Evening star., 1940-06-27
|6be bouse g.
on Beacon Street
by Irene
lonneu
6rnhori

l OCIId (Mhon
| than a month ago you broke on
your engagement to Miss Rita
Starr"
Young Mr.. Blocks face blanched
and his eyes met Lucy's for a
shocked instant before the an
swered. His reply. was almost In
audible. Eyes, 1t true"
Elizabeth Accuses Sandy.
Isn't 1t also true that you wanted
money from Mr.. Granville to back
a play you had written? And you
knew that If Rita Star married him,
1t was she who would receive his
financial help instead of you and
your play?"
Eyes, it's all true. I wanted
money desperately, but I didn't get
any from Luke Granville. I was
jealous Of him, too, when he first
started going about with Rita. That
wasn't the reason I spoiled things
between them though. And there
was nothing unethical about 1t eth
er-because she was only after
his money and name"
Hes the one!" Elizabeth cried
hysterical. "He killed Luke. I
know he did!" They all looked at
her queerly.
Sandy Blocks observation of
Elizabeth, or so it seemed to Lucy,
was not only understanding but
family sympathetic, as he said
slowly, "You know that isn't so,
Mrs. Granville"
Lucy was remembering that day
IN the park with Sandy Block. He'd
pretended he was going to help her
| Tor her own sake, and all the time
1t had obviously been because he
was in love with Rita Star himself.
Lucy felt her face burning with
humiliation. When she glanced
toward him again he made a move
to come to her, but she gave him a
cold look and deliberately turned to
Greg.
Guy in Difficulties.
She. could see Sandy Blocks face.
reflected in the mirror over the
fireplace toward which she was
facing. A hurt expression had come
into his face, and the gleam had
died out of his eyes.
Forty thousand dollars can't iust
disappear into thin air." Guy inter-
rupted again. Check up on every-
body. See who showed evidence of
sudden prosperity recently-or find
out who needed money desperate
ly!"
You seemed to need money
desperately yourself" Chalmers
pointed out slyly.
Guys lip curled and he snorted
us 1t likely I'd steal money that
was mine to begin with?"
1T was money you felt belonged
to you, but which you couldn't seem
to get your fingers on, my boy"
Chalmers answered.
Guy showed his hands into his
pockets and pursed his mouth with
futility and disgust. IT don't be-
lieve Uncle Luke would take out
$4,000 in cash and leave it lying
around. Although he was a queer
| duck"
"Guy!" Lucy protested with an
involuntary look at Elizabeth.
Mr.. Hanson here needed money
pretty badly" Chalmers suggested.
Greg flushed and gasped. isn't 1t
true that the firm you and your
father are partners in, is in diff
f1culties?" Isn't it true that you've
been trying desperately to float
loan and have been unable to do
SOP"
"Why-why the-audacity!"
There's no use cadging around
about 1t, Hanson" Chalmers said.
We've got all the dope on you, too,
you know"
But, why I didn't even know
Luke Granville had $4,000, as Guy
said, lying around loose, and be-
sides why would I think of steal
ing 1t and committing murder,
when" He stopped abruptly
and there was pause before Chal-
mers finished for him, with when
you'd get your fingers on it as soon
as you married Lucy anyway?"
Beads of moisture stood out on
Greg Hanson's broad forehead, and
his face was pink with distress. He
hung his head, like some hulk of
a schoolboy, and said nothing.
Lucy had the good grace to pat
his arm gently, as If in understand
ing or forgiveness. Actually she felt
faint nausea, as If she were float
ing about in the room disembodied
and quite giddy.
"You are definitely suspect,
Hanson, whether you realized 1t be-
fore now or not" Chalmers con-
tinued. "And Mr.. Block, you, too,
I'm afraid, fall within the lines of
suspicion"
Il think there are several of you,"
he continued, who know more
about this case than you are willing
to admit. It seems to me that each
OF you has your own idea of who
murdered Luke Granville and is try
ing to protect that some one. We
seem to be getting no where. There
wasn't a single clue left in that
study to sho whow cyanide was
administered to the victim. Yet
I'm sure that at least one of you,
maybe more, knows if not who is
the murderer how Mr.. Granville
was killed at any rate"
Laval Well Of.
Chalmers paused, lingering the
notebook Tony had filled with in
formation. 'Mr. Laval" he said,
"how much did Mr.. Luke Granville
pay you for acting as his butler and
handy MANI"
Laval started and his eyes in their
cavernous sockets shifted uneasily.
Hundred and twenty month, sir"
he answered. His voice was tone
less.
That's interesting" Chalmers re-
marked drily, "in view of the fact
that you have two bank accounts
that we know of which contain
small fortunes. How do you do it?"
Horses, sir"