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Show LEHI FREE PRESS, LEHI, UTAH S CHAPTER I Tb Bolted Bedroom. It was exactly three months after the startling termination of the Scarab murder case that Pbilo Vance was Li. Vv. -- appeared into Vance's bedroom, which was Just off the library. I Heard blm call Vance a bit per emptorily, and I beard Vance give a dramatic groan. "A murder, I presume," Vance com plained through a yawn. "Nothing less than gore would have led your footsteps to my boudoir at this on godly hour." "Not a murder " Markhaai began. "Oh. I say 1 What time might it be. EN NEIL Case you'd pick me up and make it a conclave of acquaintances." "Do yon want to come?" demanded Markham, with a trace of anger. "Oh, by all means," Vance replied know. I "But really, dulcetly. caa't go in these togs." He rose and started towards the bedroom. "Ill hop into appropriate integuments." As he reached the door he stopped. "And Til tell you why your invitation enthralls me. I had an appointment with Archer Coe for three this afternoon to look at a pair of peach-bloovases fourteen Inches high he had reAnd. Markham, a cently acquired. collector who has Just acquired a vases of that size pair of peach-bloodoesn't commit suicide the next day." With this remark Vance disappeared, and Markham stood, his hands behind him, looking at the bedroom door with a deep frown. "I shouldn't wonder If Vance were right," he mumbled, as If to himself. 'He's put my subconscious thought Into words." A few minutes later Vance emerged. dressed for the street. "Awfully thoughtful of you, and all that to pick me up," he said, smiling Jauntily at Markham. "There's something positively fasclnatln about the possibilities, it might be convenient to have Sergeant Heath on hand." "So it might," agreed Markham drily, putting on his hat "Thanks for the suggestion. But I've already notified him. He's on his way uptown now." Vance's eyebrows went up whimsi cally. "Oh, pardon I . . . Well, let's grope our way nence. We entered Markham's car, which was waiting outside, and were driven rapidly up Madison avenue. The Coe house was an old brownstone mansion of double frontage occupying two city lots, built In a day when dignity and f r Sally Sez lr.s. Van Dine CopTliht by W. H. Wright WW Serrlre bordering on bewilderment in bis wide-set gray eyes. He bowed formally to Markham. whom he knew slightly; nodded perfunctorily to me; and extended his hand to Vance. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned toward the man behind him, and made a brief presentation, which in reality ' was an explanation. . Mr. . . Grassl. Grass! "Signor hao been a bouse guest of Mr. Coe's for several days. He represents an Italian musuem of Oriental antiquities at Milan." Grassl bowed very low. but said nothing. He was considerably shorter thanWrede, sllni. Immaculately dressed, with shiny black balr brushed straight back from his forehead, and a com plexion whose unusual pallor was ac centuated by large luminous eyes. His features were regular, and bis Hps full and shapely. His manicured hands moved with an almost feline grace. wasted no time on cere . Markham mony. He turned abruptly to Gamble. "Just what is the situation? A po lice sergeant and the medical examiner will be here any moment." "Only what I told you on the tele phone, sir." The man, beneath his was patently manner, obsequious frightened. "When I saw the master through the keyhole I knew he was dead it was quite unnerving, sir and my first Impulse was to break In the door. But I thought It best to seek advice before taking such a respon slbility. And, as Mr.- Brisbane Coe was in Chicago, I phoned to Mr. Wrede tnd begged him to come over. Imme diately. Mr. Wrede was good enough to come, and after looking at the mas ter he suggested hat I call you, sir, before doing anything' else " "It was obvious Wrede took up the story "that poor Coe was dead. and I thought It best to leave every I thing intact for the authorities. drawn into the subtlest and the most perplexing of all the criminal problems that came his way during the four jrears of John F.-Markham's incumbency as district attorney of New fork county. Itarely Id the annals of modern crime has there been thenr Markham told "Eight forty-five,- " a case that seemed to reverse so com blm. pletely the rational laws by which bu "So early and not a murder!" (I manlty lives and reasons. In the could hear Vance's feet hit the floor) words of the doughty and practical Sergt. Ernest Heath of the homicide "You Interest me strangely. . . . Your wedding morn perhaps?" bureau, the case "didn't make sense, "Archer Coe has committed sui On the surface It smacked of strange cide," Markham announced, not with and terrifying magic, of s and miracle-workerand every line out irritation. "My word!" Vance was now moving of investigation ran into a blank wall about "That's even stranger than a In fact, the case had every outward murder. I crave elucidation. . . appearance of being what armchair I sip my criminologists delight in calling the Lome, let s sit down while coffee." crime. to make the plot perfect And, Markham the library, fol ting of the murderer even more mystl In lowed Vance sandals and an clad by diabolical a. concatenation of fying, circumstances was superimposed upon elaborate mandarin robe. Vance