The Wilmington morning star., 1946-04-28
COPYRIGHT. 1914
BY AMI NoW4

any rate, from this day on 'se-
crecy' was to be the slogan, and
a reporter would have to be clever
indeed to get into the housepast
the law, disguised as "doormen. :"
You'd have had couple dozen
up here early this morning if Char
ley Bywater hadn't shooed 'e1n
away" the inspector assured us
with twinkling eyes.
1--WE know it. Rosa entertained
him for breakfast" Claire in
formedhim. ''Who are our other
protectors?"
Detectives Les Goldman and
Mike O'Brian," the inspector told
her. "And I'm adding fourth, to
guard the service entrance. Jan
Prepelski. One of the best men we
have on the torce.'
"That's England, Palestine, Ire
land and Poland protecting us.
Hurrah! Aren't we inportant!"
Claire boasted with a grin.
And then we went on to more
serious matters.
I handed my report to the in
spector and repeated my state
nents of the previous day for Mr..
Wortley's benefit. Claire did the
same, and when we were through
I led the whole bunch into Meals
room to show them my great dis
covery: the cut in the rose-colored
pillow.
do you need it as Exhibit B,
c or D?" I asked.
They didn't think so. The cut
made it clear that Margot had
snatched it up in defense rather
than by accident. But beyond that
it was of no Importance, as the
soft material wouldn't easily show
finger prints. Besides, they could
always ask for it if they wanted It.
Keep it for the time being
was the general verdict.
I didn't share their opinion of
the pillows unirdportance but
didn't feel this was the right
moment to air my convictions.
And so thanked them, and asked
their permission tc have the slash
repaired by Rosa, who'd assured
me she could fix it good like
new" And after I got it, the whole
matter was dropped.
They left a short while later, and
while they were saying goodby
Hunt surprised me by renarking
conversationally: II may not see
you for a few days. I'm leaving
for Kentucky tonight
The remark definitely delayed
their departure. 'Why?" I wanted
to know, practically barring the
hall door.
Mrs. ingalls, third husband is
living down there now in his new
wife's ancestral home,'' Inspector
Barry answered for Hunt. I'm
sending Berwick to interview him.
It's necessary, after all the insinu-
ations in the papers,"
''He just may remember with
whom his ex-Wife was playing
around" Hunt added 6ryly. by
the way, when Go you expect Ken
nard back from Boston,
The combination of ideas was 80
startling I gaped at him for
moment speechlessly. "Why, I
don't know I said when I'd col
lected my wits. He's coming back
with Neal, I suppose"
I noticed a quick interchange of
glances among the three men. But
Hunt said placidly: "Oh, guess
he'll be here before her." And
changed the subject back to his
trip.
I'm taking the train tonight"
he told me, holding the outer door
open for his companion to pass
through ahead Of him. But III
try to wangle a seat on a plane
coming back from Washington,
where I have to stop over on-er
private business. Keep Tuesday
night for me, on the off chance,
/ Jane.Will you?"
When I entered my Office on
Monday morning, with every in
tention Of business as usual" a
tan young man I had never seen
before rose from a chair in the
outer room with a sheepish grin.
"Our police-ordained new office
boy and chucker-outer Of report
ers," explained Claire, who had
preceded me. Ills names Dan
Nolan. We've made the round Of
the nations and are back in Ire
land again. %
It really was almost too much
protection. But as I could do moth
ing about it I made up my mind
to take it in my stride, and soon
forgot all about the unsolicited ad-
dition to my office staff over ran
avalanche of work-and telephone
calls.
There were so many I couldn' t
get through with my mail. Every
publisher, editor and writer in
town seemed 10 feel the urge 20
express his regret and horror
about Margot's tragic end to me.