The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-08-13

0AEDOuE, OdyACE AhW Ps@NSAACNs After talking to Barbour, Sayler returns to his study alone. In 20 minutes Hazel goes to the door, finds Sayler dead. CHAPTER II
 The still form of Martin sayler was thing of hideous fascination. One arm encircled his head, buried partly. in the rug. The other came out straight from his body and bent at the elbow. Only the white sleeve of his linen suit seemed stained by the blood that darkened the rug.
 The five of them stood for min utes in the doorway. It was Bar bour who finally broke the spell.
 "Well, I'll be = suppose that had to happen sooner or later"
 Maybe he's still alive," Rhoda suggested.
 Dale looked at her, and she thought she recognized glimmer of something fearful in his eyes. Lets see," he said. They didn't need to look too closely. AS they stood over the body, they could see one side of Sayler's face. His eye was still open-still hard and friendless. There wasn't any ques- tion about it. Martin Sayler was dead. Mardell bent down and put his hand on the dead mans shoulder.
 Don't touch him." Dale com manded. What are you trying to do?"
 Mardell strengthened. T was just going to tur nhim over."
 well, don't. Don't anybody touch thing. Not until the police get here"
 Hazel stifened. "The pouce' Must We"
 Dale turned toward her and said duly, What do you think?"
 From the library, at the other end of the room, tall, gray haired man in buffers livery had entered the room and was stand ing stiffly at attention. els there anything I can do, sir?" he asked Dale.
 Dale turned toward the butler. Nothing at the moment, Willows. MT. Sayler is dead"
 "Yes, sir, I know" And there was no sorrow in his voice.
 "Go back to the kitchen and tell the others to remain there until the police arrive" Willows retreated. Dale hurried over to the desk in the southeast across from the doorway through which they had entered to dis cover the body. He picked up the telephone and asked for police headquarters.
 Barbour stood peering out of the heavily curtained French win- dows that broke the array of bookcases just west of the desk. Dale cautioned him not to touch anything and then he turned his attention back to the instrument in his hand.
 Homicide squad? Who's in charge there now? Lieutenant OLeary. Thank you, may speak to him?" A brief pause. Lieu tenant Dale Appleby is my name. My stepfather, Martin Sayler, has just been shot to death :. ~. Yes. wish you would. Fifteen minutes, then. Yes, everyone will stay here." He gave the address and hung up.
 Can't we wait in the other room?" Rhoda asked.
 T think it would be better" Dale agreed. "The police will be along quickly. Just tell them what you know about this. Lord knows that isn't very much.'
 The police weren't long in com- ing. Dale was standing at the drawing room window when the lights of several cars flashed up the driveway. Dale himself went to the door and admitted two men in civilian attire and three uni- formed officers.
 Lieutenant OLeary introduced himself. He was tall and broad shouldered-a tremendous bulk ot man. But there was 8 friendly twinkle in his eye.
 | This is Sergeant Carroll" He pointed to the shorter man, with | fat jowls and unsmiling features T suppose you're MT. Appleby."
 "Yes;" said Dale. "The others are in the drawing room. Noth- ing's been touched"
 "OLeary nodded approval. "Where | is it?"
 Dale indicated the closed dool of the study. O'Leary ordered ths uniformed men to wait in tht hallway, and then he led the way into the study. When he saw the body, the lieutenant glanced swiftly at his assistant and then al Dale.
 How'd it happen. MT. Apple Iby?" he asked.
 T don't know. We were sitting in the drawing room. Sayler hac gone back to this room little be. fore. He wanted to see one of hi guests -- Miss Leighton. When shs came into the room. she found hin here-just like this"
 What about the shot?" "No one heard it."
 The lieutenant bent over thu lifeless form and lifted the heavy shoulders. For several seconds he stared blankly at the stained white coat front and at the mock ing eyes of the dead. man. OLeary turned to Sergeant Carroll. AThe medical examiner will be along any minute. Bring him IT when he comes" he instructed.