The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-12-06
Ara Discovers Love
as [ was coming in I got . hunch

1T don't care about your lunches. Dawson shouted, his anger mount. ing, "Get in that living room and stay there. When I have time to listen to your lunches. I'll send for you. Are you going to obey orders, Flynnp"
 "Yes, sir"
 Dawson turned back to Krone and al Torio's body, T want that bullet first. Have 1t checked against the one that killed Ben- thorne and you'll find they're the same. The gun was probably hid- den in Benthorne's study all the time. After you finish with the coroner, have Q look around out side for the revolver. Douglas probably threw 1t into the shrub bery."
 Maybe he brought 1t back into the study with him. Iii have a look. Get good pictures of all of this Krone" He hurried into the study.
 There was plenty of evidence that Douglas had come in the window, Dawsons eyes picked up moist outline of shoe on the carpet by the window and outside he found almost perfect footprints. Douglas hadn't had the time to cover up hlS trail as he had last night.
 The gun would be found soon, Parafiin tests would cinch the case. Maybe the Chief would give Daw- son a vacation
 Seemed to be @ nice boy - this Douglas And all for an uncle he had never seen. And that girl Ara -- how deep was she mixed up in this. Good kids, too, Had lot of tough breaks Losing Douglas was only another one.
 Dawson looked up, started as Ara entered the study. T told Flynn"
 But convinced him had something important to tell you"
 "1'll break that 1rishman, so help mel"
 Really, Captain, couldn't go far. Officer Krone is at the foot of the front stairs, Flynn Is hold ing down the living room."
 There's the passageway ."
 T had forgotten it--so you see, I really wanted to see you. You're going to try to pin these murders on John, aren't you?"
 Its Q prety clear case"
 You believe, don't you, Cap. tain," Ara went on earnestly, that John came in the passageway, killed Benthorne, blocked the door, and went out the windowp"
 That's about 1t. And today he reversed the performance with Joey as the main actor. We've got him"
 You're wrong, Captain" This was e new Ara -- e girl fighting not for hate, but for love. John Douglas was not in the passage way last night. I know - was there myself"
 She hurried on before Dawson could voice question. T left the taxi as soon as 1t turned the cor. ner, ran to the street entrance of the passageway. opened the door and was feeling my way along the passage.
 T intended to kill Benthorne, my father, and have John blamed for 1t. He was going in the study window. He was to surprise Ben. thorne, threaten him and force him to give up my proofs. John also wanted to make Benthorne tell how he got hold of the mine - But John never intended to kill him.
 i've lived on hate so long, Captain. No one ever loved me, no one ever cared about me, ex- cept John. And I was fool enough to try to blame @ murder on him.
 T know better now I love John. He's the first, the only person I've ever loved. I've hated all the others, even those who trid to help little. You = you can't blame him for this Ben- thorne murderl"
 Dawson admired this changed Ara. All the pretense, all the hardness, even the smoky, sultry lights in her eyes were gone. 1n- stead he saw Q girl in love - Q girl who has found love for the first time. She was willing to do any, thing to save the man she loved from the trap she had created. She was weeping quite unasham- edly now, begging for John Doug- las' freedom.
 But Dawson could not let senG- ment, nor admiration, nor pity sway his decision. If she had proof You were in the pas sageway, you said. Where were you when the shot was fired?"
 Ara resumed her story, a little more composed. T was almost halfway to the hall door. I stood there terrified. Then the study door slammed. l was afraid some-