Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-02-01
Jonathan Sta99e

The others crowded together again close to
the doorway
turned to Rowley Call Cobb. Rowlcy
Get him here at once. And the others take
them back TO the house.
"Okay" Rowley. his face very grim,
turned to the others and started shepherding
them out of the barn Come on, all of you.
We'd better leave Westlake here until the
police come"
He stopped there for suddenly Inspector
Cobb himself with Perss Rowley hurried
across the threshold of the barn. Cobb looked
very solid and official and taut.
What's happened here, Westlake? Your
daughter told me you were over here and then
Mrs Rowley said you'd heard shot. You
He broke off with a little grunt as he
saw the body lying by the brazier 1 glanced
at Mrs Rowley and saw her lovely face sud
denly lose its tranquility. saw her eyes narrow
in horror.
Then then, it was :"
Rowley went To her He's dead. Persis
I don't want you to Come on back TO
the house. The rest of you, too
Cobb glanced over his shoulder. Call tho
Coroner, will you? Tell him to come Owe
right away"
"Okay'
~ a few moments they had all troopcd off
] Cobb and were left alone with the morta.
remains of Albert Williams the taxi driver
Cobb moved over the hay-scattered boards
Of the floor and stared down at the body
Well Westlake. l got your message that
he'd been at your house this evening ! Ia"
the whole force out combing the Kenmorc
Valley" He gave dry little laugh. Guess
I've been wasting their time" He looked at
n; N
light. us he dead"
Sure haven't examined him But yor
can that with half a glance Bullet went
clean through his head"
And the pistol in his hand" Cobb squatted
down and pcercd at tho wound Looks hia'
suicide, ch ?'
Looks like it."
80 he murdered Norma and bumped HIM
self off before we could arrest him Cobb
looked at me again. Guess our hunch was
right Guess he vas our murderer.
It's lot moro than bunch now Sal.
IT'S certainty"
poured out an account Of the many and
urid things that had happened during the
evening. told him Of the taxi driver
dramatic vsitto my house. Of his halfway
confession of the Judges tragic story, Of ms
wifes amendments 10 IT and finally Of thc
tortured admission had obtained from karcn
And then handed him Norma's diary.
You'll find everything confirmed in thorc.
Cobb" | said The case looks just about
as clear as crystal now
cobb had been listening ntcntly his eyes
never leaving my face. Now ne took the
little notebook and leafed through IT, pausing
here and there He took his time about 1t
At last he shut the book His steady blue
eyes found my face again
Just as tidy as tidy can be he observed
oil hut 10
himself The Judge and Mrs Salter told You
one half Of the story. then Karen told you the
rest And now as a double check We have
Normas diary, tying the Whol" thing up IN
a pink ribbon" His eyes fhCk"d 20 tho patho-
tic little body 10y the hrazicr. And that isn't
all We're even spared having 10 make an
arrest At the most convenient moment for
all parties concerned. the wicked murderer
ups and commits suicide"
The unmistakahlc ring Of irony in ms
voice irritatcd me After all. l was quite
proud of myself for the way IN which had
brought the Investigation 10 a close
Cobb moved away from mo Clanrng
casually IT seemed. around the shadovy IN
terror OF the big barn. He went 20 the body
knclt down by it and cautiously discnGaEoi
the pistol from m dJ5f mans handaCcd fin-
gers II was q small modern automatic.
Guess TINS was his own gun" he mur-
INJURED We examined il together Except
for tho ono shot which had been fired it was
fully loaded Carefully cobb wrapped Tho
automatic IN silk handkerchief Better
look for the empty car'ridge Must be around
here some place
WE STARTED 20 search the struggling hay
w on the floor around the body bat thore
was no visible sign of the cartridge.
That's funny unused Cobb Wonder
where it got to" He paused. And | wonder
Why ne picked on the Rowlcys' barn as the
stage for his suicide -"
didn't know whether or not was meant
to comment that remark.
Humming softly under his breath. he
turned and stared at The brazier.
Wonder why ne bothered to light that
hrazier too. After all, if he was planning to
kill himself it wouldn't have made much
difference whether he died cold or hot
As a matter Of fact ! started wondering
about that