The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-12-25
5 Would Kill
CHAPTER XX
By TOM HoRNER
copYrsh.. 1889. NEA Service. Inc.

@taAN0N - NfA1tAAAAN Hhh UAAAttA
1t was open during her first visit
with Benthorne and had suggested
my trying ii. When heard Flynns
whistle. I thought had been seen.
and I Topped down behind some
shrubbery. Then. when the other
patrolman passed by where I was
hiding. decided to get inside the
house quickly.
AS I rose and started to push
the window up I heard Benthorne
shout you" and soft voice an
swered almost in a whisper
couldn't make out the words. There
was a shot 1 hesitated long
enough to draw my own revolver
Its an old style Colt .45-then
pulled myself through the window.
"Benthorne was dead, on the
floor beside the desk. The killer
was gone. The study door was
closed. braced this heavy chair
against 1t. and as did I found a
red button. Ara told me this
morning that it must have dropped
off her sleeve early last night.
searched the room. the desk. the
safe, even some of the books, while
the officers pounded on the door.
When they started to take off the
hinges l went out the window"
There was another officer sta
toned at the back gate" Dawson
put in. Weren't you afraid he
might see your"
Il knew where he was-Ara and
I checked the layout pretty thor
oughly when we decided we'd
have to get to Benthorne some
way. He did as / expected
ran TO the nearest call box and
put In the alarm, then went back
to the rear gate. l had no trouble
getting out the front and walking
down to where / was to meet Ara
and Nick. But they were gone"
You told me you met them, in
your first story, Douglas" the cap
tain reminded him.
THAT was to protect Ara
Douglas explained. Il didn't want
you to know she had ever left the
cab. l didn't know it myself un-
til this morning"
How about that revolver?
Where Is it now"
In my room, at the apartment
house about two blocks from
Ara's. You'll find it hasn't been
discharged recently
Dawson grunted his disbelief.
We'll see about that. And what
was so important that you had to
search this room to find it?
Those letters belonging to the
girl ?"
Just a minute. Captain. Come
along, Flynn" Douglas stepped
to the window, started to climb
out. Flynn's service revolver ap-
peared in his hand almost as if by
magic.
IF you try to run, I'll let you
have It." he warned.
Don't shoot, yet" Douglas
laughed, and disappeared.
He was back in a few minutes
with the watering can. This
will explain the mud on my shoes
after di Torio was killed. was
outside hiding these papers when
he was shot He handed the can
to Dawson you'll find Ara's let
tiers, and one addressed to my un-
Gle in here. I found them hidden
under the clock"
Flynn moved quickly to the
mantel. Hes right. Captain.
There's hole here. but it's empty
now" Dawson studied the papers,
but made no comment.
When you came for these pa
pers, did you know that Miss
johnson had been here earlier last
night?"
Douglas met his stare. mo. The
whole night is a confused tumble.
l knew Ara had seen her father,
that she had clashed with Mrs.
Benthorne. But I did not know
the meeting took place last night.
As you may have guessed, Captain,
Miss Johnson did not take me en-
tirely into her confidence. I knew
Benthorne had taken her proofs.
was keeping them. She wanted
them back.
II had tried, unsuccessfully, to
see Benthorne TO force him to tell
how he had obtained possession of
my uneles claim. I was willing
TO take chances To find out.
II was only when I showed Ara
the red button I found in the
chair that she admitted she had
been here earlier.
Il suppose should have guessed
something was wrong when she
knew about the window, and when
she did not tell me exactly when
she had first seen her father. But
when a fellow is in love, little
things like that are often over
looked"
Dawson nodded. There was a
long tense silence. At length,
Dawson rose. faced the youth.
John Douglas. arrest you for
the murders Of Arnold Benthorne
and Joey di Torio."
Douglas face lost color. He
Continued on Page II. Column u