The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-21
MURDER AND FLIGHT
 CuApTTp WIT
BY MORRIS MARKEY

The guests began to arrive as dusk settled. Cynthia, now, was in I something light and airy and pale green. and she was in the house. keepers office, nodding her ap- proval of lists and menus. Fred West and Mitchell Grace came in to join her there, and were, naturally, put to work. One had to be sure that the musicians of the orchestra were decently cared for, and the other to make certain that the lights at the pool were in working order and, incl dentally, that there was water to plunge into.
 Then, cars were rolling up the long, graveled drive, and Cynthia was smiling at people who got out of them.
 The early evening vas quite beautiful, and its graces of fading blue sky, languorous trees, roses which held their heads high upon the bush, were embellished by the gay, bright frocks which moved across the lawn. There were very mary small white tables upon the lawn, and small white chairs, and the usual little groups began to form.
 The lights went on in the H. braEy. Its glazed doors were swung open, and Colonel Merriwether was behind his desk, smoking, and look ing quietly out over the empty ter. race, the populated green turf.
 Walters in white coats moved among the tables with trays of drinks, and the orchestra played cut an indolent air of summertime.
 Time wandered by, and time was 09 no moment.
 A few of the older people went into the library, crossing the empty terrace from the lawn to go toward Colonel Merriwether. But none re- 9nained long. Those among the company who glanced in that di- Tection could see two or three ladies and gentlemen moving away from the broad desk and returning across the terrace and there were glimpses of Colonel Merriwether's manservant, attending the needs of his master.
 Then, just as limousine wheeled into the drive and came to a stop, there was curious sound from the library. The music had ended, and this sound struck sharply against the quiet.
 It was of the order of 8 com- xnand, 8 short, undistinguishable word parked out. The well-bred heads upon the lawn turned, not without some irritation, at the un- couth noise. And Vaughan Dunbar stood beside the Colone's desk.
 
 His left hand was raised-an ale most imperial signal to, the people on the lawn. It brought a mo- ment of complete silence, the ser wants stopping in their courses to look, and all faces puzzled, ex- pectant.
 Colonel Merriwether sat as if transfixed. His face was very white. His hands were spread be- fore him on the desk. He was star ing, not at Vaughan Dunbar, but straight ahead into the faces of his guests, half hundred yards away.
 Vaughan Dunbar held up a sheet of paper in his left hand. Then he laid it calmly on the desk before the Colonel, who did not move. Vaughan Dunbar gazed for an in- Etant down at the face and head of Wesley Hope Merriwether. He lifted his right hand, and with the small pistol that it held fired two l, shots.
 Even as Colonel Merriwether slumped forward over his desk, Vaughan Dunbar was gone.
 In the madness of screams and shouts, men cried, "Stop him! Grab himg' But within that same rush of frightened noise, the roar of Vaughan Dunbar's engine could be heard at the rear of the house. His car went of with whine. The whine diminished rapidly, and its sound was lost.
 The pursuit gathered instantly, with motors starting. and servants and chauffeurs yelling. "He went this way" and, quite contrariwise, He went that way!" Once past the stables. however. the rear ap- proach to Stone House broke into half a dozen lanes and byways. And all of them were empty. The pur- suers cried out to each other, and then they turned back toward the house and the telephones.
 Within half an hour, all but a very few of the guests were gone, and the police were in possession of Stone House. The ablest among them was Lieutenant Thatcher of the State Police, and he had given many orders. quickly.
 Men Of his own patrol, Of the county forces. and Of the sheriff g once were watching the roads of all Long Island. The brides and the tunnels and the ferries were under close scrutiny. And descrip- tons of the fugitive had been broadcast. over the radio and the teletype machines. throughout the metropolitan district.
 With this much done. Lieutenant Thatcher spoke quietly with Mitch. eli Grace, saying. ~Tell me eveFy-