THE VERNON GARAGE “JACK” MONK BROS., Props. Cpe GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCTS 26 Years of Selling Fine Transportation “Personal Supervision and Courtesy’ P.O. Box 459 British Columbia Phone 67 VERNON Licensed Hide Dealer We Buy Hides and Sheep Skins. We Sell Men’s Shoes and All Types of Men’s Work Clothing. I. V. SAUDER Vernon British Columbia A. E. BERRY LTD. Successors to C. F. COSTERTON LTD. Real Estate, Insurance, Financial Agents Mortgages, Loans, Conveyancing Vernon, B.C. Sidney Spyer COSSITT, BEATTIE & SPYER REAL ESTATE -- INSURANCE LOANS -:- NOTARY PUBLIC Vernon, B.C. Fr, H. HARRIS FLORIST - NURSERYMAN Phone 325 Cut Flowers Wedding Bouquets Bedding Plants - Perennials British Columbia You Are Invited to Visit the NATIONAL HOTEL WHEN IN VERNON New — Modern — Up-to-date FULLY LICENSED — REASONABLE RATES J. LEMISKI, Manager VERNON British Columbia OURTEENTH EDITION those two birds who threatened him came from. Grab your hat,” he told Collingwood, “we'll hit for there pronto while Pinkham follows this new lead.” As he leapt up the steps of South Abing- ton’s square-faced emporium Pratt had an inward hunch that things were about to break. But again he faced disappointment when the storekeeper failed to furnish even a passable .description of the man who'd tendered the stolen currency. “Think you’d be able to pick him out if you saw him?” demanded Collingwood in desperation. “Sure,” the storekeeper was emphatic. “why shouldn’t I? I see him go past here most every day. He works at the shoe factory on the edge of town.” Pratt was already through the door. An hour later he and Collingwood were closeted with Hi Blake, owner of the small shoe factory. “That description’s kind of vague,” he insisted, “but it seems to fit one of our men. I'll be back in a minute.” A few moments later the door opened and, to the detectives’ astonishment, Blake ushered in William Sturtevant, the nephew. The young man met their astonished gaze with a ready smile. “Well,” he asked, “did William Sturtevant, nephew of the mur- dured man, provided police with what seemed the first likely clue. you manage to run down those two men I was telling you about?” “Forget about them,” Pratt’s voice was brittle. ‘Where: were you last Sunday when your uncles and Mary Buckley were murdered?” William’s eyebrows lifted. “Why .. . I was right here in South Abington all day,” came the quick retort. “Dan Blanchard can tell you that,” his colour mounted, “and Grace and Alice Bonnie spent the evening at our place. They left about ten and I hit the hay. Had to be up early next morning. Pratt’s eyes rested on a dark stain on the collar of William’s blue cotton shirt. “I'm taking you along,” he told him brusquely, “we'll need you as a material witness. As they made their way to the car an overalled factory worker caught Colling- wood’s eye. “That guy been up to any- thing?” he eyed him curiously. Collingwood shrugged his query aside. “Reason I asked,” the workman persisted, “he’s been acting mighty queer. Look at them shoes he’s just finished,’ he nodded towards a work bench. “Damned if he ain’t sewed the right and left uppers to the wrong soles. Must be something eating ime Identified by the storekeeper as the man who'd passed the old coins, Sturtevant re- called that he'd done some work for his uncles nine months before and they had paid him in this old currency, some of which he had used before. Finally Pratt called his attention to the ominous stains on his collar. “I suppose,” he laughed thinly, “you'll say those aren’t blood stains on your shirt?” “Chances are they are,’ William was frank. “Must’ve come from that leg of lamb I got from the butcher a couple of days ago. I toted it on my shoulder. I’m telling you,” his eyes narrowed to pinpoints, “you're making a serious mistake if you think you're going to pin this killing on ” me. “We'll see about that,” Pratt pushed him through the door. Back at South Hanson, Pratt rounded up Zeb Thompson, Blake and a dozen others, requesting their appearance at the horror house. “I’ve got something up my sleeve,” he told the other detectives with an air of heavy mystery, “just sit tight in that room with the parrot, and keep your eyes skinned. Watch the actions of the cockatoo as each of these men pass through.” The Okanagan Bakery and Cafe Proprietress: Alice Mann Home Cooked Meals Lunch Counter Afternoon Teas * Vernon, British Columbia The PALL MALL GRILL Sam Kotchinas, Proprietor English Fish and Chips COMPLETE RESTAURANT SERVICE WE SPECIALIZE IN SEA FOODS e Rooms - Steam Heat - Hot and Cold Water Day, Week or Month VERNON BRITISH COLUMBIA Page Seventy-seven