Evening star., 1941-01-24

Something clicked in his mind
helped him.
"Wha's 'sa matter?' his speech was
thick, uncontrolled Wha's hap
pend?" Kelly shook his head and
a sharp pain shot across his fore
head. Realization OF something
amiss was slowly coming to him
He focused his eyes, attempted to
hear what Calvin was saying.
Speak slowly, CalvinI"
But the buffers voice was high
pitched, frantic.
Miss Sherr, sir Miss Sherr!"
Kelly leaned forward, grasped
Calvin hard. The fuzziness in his
head was clearing What are you
saying? What happened? What
the matter with her?"
Shes gone, sir! They've taken
herI"
Kelly caught his breath abruptly
Uncle John O'Dian!
who has taken her? Are you
sure?"
They came in here and forced
her to leave. Three of them, sir"
When? Why didn't you yell?"
Kelly demanded savagely. He
bounded from the bed Calvin was
explaining as Kelly dressed fran
tically.
This morning at about o'clock
They came in with guns and caught
me. tied me up and stuffed gag
in my mouth"
Can you describe them?"
Il think so, sir. but only one man
The one who held the gun on me.
I couldn't see the other two. They
had a flash and they kept it in my
eyes. I stared straight into it and
after a while I could make out the
outline Of the man holding the
light. He had a white patch on the
side of his jaw and his hat was
turned down all the way around"
Kelly Recalls Fight.
"Ah" Kelly murmued. He was
vaguely remembering what he had
thought was a dream. The sensa-
tion of struggling was still with him:
the hopelessness of being pinned
down securely; and after while. a
delicious WEAKNESS, under which he
had subsidized quietly, had sapped
the strength from him.
They must have chloroformed
me-, he said aloud. Let in some
air will you, Calvin?"
The butler moved swiftly to the
long windows, flung them wide The
morning air was sweet and clean.
Kelly breathed deeply.
How about the rest of them, CAL
VIM"
Il don't know, sir. After they
tied me in the chair, they put gag
in my mouth and blind over my
eyes I just managed TO work my
self loose"
Kelly smiled briefly. Good work,
man
Il heard their voices, sir. I think
I could recognize them"
How many?"
1.-TWO others, sir. One had a harsh
voice and the other was sort of
deep, baritone
Keuy's immediate thought was
of George Gregory. But that was
irrational Gregory would be in
spot if he was in on anything like
this.
Kelly needed time to think HIS
mind was rapidly clearing. Where
could Sherr be? Kelly realized that
he knew nothing about her life.
beyond what she had told him. She
had mentioned country house. But
John ODian would not go there:
that would be TOO obvious. Yet the
obvious might be the safest. 1t was
all confusing.
They tied you up in the kitchen,
you say?" Kelly asked.
Yes, sir. My room is off the
kitchen and one of them came in
and put a gun in my face. l
couldn't move
Calls Sherr's Attorney.
How long did 1t take them to
get Sherr out?"
About 10 minutes, sir"
Kelly began to pace the floor. He
had no idea where he could turn.
Calvin said, Shall telephone the
police, sir?"
Police? No. No, don't do that.
We can't tell what might have hap
pened to her, or what might hap
pen if the police interfere"
who do you think planned this,
sir?"
L don't know, Calvin" Kelly
had decided against telling Calvin
anything After all, there wasn't
any proof. Perhaps someone else
was in on this; although Kelly
doubted the thought. The waiting
was a burden to Kelly. He was
essentially action loving.
Can you rustic something to eat,
Calvin?"
Yes. sir"
"Okay. I'm hungry. incidentally,
what's the name OF Sherr'S laWyer?"
"Er Crosley sir. James Cros-
ley"
where's the telephone book?"
In the library, under the tele-
phone stand"
Calvin retreated toward the
kitchen. He was pressing down his
disheveled hair with uncertain
hands, yet his step was steady.
Kelly strobe toward the library. He
found James Crosley's number. He
dialed and waited impatiently for
voice at the other end.
Good morning. MI. CroSley' S
Office" A cool secretarial voice.
Il want to talk to Mr.. James
Crosley."
who is calling, please?"
Kelly hesitated. "A new addition
to the O'Dian family by way of
marriage. Kelly Madigan is the
name
The tone of the cool voice audibly
changed. will you wait a moment
please?" Kelly knew that the tele-
phone transmitter had been covered
In a moment the girls voice re-
turned. Mr.. Crosley will be glad
to see you in an hour. sir" The
words were cautious. Kelly won
dered what caused that. AS far as
he knew James Crosley had never