Askov American., 1943-11-18
Element of Time
By STANLEY CORDELL
Associated Newspapers.
WNU Release.

nv ESLEY was angry because the
W train was delayed at Ashville
Junction. He was equally angry at
the telephone, because there was a
delay in getting his call through.
But when at last he heard Prue's
voice, the heat went out of him.
Hello, darling! I'll be an hour
late in arriving. A COW on the
track, or something It's going
to be marvellous seeing you again. /"
'Call me at the office the minute
you get in"
Wesley hadn't seen her for six
months. 1t seemed like six years.
He had promised himself over and
over again that he wouldn't 60 away
another time for so long period
without taking Prue too-as his wife.
The train was an hour and twelve
minutes late getting in to Millbanks.
Wesley went Immediately into the
station and called Prue. She would
be through work in an hour; would
he meet her in the lobby of the Buck
ingham?
Outside the station Wesley saw
Tony Metcalf. He was glad to see
anyone that he knew, after being
away so long.
"How are things, Tony? It's good
seeing you again."
Back in the big town again, eh?
Suppose you're heading for the
Buckingham. I'll walk along with
you, if you don't mind going by way
of Pleasant Street. have an errand
to do"
If there were anything strange in
Tony's manner, Wes didn't notice it.
He was too excited over the prospect
of seeing Prue. When he met her
at the Buckingham she seemed love-
lier than ever. They had dinner at
the hotel, then went into the lobby
and sat down to talk. Time passed
aeetingly, because each had so much
to tell the other.
At $3.50 o'clock two men en-
tered the lobby. They approached
the divan where Wes and Prue sat.
care you Wesley Holmes?"
That's right. What's on your
mind?"
you're under arrest for the muir
der of Tony Metcalf."
At headquarters Wes and Prue got
a glimmering of what it was all
about. Captain Bullard showed them
a diary, written in Tony's hand.
'Prue has turned me down in IA
vor of Wes Holmes. Best of luck to
them both, though it came as a
shock, for I loved her greatly :.
Met Holmes at the four o'clock train
tonight and walked up the hill with
him. He really is a nice chap. When
I asked him about Rose he begged
me not to tell Prue. Well, why
should -"
Wes was stunned He looked at
Prue. Prue said, 81 didn't want to
upset you by telling you about him,
darling. 1t was nothing. I thought
he was merely being friendly. When
I found out differently I told him
we'd have to stop seeing each other.
I met him for lunch today"
'The diary" said Captain Bull
lard, twas found in Metcalf's pock-
ct. His body was discovered an
hour ago in the park-shot. One of
your gloves was also found there,
Holmes. Now, the fact that you
asked Metcalf not to mention to Miss
Fuller about Rose"
"Rose? Rose who?" cried Wes. 81
don't know any Rose, never heard
of girl by that name.'
Captain Bullard looked uncon-
vinced.
''You did walk up the hill with
Metcaf this afternoon?"
eyes. He was at the station. Mel
ther one of us mentioned Prue."
'What did you talk about?"
Nothing in particular. Every
thing in general"
Had you been particularly friend
ly with Metcalf?"
mo. He was never more than a
casual acquaintance"
"Yet he meets you at the station
Was that by chance, or did he want
to ask you about RoSe-to find out if
the girl he loved were marrying a
man worthy of her?"
Look here" Wes cried wildly,
"this is all nonsense. I tell you
you're crazy"
perhaps we are," agreed Cap
tain Bullard. 'That's something that
will have to be decided later. In