The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-18
CAST OF
BY NORMAN KAHL

CAST OF CHARACTERS
MARTIN Sayler-a lawyer
with too many enemies.
DALE APPLEBY-Sayler's step
son.
RHODA WATERS-Appleby's fl
ancee.
HAZEL LEIGHTON sayler's
sweetheart.
WINSLOW MARSDELL-A gam
bier.
GEORGE BARBOUR-Sayler's
law partner.
LIEUTENANT O'LEARY - po-
lice investigator.
YESTERDAY: Everyone in the
house is under suspicion. Riggs,
Sayler's chauffeur, is brought in
for questioning. Later O'Leary
joint the five guests in the draw
ing room. Suddenly, there is a shot.
CHAPTER vi
It seemed hours after the shot
before anyone moved. Dale Apple
by, his face pallid, was the first
to leap to his feet.
my God! Another one," he
said in a hoarse whisper. He start
ed toward the study, and Mardell
and Barbour rose to follow him.
O'Leary barred the way.
Never mind, gentlemen" he
said 'It's all right"
Barbour, the red tent missing
from his fleshy cheeks, seemed
genuinely frightened. But that
shot"
IT ordered that shot fired"
O'Leary said clamly. 1T was fired
from the den out of the window
and into the air-harmlessly. No
one was hurt this time"
But why?" Dale demanded.
"Just to satisfy my curiosity"
said the lieutenant. "Sayler was
shot to death. We know that. But
no one heard the shot. Yet every
one heard this one. So Sayler
couldn't have been shot with an
ordinary gun. Whoever did the job
used a silencer. With a silencer, a
gun could be shot off in the den
and you wouldn't be able to hear
anything. It's too far away from
this room, and Sayler had III e
door closed"
Slowly the men ambled back
to their chairs. They were still a
little angry.
O'Leary turned to MardeIl.
May I see you in the study for
a few minutes?'
Marden bowed slightly and fol-
lowed the officer out of the room.
In the den, Carroll was sitting
at the desk, going through some OF
the drawers. When O'Leary and
Mardell entered, he rose. 'dear
it, Chief"
O'Leary's lips twisted upwards.
What do you think?"
The lieutenant motioned Mardell
to a chair. what were you doing
here tonight, Mardell?" he asked
bluntly.
Sauve and self composed. Wins
low Mardell leaned back in h S
chair and propped his head grace
fully agains the cushioned support.
Gust a social visit, Lieutenant
Sayler asked me for dinner along
with the Others"
From his pocket, O'Leary ex-
tracted a sheaf of papers, slipped
together. "You wouldn't know any,
thing about these?"
Mardell tilted his head slightly
and glanced at the papers. Then
he smiled. $50 you found them
YEAH" said O'Leary, "in the
top drawer of Sayler's desk. There
wasn't much in that drawer-just
a few pieces of unfinished bust
ness things Sayler wanted to
take car of tonight"
Mardell lifted his eyebrows and
began fumbling for a cigaret.
O'Leary went on. "A lot of
dough is represented here - $35,
900. Not exactly chicken + e e d.
These I. o. us are yours, aren't
they? You signed them"
Mardell looked bored. Sure
they're mine. So WHAT"
"How Gomez"
"A little business-between Say
Ter and me-"
Gambling debts, aren't they?"
Mardell said evenly, Maybe"
Were you going to pay them?"
The mans eyes flashed. Ger
tainly. Do you Think"
"Tonight?"
For the first time, Mardell
seemed ill at ease. "Well, no. l
didn't have that much cash on
me-" He leaned forward angrily.
"But Sayler knew that. He knew
I was going to settle up. He didn't
need the money right away"
O'Leary folded his arms a n d
breathed deeply. "All right, Mar
dell. That's all for the time being.
Tell Miss Waters and Mr.. Apple
by I want to see them"
There's something about that
mug I don't like" Sergeant Car
roll commented after Mardell had
gone.
OLeary nodded. Hell bear a
little checking"
Carroll had slouched back in a
cnalr along the inner wall. He
oldn.t bother to get up when Dale
ana Rhoda entered the room.
SwI1no around ;o \