Evening star., 1941-04-12

person in the house seemed to be
In the library. In flash Sandra
decided what she would do. Joe's
coat was hanging on the coatrack
Just outside the library door. With
out a minutes hesitation she walked
swiftly to the coatrack and with
single motion of her arm, her back
to the hall, took the gun out OF the
bag and slipped it into the large
patch pocket of the coat. 1t was the
pocket hanging nearest the wall.
The gun would be safe there until
she had finished her testimony.
Then when the men had gone for
the night, she could easily dispose
of it.
Asks for Crystal.
A blur of faces swan before her
eyes as she stepped into the library.
Mark and Crystal were just leaving
and Sandra on sudden impulse
reached out and touched Crystals
arm as she passed her.
"I wish you'd stay with me until
7 finish" she said in low voice.
CRYSTAL looked inquiringly at the
officer standing near the door who
nodded vaguely but made no move
of any kind. Fortunately Mark had
heard her request and stepping
quickly over to the coroner evl-
IDENTIFY obtained his permission at
once. He came back Immediately
and guided both girls to chairs at the
end of the library table. The cor
oner, a tall guant man with thin
gray hair and tight lips, rose and
faced her. After she had been sworn
in as a witness, the coroner spoke
to her directly.
Mrs. Starr, out of the deepest
consideration for you, we shall try
to make your appearance before
this jury as brief as possible. But
we count on you to help us in every
way you can"
She bowed gravely and he con-
tinued.
Allow me to remind you that you
have just sworn to tell the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the
truth" He paused to let the full
effect of his words sink in. The
ensuing silence was heavy, palpable.
For an instant her eyes evaded his.
For her alone, of all the people in
that room, his words were an oml-
nous warning.
The Captain Accuses.
Then quick expert questions re-
viewed the events of the previous
night after Sandra had left the
country club. Her story was brief
and followed the format of the ques-
tioning of Capt. Jones the night
before. The captain, listening in
tently, finally gave her a frosty
smile as he whispered few words
to the coroner who nodded and
turned at once to Sandra.
You spoke last night of seeing
a man at the window of your hus-
bands Office. Please tell the jury
when you first noticed him"
Il tried to help my husband. How
much time passed I do not know.
At last when I had done what little
! could, happened to look up and
I saw this man watching through
the window. He had scar under
his left eye"
She could see the captain bristle.
~Go on" he raSped. Tell the rest
of it."
There isn't any more that I can
tell" Sandra answered quietly, but
sn angry light f1ared up in her eyes
as she spoke. A tense silence fol-
lowed, broken at last by the captain.
May 1 take the witness?" he de-
manded abruptly The coroner i'm
mediately gave his consent and the
captain sprang to his feet.
You are suppressing valuable in
formation, Mrs. Starr" he exclaimed,
his round, fat face very red. did
you or did you not say that the man
you saw on the veranda shot your
husband"
'I made no such statement"
"what did you say?"
"I told you exactly what I had
heard and what I saw. I heard
shot. I came into the office, found
my husband desperately wounded
and saw a man looking through the
window"
Chrystal heard a newspaper man
behind her whisper to his neighbor:
THE girl makes a darn good Wit