The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-10-06

apartment was on the third floor,
and IN his haste TAFT scorned the
automatic llfk The stairs he took
three end four at a time.
He listened q moment at the door
before he pressed the bell To hts
intense relief there was no sound Of
Mike Dunphys indscreet, clustering
voice. But when Anne Lester opened
the door her dlstrcted eyes told him
that trouble was brewing,
"Myrna's not here" she said.
what shall we do9"
TAFT stepped beside the room and
closed the door. mo note-noth.
ing2"
The girl shook her head. II don't
believe abe came here at oil from
the Paciflc.plaSa,"
"This Is bad" TAFT told her,
"Dunphy, from police headquarters,
Is on his way here now. IT'S going TO
look bad when he finds she Isn't TO
be had" He held Annes gaze. "Are
you sure you don't know where she
might be9"
Anne shook her head. 1--WE been
trying 10 think--over since got
here. The--the only possibility that
came to me isis that what hap"
pened NJ the Golden Bowl made her
lose her head"
For q moment TAFT did not an
swer. He tried 10 fathom beyond
Anne Testers seemingly frank
glance. Listen" he burst out, do
you have any reason TO believe that
Myrna killed Dombey tonightp
There must be-" He stopped,
shrugged his shoulders. ut wouldn't
do any good 10 ask you that Even
II you thought she were guilty, you'd
Ito for her." -
Anne Testers answer came swiftly,
you're right. I would, I'd so fur.
ther than that for Myrna, But she
didn't do II. She was In love with
him. Couldn't you tell that when
you walked UP TO that table to-
nightS"
SI'm afraid I had something else
on my mind. You see, I'd Just lost
q Job and was trying 70 figure q
way 10 get II back. That's what !
should be doing now, ] wish ] knew
why I'm not"
Anne clutched his arm. "Please
help us. Tim afraid, knew some-
thing was going 10 happen tonight
/ kept feeling II, And ! know this
"A going 10 mean trouble for Myrna,
We've got 10 And her, We've" She
caught her breath, looked up at
Tait with q sudden new fright.
'They might be after her nowl II
they wanted TO kill Lud Dombey,
why wouldn't they want 10 kill his
wife, too7"
TAFT tried 10 make his laugh
sound easy. "eimply because she
hasn't been his wife long enough 10
DO mixed UP In whatever II was that
brought Lud Dotnbey 10 his last
tune tonight. But we've got 10 md
her, that's certain" Ho opened the
door into the hall. "And we've got
10 get out OF here. Grab your hat"
why"
"ItIi DO better 10 be scarce than
10 try 10 explain 10 Mike Dunphy
why she Isn't here. And he wouldn't
quite DO able 10 figuFe out what I'm
doing up here, either. Is there q
back way out Of this placer"
Anne nodded. She had wrapped
an ulster around the dress she'd
worn as maid OF honor. On her
head was o smart brown felt. Her
silver slippers and the gown drop
ping beneath the sport coat were
IN Ineongruity, but she gave no
thought 10 that now, I'VE can get
out this way" she told TAFT, hurry
Ing down the hall.
II was not q moment too soon.
Somewhere below them doomed
Mike Dunphy's believing query,
where would DO hte apartment be-
iongin' 10 Miss Myrna Rogers7" TAFT
could not hold back o smile. II was
like Mike 10 disturb the landlady
and assert his authority rather than
quietly examine the names on the
lobby board. But right now TAFT was
glad for ofiicer Dunphy's idiosyn.
cFasies.
"det your thinking cap on" TAFT
told Anne when they had gained
the street. I'm going 10 rent O car
taxi drivers can talk In court, and
we might ind later on that we'd
rather not have this little jaunt on
record" He took Anne by the arm,
hurried her along. II know O car
rental place O few blocks from here.
And while we're walking, try TO
figure out where We might have O
look for Myrna."
Anne stopped momenterily, made
o quick, excited gesture. TITS just o
chance"