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Show LEHI FREE PRESS. LEHL L'TAH 1 Salh Sez The KENNEL MURDER CASE o Copyrlcht by W. TL Wright SYNOPSIS Phllo ranee, crime espert. it called to Investigate the supposed suicide of Archer Coe. With District Attorney Hark ham, he troea to Coe'a house. They find Wrede, a friend of Coe's. there; alsoa Signor Grassi, a guest. The door of the death chamber is bolted from the Inside. Ther force It Coe la seated, a revolver In his right hand and a bullet hole la hla temple. He is clothed to a dressing gown, but wears street shoes. Markham thinks it Is suicide. Vance says It Is murder. Medical Examiner Doremus declares Coe had been dead for hours when the hullet entered his head. A wound, made by a dagger, Is found on the body, and there !s proof that Coe was fully dressed when he was stabbed. CHAPTER II Continued Markham," he spoke yet withal thoughtfully there's some explanation, but I doubt If It will prove to, be a simple one. Let ui summarize, for the sake of clarity, before we proceed with our Interviews of the family and guests. . . . First, Coe was struck over the bead and perhaps rendered unconscious. Then he probably tumbled against some hard object and broke rib. All this was evidently preceded by some sort of physical contretemps. Coe was, we may assume. In his street clothes at the time Later on how much later we don't know he was tabbed in the bark through his coat and waistcoat with a small, peculiarly shaped Instrument, and he died of Internal hemorrhage. At some time to the stabbing, his coat and waistcoat were removed and carefully hang up In the clothes closet His dressing gown was put on, buttoned, and the belt neatly tied about him. Moreover, his hair was correctly combed. But his street shoes were not changed to bedroom slippers. Furthermore, we found him sitting In a comfortable attitude In an easy chair in a position he could not possibly have been In when he was stabbed. And his broken rib indicates clearly that he was at one time prostrate over some hard object . . . Then, as if all this were not Incongruous enough, we know that after he was killed by the stab In his back and before rigor mortis had set In, a bullet crashed into his right temple. The gun from which the bullet was presumably fired was clutched tTgnfly fa his right hand. And we must not forget the serene expression on Coe's face: It was not the expression of a man who had been struggling with an antagonist and been knocked unconscious by a blow on the head. And this fact, Markham, is one ot the strangest phases of the case. Coe was in a peaceful, or at least a satisfied. State of mind when he departed this life. . . Vance puffed again on his cigarette, and his eyes became dreamy. "Now, there are other elements In the situation that must be' taken Into consideration. For Instance, we found him in a room securely and powerfully bolted on the inside, and with no other means of Ingress or egress. All the windows are closed, and all the shades drawn. The electric lights are burning, and the bed hns not been ""slept In. What took place here last Aight, therefore, must have happened befpre Coe's usual time for retiring. Furthermore, I am inclined to think that weraust also consider the implied "fact that Just before his death, he bad been reading about peach-blooTasesand that he had started to write a letter or make a memorandum of ome kind. That dated piece of stationery and that fountain pen on the floor must be added to the problem. At this point we could hear hurried footsteps mounting the stairs, and the next moment Gamble stood at the door with a startled look in his eyes. "Mr. Markham," he stammered, "ex cuse the interruption, sir, but but there's something queer very queer, sir down in the front hall" Tea, tan-nldl- sub-eque- ..." CHAPTER III The Wounded Scottie. "Well, what's In the hall?" barked Markham. Vance's recapitulation had produced an irritating effect on him. "A dog, sir!" Gamble announced. Markham gave a start of exasperation. "What of "A wounded dog, sir," the butler explained. - Before Markham could answer Vance --had leaned to his fet "That's the thing I've been waiting qjpJ", There was a suppressed note of A wounded excitement in bis voice. rloffi Mvwordl . . ." lie went swift- ly to the door. "Corae along. On ruble," he called, as he parsed quickly down ltr ' the stairs. We all followed In silent amazement "Where is it?" Vance demanded when he had reached the lower hallway. GajjjMe stepped to the heavy por- . tlcrcs.atjie rigni 01 me entrance aoor, "I lfeftrfTi strange sound Just now," he explu! ne3T" Like a whine, sir. It " - ''startled back ' Jog." I me terrltoy. sVUtMuftutn By S S. Van Bine e When I looked there I saw