The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-12-29
BY TOM HORNER
CHAPTER XIV

III mere. IN HtIti iylhi Ntlltu
as he leaped toward Alston's door.
Dawson pushed past Helen Ben
thorne and followed.
There was a thin blue wisp of
smoke over the bed as they
crashed through the locked door.
Aston lay there. face down, as II
asleep. just as Dawson had seen
him before. His right arm hung
down to the floor and his finger
tips rested on a small, blue-black
revolver. A vivid stain spread
over the white pillow as blood
flowed from a wound in his right
temple.
Dawson bent over Aston,
pressed his ear close to the old
mans back, but 1t was a futile
gesture. As he Strengthened up,
he noticed paper, tightly clenched
in Alston's left hand.
There's nothing we can do,
now, Flynn" Dawson said in a
low tone. Call the coroner"
II was not necessary. He was
standing directly behind Helen
Benthorne, in the doorway. As
Dawson turned away from the
body, Alston's daughter rushed
toward the bed. but Dawson
caught her in his arms and led
her, gently, to a chair.
"Dadllm she screamed, again
and again, then wept, Historically.
The coroner entered on Daw-
sons unspoken order, made brief
examination of the body. He re-
moved the paper from Alston's
hand, read the address and handed
it to Dawson. IT'S for you, Cap
tain"
Krone. the coroner's deputy
filed into the room and Ara and
John, still handcuffed, followed
All were watching Dawson as he
read Alston's message. Mrs. Ben.
thorne's sobbing was the only
sound in the room.
Dawson bent, whispered TO Mrs
Benthorne. Her sobbing suhsidet
a little. He cleared his throat.
you all are interested in thi:
letter Mr.. Aston has left for me
II concerns all of you.
Dear Captain Dawson" h,
read. "T trust my decision tC
solve your case for you will moi
upset too many of your excellent
theories. II was inevitable thai
you should ultimately reach thi,
final conclusion. and have taker
it upon myself to anticipate you
81 killed Arnold Benthorne.
ANY man who strikes m,
daughter forfeits his right to live
'Helen's happiness has been m,
sole aim in life. since her mothe
died. and if killing Benthorne vii
remove a cause Of unhappiness
am glad I was able TO do IL.
1t was not difficult. / cam
in the rear entry. went directly Il
Benthorne's study. killed him am
then ran TO the rear stairs. I wa
in the upper hall as Helen wen
down the front steps.
Much Of the time I was sup
posed 10 be asleep, spent in Ar
nold's room, directly over tn
study. Your voice and those OF tn
others were easily heard-Arnol'
had special openings just for tina
purpose-so knew far more abou
the progress of your investigation
than you guessed. What you di'
not know. or possibly overlooked
is that there is a communicating
bath between Arnold's room an,
my own. That simplified matter
considerably. II would have bee
even easier IL I could have entere
Helen's room by the same route
but her door Was always KEEP
locked.
~ chose di Torio as my mos
likely suspect and tried to taste
suspicious on him by finding on
Of his cigarets in the passagews,
But he had obliged me by care
iessly dropping one there himself
Z was listening. upstairs. whe
he started TO tell you that he ha
seen me. 50 ] had TO kin him to'