Henderson daily dispatch., 1938-02-25
|ACASE EQRE8 Detectives
L. L. - - - -
BRUCE

Picon, Mgr. Smith, Sergeant Beet
and I. DR.. Thurston had offered
to come, but the Investigators had
agreed that since all the details
were now to be revealed, it would
be too painful for him. Nor was
his presence necessary. He would
hear of the arrest later.
I do not exaggerate when say
that my excitement was terrific,
and I have no doubt that Williams
was just as expectant. It was not
merely that the mystery was to
be elucidated, but that human
being was to be sent to a certain
death-for with three such detec-
tives toTlfnd evidence, surely no
counsel in the world would be able
to exonerate him. And this may
have made our interest a morbid
one, but it naturally gave real
point and drama to the proceed
ings. Someone was to be named,
arrested, tried and hanged
someone we knew, someone we
had conversed with today. I
looked down at my hand and saw
that it was slightly trembling.
Just as Lord Simon had been
the first to interrogate each Of
the witnesses, he began speaking
now. IT may as well outline this
unfortunate affair."" he said, land
then my colleagues can amplify
or correct any of the details. How
would that do?"
M. Picon nodded, and Mgr.
Smith did not dissent, so Lord
Simon began to talk. There was
a silence almost uncanny in the
room as he drawled out the cir
cumstances.
"Interestin' case," he said, "but
not quite as baf1in' as it looked
at first. However, it has kept us
guessin' for a time, so let's give
it it's due. Clearin' up most
crimes is as simple as shel]in'
bally peas. This certainly wasn't
that.
First, Of all we must go back
a little way. Remember that
will? Unfortunate sort Of docu-
ment, when you come to think Of
it. Mrs. Thurston's first husband
had a biggish fortune. And be-
tween that fortune and the son
who felt a right to it he set only
one barrier-a woman's life.
There you have the foundation of
the whole story. Conventional
enough in essence. Motive. as
usual, money.
'The stepson you remember
was abroad when that will was
made, and may or may not have
heard of his fathers death. We
know from Thurston that he was
the type of chappie who was al
ways turning up without a bob.
to rest on his laurels and the FAM
lily honor for spell, so. that his
coming home may have been just
the customary sort of thing. But
in the meantime he had changed
his name. You know how these
things happen? Half a dozen /.
creditors, some little eccentricity
in the way in which check was
drawn-something a trif1e shady.
So stepson arrives with a brand
new name, an empty pocket, and
a lot Of curiosity. Still conven-
tional, you see.
"And the very first news that
falls on his flappers is that his old
man has kicked the bucket, and
his stepmother has married again.
Well, well, thinks stepson, and
pops off down to his fathers So
licitor to ask about the will. I'm
pleasant setback. Interest left to
the wife for lifetime; and only his
measly allowance to go on with.
He had never seen Mrs. Thurston,
you remember, so that not ven
knowing her as the good-natured
soul she was. he set about cursing
roundly at scheming females who
nipped in to pinch his birthright.
He was a very furious young
man." -
Ito BE C0ntinued)