Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-12-28

Red-Haired Norma Hale Whose
Strange Death Led 10 a
Hunt for a Mysterious Muir
derer.
WAS out there on the lawn last
night, listening in on our CONVEX
sation.
"He knew we suspected muir
der, and he had the perfect prop
20 throw us off the scent. He
burned the taxi in a lonely spot
near enough TO my house where
| was. almost certain 10 notice
the light from the flames That
was 70 draw our attention 10 the
taxi Next he walked away from
the wreck. making a very obvi-
Gus track across country which
led 70 my house.
There again, that could have
been a neat little trick 90 fool us
into believing that the taxi driver
really existed and was the man
We wanted. You say Albert
Williams has disappeared into
thin air. Maybe he never was
anything but thin air from the
beginning"
Cobb took out his pipe and,
sucking AZ il ficrcoly. leaned for
ward his large hands on his
knees Il admit that's kind Of
ingenious, Westlake. But If
you've got the right idea how
could you fit Libby Brompton's
death into this shipton Trust
Fund motive? She wasn't one of
the grandchildren
Il admit ! can't see that at the
moment Maybe the taxi driver
really did kill Libby or wait a
moment Maybe the taxi driver
element in that death was a hoax
too Maybe now that Mrs.
Brompton's married Francis
Hale there is some sort Of finan-
cial tic-up- between the two
families
That's possible"
Sure. I continued excitedly.
When she was here Just now
Mrs Hale seemed mighty eager
10 get her husband out Of here
before he could tell me any more
And she seemed mighty eager 20
got him % spend Christmas at
Fallowncld TOO. Maybe that's il.
Maybe tho tic.up comes through
Mrs Halo"
Inspector Cobb sucked AZ his
urlit pipe and said abruptly:
Just why did Hale come 70 you
and volunteer all this informa-
ton ."
He made that very plain. He's
crazy about Karen And he fig
ures that If someone is murder
ing off the grandchildren. they'll
sooner or later get around TO
Karen He wants that stopped
whatever happens"
Comb looked serious. How
Old Karen
"Twcnty-thrcc."
Two years 10 20 before she's
twenty-five Then I guess she's
safe enough, unless she thinks
about marrying. But II she
should get engaged and If Hale is
right, ! guess she would be in
very great danger IN as much
danger as this unknown Toni
He paused. $50 Hale more or
less accused one Of the two
ladies' ."
yes. Rowley wasn't married
10 Persis when Jimmie died and
Hale swears the-Judge was too
crazy about Jimmie to have
killed him"
"Hmmm." A faint smile
played around Cobb's lips
well, Westlake. this is a brand
new picture isn't IL? And if
You've got the right slant about
the taxi driver, it's darn irgeni-
Gus. Building up a mythical
murderer 10 keep us off the right
track. very ingenious
At that moment Dawn made n
hreathlcss entrance 10 announce
that I was wanted on the phone
It's Mrs. Rowlcv. Daddy"
she said Norma's mother
Mrs Rowley, One Of Hale's
suspects! I glanced at Cobb He
glanced az mc.
Entertain the Inspector,
Dawn. 7 said. I'll bc back in
minute"
The telephone was in the
office l hurried to it. Persis
Rowlcy's voice came over the
wire. II was as soft and placid
as II had been shortly before the
tragedy Certainly il wasn't the
voice Of n conventional murderer.
Doctor Wcstlakc. I'm sorry
to trouble you But something's
come up. Something rather i'm
portant. something I simply have
10 discuss with you Could you
come right away ."