XXI - STONE’S QUESTIONS––––––––
“NOW,” WENT on Stone, “I’m going to begin at the beginning of this thing and I propose to take you along with me.”
“Yes, sir, I’ll help,” and Fibsy settled back in his seat in the taxicab without a trace of presumption or forwardness on his freckled face or in his blue, ‘seeing’ eyes.
The beginning seemed to be at police headquarters and the two went in there.
Inspector Collins was interviewed as to the message that brought to him the first news of the murder.
He patiently retold the story, now old to him, and Stone questioned him as to the woman’s voice.
“I couldn’t rightly hear her, sir. Her kids was all screamin’ and whoopin’-coughin’ to beat the band.”
“Gee!” remarked Fibsy, “Vapo-crinoline!”
“What?” asked Stone.
“It’s the stuff they uses for wh
