The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-12-11


girl. Nick was terrified - alter
nately begging and Threatening.
There was no fear IN the dark
eyes Of the girl. She met Captain
Dawson's stare defiantly as she
entered the room, and he realized
that bluff and threats would never
break down her will.
AS he studied her. Dawson COM
pared her with Helen Benthorne.
Where Helen Benthorne was soft,
the pampered daughter of society,
this girl was hard-not unpleas-
antly so-but because life had not
been generous to her. Her hands
were not soft, nor faultlessly
manicured. Her dress was simple,
serviceable, only moderately at
tractive. Here was a girl, Dawson
realized, who worked for all she
had. who had never known lux
uries.
Her eyes fascinated him. as they
did all men. Smoky Flynn had
called them. Dawson wondered
just how much it would take to
fan those glowing sparks into
blazing, destructive flames.
"She was just leaving the apart
ment when I got there" Flynn
explained. Grips packed and all.
But she won't say where she was
going or why. She won't say any,
thing, Captain. Maybe you can
make her talk"
''Your luck is holding. Flynn"
Dawson laughed, when Flynn had
recounted the story of his dis
covery Of Nick Smith. You're the
only man on the force who can
go to sleep and wake up with his
prisoner in his hands.
Now here is something else for
you-find out all you can about
Benthorne. AS soon as the broker
age offices open, start tracing his
business operations. back to his
first purchase of stock. Get all
the help you need. We've got to
find out some more about Ben
thorne and his Big Red he men,
tons in the note. See what you
can dig up He turned to the
| girl and the taxi driver.
We'll, Miss Johnson, perhaps
you'll be able to help us clear up
a few things"
II don't know what you're talk
ing about" the girl answered in
a calm, steady voice. The officer
said there was a murder-a Mr..
Benthorne was Killed, l believe.
don't know anything about that"
Can you explain why you were
in front of this house last night,
why you helped this young Doug
las trick Officer Flynn, and why
you and this taxi driver almost
ran over Flynn trying to get
away ?"
The girl laughed at that, but
there was no merriment in her
eyes. Just because your patrol
man is clumsy is no fault of mine.
think the drivers foot slipped
off the clutch pedal; then, when
we saw the officer trying to draw
his gun, We hurried away. I'm
sure Mr.. Douglas was not far
away. After all, Captain, we had
done nothing but ask where we
might find a minister"
The girl knew the answers,
Dawson realized. She would leave
no openings-now. AS long as she
and Smith, Joey, Mrs. Benthorne
and Aston were here in the house,
there was no hurry. Dawson real
lied. Sometimes these murders
almost solved themselves. Just
be patient, Dawson told himself,
and something will break. Aloud
he said:
Il could do with some break
fast, and l imagine all of you
could eat, too. II you'll wait here,
I'll round out the butler and see
what we can find"
Breakfast was a cold. silent
affair. Helen Benthorne sat at one
end of the long table, endeavored
to be at least a considerable host
ess. Her eyes were still red, and
Dawson knew she had not slept.
If she felt hatred for these strang-
ers grouped about her, she did
not show it.
Only once, Dawson remembered,
did her fixed expression change.
That was when he had introduced
Ara johnson. Watching both the
women closely, Dawson thought
he caught flash of anger in
Helen Benthorne's eyes as she
spoke to the girl. But Ara had
remained as sphinx-like as ever
Dawson glanced around the
table. He sat at Mrs. Benthorne's
right, directly across from a va
cant chair. Aston was still asleep.
Ara sat beside him, and Nick
Smith next to her. The girls food
was practically untouched. Smiths
appetite seemed TO have vanished,
too. Only Joey di Torio, across
the table, and Krone, seemed TO
be enjoying the meal.
II joey had killed Benthorne,
Dawsons thoughts rambled on,
could he be cold looded enough
to eat Benthorne's food-and APP
parently enjoy il?
How about Ara If Dawson
could have known fear, he would
have been afraid of the girl. She