The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-24
P&<uf KILLER SPEAKS
~ J RIcHARD/HoUeHToN
QUARTER FORTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER FORTY-E1GHT
The boat landin" was a hot place
IN wait. but it had one great ad-
vantage, I didn't have to look at
the garden and its terrible mem
cries. 1 hung my feet over the
edge and squinted toward the set
ting sun. The light on the water
was a fame that burned my eyes.
Barges and speed boats passed IN
4 distorting mist. Time dragged.
1 asked myself, how would l
feel in George Markham's place?
Suppose 1 had a lovely sister, and
the man who killed my brother
wanted to marry her?
No matter that it was not muir
der-how would I feel?
There seemed to be only n an
swer. I would not want that man
to take my brothers place. Every
time we met, the shadow OF my
brother would be between us.
And even though George Mark
ham might forgive, would Louise
forgive? 1 would have to tell her
some day. I could not keep this
bottled in my heart.
The sun was close to the horizon.
George had said, "Tll come back
after shutdown with my answer
I wanted this suspense to end, and
yet l was afraid of his coming.
What was he doing? Was he go
ing to the police with my story?
The ball of the sun burned red
as it sank into the molten clouds.
It vanished. Purple shadows
stretched long fingers toward me.
Warmth died away. I shivered.
A boat came by with ii 6 h S
aglow. 1 heard the tinkle of glass
inside the clubhouse as the tables
were set for dinner.
Still George Markham did not
appear.
The clubhouse door opened short
1y before 8 o'clock. l rose instead
lily and started toward the man
who came out. Then l halted. 1t
was Captain Mcdonald.
He didn't see me. Instead, he
walked slowly to the willows by
the rivers edge and studied the
ground near where Gala had at
tackled me. He removed his hat
and scratched his head. In the
semi-darkness l could just make
out the shadow of his cigar as it
moved from one side of his mouth
to the other.
Soon the door opened again and
Coroner Silver came out and joined
him. 1 remembered with a shudder
that the young o had de-
clared he would continue his inves-
tigation, unoficially if necessary,
until the killer of Alfred Markham
was apprehended.
The two bloodhounds we're en-
gagged in loW-voiced conversation,
The willows shielded me from them
now, so l walked nearer, as casual
ly as l could. My feet made no
sound on the soft garden soil.
That cook certainly is a wiz
the captain was saying. 81 wish I'd
discovered this place before. And
to think that it took q murder to
d. it"
You know" said Coroner Sill
yer, II was afraid for a time that
we weren't going to get along to-
gether. This business of two Off
cers of the law pulling in opposite
directions isn't at all conducive to
good results
Right. You've got good ideas,
I'm, hut you need a little more ex-
perience. I can help you, and may
be you can help me-"
What do you mean, 3maybe'?'
Well, it takes an old hand
like me a long time to change his
rcethods."
LAS long as it will take me to
get experience?
The captain slapped the younger
man on the shoulder. You're
okay, jim" They both laughed.
l moved away, fearful of dis
covery. The conversation did not
seem significant, but on the other
hand if they were going to pull
together now they might yet break
down my alibi. 1 was alarmed.
Again the clubhouse door opened.
I recognized George Markham un-
der the new lights that had been
strung between the wings of the
building. He strobe toward me.
"Sorry I'm so late," he said.
'I've been doing a lot of investi-
eating"
He sat down on one of the bench
es and motioned me to sit beside
REIA IANAM COIIRT I