The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-30
THIRTY-SIX


linda recognized the woman on
The Staten Island ferry as Sue
Alderman. sister of Clarabell Ack-
erman. the girl who had been so
ruthlessly murdered in the man
office of the Bagley Models agen-
cy. ,
Linda had wondered what hac
hecome of this older sister and
whether or not she had been seeing
Nina Nevins.
It was odd to meet the sister on
a Staten Island ferry, though. The
Alderman apartment was far up
town, in no way related to this dis
tant island.
.eHave you relatives on the IS
.1and?" Linda asked casually.
mo. l have nc relatives at all,
now that my sister is dead The
voice was not bitter, rather 1t was
knocking.
"Miss Alderman, who wanted 10
kill herr" Linda asked impulslve-
ly. 1859,
mot anyone, my dear q.
Don't you realize those BULLETS
were meant for your"
The boat was nearing the New
York skyline and people we're
crowding around so they would be
able to leave the boat when 1t
docked. Linda spoke quickly.
DO you know who did this
thing?"
The woman didn't answer for a
moment. Then she shrugged her
shoulders. What makes you think
that l would know? And why would
not 1 be as eager to find out as
you are?".
"Of course you would. It's just
that it's spoiled SO many things Tor
me-" The boat was almost in.
Have you seen the evening pa
PERI" the woman asked.
Linda shook her head. mo. I've
stopped reading the stories entire
y"
Yes? And looking ct the PIC
lures, too? You photograph very
well, my dear, and the newspaper
likenesses aren't half bad. ] think
you might be interested in this"
She was holding a paper toward
Linda, a slim finger in a shabby
glove, pointing to a special para
graph.
Linda read it. "The revolver,
from which the two fatal bullets
were shot has been identified as
one belonging to Miss Sarah Mark
ley glamor queen of last season,
and daughter of the well-knoWn
producer, Peter Markley."
The story went on to say that
Miss Markey's actions were COM
pletely accounted for on the night
of the fatal shooting and she her
self had not missed the gun until
men or the ballistics bureau had
confronted her with evidence that
it was her weapon which was re-
sponsible for the death shots.
However, police were Investigate
ing the iron-clad alibi, the words
went on. Linda read them, fascina-
ton growing. Had Ronald known
this when he talked to her? Had
he been afraid that Sarah would in
some way be implicated, and so
been willing for an old man to suf-
er a few more days until Sarah
was entirely free?
Men were only human. But Ron
ME couldn't do this. Yet, why was
not it more worthy to ask a few
days reprieve for a girl than for a
career?
II should like to come to see you
some day, Miss Avery" Sue Ack-
erman said as the boat swung into
its berth. Are you home nights?"
Yes, usually" Yes, she would
be at home at night from now on.
Ronald would not be coming and
Robert had gone away.
Robert! At the name her heart
felt the lift of wings. Robert! She
couldn't let him sail away forever,
aiiu yet DIG loVeu, VI IIldyUe Hdu
loved Ronald.
1t was lonely in the apartment
when she returned to it. She missed
Caroline. There was no one now
who might call her whose voice she
especially wished to hear. In some
undefinable way she knew that
Ronald would not try to reach her,
would not apologize. "a.