The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-10-24
N BY WRAY WADE SEVERN


 1 Barkes went on. "she had him say Mir. Langdon told him to do 1t. The Jap likes her and would do what he was told.
 Murphy figures that MT. Lang don stood on the block with the new lioness so that he could be in a position to watch the door, and at the same time hear anyone coming out of the shaft"
 Logical reasoning, had 1t been light. Unfortunately for his idea, it was pitch dark" BraitwoOd com mented. Longdon's position puzzled him, too, but he did not agree with Murphy concerning 1t.
 Granted the darkness, but the lioness is half way between the only possible entrances so that @ man could best defend them from such a spot. And there were occasional flashes of lightning" Barkes argued.
 "Yes, there were," Sidney ad- mitted.
 Murphy believes that Miss Hemp field helped herself to a gun at the gunrack, and when she got opposite MT. Langdon-whom she had seen when the lightning made him wis., ible for second-she fired and then faked a faint"
 Tt is 8 solution that will occur to many" Sidney granted, but it fails to hold water. Only the hem of Miss Hempfield's skirt was blood stained, and there were red, brush like marks which her long dress had made in sweeping away from the pool at Langdon's feet when she fell. That proves that the blood had al- ready formed in a pool before she tainted. It takes a little time for blood to seep from a mans shoul- der, through his clothing to the floor"
 T didn't agree with Murphy" Markes treasured Sidney. Heres my own theory-for what it's worth"
 Lets hear it, Barkes."
 "The Jap looms out"
 T fail to see it."
 For many reasons. He told me Langdon had promised to remember him in his will. Men change their wills after marriage"
 Sidney knew this to be true, but he made no comment.
 That Jap didn't like the mar riage. A new mistress seldom keeps old servants connected with her husbands bachelor life" "You score there, What elSe?"
 'Togi searched the furnace room while MT. Gundrum looked around the storeroom. He could have snp- ped back into the Jungle, done the murder and then have joined you upstairs. He could have locked the door when he brought in the lamps, too."
 Possible, but I hardly think Togis the type"
 Type or not, that little gun which Murphy claims was the mur- der weapon was on the rack when I cleaned it yesterday morning." You saw the Lilliput on the rack?"
 T certainly did. wasn't engaged to do maids work but the Jap had to get the house in some kind of order before the family arrived so I finally turned in and helped him. I admit I grumbled at it."
 What else favors your theory?" Sidney asked.
 Before MT. Langdon rang for him, Togi must have been upstairs. He had an opportunity to go into Langdon'S bedroom and look for money, or a possible new will. Who else was there with 8 similar chance"
 "No person, since you have an alibi, unless Langdon upset the room himself before he came down"
 i've one more link in the chain, :" Barkes boasted. Early this morning I found Togi at the back door talk ing to another Jap who works at the village inn. A fellow called Shorty. I'll bet tenner whatever was stolen was passed on to him."
 "I1I have 'Shirty' looked up," Sid- ney said. Better keep these theories to yourself, Barkes. Togi may be putting two and two together against you if you don't"
 He's tried that" Barkes said, grimly. "He insisted I was in the hall when he got there last night. The truth is, I all but stumbled over him when I ran out"
 Nevertheless, keep quiet," the lawyer insisted.
 With an idea of looking over the position of the new lioness to see if there might indeed be reason in Barkes' deductions, Sidney went on down to the Jungle. But study the situation as he would he could see no logical reason for Adam Lang don's peculiar position.
 Why had he not crossed to the coffee table to reassure his wife Why had he removed to the center of the room, mounted a block of highly polished wood, and stood there until an assassin's bullet found him? There were no answers
 AS Braitwood stood trying to find 8 solution, he was startled by a fain Hum" Turning, he saw Craig Gundrum staring at him.
 "Gundruml" he exclaimed. T didn't see you when came in."