The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1939-12-08
5 Would Kill
BY TOM HoRsER
Copyright. 1899. MA Service. Inc.

Continued From Page 14l
almost out in the open, an inno-
cent looking little diary. but 1
couldn't miss IT,"
You'll never make IL stick in
court" Joew said. confidence re-
turning. IT'S the word of dead
man against mine. That book
doesn't prove thing"
1T may prove a murder charge.
Joey"
Listen. Dawson" di Torio said
.condescendingly, Il told you 1 was
in my club all night. I was with
a party Of friends. They'll tell
you"
Are you sure you didn't leave
the club last night
IN take that back" joey said.
II did leave, but only for a few
minutes. Dave Watson was hav-
ing a party. I thought I'd drop by
and pick up Marlyn-you know.
Marlyn white-but her apartment
was dark so I drove on back to
the club without stopping. Dave1i
remember and so will Pete. Pete's
my manager"
so you just went out for a ride,
Joey-all by yourself" Dawson
shook his head. mo, Joey. 1
thought you could think faster
than that.
Listen. You left the Club
Chateau, you drove up here to Ben
thorne's-you could make it in a
few minutes-you came in that
side entrance you always used and
you found Benthorne in the study.
you've been holding out on
Benthorne, Matchmaking him, and
you knew Benthorne wouldn't let
you get away with it. That's why
he made out this record. With
that book he figured he could keep
your mouth closed until he found
a way of closing it permanently.
But you beat him to it. Joey.
You shot Arnold Benthorne as he
sat in this chair. Then you jammed
that straight chair there against
the door, rifled the safe. and final
ly, when you heard Flynn and
Krone taking the door off the
hinges, you went out the window.
It's a closed case, Joey-and it
will send you to the chair"
Di Torio was silent, studying
the glowing end of his cigar.
At last he spoke. you've missed
one thing in your murder case,
Dawson. What time was Ben
thorne killed ?"
1.-THE coroner's deputy said it
was right around midnight. 1t
took Flynn and Krone a while to
get the door down."
THAT proves it," Di Torio
smiled. Il can prove by half a
dozen witnesses that didn't leave
the Club Chateau until after mid
night. 1t was almost 1915 before
could get away. And you had
already found Benthorne's body
by that time"
How does 1t happen you re-
member the time so WE'LL" Dawson
asked.
I'm my business, Captain, just
as in yours, it's good idea to keep
your eye on the clock. You can
never tell when some dumb cop
is going to try to hang murder
charge on you"
I'll let that one pass, joey"
Dawson said, until I've checked
on this alibi of yours. Are you
sure your friends will remember
the time with equal facility?"
Il hope So" Joey laughed. They
should. Dave was complaining
that he wasn't getting any kick out
of his drinks, so l bought some
champagne for him. Petell re-
member the time, too.
And there's one thing you've
forgotten. never though it of
you, Dawson. I'm saving your
job by telling you this in advance.
There's the little item of gun.
Your cop. Flynn, lifted my
automatic out of this shoulder
scabbard on the way out here.
Have you found the gun that killed
Benthorne YETI"
NO" Dawson replied. but
Flynn probably has it in his pocket
now"
Don't be too sure about that,
my friend" Joey went on conf
IDENTIFY. Il carry a .3s automatic
and it hasn't been fired in six
months. And when you get that
bullet out of Benthorne's head,
there's one thing more to remem-
ber-ballistics tests. Surely you've
heard of them!"