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Show ! PRESS. LEHT, UTAH IEHI FREE Attractive Line The K ENNEL MURDER CASE o Copyright br H. Wright ..." There waa a clouded, faraway look In the Chinaman's eyes. "I did not return early last night" he answered. In a faintly sing-sonvoice. "I arrived at midnight" "Yes. you arrived at midnight-Gam- ble heard you come in. But I am speaking of your earlier visit some time around eight o'clock. let as say." "You are evidently laboring under a misapprehension," Liang returned. Vance Ignored the retort "And what did yon see in this room at about eight o'clock?" "How could I have seen anything, when I was not here?" came the calm, unruffled reply. "Did yoo see Mr. Archer Coe?' persisted Vance. "I assure you " "And was anyone with him?" "I was not here." "Perhaps you visited Mr. Coe's bedroom upstairs," Vance went on with quiet but firm Insistence. "And then. It may be, you thought it advisable to disappear from the house for several hours; and you went out, returning at g midnight" "I was not In this house" Liang "between spoke with deliberation half-patwo yesterday afternoon and midnight" There was a finality In both his manner and his tcne. Vance sighed wearily, and, turning to the hall door, called Gamble. "Where was Mr. Archer Coe sitting last night when you went out?" he asked. "On the davenport sir," Gamble told him. "In that corner near the floor lamp. It was Mr. Archer's favorite st seat" nodded and rose. will be all for the present Attend to your duties till we need you." Gamble went out, and Vance walked to the davenport and looked down at It Beside the lamp, and In front of the davenport, stood a low massive Vance "That ..." $ si ViJa Eervic ... Vance. Vance shook his head sadly. "No. Archer would never have been taken in by this specimen. . . . It's most confusin'." He started to replace the vase on the stand, but suddenly withheld the movement of his hand and set the vase to one side. Leaning over, he pushed the littla teakwood pedestal out of the way, revealing a tiny triangle of thin white porcelain, about an Inch wide, which had been lying hidden underneath. Carefully adjusting his monocle he picked up the bit of porcelain and held It between his thumb and forefinger to the light "Now, this is eminently different" he remarked, studying it closely. "Apparently a particle of genuine Sung Ting yao. A vase of this delicate porcelain would do honor to any collection." Gently he placed the little white triangle in his pocket, and addressed the Chinaman, who had sat Immobile and unblinking during Vance's comments. "Did not Mr. Coe possess a Sung Ting yao vase, Mr. Liang, about the size of this execrable Tao Kuang?" "I believe he did." Liang spoke In a curiously repressed voice, without modulation or Inflection. "And when did you see the Ting yao vase last?" "I do not remember." Vance kept his steady gaze on the man. "When, Mr. Liang, did you last sec this nineteenth-centurimitation?" He pointed to the vase on the table. Liang did not reply at once., lie looked thoughtfully at the vase for a fuli then his eyes returned to Vance. "I have never seen It before," he ; " ' said finally. Vance that!" returned' his "Fancy monocle to his waistcoat pocket "And' here It sits in a place of honor, crying out its spurlousness to anyone who enters the room. . . . MosMnterestin'."r Markham, who had been chafing Vance's apparent irrlevancles. y - un,-de- now spoke. "What possible connection can a vae have with the murder of Archer and Brisbane Coe?" "That point," answered Vance "Is what I am endeavorln to ascertain. Y' see, Markham, Archer Coe would not have included this Tao Kuang vase In his collection. Why is it here? I haven't the groggiest notion. On the other hand, that little broken piece of Sung porcelain is of a beautiful quality. I can Imagine Coe waxing ecstatic over a vase of such ware." "Well?" Markham retorted Irritably. "I still can't see the significance. . . "Nor can L" Vance became serious. "But It has significance and a vital significance. It Is another absurdly Irrelevant factor in this hideous case. Because that little triangular bit of Ting yao porcelain was on the table just back of where Archer Coe sat last night And It was hidden beneath a vase which Archer would not have tolerated in the same room with him. dul-cetl- "By the By, Mr. Liang; When Did You Leave the House Yesterday r tabouret of teakwood ; and on the floor near the hearth lay a copy of Tchoo To-y'- s "Les Bronzes antiques de la Chine." Vance contemplated the tabouret and the book for a moment