The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-20
DEATH WRITES THE LAST EDITION
COPYRIGHT. iaA9. NEA SERVICE. ING.

to be Dave Bison well, she read your last book twice, maybe three times"
 Dave laughed as he got out of the car to hurry around to the drivers seat Pat heard him tell Clem he'd be right back.
 You seem to be quite hero to Clem's wife, Dave"
 Dave didn't say anything until he had been driving for few seconds. The darkness hid the frown that wrinkled his forehead.
 But not to you, Pat?"
 His words were a statement rather than question. Pat didn't look at him. She didn't have to. She could visualize the suddenly squared jaw and the stubborn look in his eyes.
 T didn't say that, Dave" she said softly.
 Not in so many words, but that's what was in your heart. You cant deny that, Pat
 Pat was grateful for the dark ness. She bit her lips to stop their trembling.
 You could never be a hero to me, Davey," she lapsed naturally into the old habit of calling him that. T know you too we'll"
 There was bitterness in his laugh.
 Spoken like a true artist, Pat. My contradictions"
 Don't be like that, Dave" she pleaded. Not now. Not when" She smothered a sob in her hand kerchief, but it was enough to loosen the grief that had been damned up inside her all day. "Oh, Dave, who could have done such a thing to him?"
 Dave couldn't answer her for the sudden tightness in his throat. He just reached over and patted her hand.
 Go on and have a good cry, Pat" he told her when he finally could trust himself to speak. It'll do you good. We'll just drive around a while'
 He didn't say any more. Just drove and thought. But it did no good. Try as he would, he could think of no motive for the crime and, without motive, there could be no suspect. Not when you knew as little about the case as he - or the police-did.
 Dave slowed down a little as he neared the house where Joe Parker had lived-and died There it was, half way down the block big and serene and peaceful. No hint of the tragedy that had stalked the premises last night.
 It was then that Pat clutched his arm.
 Dave" she whispered, there's a light in MT. Parker's study. I just saw it."
 Probably the housekeeper."
 "She went to her sisters for the night
 "Or the police"
 Blair said the house was closed for the night" There was no trace of tears in her voice now. Anyhow. the light flashed for a second, then disappeared. The po- lice wouldn't do that"
 No" he said crisply. No, they wouldn't"
 Excitement always made him like that, Pat remembered She marveled at the calmness that made him drive on down the street at the same slow pace they had been travelling and turn into side street so that whoever was in the house would not be alarmed.
 Pat, you stay here," he told her when she started to get out, too.
 "I will not! I'm going right with you"
 Come on, then"
 He took her arm and they hur- ried across the yard toward the rear of the house. The wind seemed colder as it swirled the snow about them. Pat shivered.
 Want to go back?" Dave whis- pered.
 ''No," she whispered back. I'm just cold. There's probably a po- liceman somewhere around"
 But Dave shook his head. We can't wait" hs said. Whoever is in there might skeddaddle.
 Without more ado, he tried the kitchen door. It opened easily. They tiptoed through the back roms and the hall Pat caught his hand nervously as they paused at the closed door of the study, but he pushed her behind him.
 There wasn't a sound anywhere in the house. A faint odor of cigar smoke fingered in the air. Pat ab- sently attributed 1t to the police who had been there during the day.
 Dave squeezed her hand in warning as he eased the door open. Tv1,era was m noOVement in the