the "Does It belong to anyone in the house?" Markham asked. Olt, no, sir!" the dud assured him That's why I was so startled. There's never been a dog in this house since I've been here and that's going on ten years." As he held back the portiere, we could see the small, prone shape of a slightly brindled Scottish terrier, lying on its side with Its four short legs stretched out Over the left eye was a clotted wound; and on the floor was a black stain of dried blood. The eye beneath the wound was swollen fWiut. but the other eye, dark hazel and oval. looked up at us with an expression of tragic appeal. Vance took the dog tenderly In his arms. "What street's this?" he asked of no one In particular. "Seventy-first. . . Open that door. Gamble." The butler, apparently as much sur prised as any of the rest of us, hur ried to obey. t Vance stepped Into the vestibule, the dog held gently against bis breast "I'm going to Doctor Blarney,'' he announced. "He's just up the street I'll be back presently." And he hur ried down the stone steps. This new development left us ail even more puzzled than before. Vance's animated response to Gamble's an nouncement regarding the dog, and his cryptic remark as he hurried down stairs, added another element of al most outlandish mystery to a situation already Incredibly complicated. Markham was staring at the front door through which Vance had Just passed, chewing his cigar nervously. Presently he fixed Gamble with an angry look. "You never saw that dog before?" "No, sir." The butler had become "Never, sir. It's most oily again. I can't imagine how It mysterious. got In the bouae." Wrede and GrassI had come to the drawing room door, and stood looking out curiously into the hall. Markham, seeing them, addressed himself to Wrede. "Do you, Mr. Wrede, know anything about a small black shaggy dog that might have found access to this house?" Wrede looked puzzled. "Why, no," he answered, after a slight hesitation. "No one here cared for dogs. I happen to know that both Archer and Brisbane detested pets." "What about Miss Lake?" "She bns no use for dogs. She likes cats." Markham frowned. "Well, a dog has Just been found here In the hall back of those curtains." "That's most remarkable." Wrede Lseemed genuinely astonished. "I can't Imagine where It came from. It must have followed some one In, without being seen." Markham did not answer, and Heath, taking his cigar from his month, stepped forward belligerently, and thrust out his jaw. "But you like dogs, don't you?" he shot forth, in his best manner. Wrede was taken aback by the sergeant's sudden aggressiveness. "Why, yes," he said. "I'm very fond of them. I've always kept one till I moved next Into the apartment door. . . ." "What kind of a dog?" demanded Heath, without relaxing his bellicose manner. "A Dobermnn Pinscher," Wrede told him, and turned to Markham. "I don't exactly understand this man's questions." "We're all a little on edge," Markham apologized. "Some very peculiar things went on in this house last night Coe did not commit suicide he was murdered." Wrede did not appear surprised. "Ah!" he murmured. "I was afraid of that" Grass! now gave a guttural exclamation, and stepped Into the hall. "Murdered?" he repeated. "Mr. Coe was murdered? I understood he had taken his own life with a revolver." "He was stabbed in the back," Markham informed him. "The bullet did not enter his head till after death." Again the Italian gave a curious guttural exclamation and leaned heavily against the casing of the drawing room door. Heath was watching him like a tiger, and at this point he moved deliberately forward until his face was within six Inches of Grassl's. "Stabbed with a dagger!" he spat out "In the back. Wop stuff. What d'ye know about It?" As quickly as he had gone pale, the Italian drew himself together, and stood erect with great dignity, looking Heath steadily In the eyes. "I know nothing ahout It, sir," he said with quiet suavity. "I am not of the police. Perhaps you know a great deal about It" Ills tone, though on the surface polite, was an Insult Heath was piqued. "We know plenty," be boasted truculently. "And when we got going, it won't be so d n pleasant for yon." Markham stepped forward. "You gentlemen will have to wait In the drawing room for a while.'' lie said ? third-degre- e to Grassi and Wrede. "And pleas tie m good as to p the dir closed uri til we aunt you." Heath waved the two uien hack Into the drawing room and drew the sli'h'ng kt-e- dMirs huL Tome. Sergeant." Markham better untke a foe's room before the boys get "We'd once-ove- r said. of here." Heath sullenly led the way upstairs. During the next live minutes or so. Markham mid the sergeant walked about Coe's quarters giving them a