Evening star., 1941-10-11

There would be no long walk for her
today. Soon the children would be
up and she would have to know
what to do about them. She was
about to speak to Frank concerning
them when Scrubby appeared at the
door. His cropped hair was rumpled
and blue shadows covered his chin.
He blurted out, "StrasSon isn't at
home, Chief. They got into his
apartment with a pass key, Evil
dently he didn't sleep there, though
the night man says he came in
about g."
when did he leave?" barked
Franklin.
They don't know. The clerk says
he didn't see StrasSon come down
and the elevator boy swears he
didn't carry any bags down for
StraSson or see him go down"
Franklin only grunted and Scrub
by, apparently understanding the
meaning of the sound. departed.
when did Harrington meet Stras-
son, Miss Trowbridge?" the detec-
tive asked Jane
Actually, I'm not sure, Capt.
Franklin" James bright voice told
nothing. "The first time I saw him
In the office was about a year ago.
But they seemed to be on good
terms then"
And their business?"
"I rather hate to say, captain" :"
Jane spoke reluctantly, deferen-
TALLY.
In Coal Deal.
"You might as well, you know"
Jane said slowly, Mr.. Harrington
had some coal interests he was dick
ering with StraSSon about"
Coal? Where?" The soft ques-
tion shot out at Jane
She raised her eyes and faltered
"In Illinois"
Franklin smiled. Are you from
Illinois, Miss Trowbridge?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Oh, no reason. I just wondered.
You don't speak like a native New
Yorker or fastener, either"
Franklin turned abruptly to Felic-
ity. You have two children with
you. Tom tells me-
"YeS, Elaine and Hilary Heming-
way. They are Mrs. Tarrington's
brothers children. They will be
stirring soon, and I wondered"
Quite right, too, Miss Newgate.
Can't you give them their break
fast upstairs? BY the middle of the
morning things will appear normal
here; then you can tell them their
uncle has
Gone away. They'll understand.
Their mother went away several
years ago"
Sometime this morning, could
see them? Oh, I won't frighten
them, you may be sure" Franklin's
courtesy was so sincere that Felicity
forgot for the moment that he was
really issuing a command.
The group broke up then. The
men went back to the library. Mrs.
Fowler began clearing the table
silently, deftly. Jane moved to the
windows and Felicity, on her way
to the children, stopped beside her.
Few Fingerprints.
Don't you wonder where Mrs.
Harrington is, Felicity" Jane asked
in a hushed voice. She's not the
running-away type, do you think?
Running away takes, well, 1t takes
decision, courage"
Perhaps Mrs. Harrington didn't
run away, Jane. Perhaps she was
taken"
Unknown to Farrar? Hardly"
well, I don't know Farrar, Of
course" Felicity began when Jane
cut in.
We'll, I don't either, you may be
sure. Except by reputation" she
finished.
Felicity left Jane there in the
window, flushed again, with the
fingers of color shooting up her
throat and chin. Jane seemed to
react to strange things. Farrar's
name, what Harrington and Stras-
son were negotiating, where she
was born. Felicity couldn't see what
that last had to do with it, but
anyway, 1t wasn't her problem.
Elaine and Hilary would be that
Now that both their aunt and uncle
were removed from direct control
she wondered to whom to turn.
She could cable their father, but
he was helpless. Still he ought to
know that his brother-in-law was
murdered, his sister missing and
Felicity knew, suspect.
Down in the library Franklin was
answering reporters over the tele-
phone and advising them to remain
in New York. He hoped they would
He turned to watch the shuff1ing
group of men carry Harrington out
of his house. Then he returned
to the examination of the room.
How about f1ngerprints, Scrub
by?"
Not many, chief. That is, except
Tarrington's, of course. There are
some others, about the desk, bul
only those, I'll bet of the secretary
Franklin Looks Around.
"And maybe the butler and maids
That would probably mean no one
was looking for anything specia
In the desk"
I'VE will have to get all theil
prints. won't we?"
"Sure thing. You do it. Explain
that we need theirs to eliminat
prints here. That way we can mar
row it down and identify the in
truder's prints" Franklin grinnet
and winked. You know" he added
so we take the intruder angle
do we?"
mo, we don't, but they do, if W
can make them"
so you have a theory. What d
you think, chief?" Scrubby's awe
voice dropped to whisper.
Il don't think; you know I neve
think before lunch. Now get t
those prints, the quicker the bette
And, another thing, take loo
around Miss Trowbridge's room, es
paciallv the business cOrreSDOnG