Evening star., 1941-10-17

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me, Mr.. Eranklin?"
Mrs. Fowler, when were you in
the library yesterday?"
The tall, graceful woman replied,
Frequently, Mr.. Franklin"
Did you touch anything?"
She smiled. Yes, suppose did.
But after all, that is not unusual"
Who, took care of the library,
Mrs. Fowler?"
The housemaid sometimes Ames
or l Strengthened up" She was
plainly puzzled. rs there anything
amiSS, Sir?"
WAS there anything special you
did in there yesterday"
Not that l remember. Oh, yes,
the humidor had been sent out for
repairs. I put it back in the room"
Were you acquainted with the
first Mrs. Tarringtotn?"
We'll, in away She arranged |
for me to come to work for her, but |
she died before I arrived"
Where did you come from?"
Kentucky" She threw her head |
back slightly.
Mrs. Fowler, just what do you
think of Jane?"
Think of her?" she shifted. Not !
much, have to admit"
Would you say she was capable
of murder?"
Mrs. Fowler let her gaze rest on
the scene outside the windows be-
fore she answered. Then she pulled
her attention back, apparently with
an effort, and looked steadily at the
detective when she said in a low
voice, That is a terrible thing to
say of any one, Mr.. Franklin"
Even of some one you have cause
to diStrust?"
Admits Distrust.
Even of some one I do distrust."
The words were almost a whisper.
You are loyal servant. Mrs.
Fowler. No doubt you are well pro-
vided for in the will?"
Il doubt it, sir" she said in a
matter r-of-fact tone. Mr.. Tarring-
ton was not one to reward service |
generously" asR
Did he have any children?"
mo, sir"
You seem very emphatic"
I know of none, is what mean"
Franklin bowed. That is all Ask
Mrs. Harrington to come in, please"
Henry Tarrington's widow had
changed into a soft green tailored
frock. When she came in Franklin
was struck by her beauty.
Have chair, Mrs. Harrington.
There are some things that need
clearing up" Shirley took deep
chair near the fireplace and sank
back into its cushions.
First of all, who do you think
sent you that money in the candy
when you were at Farrar's Lodge?"
Shirley shook her head. "I don't
know. I don't know who knew
where I was"
your husband?"
A grim smile hovered around her
lips. Il can't picture him sending
me candy, let alone money, Mr..
Franklin" She paused and then
said in low voice, '"I sometimes
wonder how I came to think I loved
him, or he, me-"
Forgive me. but you were not |
the first rich widow whom he mar
ried?"
mo. The other poor girl died"
The last words were a whisper.
who told you about her?"
"He did,
Franklin let the silence remain
unbroken for few minutes "Well,
we are at the end of the road, near
ly, Mrs. Harrington"
Shirley raised troubled eyes to
Franklin's face. Cant we just let
it drop?" she asked. HE so deserved
to die, really he did"
"That's not the laws view, Mrs.
Harrington" Then he asked, Did
you see Edith Blackjack here last
night?"
Edith! No! Was she here?"
'Yes. That is why she tried to
keep you quiet; she didn't know
what you had SEEN"
TT doesn't seem a bit like her"
Franklin turned to look directly
dI Oililley- MIS-. 1dIIllS IOl, uc |
said briskly, have you any idea
why your husband was killed, or
who killed him?"
Shirley took a long time to reply
"Any one of us might have, Mr..
Franklin. We were all in his clutches.
He had us where he wanted US"
The phone rang and Franklin
scooped the receiver up to his ear
with a sharp Hello"
A voice ratified at the other end