Then, without turning, he said: "Mr. Liang, did you find this tabouret upset when you returned to the house early last night?" "I was not here," Liang repeated. "It will be a simple matter," said Vance, "to go over the tabouret for fingerprints and to compare them with yours." "It would be unnecessary, however," came the calm reply. "You would undoubtedly find my fingerprints on it I often touch the furniture and objects in this room." Vance smiled faintly and, 1 thought, admiringly. "In that case, we shan't bother." He moved round the lamp and stood for a moment beside a circular camphor-wood table Just behind the davenport In the center of the table, on a slender teakwood base, stood a white baluster-typvase about nine Inches tall. 1 had noticed Vance stop and glance at this vase when he had first entered the library; but now he studied It critically as If something about it puzzled him. We were ail watching him; and not the least Interested person In the room was Liang. His eyes were fixed on Vance's face. "Extr'ordln'ry!" Vance murmured after several moments' contemplation of the vase. Then he lifted his eyes lethargically. "1 say, Mr. Liang, was this bit of pottery on tbe table early last night?" "How could I possibly know that?" Liang asked In a vague, mechanical e voice. Vance picked up the vase and Inspected It closely, "Not exactly a museum piece, is it Mr. Liang?" he mused. "Rather Inferior. I should say It was Imitation Ting yao made under Tao Kuang. This piece would never have deceived ... n He paused and looked up somberly. "Moreover, Markham, that broken fragment of porcelain has blood on it" CHAPTER V "Needles and Pins." Liang was dismissed with Instructions to remain In the house until further notice. While we were waiting for the medical examiner, there ensued a brief discussion concerning the blood on the piece of porcelain and Liang's possible relationship to the events preceding the double murder. But Vance was evidently as much in the dark as the rest of us ; and there was little to be done until we had Doctor Doremus report Burke came to the door and beckoned to Heath. "Say, Sergeant," he reported from the corner of his mouth, "that Chink Just went upstairs. Right with you?" Heath looked sour, and shot Vance an angry look. "Now, what's the idea?" he bawled. Gamble entered the hall from the dining room at this moment, and Vance addressed him. "What Is Liang doing upstairs?" The butler seemed perturbed at Vance's tone, and replied with apologetic obsequiousness: "I told him to fetch Miss Lake's tray, and tidy up her quarters. . . . Shouldn't I have done It sir? You told me to proceed with my duties. tt Vance scrutinized the man closely. "When he returns keep him downstairs," he said. "And you'd better stay here yourself." Gamble bowed and returned to the dining room; and a moment later Doctor Doremus arrived. Heath went briskly out of the room and down the corridor to the closet Xe.Ct We were close behind him when ha opened the door. Doremus, straightknelt way assuming a professional air, Coe'a Brisbane touched down and body. a collector as shrewd as Archer Coe. Do you not agree with me, Mr. Liang?" "Mr. Coe knew much about Chinese ceramics," the Chinaman answered evasively, without taking his eyes from . ... black-and-whit- VTKU 'half-minut- - r U AiWSx A ., o By S. S, Van Dine moment later he was speaking to Doctor Doremua. "The doc's coming right away," he Phil V erlms expert, la called to Investigate the supposed suicide of said, hanging up the receiver. Archer Co. Willi District Attorney "In the meantime, Markham," sugMark hm. he cots to Coe'a bouse. They find Wreda. friend of Coe'a. there; gested Vance, "I think we might have lsa 8ignor Grass I. a (uest. The door parlance with the Chinese cook. . . . of the death chamber Is bolted from Fetch him, will you. Gamble." the Inside. They force it. Co la seated. The butler hastened through the revolver la his right hand and a bullet hoi la his temple. He la clothed dining room door at the rear, and la a dressing sown, but wears street Vance strolled into the library, the hoes. Markham thinks it la suicide. rest of us following. Vane saya It la murder. Medical Ex We had scarcely seated ourselves miner Doremus declares Co had been Jead for hours arhea the bullet entered when a tail, slender, scholarly looking tola head. A wound, made by a dagger. softIs found on the body, and thers la Chinaman of about forty stepped beroom through the door the Into ly Co was that when dressed fully .proof tween the library and the dining room. he was stabbed. The investigators