cur. Heath went to each sory liist-tioiiwindow and raiM-- the shades. When he had completed his rounds lie went up to Markham. "Here's a funny one, 6ir. The win dows are all tight but that ain't all. Every one of''em is locked. And this room is on the second story, so that no one could get In from the outside. Why all the precaution?" "Archer Coe was a peculiar man, Sergeant," Markham replied. "He was always afraid burglars would break In and steal his treasures." "Who'd want this Junk?" Heath grumbled sceptically, and moved to the d desk. Markham, after casually Inspecting the closet, walked across the room to the teakwood chest beneath one of the east w indow s. I then remembered that Vance had regarded this chest curiously during his conversation with Doctor Doremus about Coe's broken rib. "I've seen nothing of the weapon that killed Coe," Markham remarked. "It's not here," Heath asserted dogmatically. "It was withdrawn from Coe's body, and I'll bet the guy cached It where it wouldn't be found." A few minutes later Vance returned to the house. As he entered the room his face was troubled, and anger smoldered in his gray eyes. There's a good chance she'll live," he reported ; "but that was a vicious c 0 o o TCNTJ ..in; to trace a stray dog?" he asked of them dispi.itediy. "The city is full And if it belonged to the person who ent.r.-here last night, the owner is for it ceri.iiii'j not going t" advertise -- answer 'found' advertise or eet. nient." True." Van.-- nodded. "Hut the matter isn't as obscure and difficult as that. That little Scttie is no mere Far from it. pet shop companion. She'd make trouble in the ring for I know some of our leading winners. a little about Scot ties. Markham. and I have an idea she's got both I.aiiries-toand Ornsay blood in her." That's all very well" Markham a n was annoyed by Vance's technicali- ties "hut what do those things mean to anyone but a breeder? I can't see that they get us anywhere." "Oh. but they do," smiled Vance. "They get us much forrader. The in this breeding of certain blood-line- s country Is known to every serious dog fancier. And a bitch like this one is the result of years of Intensive breedFurthermore, she's In perfect ing. show condition now; and the chances are that a dog as good as this one has been show n. And whenever a dog Is shown, another set of facts Is put on record." Heath was unimpressed. "Huh!" "But even If you did find the owner of this mut. where would you be? The owner might simply say, 'Oh. thank The little devil ran you. kind sir. away last Thursday." " Vance smiled. "So he might. Sergeant flut well-bredogs don't follow strangers Into unknown houses. Moreover, dogs as good as this one are not generally permitted to roam the streets unattended. d There's something particularly strange about that dog's presence in this house last night. If I had the explanation. I'd know infinitely more about the murderer. Until we have further data, we must assume that he viciously Injured the Scottie probably to keep her quiet " What Vance was going to say further was Interrupted by a noise of footsteps and voices In the lower front A moment hall. later, three plainclothes men and two uniformed officers from the local precinct station clattered into the room. "I have taken charge of the case," Markham told them. "We're handling it from headquarters, but we'll want two men to guard the house." "Certainly, sir." A heavy-set- , man saluted, nnd turned to the uniformed officers. "You, Hanlon and Riordan, stay here. Mr. Markham'll give you orders." s The three men had scarcely departed when the fingerprint experts Captain Dubois and Detective Bellamy arrived, with the official photographer, Peter Quaeken-bush- . Under Heath's orders, they went systematically about their work. "What I want to know," the sergeant told them, "is who locked those windows and turned on the lights In this room. And I want to know who went outa this room last." Vance beckoned Heath to one side. "I can throw some light into the Sergloom of your uncertainties. geant," he said. "Coe himself locked the windows nnd pulled down the shades: and he also switched on the lights. But I'll admit I'm In a Stygian darkness as to who was the last person to handle the doorknoh." Heath blinked and looked up He was about to answer, but Instead he called to Captain Dugray-haire- d plain-clothe- On the Floor Was a Black Stain of Dried Blood. blow some one dealt her. A blunt instrument of some kind." (I had rarely seen Vance so upset.) "What does It all mean?" Markham asked him. "Where does that dog fit In?" "I don't know yet." Vance sank Into a chair and took out his cigarette case. "But have a fcelin' it's our opening That little dog Is the one totally Irrelevant