Newspapers / The Cherokee Scout (Murphy, … / Sept. 14, 1928, edition 1 / Page 7
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XV H \T llAI'l'KNKD HKFORE j?. deteetlw. and Wll m .?? ! rtakt-r. are vinitlng John ' ^ . r I. . i;i. in of wealth. at the f4"'- *' >u<M<-nIy the household ?.? " j ,p,i thitt John l?rane ha* U?? n ,|. .1,1 man i* flrnt ne?n l?y Br'ler,'i\, r th.-n ??> Amy Drane and Si '*" i?i' The I-.t tvrfaintn. -T , , ,?xi un<l Investigations l*? | .- net on i* railed, and after ????? John Pram*. make* the K "r r,v.i lion to Amy I?rane that her lut K woman. -J;v ,,N WITH THE STORY! -1, j* queer," said the doctor. "It I api to be queerer than we ima "nic-k Brennan, the detective arriv j|,v that universal vehicle, the tax L K|,jie Atnv Diane and Simon ai,i u ere at breakfast. As he turn j from the cab, after having slam the door, he cast his eye over ? Drane house. registering certain Jimt features: "Three story man proofed houst ? painted white ? rranda I"'1 width of house in front -fluteil pillars approximately six rt in diameter supporting the third |wr mansard projection?" Hi- brain registered physical ob K-t? in this way. a result of his in umeliarble appearances on the wil ts. stand against criminals he had aekeil dewn. A silver watch was ncr a silver watch to Brennan ? it as "on*' tvhile metal watch, hunt is ease \o. 1,24-9,563. fourteen >wl iinnenient No. 985.oo3." For rmn.iii no one ever lived at seven undriil and sixty-five South Street at at seven six fi\e South Street." itr Brennan no one ever stood on r Turner <if Klin Street and Grand venue : be stood "on South-west Bier (if intersection of Elm Street iit! (muni Avenue." rur ni en nan 'M iva- "\ellow metal" and brass as "yellow metal:" it was not for r-nnji; to decide which was which. ?n the witness Maiul. In nn respect, except that he re mliW thousands of detectives, did H Brennan resemble a detective, f resembled no one in particular trept him-elf: you were apt to say i yourself when you saw him '"1 i?w that man! ' and thn. imine atflv. "No. 1 in wrong ? I know mrcine who looks quite a little t' that man." You sav this of ">ple resembling the clerk, who >il? on vmi in a grocery, or of peo resernbl in<r the clerk who waits ? ;ou in the grocery. Dick Bren "as so like thousands of , 'ail's that it was hard to re rawr. N, ,t inf reauentlv this wns i ' nim hi his work. A man " so nearh resembled manv oth men could easilv make himself r? unlike himself. ,D."k, I*irr"nan was forty-two, hut noked not over thirty. For 1 vears he had been picking up "'a s. He had new studied" ? Mil the wavs and habits of ?'** had soaked into him: an understanding of their probable ac tions and reactions bad become in stinctive in him; this was one rea son \vhv be was so valuable: anoth er reason was thai he had a brain I that was able to recognize the times j when a criminal was not acting ac icorduis to rule. He could think when he had to. i Brennan was not particularly an noyed because he bad been put on this case on a Sunday morning. He bad planned to see a football game that afternoon but his intention had been to pick up a couple of pick | pockets there, if they were still i working the football crowds, and a ' murder was apt to be more interest ing. He followed the circular drive I to the veranda, glancing past the {house toward the back where the 1 drive curved farthest and when be bad mounted to the veranda be rang the bell. Norbert, the colored | houseman, came to the door. 1 'T ?i the detective assigned to this case,*' he said without flourish. 'The bodv upstairs or downstairs?" "Upstairs, sir: yer sir,*' Norbert assured him. 'Two cops up there: you can go right on up. Should I take your hat sir? No: you goin' take it with you. Right up these stairs. Yes sir!*' At the head of the stairs on of the officers greeted him with a "Hello, Dick!" and Brennan replied "Hello Joe!" "Mean piece of business this is, Dick," the officer said. "Slabbing, is it? W hat was that about it being an obi lady?" "A es. Dr. Blessington made the examination; victim dead several hours, cause of death stab wound to heart. Suicide theory untenable. Dick, because the old lady couldn't have used so much strength. And there ain't no knife around, either, Dick. She's been murdered, all right. Well, the queer part is she's this old John Drane that's been liv ing here, see? He was a she all the time: wouldn't it jar you?" \es. Hang around. I'll just take a look or two." He went to the bed and looked down at flte victim of the murder and. turning, surveyed the room. He walked across the floor and opened I the door of the closet. Here hung many suits of men's garments, on proper hangers cach on its own hook while a dozen pairs of shoes stood in a neat row on the floor. He stood on a chair and examined the shelf, taking down several hats, looking into each and noting the makers1 marks in them. He moved the hang ing clothes and tapped on the inner wall of the next closet. His next act was to