The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-12-27
BY TOM HORNER


changed since Dawson's last visit.
Someone had made the bed. and
the spread was tightly and neatly
drawn. Ara. Dawson thought. A
pillow on the chsise Tongue IN
Dictated where she had tried to
rest.
He walked to the bed. lifted the
mattress, then turned it complete
ly over and on to the floor. II
there had been a gun hidden there,
II was certainly gone now. Daw-
son studied the underside of the
mattress carefully, and the cover
of the box springs. No trace of
any outline that revolver would
certainly leave.
Where was that gun?
A slight noise startled him. He
rushed to the door. It had sound
ed as If Alston's door had been
opened. There was no one in the
hall. A glance in Alston's room,
showed the old man again
stretched on the bed.
ut would take bomb to wake
him up now" Dawson said. half
aloud. Deciding not to disturb
Aston, the detective closed the
door again, called Krone from the
head of the stairway. The patrol
man came up on a run.
Keep an eye on this hall, and
the one below. too, If you can
Krone" Dawson ordered. Who is
downstairs ?"
"The coroner's deputy just ar.
rived and the coroner is with him
I left them with di Torio. Mrs
Benthorne was in the living room.
Dawson nodded and returned to
the bedroom. Krone took his post
at the stairs, so that he could see
both the upper and lower halls.
In few moments he saw Heller
Benthorne walk through the arch
way from the living room. Krone
leaned out to watch her as she
walked along the hall to the study
Then he heard the dining room
door close and her footsteps dice
away.
Helen Benthorne watched tht
coroner and his assistant at worl
over di Torio's body. When they
took a few preliminary pictures sh,
took care to be well out of camera
range, but when they started t.
lift the raincoats Dawson hac
ordered spread over the body, sht
could stand it no longer.
DO you mind if I leave now? p
she asked.
The coroner looked up. INC
reason for your staying. If Cap
tain Dawson had wanted you KEEP
here, he'd have said So" She left
hurriedly.
She knew Krone was watchins
her as she passed through tn,
hall. She paused at the stud,
door, to see Ara and John talking
earnestly. It's lucky for them L
have love, she thought, and in
wardly she voiced a prayer tha'
this whole affair might turn out
well for them.
The breakfast dishes were still
on the dining room table. She'C
have to speak to Jameson. Ther
she recalled that Dawson had or
dered the butler and the entir,
staff of servants placed undei
guard in Jameson's quarters aftel
the second shooting. That Officer
the Irishman was probably Their,
too.
She stopped at the refrigerator
found a pint of milk and went OF
to the rear entry. There was 6
coat hanging in a closet near tn,
door and she slipped into it, hid
ing the bottle of milk in a deer
pocket.
Outside, she hesitated, glanced
around to see if any patrolmer
were near. The sun was trying e
break through massed clouds, but
last nights rain left it still we
underfoot. She went on across the
driveway, disappeared into tb,
garage.
Dan Flynn saw her coming, ano
crouched lower in the rear seat
of Benthorne's limousine. II she
intended trying to get away in a
car, he reasoned. she probably
would take the small roadster. II
was likely her own car.
But she evidently had no such