. Wheeler?
Next she looked into the clothes
closet. Would this too be empty?
But no. there were clothes here.
Typical old ladies' clothes. A
black silk dress, of no particular
style. A plain cloth coat, of q
slightly rusty black. A muslin
slip, hung on wall bracket.
Black oxfords, very large black
oxfords, looking not unlike a pair
of mans dress shoes, lay on the
floor.
Cilly looked again. Surely
there must be something else 9.
this was only one complete outfit.
Did Mrs. Elliot have no other
clothes? And where were her
undertakings, her house dresses?
She opend the door wider, TO see
deeper into the closet. -.
Here wa something, Another
coat, it appeared. Cilly brought
it out to the light. Why, it was
mans coat! A mans topcoat!
Cilly felt suddenly panicstrick-
en-. Here was the solution to the
mystery. Here in Mrs. Elliot's
apartment. This was where a man
had been hiding out . and Mrs.
Elliot must have known him. else
he would not have the temerity
TO hang his topcoat in her closet.
Mrs. Elliot knew who the MUIR
derer was. That was why she was
remaining in Connecticut, until
all the excitement had died down.
In the instant of that realiza.
ton Cilly froze with terror.
Where was the man now? How
soon would it be until he return
ed and found her there? Perhaps
any minute now, she would see
him. She would be face to face
with the murderer of Amy Kerr.
And she would be just as helpless