The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-06-05
. SERIAL STORY
 DATE WITH DANGER .....! BY E. !.. Y. yos1EN sg. ..

Martin was last there
 While Johnson talked, Crossie phoned Tom Ladd.
 "Yep, Q mysterious gal calls us and says Duke Martins been mrr- dered in his apartment" Crossie told his managing editor. sounds like phony to me. But we don't want to be left asleep at the switch. The lady had Q convinc- ing voice according to Mac" He puffed on his pipe. What's that? Trace the call2 Sure we tried. but it's Q dial phone. No. There's no switchboard there. We tried that too. Whatl Fenelon has Martins private number7 Okay. I'll call you back in five minutes r Crossie, looking like Q windmill in action, waved arms, legs and body as he leaped from his desk to the copy table. ..vs .
 "We're going to treat Martins murder as if 1t were true" he spoke rapidly to Johnson. Build up a big story and release 1t with a special extra. as soon as it's con- firmed."'
 If it is." pessimistically threw in Johnson.
 But Crossie paid no attention. He was talking to Fenelon. K ar.
 Dead men can't hear. Duke Mar tin lay still and quiet while the phone rang necessarily. Sharply, its repeated dangling echoed shrilly through the. empty apartment, lone- ly even in its gorgeousness.
 Nor did the proprietor of the Dove stir when his front door was once more pushed open and Tuckie Thompson, an animated sequined figure, tripped gaily: in. By con- trast, the apartment was as still as the grave. ......
 "Oh, MT. Martin Tuckie called out cheerily in her. falsetto voice, She was in the highest spirits. MT. Martin-n!" She stopped ab- ruptly at the sound of the tele- phone, then rushed into the living room and picked up the receiver, still unaware of the body lying on the floor, arms outstretched, de- fenseless for the first time, in death. .. ...........
 Hello, hello,.' she, answered shrilly. "No, this is Mrs. Thomp- son. Did I call you few min- utes ago? Certainly not I don't understand you. Has there been murder committed in this apartment? Of course not! This is too absurd. In another minute I'll hang up this receiver. Who are you anyway"
 Drop that phone!" A mans voice fell heavily on Tuckie's be- wildered ears. She jumped hys- terically. Receiver and phone crashed to the floor. Suddenly the whole room seemed to be filled with big men,, some in uniform. The leader, who had spoken so abrutply to. Tuckie, picked up the telephone as an excited voice be- gan shouting through the receiver. He listened for moment.
 Nuts, on the Gazette" he said briefly, slipping the. receiver into place and putting the telephone back on the table.
 He jumped .as a wild shriek rang through the. room. Tuckie had discovered Martins body. With terrified eyes she stared at the pool of blood near the head.
 My Godl" she cried. Look at Duke Martin. He's deadi"
 You're not bad, old girl" said the detective, soothingly. "They all act the way you do. You'd think the one guy they cared about in the world was the man they'd shot,"
 She chucked her under the chin. So you gave it to him at last, huh?"
 "onacer," she cried. DO you know to whom you are talking?"
 Winking at the other men. Lady vere-de-Vere, I suppose. Well, we'll take you to headquarters"
 Then he became suddenly hard. Where's the gun, sister,"
 T don't know what you're talk ing about" she whimpered.
 Watch her, Reilly" he ordered. "Grogan and I'll search the apart ment. Murphy, you and Mike go over this room and look on the terrace.
 While they looked, Tuckie talked excitedly, wildly. Nothing she said made sense. She wanted to know why they thought MT. Martin had been shot. She wondered who had done 1t and she asked why they did- not take his temperature to see if he might not, still be alive.
 T guess you mean. pulse, lady" laconically answered Reilly. That guys beyond the pulse feeling stage. He's stiffening now"
 After that TucKie grew more confused. What are you looking for?" she demanded fretfully, drawing her frilly lace cape about her shoulders.
 "The gun, lady, the gun"
 "Ts that why. you won't let me go?" she asked querously.
 "One of the reasons" Then to the detective, as he returned, Find it, Burns?" .-- ,
 No. A couple of you fellows go down and look in the street for 1t,