The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-08-22
"A Book Provides a Clew

| it except that someone else Cancelled
his reservation at the last min
Ute"
Good" OLeary said. Listen,
we don't want any fuss. Have the
stewardess go into the plane and
tell her to come out for minute"
Sergeant Carroll wiped his moist
forehead with his handkerchief as
he and OLeary waited in the pas
senger room. In a few minutes, a
stewardess came In with Rhoda
Waters. Rhoda looked around curl
ously, and when he eyes fell on the
officers, red flashed involuntarily in
her cheeks.
For an instant, 1t appeared she
intended to flee. Then she COM
posed herself and walked over to
where the detectives were stand
ing. did you send for me?" she
asked.
Eyes," OLeary said CURLY. "Stew-
ardess, have Miss Waters bags TAX
en- off the ship. She won't be tray
cling with YOU"
Rhoda's eyes flashed fury and
her lovely features reflected the
anger in her heart. How dare you!
I'm not criminal. You can't order
me around like this. haven't done
anything"
"Why were you leaving, Miss Wa
ters?" the lieutenant inquired clam
ly.
That's none of your business. I
can go as please. You've got your
murderer. What more do you want?
Let me go. intended to take that
plane"
OLeary was patient II know
how you feel, Miss Waters, and I'm
sorry. But you'd better stay {.
voluntarily. Otherwise"
The girl looked appealingly at
the lieutenant and then a freshet
of tears rolled gently down from
the corners of her eyes. II just
wanted to get away couldn't
stand it any longer. Dale knew I
was going. He was going to meet
me in New York in few days. We
were going to get married"
She sat down on one Of the long
benches. From her large, red hand
bag, she extracted first a handker-
chief and daubed at her tears. Then
she opened tiny makeup kit and
patched up the tear-splattered
rouge. "I'll go back" she said.
OTeary patted her awkwardly on
the shoulder. That's better. I'm
really very sorry it has to be like
this. Murders are always disagreea-
BILE though :. for everyone. Come
on, we'll take you back"
Dale Appleby was surprised to
find OTeary and Carroll waiting
for him in the study when he came
downstairs. There was spring in
the young mans step, lifting note
in his voice
I'VE wanted to look around once
more" said OLeary.
Dale smiled graciously. 'The
place is yours. Look around all you
like. If there's anything can do
to help"
"You can 60 over the whole story
again, if you don't mind" OLeary
suggested. I'VE want to be sure ev-
erything is straight. You can tell
Sergeant Carroll all about tin
the drawing room, If you will. I'd
like to look around this place once
more"
When Lieutenant OLeary was
alone, he stood for moment in
the center Of the broad room, and
little burrows creased his brow
unevenly. He looked about the
room, as If grasping for something
tangible - something that would
give q key to the sinister mystery
of Martin Sayler's violent death.
He sauntered over to the window
and looked out. Idly his fingers
probed the small catch that was
still unlocked as it had been the
night before. He turned away from
the window and started momen-
tarily when he saw another figure
across the room. It was his own re-
Election in the mirror directly
across.
There was something about the
arrangement of the books in the
room that bespoke Sayler's char
acter - his inSistence upon order
and organization. Each book was
lined up perfectly, indented about
two inches from the edge OF the
shelf. Sets Of law books were
arranged by numbers, and miscel-
laneous volumes were all carefully
placed in alphabetical order.
In the cases between the fireplace
and the window, OIeary discovered
two books, transposed. The entire
shelf contained state supreme court
decisions. Volume 1915 had some
how got squeezed between 1916 and
1917 and was jutting out about an
inch farther than the others.
OLeary started instinctively to re-
place the heavy volume to its right
full position when he stopped.
That's strange" he muttered to
himself. II wonder"
He walked around the room and
carefully checked the other books
Not a volume was out of place
Everything was exactly as Say
ler's meticulous nature demanded
Only along the west wall, where
Riggs had led them to the safe
CINE 81 A A(ES