The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-10-06
THREE SHUTTERED HOUSES
--===By BEN ANEs WILLIAMS

Tope hesitated. "TIim or her, who
ever it isl he repeated. "Clint,
whoever did this is a monster, not
human. No telling what win come
next"
Sand you want to risk June's
life?"
II don't aim to-" Tope argued;
Shell have her eyes open. I'll tell
her what to watch for. She'll
have a pistol, to use If she has to-.
Wen be right outside" He spoke to
June herself. "You won't go into 1t
blindly," he said. ''Nor at all. I'M
less you want" a
"Let Heale work it out" Clint
cried. ''It's his job"
June was a long time in taking
any part in this discussion between
them: But when she spoke at last,
it was decisively.
II don't trust Inspector Heale,
Clint" she said. 'If he thinks I'm
Gle Jimmy father-did this, he
must be a dull, witless man."
They watched her; she seemed to
think aloud. ''It was money, the
money always" she cried, half to
herself. II can see that now. Every
thing had to be done to keep the
money in the family. That was why
they were SO furious when Mother
married Uncle Jim-for fear some
of the money would get away from
them. Oh, I've heard them talk,
and plant"
Clint said warmly: s'Sweet, hush!
You're never going back there
again"
But June smiled at him, and she
said: eyes, ! am, Clint. / can go
back and watch and see things now
that I couldn't see before. can
understand"
Inspector Tope said slowly:
'Heale is afraid of your people. He
won't 60 after them hard, the way
he would after other folk. And I
never saw an uglier business. This
senseless, pitiless butcheringl
There's maniac loose out there;
and Heale won't act. I've got to
find some way"
'Ill do whatever you say" June
insisted; and Clint knew at last that
he could not dissuade' the girl. He
said slowly:
81 wish you wouldn't, June. But
II can see, can feel the same way.
Inspector, what do you mean to
do?,'
Tope considered, his eyes on the
floor, his head wagging. 81 think
the thing will ripen tonight" he con-
fessed. "If it seems sure that Mr..
Hurder will live, the murderer will
try to end him tonight"
He watched June intently. "And
maybe you too! I'm guessing at
this; but I'm a good guesser. Some
one out there is money-crazy. Mr..
Hurder is a rich man; and some
one out there wants that money.
Maybe wants it quick. Maybe has
to have it quick.
''I'm guessing" he repeated.
"Justus Tame wouldn't tell me what
was in the wills. But my guess is
that the Hurder money is in trust
agreement for Mrs. .Leaford-but
she's dead-and then for you, Miss
Leaford. With trustees. Maybe
Taine himself. Maybe his sons. It
doesn't matter-wouldn't help us
any if we knew, because they're all
in the same pot together. But it
comes down to it that you're the
only one left in the way, Miss Lea
ford. With you dead, the Hurder
moneys bound to stay in the Tame
family"
June nodded. eyes," she said.
eyes, they could make Grandpa
Hurder write his will the way they
wanted it. They'd leave him no
peace till he did"
$50 there it is" Tope agreed,
with grim simplicity. "The mon
ey waiting, ready to run into their
pockets as soon as Mr.. Hurder dies.
You're the last dam in the way, the
last thing that holds it back. They'll
be after you" '.a it
''I'm not afraid" said June.