The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-13
CHAPTER. VII


 popping up with an alibi for Jeanie was the climax of the inquest. That evening in the cottage with Maudie and Denny going over the proceed 1ngg, I could see that there had been other bits of food for thought, but I was still so glad the girl had been taken out of the picture that much Os what they said didn't register.
 Why should be so interested in her welfare I really couldn't aay except that I hated to see anyone hurt and she had been hurt by Herbert Cord, and them the sight of young Ted Palmer, embarrassed, with his honest brown eyes blinking behind his glasses as he stood up there at the crucial moment, appealed to my stupidly romantic streak. Heaven knows I haven't much patience with the puppy love see in my high school classes, but perhaps Denny's arrival had thrown me back into 6 mellow feminine mood. Anyway, I felt warm glow in my heart for young Tod.
 In colder, more logical mo- naent, I could admit to myself that I didn't believe for one moment that he had been with her. But then ! doubt If many people at the inquest believed it either Only Jeanie, after a moments hesitation while the confusion died down after his statement, had looked at him for long moment and then said, T was with Mir. Palmer"
 So that was that. There was nobody to call either of them a liar although Margie Dixon's furi- GUS whisper to the coroner could De observed by all.
 Maudie was rather delighted over Margie's part that morning. "She's a fresh little hussy," she told Denny.
 "she's been around all right" he said. T don't think she ex- peoted some of those questions because she lost her high and mighty manner when they were sprung" And she had, too. It seemed that Margie had danced in night clubs and it was in one of those hot spots that she met Cord and had picked up her big diamond ring as well as the du- Nlous honor of being his fiancee. xt was during the questioning of Margie that Cord'S background had been sketched.
 Cord, according to her grudging admission, had been friend of men now being questioned or indicted by sze Grand Jury Investigating ganb- ling, and though her memory ire. muently failed her, she told enough Co paint Cord as anything but an up- right. honest, law-abiding citizen.
 Jeanie had sat there listening with flushed cheeks and beaten druOp to her shoulders: Miss Akillie had grown stiffer and more stoney. You could guess what she would gay to her niece when the ewO were alone.
 Danny, lad, were you the one who told them to ask Ia Dixon W1kGx0 @A1G WA1 1t tkAG tAAkAC VA bAAG erime7" Maudie asked sweetly.
 Denny grinned at her and looked at me in that way that makes me want to pat his cheek. Now aGaudie, I just had . hunch. I stopped in Q place for 6 beer on she way here," he continued, land { met guy I knew"
 He was always meeting guys he knew, which was one reason he never was on time when he used to call on me. "He asked how things were going in town and we chewed the fat bit. He said something about seeing Stush ve- setti the day before and got to wondering why StuSh should be sn this nice, quiet farm country. @tslsh used to be thick with Cord an the lush days and while he hasn't been called by the Grand jury yet. figured he still gets around and knows what's what. I just wondered if he'd seen Cord and 90 I suggested the coroner ask Margie. never expected her to bite SO beautifully"
 Margie had bitten: hook, line and sinker. Her green eyes had spit fire and she had become ri- dicuIously aioof and dignified. But for all that one could sense