Item In this whole bloody affair she's our one contact with the world outside. She doesn't belong here, and therefore will have something Important to say to us. Furthermore, she was wounded In this I wedge. house." Markham's eyes suddenly narrowed. "And the wound was similar to the one on Coe's head, and In the same place." Vance nodded dubiously. "But that may be merely a coincidence," he returned after a moment "In any event, no one In this house cared tor dogs. There's never been one here. No member of this household brought that dog In, Markham. But had the dog got In by mistake, no member of the family would have hesitated to strike It." "You think an outsider brought It In?" "No, that wouldn't be reasonable either." Vance frowned meditatively "That's the strange things ahout the dog's presence here. It was probably a terrible accident a fatal miscalculation. That's why I'm so deuced Interested. And then there's this point to be considered, the person who found the dog here was afraid to let her out Instead for his own safety he tried to kill her and then hid her behind the portieres downstairs. And he almost succeeded in killing her. The dog either witnessed the stabbing or was present In the house shortly afterward." "It's a curious situation," Markham murmured. "Yes, it's curious," Vance agreed. But once we trace "And damnable. the dog's ownership, we may know something pertinent." Markham looked doubtful. "How, In HcNven's name, are we bois. "Say, Cap; take the right thumbprint of the body on the bed, nnd see if you can check it with the prints on the window-catche- s nd the switch." light Dubois went to the bed. A few minutes later he returned with a piece of cardboard on which was an ink impression of Coe's thumb. "You had the right dope. Sergeant," he said. "It looks like the guy on the bed locked this window." He then went through the same process of minute comparison with the catches on the other windows. When he was through he came to Heath. "All the same as far as I can see. Two of the lockplates are blurred, but they seem to match." "Now. Cap." snid Ho;tth. "try the switch and the doorknob." Dubois went to the switch and, after sprinkling the powder over It, blew upon It gently nnd studied It through his glass. "Same here," he nodded. "1 can't he sure, you understand, until I get the photographic enlargements and compare 'em. Hut the prints look the same the whorl type with n pronounced ridge dot and several distinctive bifurcations." Heath smoked a while !n silence. "Try that gun on the desk, wrapped In my handkerchief." Dubois obeyed. "Nothing here." he told the sergeant after a few minutes. "The trig, ger's Incised nnd wouldn't take a print Looks to me as If It had been wiped clean before the fellow picked It un," "It had." Vance spoke lethargically. "It's a waste of time to Inspect the gun. If there fire any marks on It they're CoeV, The sergeant stood Finally he shrugged, hand in dismissal to "Thanks Cap. I fe Service glaring at Vance. and waved hia Dubois. guess that'll be nil." Dubois and Bellamy and the phohad scarcely quitted the room when Commanding Officer Moran of the detective bureau, followed closely by Detectives Burke and Snitkin of the homicide bureau, came In. Morau greeted us pleasantly and asked Markham several questious concerning the case. He seemed relieved to find Markham on the scene, and, at the district attorney's request, officially assigned Heath to the case. He left us almost immediately, manifestly glad to get away. Burke and Suitkin had come at Heath's specific request, and, after greeting the sergeant, stood by the mantelpiece awaiting orders. Markham sat down at the desk, and made a peremptory gesture to Heath. "Let's see what we can find out from the people In the house, Sergeant" He deferred to Vance. "What do you say to beginning with Gamble?" Vance nodded. A bit of domestic gossip to "Quite. start with. And don't fail to pry Into the movements and whereabouts of brother Brisbane last night." There was, however, another Interruption before the examinations took place. The front door bell rang, and d presently two men bearing a basket entered the room. They lifted Coe's body Into It, and, without a word, carried their, gruesome burden tographer There's nothinr that's awn Urea visiter er traveler tin kid,, HOTEL accommodations at nea rates. Bee the advertisement U tkk stash a On Being Crazr A young man thinks tverjift crazy except himself. An old u knows everybody's crazy, inebfa himself. EXCELCIS BEAUTY coffin-shape- ( The Andes Mountain Chii f The Andes mountain chain blA 400 miles long, averages 13,000 fu .. high, and at some points ii 1) miles wide. out. "And now let's have the windows open," ordefed Markham. "And turn