open the door leading into John Drane's private SPECIAL EXCURSION to WASHINGTON, D. C. SEPTEMBER 2 1ST, 1928 Hu- Southern Railway will sell round trip tickets from many sta tions in Western North Carolina to Washington on following schedule: U:\YE ASHEVILLK 2:30 P. M. SPETEMBER 21ST ARRIVE WASHINGTON 8:10 A. M. SEPTEMBER 22\D Special sleeping cars and coaches from Asheville Pinal limit to reach original starting point before Midnight, Sep tember 26th, 1928. (Tickets not good on Crescent Limited.) PARE from MURPHY, BRYSON, ANDREWS, SYLV A, D1LLSB0R0, NANTAHALA $15.00. Equally low fares from other stations Four full days of sightseeing in National Capitol. ?VaAe Pullman reservations promptly, calling on local agent for rates and schedules. J. H. WOOD DIVISION PASSENGER AGENT . - hath. Here the walls were tiled to the height of a man and the porce lain tube was built in, as was the shower. The whole was immacu lately white, as was the wall above the til-1' and the ceiling. On a glass shelf stood the few toilet articles any man might use ? a safety razor in its gold-plated case, talcum, bay rum, and so on. There was no open ing out of the room except the door into the bedroom and a narrow win dow the lower part of which was in leaded glass. "The door* wasn't locked, huh?" Brennan asked. "\o. This maid Josie came up to call the old lady and when nobody answered she opened the door and fainted. Door couldn't have been locked. It don't look like the old "Then Josie was the first to open' the door, and Miss Amy was the first to follow her, and then this Mr. Judd tame. Who else after that?" "Norbert ? he's the colored house man. Mis. Vincent ? she's the house keeper. Maggie Maney. the cook. George, the chauffeur. And I came. We just stood at the door; nobody went in." "And about when was this?"' ''Around nine o'clock: maybe five or ten minnies after. Mrs. Vincent sent Josie up because breakfast was ready and Mr. Drane hadn't come down yet.*' I "Everyone else had?" "No: not Mr. Judd and not Mr. Dart ? '* Josie said. "Dart? What Dart?'* "The undertaker man/' /.el la ex plained. "He's an old friend of Mr. Iad\ was expected to killed. Dick, does it?" '"Nothing stolen out of here that you've hoard of?"1 "Not that I know of," the officer said. "We didn't ask. We waited for vou." "All right." Brennan said, going to the door. "I'm through here. 1 guess. You better telephone the coroner. Henry, and Joe ? you look around for a knife or something. You might keep your hands off any thing smooth, in case of fingerprints. Rcach in under the mattress and around and anywhere you think a knife might be. Sometimes these killers shove things in under when they get a panic. I'm going down. What did you say the girl's name ? was that saw her first?" ! "Josie. But she ain't downstairs. [She's in that room across the hall. 'She's got a weak heart and they took her in there to bring her to. There's an olrl dame with her ? the house keeper." ?Til see them." Brennan said. His interview with Josie in Amy's room yielded him. however, nothing we do I not already know. j "And you?" Brennan demanded of the maid Zella. "I don't know anything" Zella said. "I was down in the kitchen, -along with George he's the chauf feur?and Maggie Maney. the cook.' and we heard Josie screaming and j heard her fall. So we came up as quick as we could. She was fainted ion the floor, and Mr. Judd, too ? " i "Mr. Judd? Fainted?" Brennan asked. "Who's Jiwld?" "He's a visitor, a friend of Mr. I ' Drane's, I guess. He come last night ';?nd stayed over. He saw the hlood and fainted." "He reached the room before you j did ?" i j i "Yes. but after Josie. didn't he. ! Josie? Josie was first, then Miss Amy came ? " ! "And who is Miss Amy?" "The grand-niece like of Mr. Drane ? of her we thought was Mr. 1 Drane," Zella explained. "Him and her was the family ? the rest of us! was just the help." , I 1 ?j y ? ic was holding her in hiMrmv bcfutc 5 ? . VB he WM .Tvnrc he had mtervJc J jjlip* do any such thing.. Drane's and sometimes lie comes to play cards and stays the night. He ahvavs has the blue guest room. But last night he didn l slay." "Not that | knew it.*' Josie inter* rupted. raising herself on her el how. "I knocked on his door when I came up the first time. That was about half past eight. I thought ? " she hesitated. "I thought lie an swered that time."' "I see!" Brennan said. "You knocked to wake him up and you thought he answered. Wh?! did he sayW j "f thought h^ said 'All right! Yes!' or something like that. So ? hen 1 went to Mr. Judd's room and knocked and he said 'All right: I'm up.' " "But, that first trip, Mr. Drane did not answer?" "No, sir, but I didn't think any thing of it. Mr. Drane don't often have to he called: he always woke up of himself. 