find at wounded Scotch terrier In a room He stood beside the door with relaxed of the Co house, Vance declares the and. after one swift glance Immobility, animal will prove an Important connecting link. Gamble saya Brisbane at us, lifted his eyes uneagerly above Co. Archer's brother, left for Chicago our heads. Though he looked at noththe previous afternoon, but Vance ing in particular, I felt that he saw points out that his favorite walking everything. tick is hanging in the ball. Vance asked: "What Is your name?" CHAPTER "Liang," came the soft and almost Inaudible response. s "Your whole name, please." He pulled the door oien, revealing There was a slight pause, and the only a great rectangle of blackness. Almost simultaneously, the circle of man gave Vance a fleeting glance. "Liang Tsung Wei." yellow light from Heath's pocket flash-Iih- t "Ah! . . . And I understand you penetrated the gloom. "Lower, Sergeant!" came Vance's are the Coe cook." The other nodded quickly. dictatorial voice. "The floor the "Me cook." floor I Vance sighed, and a faint smile The light descended; and then we aw the thing that Vance, through overspread his face. "Be so good as to forgo the pidgin-Englisaome process of obscure, logic, had Mr. Liang. It will handicap been searching for. our conversation terribly. And please In a huddled There, heap, his glassy eyes staring up at us, lay the dead take a chair." The Chinaman, with a faint flicker body of Brisbane Coe. In bis eyes, moved his gaze till it Though the sight was not altogether rested on Vance's face. Then he In of view Vance's unexpected. strange arm chair actions and even stranger comment, bowed and sat down In an I received a tremendous shock as I between the door and the book shelves. "Thank you," he said In a finely gazed down Into the closet. Even to voice. "I suppose you demodulated an amateur like myself the fact that sire to question me regarding the Brisbane Coe was dead was apparent I deeply regret I The stiff, unnatural pose of the body, tragedy last night and the hideous fixity of his gaze, to- can throw no light upon it" has been "How do you know there gether wltb the drawn bloodless lips a tragedy?" Vance Inspected the end and the waxen pallor ofjila skin, athis cigarette. of to tested violent end unexpected death. "I was preparing the breakfast," And as I looked at It, temporarily Liang returned, "and I heard the butpetrified by the horror of this new deler Impart the Information over the velopment,' I could not help comparing the dead body of Brisbane wltb telephone." of course. . . . Have "Ah, yes that- of Archer. Whereas Archer had been long In this country, Mr. died with a peaceful expression' on his you ' Liang?" In a natural and comforface, and "Two years only." table position, Brisbane had a shocked, "Interested in the culin'ry art of almost wild, look In his eyes, as If he ?" America had been startled and frightened at "Not particularly although I am a Che moment of death. student of occidental customs. WestThe discovery of Brisbane Coe'a ern civilization1 Is of great Interest to tody "affected all of us strongly. Heath certain of my countrymen." stared down wltb hunched shoulders. "As are, also, I Imagine," added The blood seemed to have left his Vance, "the rare ceremonial pieces of face, and he was like a man hypno- Chinese art that have been pilfered tized. Markham's Jaw was set, and from your temples and graves." W9 eyes were mere slits. "We of course regret their loss," the Vance spoke, and his voice, usually man answered mildly. xi calm, sounded strained and unVance nodded understanding, and natural. was silent for a moment Then: I "It's worse than I thought. "How did you happen to seek emhad hoped he might still be alive a ployment with Mr. Coe." "I had heard of his collection of prisoner perhaps. I didn't altogether Chinese antiquities and of his great expect this." Vance closed the closet door. knowledge of oriental art and I be"It's very strange," he murmured, lieved that the atmosphere might looking at Markham yet past him. prove to be congenial." "lie Is without his hat and topcoat; "And have you found it congenial?" and yet his stick is hanging here In "Not altogether. Mr. Coe was a very the hall. And he Is dead in the closet. narrow and selfish man. His Interest Why not In his own room? or the In art was purely personal lie wished library? or anywhere else, but in to keep his treasures away from the there? . . . Nothing fits, Markham. world not to share them with humanThe whole picture has been painted by ity." observed "A a crazy man." typical