"ALL AT SEA"

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 57, 18 May 1932, Page 7

"ALL AT SEA"

BY CAROLYN WELLS

WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE. Death strikes Garrett Folsom while bathing at Ocean Town, N.J. It is thought at first Ije is a stroke victim, but investigation shows he has been stabbed to death beneath the water. Folsom's swimming companions had been Roger Neville, a business partner; Mrs Helen Barnaby and Garmelita Valdon. It is established that Folsom, just before his death, had been standing next to Ned Barron, known as the copper king. Anastasia Folsom, eccentric and masterful sister of the dead man, arrives and takes command. At the inquest it is learned that the death weapon was a pichaq, an Oriental knife, and that it had been bought on the boardwalk. It is also established that one Croydon Sears, is a fancier of curious knives. Anastasia engages Titus Riggs, an architect, to work on the case. Dan Pelton, the dead man's nephew, arrives. Anastasia questions Croydon Sears " sharply as to his whereabouts at the time of the murder and he is unable to prove that he was not near the spot. ,

NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

CHAPTER XXIV

There were but few at the funeral service of Garrett Folsom.

Of course, Miss Folsom and Dan Pelton were the chief mourners. They were attended by Paxton and Ross, who behaved as proper servants should, and watched for any opportunity of ministering to the wants of their employers.

Tite Riggs and Robin Sears attended, tor they had the case well in hand now, and. Riggs, like a hunter keen for prey, lost no possible chance to glean any bit of information. He scarce hoped to pick up any at the funeral, but there might be some hint or suggestion in the attitudes of the dead man's relatives that would be enlightening. . And there were some who dropped in out of mere idle curiosity, and others who were there because they chanced to be in the neighbourhood. Pelton had locked the door of his suite and thrown the key on the office desk as he came downstairs? But that did not keep intruders from his rooms.

Scarcely had he left the hotel, in company with his aunt, than two smiling young people, with shrewd eyes watching out for spies, slipped quietly along the corridor and one of them, the girl, produced a key and quicky gained entrance to the locked rooms.

"Here we are, Tubby," Myrtle said, as they reached their goal and locked the door behind them. But after all their errand was of no more sinister intent than to look at the French dolls, which still sat in a gorgeous row on the sofa. , At least, that was what'Myrtle, the chambermaid, wanted. Tubby, the boy, his alert mind longing for something more exciting, was opening and shutting the drawers of the chiffonier. "Hey, Tubby, don't you do that!" the girl cried out. "It's no harm for me to feast my eyes on these dollybabies, but I won't stand for your snooping around in any of the rooms that I have charge of."

"Gee, Myrt, don't be a lemon. I ain't doing a bit of harm. You play with your dolls and lemme alone." "They're not my dolls: I wish they were ! Oh, if Mr Pelton would only give me one of them!"

"Pinch it. I don't believe he'd ever miss it."

"No. I'm scared to do that. And the one T want —" "Which one do you want?"

'This. This dark-haired beauty. Oh, my. but she's a peach ! Not (he prettiest of all, maybe—" "Not much, she isn't! That yellow top put it all over her! - ' "Well, I don't know. This was Mr Folsom's favourite. He used to talk to this one."

"Hid he? What would he say?" "Why. he talked to it almost as if it was alive! He'd say .'l'll have you yet, my beauty. I'll have you again —and soon!' You'd think he was talkin' to his sweetie!" Tubby honoured the doll with a short scrutiny.

"Looks like smoebody I've seen, but I dunno who. Say. Myrt, I wish I dast go through Mr Pelton's suitcases." "No. Tub, don't do it. Don't make me sorry I let you in here. You said you wanted to see the dolls."

"Hull, f only said that to make you let me in! I don't want to see those silly things! They make me sick!" "Then we've pot to gel out. I'll never believe you again! But I'm afraid to come in here alone, and, of course, if anyone is here. T can't touch the dolls. Oh. yon lovely! You beauty!" She caressed and patted the dolls, and arranged them in coquettish attitudes on the sofa and chairs. "Does Mr Pelton fall for em the way Mr Polsom did?" asked Tubby. 'No; he seems to like thern a little, hut Mr Folsom. he acted like they were real pirls." •Then I bet Mr Pelton would give

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you one. Or ask the old girl. She'd do it." "I dunno. Miss Folsom is nice some ways; then again she's a terror."

Taking advantage of Myrtle's absorption in the dolls, Tubby had opened a suitcase of Dan P'elton's and was rummaging among its contents. They were almost all papers and letters, and as she heard the rustle, Myrtle turned on the daring bellboy. "Here you! Stop that! I told you I wouldn't allow that! I'm in charge of these rooms, I'm chambermaid and I'm responsible—" "You responsible! That's a good one! Don't be silly, Myrt. I'll bet I could find sumpin in those papers that might help to solve the big mystery." "Oho! You a detective? Hello, Mr Picklock Holmes! Now, if that's your lay, here's where you get off! March!"

Tubby's rotund form was propelled toward the door by the agile and vigorous Myrtle. Tubby was loth to go, but he had to do so or make a scene, which might call the attention of the chief of the chambermaids and get a sound berating for Myrtle, if not for himself.

He made one last plea. "Aw, lemme stay here a little minute more, Myrt., and I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll ask the old girl myself to give you one of the dolls. Or I'll ask -Mr Pelton. He sorter likes me." "He won't like you if he hears you've been digging into his luggage! And I'll tell him, if you don't clear outa here! Wait till I see if the way's safe." Cautiously Myrtle opened the door a crack, saw that the hall was empty and then, pushing Tubby through, she followed and locked the door with her pass key.

Myrtle was one of the most trustworthy chambermaids on the staff, and never had she been false to the trust, nor entered a room except on her legitimate errands, until she had fallen under the spell of the wonderful dolls. Why they fascinated her so, she couldn't have told, but she was far from being alone in her adoration of the siren faces and bewitching garb of the puppets. She had almost made up her mind to ask Mr Folsom for one, for he had smiled on Myrtle in a way that she understood to imply his favour. Then came his sudden and terrible death, and from that time on, the girl had snatched any opportunity she could get to hang over and fuss with the dolls.

Yet she was too afraid of the vague horror that seemed to hang round Garrett Folsom's rooms to venture in there alone. True, she had done so the time that Carmelita caught her hiding there. But the intrusion of that lady had so scared Myrtle that never again had she gone into the rooms alone.

And now she vowed never again to take Tubby in there, or anybody else. People were too curious, too snoopy. No, she would ask either Miss Polsom or Mr Pelton for a doll, whichever of the two seemed more amenable. Also, there were Paxton and Ross. Perhaps she could get at the matter though one of those. Well, she would think it over.

And still thinking of those glorious human-looking fairies, she went about her regular routine of work.

Later, she was startled to receive a summons from Dan Pelton himself.

"Well, Myrtle," that gentleman said, a little sharply, "so you spent your time in here while I was at my uncle's funeral."

"No, sir," she said, glibly. "Not that, Mr Pelton. I came in here with the fresh towels, but I didn't spend my time here."

"Didn't hang round a bit?" "Only to look at the dolls," she said thinking it might be her opportunity. "Oh, Mr Pelton, aren't they beautiful? Oh. I do love 'em so!" "Do you? Well, well, perhaps I'll have to give you one. But someone has been meddling with my belongings —my suitcase. Was it you? Answer me." (To be continued). Tubby thinks he has found a clue, and in the next chapter he goes to Tilus Riggs with it.