The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1942-02-05
BY EIIery Queen

INTO private room OH Tie SSCOIlO
floor of the carbarn, where two
detectives watched them. Thumm
then superintendent the exodus OF
the other occupants of the car.
They filed into large general
room on the second floor, guard
ed by half-dozen detectives.
Inspector Thumm was back in
the deserted car with the spraw-
led dead figure when there was
the clang of an ambulance and
two young men in white hurried
into the barn, herded by a short
fat man.
Thumm called: CDR. Schilling!
This way!"
The medical examiner of New
York county puffed into the car
followed by the two internes. He
bent over the dead man, then
said: "Where can take this stiff,
Inspector"
Thumm's eyes twinkled with
grim humor. dump him in that
private room upstairs with the
rest of the party. That ought to
be interesting"
AS DR.. Schilling superintendent
the removal of the body. Thumm
beckoned detective. "Have this
car gone over with a fine-comb
Peabody. Collect every piece OF
junk in it. Then 60 over the rout-
es the Longstreet party and the
other occupants took in passing to
the rooms. want to make abso-
lutely sure that nobdy dropped
any thing"
The Longstreet party sat about
in varying attitudes of misery and
strain, but all were silent.
Inspector Thumm surveyed the
party with almost disinterested
speculation. Sergeant, you told
me that some gentleman here had
identified the dead man as Har-
ley Longstreet. Who was that?"
Duffy pointed to John Dewitt
sitting beside his wife on the con-
tinuous bench that thanked the
four walls.
"You saw that peculiar cork of
needles I took from Longstreet's
pocket in the car" Thumm said,
"Have you ever seen it before?'
Dewitt shook his head. anyone
else here?" All shook their heads.
Thumm rocked little on his
heels. "Miss Browne, Mr.. Dewitt
says that he saw Longstreet and
you dash for the car, and that
you held your frances left arm
until you both got into the car.
Did you see his left hand at all?"
eyes. When he searched for
change and didn't find any. Just
after we got on the car"
Ellis hand was clear - no
blood?"
EMO"
"I'he weapon" volunteered De-
Witt must have been slipped in
to my partners pocket while he
was on the car"
The inspector grinned without
humor. Exactly, Miss Browne,
why did your faince take out his
glasses in the carr"
"He wanted to see about a GER
tain stock"
Thumm clucked encouragingly.
do you know the name OF the
stock?"
1T was International Metals"
She stole swift look at where
Michael Collins sat sullenly
studying the floor. "And Harley
said, when he saw it had drop
ped a lot, that Mr.. Collins might
need help"
Thumm regarded Collins with
curiosity. 81 thought working for
the Income Tax Department kept
you busy. Where do you come in
on this?"
Collins barred his teeth. ''I'm not
sure it's any of your business,
Thumm. But if you must know,
Longstreet advised me to buy
heavy in international Metals
he'd been watching the stock for
me. And the bottom just drop
ped out of it today"
Dewitt was regarding Collins
with frank surprise. Thumm said
quickly: did you know about
this transaction, Mr.. DEWITT"
Certainly not. I'm astonished
to hear that Longstreet advised
buying Metals. I foresaw its col
lapse last week and so advised a
number of my personal custom
ers."
collins, did you speak to Long
street today before you saw him
at the hotel?" asked Thumm.