collector," Markhani said In a dazed voice : Vance. "By the by, Mr. Liang: when I can't follow any of It. Why did did you leave the house yesterday?" "About half-paBrisbane Coe return here last night? two," came the low And who knew he was going to re- answer. "And you returned at what time?" turn?" "Shortly before midnight I was vis"If only I could answer those quesiting friends on Long Island." tions "Chinese friends?" Burke and Gamble were sitting on a "Yes. They will be most happy to ball bench near the drawing room door. The 'butler had not seen the verify my statement" Vance smiled. dead man In the closet for our bodies "I've no doubt Where do you sleep?" Iiad shielded him. But It was obvious "My quarters, such as they are, are that he suspected the truth, 'connected with the kitchen." Vance went to him. "Did you go to bed immediately "What kind of topcoat and hat did Mr. Brisbane wear when he went to upon your return?" There was a momentary hesitation last night?" tie station on the man's part to a man made desperate effort , The "Not himself Immediately," he said. "1 together. pull cleared away the remains of Mr. Coe's A a tweed coat, sir," he replied e tweed. supper, and made myself some tea." huskily, "Did you, by any chance, see Sir. fedora hat." a And light gray Vance returned to the closet, and Brisbane Coe after you returned last presently emerged with a bat and night?" "Mr. Brisbane Coe?" The other recoat "Are these the ones?" peated the name questlonlngly. "The Gamble swallowed hard and nodded hutler told me this morning not to prepare breakfast for him, as he had his head. Was he here gone to Chicago. . Yes, sir," Vance replaced the ennt and bnt In last night?" Vance Ignored the question. the closet and commented to Mark"Did you hear any sounds In the ham: i "They were hanging tip so neatly." bouse before you retired?" he went on. "Not until Miss Lake returned. She "Is It not possible," asked Markham, that Just as he hung them up after Is always vigorous and noisy. And a returning to the house, he was killed?" quarter of an hour later Mr. Orassl came In. But aside from that I heard "Possible yes." Vance nodded slownot explain the no sound whatever." would that "But ly. Vance, during this Interrogation, had other things that went on here Inst more I think, It's reasonable, casual; and his manner had appeared night to assume that Brisbane was killed been deferential. But now a perceptl aa he was preparing to leave the ble change came over his attitude. house. Bnt then again, there's the His eyes burdened, and he leaned fortime element. ward In his chair. When he spoke, his Heath had already gone to the hnll voice was cold and uncompromising. "Mr. Liang," he said, "at what time telephone and was dialing a number. "I'll soon get the time rlomont for did you first return to this house-e-arly last night J" yon," he growled. SYNOPSIS EmLro'dJ "Dead." he announced. Heath simulated astonishment "Honest is he dead? And me thinking all the time he was playing 'possum!" Doremus snorted. "Take hold of his shoulders." And he and the sergeant carried the body into the library and placed It on the davenport "Could you tell us. Doctor," Vance asLed. "which of the two victims died first r Doremus, who had been testing the movabllity of the dead mans head and limbs, glanced at hig watch. "That'a easy," he said. "The one upstairs. The advance of rigor mortis In the two bodies Is practically the same. This one might be slightly further along; but It's been nearly four hours since I went over the other fellow. Therefore, I'd say that this one died anywhere from two to three hours later. Say eight o'clock for the one upstairs and about ten o'clock for this one." He proceeded with his examination. After a while he straightened up and frowned at Markham. "You know what killed this guy? A stab in the back! . . . Same like the fellow upstairs. And almost In the same place." "And the weapon?" "The same. A sharp, narrow, Instrument Only, In this case, the hemorrhage was external. A lot of blood lost" "Died Instantly, I take It" remarked four-corner- Vance. "Yep." The doctor nodded. "Must have fallen in his tracks." Vance picked up the bloodstained coat and waistcoat of the dead man, and Inspected them. ?And this time the stab was through the clothes he was. wearing," he com-- , mented, "A minor point but wortb verifying... . . I say, Doctor; any, lndi- cations of a struggle?" . "Nope. Not a sign. ne got It ln.,the .back when he .wasn't expecting l,tj fetartleq him tor a split second probablylook at that expression-- and then he curled up and passed out Doubt If he even saw the fellow that' did him in. Quick, smooth business." "Devilish business," amended Mark- Br GRANDMOTHER CUr, This set Is quite a temptmio, the woman who wants to add to her home surroundings atJJj cost The material Is pure lin all three are useful articles. 