1 thought he was in the bathroom, likely, and would I>e down. 1 just knocked on his door and went on. sort of reminding him. The others I waited for an answer| because ihej were guests, and guests ain't sure." 1 "And the second time you came up you got no farther than Mr. Drane's door? You fainted there?" "Yes, sir: that's it." "Show me these two guest rooms," Brennan said to Ze 11a. and she went, with him, first to the yellow room] Judd had occupied and then to t he I blue room with its untouched bed. Brennan looked around the rooms! withoiit much care, but on his way to the stairs he called the officer! named Joe and told him t?? look in- 1 to the two rooms carefully. Zellaj went back to Josie and Brennan went: down to the lower floor. As Brennan reached the lower hall the screen of the front door was pulled open and a young man. his face betraying his excitement, came in. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "| know who you are: you're the detective. I saw you ? it was when our house was robbed and 1 was before the grand jury to tell what was stolen." j "Yes. You're Bobert Carter," i Brennan said simply. "Seven three' four fWch Avenue. You made a pood witness. Your man went to t:ie pen. You a friend here? "Yes, Amy.*' young Carter said. ? ed?'- ? iti?; more. "We're ? we would have l?ee:i -engaged. I jusf ; t th's awful business ami I came as -0011 as I could. Is she "Kaling breakfast. I *hoiii<in*l ?Ai!. I?ieintan said. "Go right in. il it's the usual thing ami \ou v. ??? ???. \'\r I?een put on this rase and I'm looking it over a his.*' "It there's an\ thing I can do ("alter suggested. *\\<?; never iiiin<l thai now. ' Brennan said. "1*1! lake it upp with you if | need to. I want to talk to .Miss Diane next and you ean help me most hv steadying her down it" she's excited at all. Tell her I'm out here on the porch and will see her whenever she's ready. No hurry. (Let her take her own time. Tell her it's nothing to be afraid of." "That's fine of you," Carter said, putting out his hand impulsively. "Brennan is the name." the detec tive said, shaking Carter's hand. "Trot along now." 1 Bob Carter found Aim and Simon Judd finishing their breakfast and [about tc ? rise. Mrs. \ incent at her lend of the table had eaten nothing, merely sipping lea. and her face showed she was slil lin great pain. Impulsively Amy arose as Carter en tered and he was holding her in his arms before he was aware he had in tended to do an\ such thing. "(Mi. Bob. Boli! Isn't it dread ful!*' Amy cried a-4 lie tried to com fort her: "It* 1 didn't have you I wouldn't know what to do." "Yes ? well, you've got me all risht. honey." he said. "Don't you take it so hard. It's bad enough hut 'you want to buck up. No good irr Jetting it get you too hard. We'll ! stick it out together." "It's so good to have you here." |>he said, wiping her eyes again. "I 'don't mean to break down. I'm try ing to ? to not.*' ..Ti- - .1.- 9BB0HI hK^VHPh I out S Ult- . V.?1IH-| dgltru. "And now. look here, honey ? there's a detective fellow out there wants to talk to you. Just don't let lit worry \ou. tha's all. He won' be rough: he's a nice sort. And we needn't go out until you're ready; he says he's in no hurry." "I'm ready now. Bob," she said "Y ou'll come. Mr. Judd. "Sure!*' cried Simon Judd widely. "Surest thing you know. Detec tives are the thing I want to see; |"m going to be one myself." "You'll see a good one when you" <ee this Brennan," Carter said. "None better." "That's the kind T want to see," said Simon Judd. and they went out to the veranda. Brennan arose as i they appeared. "Miss Drane," he said. "And this" would be Mr. Judd? My name's Brennan as Carter has probably told |vou. I"\e been put on this case. | I've got to ask some questions of I you. Miss Drane. but if there are .any you don t care to answer in a 'crowd we'll leave them until later. No. you men need not go: I'd rather have you here ? the young lady is less apt to be nervous. Let's sit down: we max as well be comfort able." "I've had tin* officers make a search of three rooms up there," Brennan said. "Mr. Dranc's room ? we'll call him that, or call her that ! ? and the room Mr. Dart was to oc cupy. and your room. Mr. Judd." "Suits me all right."' Simon Judd said heartily. "Anything you do suits me: I'm going to be a detective myself, and the way you do it is what I want to see."' "We'll talk that over later, then," said Brennan after a glance at tin huge Westerner. "I don't suppose Miss Drane. we'll find anything in those rooms that will mean anything although a man can never tell. I've talked to Josie and got all she could tell me, and Zella has told me her story . You, they say, were the sec ond person to reach Mr. Draiie's door. Just tell me why you went there and what you saw." Amy, folding and refolding beer handkerchief, told what we already know. "Yes, nothing in al lthat." said Brennan. "Now, have you person* ally any reason to think any partic ular person killed ? " He pointed toward the house with his thumb. (Continued Next Week)
The Cherokee Scout (Murphy, N.C.)
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Sept. 14, 1928, edition 1
7
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