VAN WYCK MASON'S THE CASTLE ISLAND CASE WITH CANDID CAMERA CLUE

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 80, 5 April 1939, Page 26

VAN WYCK MASON'S THE CASTLE ISLAND CASE WITH CANDID CAMERA CLUE

SYNOPSIS. In the guise of a prospective investor in a big South American business deal, Major Roger Allenby is visiting Freebooter's Hall on Plunder Island, the Bermuda home of Barnard Graf ton, a capitalist, whose secretary, Judy Fortier, has disappeared recently. Allenby is secretly investigating that mystery unknown to any of those present excepting Patricia, Judy's sister, who recognised him through childhood memories. Early on the morning following Allenby's arrival, Patricia is found dead at the foot of a nearby coral cliff. The police are notified soon after Mr. and Mrs. Grafton learn of the tragedy. Others in the house have not yet arisen for breakfast. They include, beside the host and his stately wife: their debutante daughter, Gail, and baby Peter Winslow (each by previous marriages); Terry James, Mrs. Grafton's youthful brother; Gail's chum, Cora Sue Pendletcn; and C. Townley Ward, young financier. On the house staff are Creepy, the native boatman, and Parker, the coloured butler. The Graftons and Allenby go to the dock to meet the police boat. CHAPTER X. Out from the police boat climbed an alert looking young constable, neat in the grey and silver uniform of the Bermuda Police Force, and a stocky individual who proved to he the C.T.I). man assigned to the !St. Oeorge's end of the Bermudas. Both Inspector Boyd and Constable Liint listened attentively to Roger Allenby's account of what had transpired. '"I can't understand how it happened." Grafton kept repeating. "This in itself is awful, but after poor Judy's death! It—it's got me down." "It happens that way sometimes." Inspector Boyd remarked! "Odd how often a family can go on for years with never a death; then all of a sudden two or three members of it will die in a row." He turned to Allenby. "Will you be good enough to lead us to the bodv Major V Their feet crunching loud on the coral walk, all four men made their way to the rock garden. Allenby last, and unostentatiously adulating his Lciea for a few exposure* by the broadening light of early morning. He was able to snap two or three pictures of the body and registered (jrafton and the police in the grip of their first reactions.

> by HENRY CLAY OIPSON