The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1941-01-10

tam 1t was Epnralrn footsteps
heard in the kitchen, and
Ephraim who slammed a door, |
had no notion otherwise as to any
explanation of anything that had
happened.
"When only yourself and Mrs.
Benedict were left in this room
after dinner, you say that she
told you she was going to the
powder room, which is in the
hall?" Mr.. Dodson asked.
II don't believe she said that
exactly. AS I remember she said
she was going to powder her nose,
which might have meant a trip
upstairs. 1t was later, when we
were all trying to recall where we
NUT have been at the time that
Eve said she had been in the pow
der room. And that's a strange,
thing, but she said then that it
reminded her of something, or
rather that it explained some
thing"
"Can you be a little more def
mite, please, Mrs. Stuart?"
II don't know" | hesitated. 81
rather got the impression that
something that had puzzled her
when she was in. the powder room
was explained by the murder or
something in connection with it.
We had been trying to figure the
exact time it occurred. | remem-
Der she did not finish what she
was saying and that one of us
asked her what she meant"
And what did she say them"
II don't remember exactly. 1t
was an evasive answer. | think
she said, oh, Just something /
hadn't thought of BEFORE or
something like that. | thought she
was just trying to be mysterious.
And thinking. too. that if she
hadn't kept me in the library l
might have reached the passage
an time to prevent-Aunt Mag
gie's murder"
Does anyone else recall exact
ly what Mrs. Benedict said?"
asked Mr.. Dodson.
Everybody seemed to be wait
ing for someone to speak, then
Kirk said, Il believe Sally has
quoted her correctly. at least so
far as the meaning of Mrs. Bene-
diets statement is concerned"
THANK you." said Mr.. Dodson,
"and now, Mrs. Stuart, do you re-
member who asked Mrs. Benedict
to complete her unfinished state
ment?"
Pointed Question
As looked around, trying to
1 \ remember, l wondered if Mr..
Dodson felt that the identity of
that person might provide a clue
to Ewes murder. While | pondered
this question. Bob said, at was l
who asked her what she had
started to say"
"Ah," said Mr.. Dodson, "then
everyone present had some init
nation that Mrs. Benedict might
know something. Your question
and her evasion. of a direct answer
would have made this fact all the
more pointed.
yes" Bob admitted, "but
did not think of it that way at the
time"
your question was a perfectly
natural one" Mr.. Dodson agreed.
II dare say if you had not asked
it, someone else would have. In
fact, | am surprised that one of
the ladies did not beat you to il"
Then turning to me again. Mrs.
Stuart. it did not occur to you
that Mrs. Benedict might have
passed on through the breakfast
room and have met Mrs. Amber
in the passage, even when you
knew they had quarreled before
dinner?"
Il didn't take their quarrel
seriously. But, yes, it did occur to
me. later on, though knew that
1t didn't make sense"
"Yet the prospect of losing her
alimony might provide a very
strong motive" said Mr.. Dodson,
apparently more to himself than
to anyone else.
Bill was questioned then and
the time element discussed. An
drew had testified that Bill had
the ping pong rackets and net ana
balls in his hands when he found
him upstairs in our room and was
just ready to start back down.
stairs.
Everyone else in turn gave an
account Of his or her whereabouts,
Alice fretfully complaining that
she thought she should not be
questioned again after having
signed a confession Bessie and
Thomas and Indy were queS-
toned too. but nothing came out
which seemed to shed any further
light on the situation. Cant It's
go, now" Bessie asked when that
was over.
But no, MIR Dodson wished US
all TO stay put as he again ex-
it. Miss Dunbar" he
asked, would you mind explain
ing why YOU ran away when you
knew that YOU had no possible
chance of escape?"
Because ] couldn't stand an
more OF this horrible inquisl,ion.
l wasn't trying 10 escape only
wanted to 40 where could be
quiet These policemen are 6endS
They doa't care whether anybody
IS guilty or not All they want is
a confession.
Alice looked from one TO an
other vindietively. her ewes blaz
lng | had never seen her have so
much color or fire,
is that why YOU signed the
coufeSSion9"