Evening star., 1938-07-24

buntly:
You'll find what's left of me at the
bottom of the Marble Hole on the Grant
farm. I'm knocking myself off. Why?
Because I'm sick of the world and the
people in it, lot of lousy fourf1ushers.
That goes double for my wife She thinks
she's going to get hundred grand insur-
ance after I'm dead but the jokes on
her. They don't pay off on suicides.
See you in hell.
James Torbey''
As she read Florence had the vivid picture
in her mind of Torbey writing that letter.
1t was a smart letter, in keeping with the
character that Torbey had built-up during
their stay in Maple6eld. Every item of his
plan was going according to formula She
shuddered.
Mrs. Grant spoke You don't have to be
brutal, Coroner" She came over and laid
hand on Florence Torbey's shoulder. I'm
sorry. my dear" she said. 1--WE stopped in to
see if there is anything we can do. After all,
we're neighbors. And it happened on our
place"
Florence choked In moment she was
sobbing with Mrs Grant arm about her. She
felt like felon under the other womans
kindliness. She pulled away and wiped her
eyes. I'm sorry," she said. I'll be all right -
thank YOU
The coroner was speaking again. Your
husband must have been crazy he said, Ito
write letter like that. Out of his mind -
that S it. We found him just as the letter says.
In his car at the bottom of the Marble Hole
Have you got to 60 into all the details,
Seaver?" Mrs. Grant cut in.
Doc Seaver shrugged. Mrs. Torbey'll have
to identify the body" he said. Il was only
tryin' to tell her what happened - break it
to her." He cleared his larynx again en-
phatically. He turned to Florence. I'm Won
dering about that crack in the letter about
insurance. Did he have hundred thousand
dollar policy?'
Florence nodded.
How long has he had it,"
About three years, think" Florence said
slowly. This was tricky ground.
"Mph!' the coroner exploded. He must
have been crazy as bed bug. Every insurance
i
clause. After two years it don't matter. He
must've been off his nut. Unless this was
special kind of policy"
Il don't know said Florence. Il don't
know"
WELL" said Doc Seaver, Il advise you to
find out - for your own gooI. Now, we got
to get going. I'm sorry, but you'll have to
identify the body Nobody else in town knew
him we'll enough, though guess there isn't
any doubt. His driving license. wallet and
keys were in his pockets and his name on
label in his coat. There's something else too,
maybe you en- help us with. Y see =" He
broke off suddenly as he caught the fire in
Mrs Grant eyes. Let's go!' he said.
Florence drove to town in the car with
George Grant and his mother feeling about as
low as she ever had in her life The Grants
and their efforts to be helpful were elements
she had never dreamed would enter the pic
ture 1t made the whole miserable business
that much harder to carry through. Fooling
these people! In her minds eye she could see
Torbey sneering at the situation if he ever
learned of it. Torbey must be holed in in
Boston by this time. she imagined, gloating
over the success of the first step.
George Grant parked the car back of the
coroner's in the driveway of the towns only
undertaking establishment which served both
as the local morgue and funeral parlor.
Doc Seaver led them into a stuffy little