The Wilmington morning star., 1940-06-21
FORTY-SIX

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
The slain mans brother met mi
in the front of my address ter
minutes later in his automobile. HI
was excited. Before I had time t.
saw a word he exclaimed, so Il
was St. Clair? I suspected him al
along! That business about"
mo, it was not St. Clair!"
But"
"St. Clair can help explain your
brothers. death, but he had moth
ing to do with it."
George was taken aback. "Ho"
how are you so sure?
because I know who killed your
brother"
"Then tell mel"
I shook my head. "1n another
fifteen minutes you will know. This
is going to be a shock to you
and I want to prepare you for it
Let's 90 to St Glars office"
"How about the police?"
..Never mind the police"
He gave me a queer look but
started the car without further
question.
St. Clair was surprised to see
US. He invited us into a private
of the suite he occupied. u
was rather expecting the police be-
fore this" he said. II suppose yor
want to see me about that matter
of the bootleg liquor" He sounded
tired. give been a fool. I suppose
you are going to ask me to resign
as president of the club. I've al
ready written my resignation"
"Forget the bootleg liquor"
told him. 'We're here on more Sc
rous business. We're inquiring into
the death of Alfred Markham"
He whitened, Surely you don't
think that +"
IT merely want you to explain
something that led up to his death
something that happened on the
night of May 16."
St. Clair frowned. Mechanically
he waved us to seats, and sank
into the big chair behind his desk
IL don't understand, Strickland
What happened the night OF May
1852"
THAT was the night we went
to the club for a midnight dinner
for Jack Berry, who was going tt
be married the next day."
He clenched the arms of hi:
chair. Surely you don't mean tina
Jack Berry"
MY God!" cried George. why
les the last person I would sus
sect"
1 raised my hands in despair a
he impetuosity of these two men
Listen /! Don't jump to conclu
sions. On our way to that party
st. Clair, you and I stopped at thu
Markham home, remember?
want you to tell George Markham
what happened"
St. Glars mouth dropped open
"Why-I remember now. But Al
fred had merely been suffering
from a nightmare. He told us s.
himself. Nothing happened. He 60
over it. There couldn't have bee
any connection"
Nevertheless, I want you to tel
George exactly what happened
You may not see its significance
but I believe George will"
st. Clair began uncertainty. II
was shortly before II o'clock, I be
leve, when we arrived at you
house, George. OF course yo1
weren't there that night. The onl.
n home was Alfred. We knew h
Vas there, although he didn't an
swer the bell, SO we walked in
here was a dim light in the Ii
oary. We saw him on the coucl
there, groaning. I spoke, and h
!eaped up like a mad man. H
came running out, making for tn
front door past us as though some
thing horrible were chasing him
We stopped him, and after a fey
Ainutes he Gained down. He 500,
RAJ laughing about it. Said he ha,
dropped off to sleep on the coucI
md was having a nightmare. W,
frightened him, that was ALL"
St. Clair stopped, but I prompt
ed him. THAT wasn't all. VIVA
happened on the way to tn
party?"
"Oh, Alfred didn't want to 2
10 the party. Said he had to Sc
man-it was a matter of lif
and death. We agreed to take hir
TO see the fellow on the way. Whe
we got into my car he gave u
the address, down at the end {
E L LANAN-COURT r
Enunded m A