8 or 4 strand thread. Work if leaves In one or two shades of ?f the flowers either in several aW of one color or several colon jwF blend. Work the lines arouad tor" In a dark brown or black. Thaj J 3 uuiuue auu lazy uaisy stitcaej, Write our stamped goods ment lnelosrng remittance u Jt w ant to work some of the nJ 20c for one number, 5Tc for toe ior au tnree. KnrlofiA ernmnatt a.i...-- , auuieasetl velope for reply, when writing fc! Information. j Address Ilome Craft Oo.-- ty A Nineteenth & St Louis itt- St Louis, Mo. w tJ Many Garden Insects That Have RealVal Aft garden ' Insects are net ous. In fact many of them are tjef btsf flcbaL continually doing good kj ( stroying those species waics af harmful Foremost among tot if sects that help the gardener an ig different kinds of ladybird beets' r.oth in their larval and a& stages, they feed almost eiclmhw ly upon plant lice and scale Insetf Another kind of beetle, the m ground beetle, is a particularly of ful Insect This beetle and its n( clous grub, which Is calied the af worm lion, destroy enormous nuf bers of cut worms. Tin beetle brownish-black,- " with the wing spotted with coppery red hence name. The large harptilas bee: which Is very common, destroys iv.pr.ms. The different kinds of lit ? wing, and other two and parasitic flies are also friends f gardener. four-wla- ! ham. "Oh, well, I'm no moralist" Doremus confessed. "I'm a doctor. They're too many people In the world anyway." He began filling in a printed blank. "Here's your removal order. Sergeant" And in another moment he had slammed the front door behind him. Heath went at once to the telephone and ordered the wagon from the department of public welfare. Then he returned to the library. "Now where do we stand V he asked, spreading his hands hopelessly. "It's my opinion the Chink cook did it If Mr. Markham would give me the word, I'd arrest him now." "Why such haste, Sergeant V sighed Vance. "You haven't a particle of evidence against him and he knows It That's why he will not admit that he was here earlier last night" "See here, Vance," Markham said, "how do you know Liang was here early last night?" "By the fact that Gamble heard him come In at midnight I imagine he always comes In silently It's a Chinese characteristic. On general principles, the Chinese never want their movements, however Innocent, to be known to foreigners. But last night Liang was heard returning and Gamble had already retired to the fourth floor. A bit significant eh, what? Liang probably saw Gamble's boudoir light ablaze and let It be known, In a subtle way, that he was arriving from his afternoon and evening off." "I see what you mean," Markham nodded dubiously. "But after all, your reasoning Is purely speculative." "Oh, quite," Vance admitted. "But the entire case is In a speculative stage Just now, what? . . . Anyway, I have even more definite evidence that Liang was here early last night and I'll present him with It later. . . . What do you say to our having polite Intercourse with Wrede and the Signer Grassi?" Markham waved his hand In assent "And we'd better go upstairs," Vance suggested. "Brisbane Is not a fl :. j V uL..'.ul' cheerfully refund your money oa u ara rot relieves ev ra at "When poverty comes in fs u. never wiyca Ifn iia ,wvr Ja.. uuvr 1 a pi III IIJ STOPPED-U- P Use Meniholaina 1 to help open the nostrils and permit I freer hrea!hin& 4 ... . . . ti i first wasu witn pure Kesinoi Then relieve and improve sore p4 spots with soothing j C r. WNU W 3 Salt Lake City j fewest Hotel pretty sight" TO BE CONTINUED. It : r- "Fort BlundeThe fortification known as 'Fort Blunder" was started In 1816 at Rouses Point N. Y., under the supervision of a United States engineer. The plan of the fort was octagonal. It was to be and occupy s about of an acre. The walls were to be about 30 feet high. It was believed that the fort would be of great strategic value, but In 1813 It was found that the fort was located within the limits of Canada, and work was abandoned. It was known for many years as Fort Blunder. Its correct name Is Fort Montgomery. By the Webster treaty of. the fort was ceded to the United State, yiree-fourth- 18-1- HOTEL TEMPLE SQUARE 200 Rooms 200 Tik m Radio conoactioo in every RATES FROM U ERNEST C ROSSITtK."! " sc" I "V" fWt I V' ren, |