The Wilmington morning star., 1940-09-23
THIRTY

For the fraction OF a second
Mina's eyes were amazed as sne
saw Robert Barton and Linda
standing at the door of the Acker-
man apartment.
There was hatred in the glance
and something that was remlnls-
cent of fear. She opened the door
wider, though, and asked them to
come in.
I'VE want to see Miss Acker-
man, Miss Sue Ackerman," Rob-
ert said quite formally. Miss
Avery wishes to offer her con-
dolence."
Certainly! Won't you sit DOWN.
Questions were spinning through
Linda's brain. What was Nina
Nevins doing at this apartment, lar
uptown in the Bronx, at this hour!
Did she know these people? HAD
the sister sent for her?
Sue will be here in a moment,
Nina said, and reached for a clga-
ret. Robert sprang to his 1eet 10
light it for her and she studied MS
face as she cupped her hands
around the match. $50 wasn't so
far wrong in my surmises that
YOU and Miss Avery r fond OF
each other?" she asked coollly.
'Mr. Stafford was detain' :, so l
offered to come as an escort,
Robert answered.
Detained? Surely not by the
police!" Her laughter was low and
frightening.
'sWhat are you doing here,
Mina?" Rob asked.
Sue is an old friend of mine.
We knew each other in Hollywood.
When l heard what had happend,
of course l came out. She sent for
me, in fact"
II heard your program tonight.
That is, l heard part of it, Miss
Nevins," Linda said, because sac
coulC not sit there so quietly while
the day ran into morning. Clara
bell loved your voice. l didn't
know she knew you, but now l
understand"
1--WE never had met. It is Sue l
know
The older sister came into the
room then. Her face was white
and drawn, but her eyes held poise.
She did not take Linda's proffered
hand, but sank down on a divan.
$50 you are the girl who escaped
the bullets because you gave my
sister your d. sky" she asked in a
low, husky voice.
I'm so sorry, Miss Alderman,
but she asked for my desk"
"You shouldn't be sorry. Other
wise you would have got the bull
lets. The-murderer might have
waited around for you"
But it's so terrible!"
so is life, my dear! You're just
learning. Other people get the
breaks. The May-time baskets are
hung at somebody else's door. The
parade goes down another street.
Don't ever think it doesn't" Her
voice was bitter with Illustration
and worry and anger.
But your sister"
Il know. She was all l had, and
I loved her. She-She never had
a chance to even dream how nice
life could be if you drew a lucky
number Then the hardness broke
and her eyes were as scared as a
child's.
Someone is coming for me soon,
SO l can see her. She's at the -
dertaker's now. She's-dead."
All the way down the street
Linda remembered the woman's
shattered armor. She thought, too,
of something else and voiced her
thought to Robert.
IF Nina had been guilty she
would not have wantel to be in
that house tonight. She would feel
badly over her mistake"
Nina didn't do it," Rob an
swered. "She couldn't have.
checke|. the studio and she lad
not left the rooms. Dozens Of peo-
pie know where she wa fir m
hours before the murder until lolg
after it. l was .fraid, too. That's
out and I'm glad. 1t would have
been such a terrible thing to bring
On you"
: Tho l." She was as ! It as the
raindrops swirling down the wind.
Sarah will have an alibi, too, l
RELA LANAN-COITRT RI