The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-12-23
} SERIAL STORY
S WOULD KILL
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MA SERVICE. INC

much as she wanted Dawson to
believe-and he was certain that
she did not-was the discovery OF
Benthorne's daughter and the fear
Of the damage a scandal might do
to her social position. and to her
pride, sufficient motive for muir
der? Dawson wondered. Murders
were committed for more insig-
nificant reasons.
Then there was the second shoot
ing. II Helen Benthorne had sus-
pected Joey knew too much, could
she have gone up the back stairs.
crossed the hall TO the head of the
front stairway and shot Joey from
there? She had been painting. as II
she had been running. Dawson
recalled. when they collided on the
back steps.
Painting far more, he realized
now, than If she had just run up
the few steps from Jameson's
quarters. But her shortness Of
breath might be attributed to ex-
citement.
How about Aston? There was
little love between him and his SON
in-law. Granting that his heart
was not as bad as he had sug-
gested, Aston had had ample time
to run from the back entry to the
study in the interval between the
time he left Krone and the firing
of the shot. The, up the back
steps, a pause on the landing and a
slow descent down the front stairs.
But there was the problem of
Joey again. Aston had taken at
least two and possibly three sleep
ing pills. And two Of those pills
would make Rip Van Wrinkle out
of any man. The old man had
been sound asleep when di Torio
was killed.
1t all came back to Douglas.
Douglas with a motive, however
old-the staying of his uncle, Big
Red" and the theft of the mine.
Douglas at the window; Douglas
climbing in the window, threaten
ing Benthorne, finally killing him.
What was it Joey had said he
heard?
Douglas hiding in the hall after
coming through the passageway.
But he had said he didn't know
about that entrance :.
Douglas listening in the study as
joey recounted what he had seen.
Douglas shooting di Torio, dashing
down the passageway to get rid of
the gun and return to the study.
Douglas-with mud on his shoes.
What about the blocked door!
Had Douglas been inside the study
while Flynn and Krone tried to
break down the door? Dawson
stepped to the door again, shouted:
Flynn, bring Douglas in here!'
I'm giving you one last chance
to give us your side of the story,
Douglas" Dawson announced when
the young man faced him. I've
been lenient with you'll haven't
demanded too many explanations
and you've done just as I expected
: you to do-talked yourself into a
jam. Right now there are half a
dozen counts of sound, circumstan-
tial evidence against you-and
that's enough in this state. You'd
better talk fast and tell the truth.
Nothing else will do you any good"
What about Ara ?" Douglas
queried, guardedly.
She's in this as much as you
are" Dawson shot back. She
, knows plenty And don't try
any heroics-like lying to save the
girl. You may only get her more
/ involved"
Douglas studied the detective
intently. Perhaps Dawson was
right. If he told all he knew now,
Ara might be protected. He looked
straight into Dawson's cold, pene-
trating eyes, smiled, and asked:
What do you want to know"
Were you In this room before
or after Benthorne was killed ?"
After climbed in the window
a half minute after Benthorne's
murderer closed the door,"
ITO Re Continuedl