out those ghastly electric lights." Snitkin and Burke leaped to obey him ; he drew a deep breath and looked at his watch. "Get Gamble up here, Sergeant" he said, leaning back In his chair. Heath sent one of the uniformed officers to the street with Instructions to keep all strangers away from the house. The other he stationed in the He orhall outside of Coe's room. dered Burke to the lower hall to ans-swthe front door. Then he disappeared down the stairs. THIS WEEK'S PRIZE STOEI "AH ths world's s start" snl his- Bring-- commodities is ths natt firm , et played en that stage. Let ns not make this "Hradliui'i tragedy of poor products, sr a Mm. of cheapness: but s masterf ol draw tat ends with the satisfaction that ewsra. buying Intermauntain Products tsl h tronliinr Home Industry! MISS EUNICE JOHNSON. YeraU er Presently he returned with the SCHOOL ENROLL NOW: Ltarn nostra fet ca Itare pleasant, profitable wtrk. Iv eeleis. known nationally, offers yt, a ' For free caul rina -sdrantacrt. , fall particulars, address EXCELCIS BEAUTY SCHOOL f 221 Bo. W. Temple Salt Lab A ' At ler in tow. Oil - Refining. Markham beckoned Gamble to the desk. The man came boldly forward, but, despite his effort, he could not disguise his nervous fear. "We want some Information about the conditions in this house last night," Markham began gruffly. "And we want the truth understand?" "Certainly, sir anything I know, sir." "First, take a look at that revolver. Evpr seen It before?" "Yes, sir. I've seen It often. It was Mr. Archer Coe's revolver." "When did you see it last?" "Yesterday morning, sir, when I was straightening up the library. Mr. Coe had left a record book on the table, and when I put It away In the drawer, I saw the revolver." Markham nodded, as If satisfied. "Who was in the house last night after dinner?" "Yesterday was Wednesday, sir," the man answered. "There Is no dinner here on Wednesdays. It's the servants' night off. Every one dines out except Mr. Archer Coe occasionally. I fix a cold supper for him sometimes before I go." "And last night?" "I prepared a salad and cold cuts for him. The rest of the family had engagements outside." "What time did you go?" "About sir." "And there was no one but Mr. Archer Coe In the house at that time?" "No, sir no one. Miss Lake telephoned from the Country club early In the afternoon that she would not be home till late. And Mr. Grassi, Mr. Coe's guest, went out shortly before four. I understood he had an appointment with the curator of oriental antiquities of the Metropolitan mu- and Service Stations in Utah Marriage Greatest Marriage Mc f Problen is one of the wi vexed problems the world has to handle. contemponr '? First State to Aid Blind To Ohio goes the credit for institute tablishing the first statechildren. ? for the care of blind ' was built in 1837. Grand New Salt Lske CHr. I CUk f New Post OltlM Federsl Building Salt Lake's Most PopuW , Medium Priced Hotel , j Ons Block from Theitrs . Shopping District Opposite New Modern Coffee in Connection Shop , NifW (Open Dsr snd H. H. THOMPSON. Mn. Trade Policy of Free was trade The policy of free Introduced in England mi. seum." "And Mr. Brisbane Coe, you said over the phone, was In Chicago." Markham's statement was actually a question.- Word "Chero-keeThe word Cherokee Longest Life Span The longest recorded life span of any backboned animal Is 152 years and is credited to a giant land tortoise known to have lived on the Island of Mauritius from 17(56 to 1918. As It was not young when the record started, its true age may have been more than 200 years. The larger land turUes and crocodiles probably live beyond 100 years, states an authority at the Field museum, but records are Chicago, few. The greatest recorded age for any crocodile Is that of a Chinese which hns lived since 1S8S lathe Frankfort zoological gardens. Indian Potters' Art Indian potters fashion their wares by skillful motions of hands and aided by such primitive accessories as a piece of gourd shell, a smooth pebble, a bone for the clay, or a bit of string scraping s, Bannd m in the language oi w kee Indians, who prefer Ingr Tsalagis. themselves TO BB CONTINUED. yJeV , , EiA5r yo.P '., m ..why Intsrmoantain msde to sbo. Sena your ,r eerae to Intermoantain mo. P. O. Bos 1654 Salt UK yonr stors sppesr this column ?oa f fiB'. $3.9 eeive check (or W.N.U.-S- H., i - J Animal Acrobat is probably The wart-ho- g llesr. animal that nalV.v;.f a ted, and every time itsom burrow it does a doub.e f in the air outside it3,"?V in lives Incidentally, it made by another animai; j trouble to build its own hon, norscs Called Some horses are called cause they are a brc;"d "y. into Spain from the Lerb ' try ia northern Afn Moors, i, : . . 400 Utah but- . ' |