The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-17

OI1G I1lOIC AuuAOSA w yOu4 hoO
Mr.. Rinehart, you may not know
it, but if you had gone for a ride
in your car with this man you
wouldn't have come back. You'd
have been murdered. but it would
have looked like the suicide you
so foolishly threatened"
Good Cod" cried Rinehart
softly. He Shivered. Cropsy's
mouth hung open.
Wrenn started at Brant, his
face a white mask glistening with
rain. why. you're mad!" he
cried. you're crazy!"
"a little" Brant agreed, and he
smiled now. Mad enough to
guess that the gun we took from
you is the same that killed Pink
Flint mad enough to tell how
you murdered Margie Shannon"
CHAPTER XXI
GUILT
The Express was an afternoon
paper without a Sunday edition.
Both the other papers published
on Sunday morning. So you can
imagine the irony of the situation
an Express reporter stumbling
into the biggest story in years, and
on Saturday night!
This was the one night in the
week when we had no crew in our
plant, and If we decided to sum-
mon a crew and issue an extra
we would have to notify the Sun
and the Public opinion. These
papers would hold until they had
seen our extra and would crack
the story for their Sunday circu-
lation, whereas the Express, with
no Sunday home delivery, would
have nothing but a brief street
sale. If it had been Sunday
night -. -.
1t was a lousy break, no two
ways about it. On the way to the
Station-all Of us were riding in
Rinehart'S car, Cropsy having left
his where it waS-I got the lieu
tenants ear. He was both Sympa-
thetic and reasonable-aS well he
might be; he promised to go in
by a private entrance, safe from
wandering reporters, and to take
us all to a little-used office.
He seemed little dazed. Rine-
hart, behind the wheel, was
deathly pale, and Wrenn sat star.
ing at his handouts like a man
gone numb.
We got in all right, and into a
private room. I Immediately
grabbed the telephone and called
Calhoun's home. The fiend was
out at a poker game, but his wife
gave me the number and soon
had him on the wire. His pro
family, when he realized our pre-
dicament, was truly awe-inSpir.
ing. Even for Calhoun it was 20
table.
Can you sew it up?" he asked
finally.
"Cropsy will be all right" an
Swered. I'VE can trust to luck
there won't be a leak"
I'm coming right down." said
Calhoun. 1.-THE thing to do is to
sit on it If we can get away with
it and come out with an extra to-
morrow night"
He hung up.
Cropsy was addressing Rine-
hart when I turned away from
the phone. He said, "FirSt Of all,
tell us how you happened to go
to Wrenn'S Studio?"
Rinehart, showing signs Of re-
turning calm, said, "Mr. Wrenn
called me up this afternoon. He
said he wanted to see me this
evening on matter Of utmost
importance. When I told him I
had an engagement he said he
would wait for me-"
THAT" said Howard Wrenn
from his chair, ''iS not the truth.
Mr.. Rinehart called me up and
said he wanted to see me-"
We'll listen to your story Ia
ter" said Cropsy sternly. go on,
Mr.. Rinehart."
HE told me-" Rinehart went
on, ignoring the artist, that he
would be able to give me positive
evidence that Saul Mitchell had
murdered Margie Shannon"
And that's alp" Cropsy asked.
That's everything"
Brant had a question. did he
say, Mr.. Rinehart, that he had
heard you were to be arrested
Monday?"
Yes, that is what he meant by
my being in JAM"
CropSy turned to Wrenn. "And
you say that Mr.. Rinehart called
you instead of you calling him?'
That's exactly what hap
pened," Wrenn answered calmly.
And did he tell you what he
wanted?"
mo, he didn't"
Reason for Carrying
Gun Yet Unexplained
II see. And perhaps you can
tell us why you had that gun in
your pocket"
The artists eyes did not waver.
IT don't know how that gun got
in my pocket"
The lieutenant shook his head
and smiled. 1T won't do, Wrenn.
If it had been the side pocket of
your coat it would have sounded
little more plausible, but no
body's slipping a cannon in your
inside breast pocket without you
knowing about it."
Wrenn laughed. every we'll.
I've told you. Would someone
mind giving me cigarette? I'm
somewhat handicapped" looking
at the bracelets on his wrists.
gave him one nf mine and tit