Photoplay (Jul-Dec 1944)

I said, “And then?” “Then he was suddenly afraid to get off the ground. “Well — nearly four years later — I was sick of my bargain. I guess I still loved him, in a way, but we began to fight. “About that time, that talent scout found me. I told you about that. Well, right after I got my first important role, I got a letter from Sev. He was coming to Hollywood. Could I send him the fare?” "I sent him the fare, and ‘loaned’ him money regularly. He was investing the money that I gave him, he said.” I thought of Lamar James’s report. Flynne “invested” that money in parties. “Well,” she said, “I was in a funny position. We had lived together under common law long enough to be legally man and wife, but if the circumstances were known, it would do me a lot of harm. “Paul ran into Sev. Sev got drunk with him and told him about me. Paul blackmailed me into promising to marry him. But I couldn t get a divorce from a man I’d never really married. That’s why I was frightened when I found that Sev had got into this picture and had been killed. He was the only person standing between Paul and me getting married, and when that gun was found in my wagon — ” “Didn’t you suspect Paul?” “No. Paul wasn’t a killer. All I knew was that 1 was the perfect suspect.” “Why were you so scared when I told you about Paul?” I asked. “Why did vou ask ‘When?’ ” “Fom seven until nine I was downstairs having dinner, and can prove it. My first thought was that somebody knew about the three of us and was trying to put the killings onto me. I had motive, you must admit. But to have both Sev and Paul killed by the same gun— well, I couldn’t believe it. Why were they?” “I just assume that was the murderer’s favorite shooting iron,” I said. “Do you want to ride with me back to Hollywood?” “I guess so,” she said heavily. As we passed through hills to the north of Santa Barbara, with the sea veiled in fog on our right, I said, “You’re right, Carla; your story makes you the only one so far with motive.” She didn’t turn her head. “I’ve been thinking about that,” she replied, “but go oh.” “Well, there was Riegleman. He’s free to move around too. Are you sure Flynne didn’t know him?” “Look, George. Here’s something I haven’t told you. Sev came to my room the night we arrived. He wanted to apologize for taking this job. He said he didn’t know that I was on the picture. He told me that he didn’t know anybody. He’d talked to Wanda on the train, just chit-chat.” I patted her shoulder. For the rest of the trip we talked about the picture. . . . IN MELVA’S office, I looked at the re• ports. “Fred’s getting the rest,” Melva explained. “He said to look at this clipping.” She showed me a society page about Cecil, Lord Hake, newly burst on local horizons. The one-column cut was of a young man with long, lean features and a happy smile. Suddenly the pattern came clear. I knew why Flynne had been killed. I took from my pocket the clipping I had found in the bag in Flynne’s room and showed it to Melva. “Do you know what clipping service that’s from?” “I think it’s Miller’s,” she hazarded. After considerable delay and telephone costs, I got the information I wanted. I rang Lord Hake next. “This is George Sanders, Lord Cecil,” I said. “It occurred to me that you and I probably have acquaintances in common. I’m giving a party tonight. Will you come?” “Delighted, Mr. Sanders. Eightish?” It was a dressy party. Everybody wore formal dress to some degree, with Riegleman in white tie and tails. Fred, as he came in, gave me a sheaf of papers. They were the reports on Carla, Riegleman and Wanda. I found nothing significant. “Do you want more?” Fred asked. “I don’t think it will be necessary.” “Do you mean you know who it was?” he demanded. “I think I’ll cinch it tonight. Your telegram tipped me the identity of Lord Hake. How did you know?” “I knew I’d seen him somewhere,” Fred said. “I thought you’d translate that wire. Tell me who’s the culprit, George, and I’ll fix up a release.” “Wait, Fred. I’m not certain. I want to get a game started. If Lord Hake isn’t here in a few minutes, I’ll start without him.” Time passed. No Lord Hake. I rapped on the bar. “Last call,” I said, “before the festivities. What I have in mind is a little game. V/e make the stake a dime. I will give each of you in turn a group of three letters. Within fifteen seconds, you are to give me a word containing those three letters. If you take longer than that, you lose a dime, and vice versa. For example, if I give you c-q-x, you snap back at me with ‘quixotic’ or some other word with those letters. If you don’t, you give me a dime.” “I will give you a dime now, George,” Wallingford said. “No, listen,” I said. “I’m serious. This is a good game.” r * medical authorities KNOW THIS ME IS SUPERIOR N1UPMIH Scientifically proved less irritating to the nose and throat SS Sr KS IMPROVED ! That is from the findings of distinguished doctors, in clinical tests of men and women smokers -reported in an authoritative medical journal. Solid proof that this finer-tasting cigarette is less irritating to the nose and throat! 103