The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-08-11

+FAAA - AAA'ass-a AAtH 4 ~ HaAas
died around midday. and by J
o'clock. summer sunshine hathed
the convoy. now sailing the kindly
Gulf Stream. Like statues tie
officers and men aboard T y
stood IN formation around tie
nsg-drsped coffin containing tie
murdered body Of Captain Te.s.
Only the gentle murmur n the
ocean. swishing along the SIDES of
the liner. could be heard
But the spectacle Of the troop
ships. humble freighters and omi-
nous men Of war. shuffling hks
clumsy dancers through ng-
zaggy quadrille. held no glamor %
young Lieutenant Gregory Rollins
as he sadly listened to the Angli-
can PADRES burial prayer In
the midst Of life We are in DEATH
Through the sounding Of the
lonely Last Post and Reveille came
the heavy splash of the weighted
coffin hitting the sea
oh God. on Cod" sobbed Roll
Inns through frightened lips. A
hand touched his arm. squeezing
IL gently.
Abruptly ne turned his blood
shot eyes from the treacherously
inviting swell that mad Just sval-
lowed the body Of his friend. For
several seconds he stared fiercely
into her very soul. then shook his
head
You couldn't have :. I'm
going crazy =. ! e.
She was plainly puzzled What
are you talking about. Greg ?"
In reply. he clasped one of her
hands on the rail and pressed 1t
until she felt like screaming. He
talked as he had never talked be-
fore - of Syds grand widowed
mother and young sister and his
.fiancee. Those carefree days at
McGill. OF gay episodes on skiing
weekends in the Laurentians. Their
plans for that first leave in LON
don. blitz or no blitz.
II was only hours later, as he
lay in his bunk in the lonely cabin.
that he found himself wondering
why he hadn't told her of his lie
before the Court of Investiga ton.
when he had said he was on the
deck that night. The thought had
occurred to him once. but he had
dismissed it on the grounds that
she would think he was putting
on a gallantry act
As is the way with the Atlantic
in February. the weather had
made another lightning change in
early evening Cold blasts slipped
in with the Florida like zephyrs
and overcoats appeared once more.
Within an hour sleet-like snow
was flashing the decks and labored
groans were coming from the
ocean greyhound's beams The roll
in zigzagging time became so in
tense that the bridge tournament
was Cancelled for the night
Greg was just as glad. He
wanted to lie back and think,
think. think . somewhere in the
crazy pattern must be a clew that
would lead TO a solution. The muir
derer or murderers must be still
on the boat. A knock on the door
interrupted him.
1t was Harry Miley.
He apologized for bursting in
but wanted to ask few questions
about Tees background in the
hope some lead would be found.
The Old Man. he added confiden-
TALLY. seemed sold on the opinion
that some soldier had committed
the crime, due to the nature of
the wound. There might have been
some man with gambling or
personal jealousy motive or
Nothing doing there. Harry
Rollins rasped Tees lived a clean
life and only gambled occasionally
for a tenth of a cent in bridge.
Now supposing you ask me what
ll.r IL
Harry looked at Rollins sharply.
"Okay, Greg, if you don't mind
me repeating myself You were
alone, weren't you. up there on
deck when Tees found you? Or,
were you trying to cover up some
body at the inquiry this morning ."
Rollins swung his feet out of the
bunk. What are you digging for?
Why should | want to cover ID
anybody Maybe you have SONS
idea Of whom I'm covering up
If l am ,"
Hold your horses" Miley cut
in. You needn't be so touchy. I've
got an investigation job showed on
me which you should want TO
assist. My purpose in asking that
question IS simply that the sentry
on duty saw an officer standing
in the shadow of the lifeboat near
the murder scene around midnight.
thought you might nave seen one
Of the boys out there when passing
with Tees and didn't want 10 put
him on an awkward spot by ad-
hitting you left MIN there"
Rollins vas relieved but man.
aged 10 hide H. They chatted on
friendly terms for a while before
Miley rose to leave.
Al the cabin door he paused and
asked casually: BY the way. Greg.
who Is the swell nurse you're in
terested in >"