"ALL AT SEA"

Franklin Times, Volume XXII, Issue 59, 23 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 he is a stroke victim, hut 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 Carmelita Valdon. It is established that Folsom, just before his death, had been standing next to Ned Barron, known a& 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, and notices the curious French dolls in Garrett Folsom's room. He tells Titus Riggs that if the murderer is discovered, some unpleasant things may come to light about his uncle.

NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

CHAPTER XXVI

"Then, I shall have to speak plainly," said Riggs. "You don't place you late uncle on quite so high a pedestal as his sister does?"

"No—to be equally frank —I don't. I never liked my uncle, but aside from that, I always felt he was —oh, pshaw, I hate to say it—was a little —" "Go on."

"Well, understand. I mean I thought, I feared, rather, that there were some transactions in which he was engaged that wouldn't stand the light." "Dishonest?"

"Not in the generally accepted t sense of that word, no. But dishonourable —oh, I don't know just how to express it." "Have you any proofs of these accusations?" ,

"Oh, they're not really accusations. But I always suspected uncle was up to some deviltry, and after I got aunt's wire about his death, I nipped down to his room, where he was staying in New York, and I found a bag full of papers and letters, and I brought it along here with me. Now —well, Mr Riggs, those documents go to prove that my respected uncle was deserving of very little respect, and that whoever did him in, really rid the world of a pretty black old scoundrel." "And so you think it might be better to let sleeping dogs lie—" "Yes, just that. I'm sure that to open up the hidden life of Garrett Folsom would bring to light truths of such a nature that my aunt would sink under the load of guilt and shame that would attach to his memory." "You're not exaggerating this, Mr Pelton?"

"No, I don't think so. I daresay you can guess the sort of nefarious business he carried on."

'Prom what you say, or rather from what you don't say, I can't help thinking it must he some form of blackmail."

"Yes, that's right. But not any common, ordinary blackmail, or any small jobs. It's merely that he knew a few secrets concerning the lives of several people, mostly his friends —I mean, apparent friends—and over these he had such a fearful hold that they were forced to pay him his price or be exposed." "This is strong talk, Mr Pelton."

"But it is true talk. And I have proofs—that is, some proofs. However, I hesitate to bring them forth, because any of them would suffice to throw suspicion on a man who may be entirely innocent." "And, too, for your aunt's sake, you hesitate to bring forth Ibis new side of the tragedy?"

"Ob, partly for aunt's sake, but more because I feel this way about it. It seems to me that the men my uncle made miserable suffered enough, without being brought to the bar to answer for a murder that they didn't commit. For, naturally, only one man stabbed him, and to let loose a lot of facts that would bring suspicion hot upon the heels of a dozen others, seems a terrible tiling to do." "All Ibis is logical and even ethical from the standpoint of your uncle's victims. But, on the other hand, he was murdered, and his murder ought to be avenged. No matter how great , a villain Garrett Folsom had been, it j doesn't exculpate the man who killed i him."

"I suppose -not, but as I said, I'd hate to bring unjust suspicion on a lot of innocent men, and then perhaps not strike the right man among them." "It's a big question, and it will require some thinking over before we can settle it. Look here, isn't Roger

Neville an associate in business with your uncle?"

•'He was—in some ways. You see, Undo Garrett had several lines of business and many varied interests, all of which brought in money. Neville was with him in some of these schemes. But I've no reason to

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think or assume that Roger Neville had any part in or even any knowledge of these things I speak of." "Well, we must ask Neville." "Do it guardedly, for if he knows nothing about it all, we don't want to enlighten him." "Then again, would it not be wise to let your aunt in on this secret? To be sure, she would be dismayed to learn of your uncle's wrong-doing, but as you have said yourself, Miss Folsom can stand shocks with fortitude. And it may be she would rather know the truth, however bad, than to be kept in ignorance of it." "I daresay it may be so. But my aunt so reveres and cherishes her brother's memory, that it would go hard ■with her to learn he was less than she thought him." "Well, leaving that question for the moment, let us get down to brass tacks. You see, your aunt has engaged me to investigate this case for her. Now, have I a right to lie down on the job, because it seems to be leading into an unpleasant field? Moreover, is there not a possibility that you are mistaken, at least to the extent or weight of these judgments your uncle held over his victims' heads?"

"You don't see it quite straight, Riggs. I have reason to believe that my uncle, while not what may be called a professional blackmailer, yet had a few victims whose secrets he knew, and whom he ground down to the last degree. I believe that anyone of these —say half a dozen —would have murdered him gladly if they had thought they could do it without getting caught. And now one of them did murder him and get away with it, and to bring forward the evidence I speak of would be to arouse suspicion of the whole six—though that's only an approximate number —and lay a black accusation for life on the great majority of innocent ones. And, at the same time, probably not get the real criminal at all." "How many of these victims you speak of are down here at Ocean Town?"

"That's just the worst of it. I know of two or three, but there may easily be more, whom I do not know. Any one of them may be the murderer."

"Complicated situation. And yet, have we a choice in the matter? Must we not follow where the way is pointed out? At any rate, old man, I guess you'll have to let me look through those letters you speak of." •

Tite Riggs chuckled to himself at the thought that Tubby's precious secret was thus openly announced by Pelton.

Riggs had looked forward to a diplomatic effort on his part to get the nephew of the dead man to exhibit his uncle's papers. And here he was fairly thrusting them on Riggs' attention.

Was he, though? Was he the ingenious, straightforward character he appeared to be? His attitude about wanting to shield his uncle's memory as far as possible was all right, but could Riggs be sure that the letters and documents he was now about to inspect were intact as when Pelton had found them, or had he tampered with the lot and abstracted any he chose?

It was largely imagination or instinct, but Tite 3 iggs did not trust Pelton. He didn't suspect him of having any hand in his uncle's death, but he did think the nephew was glad to inherit his legacy, and that if he could further feather his nest in any way, he would do so. So together the two men went through the suitcase full of letters and ■papers.

(To be Continued)

What do Pelton and Riggs find in Folsom's papers? And who were Folsom's "victims" at Ocean Town?