rang the events by some whimsical and per for Currle and ordered Turkish coffee, at the 8a me time settling himself In a Terse god, which tended to strengthen every weak link In the culprit's chain large Queen Anne chair and lighting of ratiocination, and to turn the entire one of his favorite cigarettes. What did you mean, Vanee," Mark bloody affair into a maze of Incompre bam asked, "by Coe's suicide being hensibility. Curiously enough, however, it was stranger than murder?" the very excess of ardor on the part Nothing esoteric, old thing," Vance of the murderer when attempting to drawled languidly. "Simply that there divert suspicion, that created a minute would be nothing particularly remark hole In the wall of mystery, through able In anyone's pushing old Archer Into the Beyond. He's been inviting which vance was able to see a glim mer of light In the process of follow. violence all bis life. Not a sweet and chappie, don't y' know. ing that light to the truth, Vance did what' I believe was the shrewdest and But there's something deuced remark profoundest detective work of his able In the' fact that he should push himself over the border. He's not the career. For years he bad been a breeder suicidal type far too egocentric." "I think you're right And that idea of Scottish terriers. Sometimes I was probably In the back of my head think he manifested a greater enthusi I asm in his dogs than in any other when I told the butler to hold every there." till life. I I recreative phase of bis men thing got tion-tha- t fact or idiosyncrasy, If you "Why should you be notified at all? prefer because it so happened that And what did the butler pour Into Vance's ability to look at a certain your ear over the phone? And why has stray Scottish terrier and recognize its are you here curtailing my slumbers? blood lines and show qualities, was Why everything? Why anything? never many difficult assignments what led him to one phase of the truth Just why? Can't you see I'm burst In the remarkable case which I am ing with uncontrollable curiosity?" have great detective's powers now recording. And Vance yawned and closed his been given so severe a That which led Vance to another Im- eyes. I'm on my way to Coe's house." portant phase of the truth was his clear away is called as when knowledge of Chinese ceramics. lie Markham was annoyed at the other's attitude of Indifference. "Thought may possessed a small but remarkable col mystery lection of Chinese antiquities mu be you'd like to what's your favorite eum pieces he bad acquired in his word? 'toddle' along." This was said extensive travels and had written va with sarcasm. rious articles for Oriental and art "Toddle," Vance repeated. "Quite. Journals on the subject of Sung and But why toddle blindly? The corpse Ming monochrome porcelains. won't run aVay, even If we are a bit Scotties and Chinese ceramics! A latish." Markham hesitated, and shrugged. truly unusual combination. And yet, without a knowledge of these two an- Obviously he was uneasy, and obvioustipodal interests, the mysterious murly he wanted Vance to accompany him. der of Archer Coe, In his old brown-stonAs he bad admitted, something was In house in West Seventy-firs- t the back of his head. street, would have remained a closed 'Very well," he acquiesced "Short ' took for all time. ly after eight this morning Coe's buta maze The opening of the case was rather ler the obsequious Gamble phoned E tame: it promised little In the line of me at my home. He was in a state of a dozen evidence, But within an hour nerves, and his voice was husky with sensationalism. of the telephone call Markham re- fear. He informed me. with many sons as possible culprits, Vance moves ceived from the Coe butler, the dishems and haws, that Archer Coe had trict attorney's office and the New shot himself, and asked me If I would finally accuracy come to the house at once. My first which enables finds clew Instinct was to tell him to notify the I some checked reason, most baffling police ; but dispose ! myself and asked him why he had ever presented called me. He said that Mr. Raymond Wrede had so advised him" "Ah!" Read this first installment of S. S. Van Dtne's "It seems he had first called Wrede most absorbing murder mystery story Is an Intimate know. as you greatest, who, and join Philo Vance in a thrilling manhunt for family friend and that Wrede had Im mediately come to the house." one of the shrewdest murderers on record. And Wrede said 'get Mr. Mark ham.'" Vance drew deep on his cigarette. "Something dodging about In the recesses of Wrede's brain, too, no comfort were among the Ideals of New didn't want to Insist on having the Well, any more?" doubt door broken In." York architects. As we ascended the "Only that the body was bolted In steps the door was opened for us be Vance was watching the man closely. Coe's bedroom." "But what harm could that have fore we had time to pull the "Bolted on the Inside?" ; ioned brass and the flushed done?" he asked mildly. "Since the Exactly." face of Gamble looked out at us door wis bolted on the inside, suicide "Amazln' !" was rather plainly Indicated eh, crlnglngly. "Gamble brought up Coe's breakfast what?" "Thank you for coming, Mr. Mark at eight as usual, but received no an"Perhaps you are right, Mr. Vance." sub reeked of His voice ham." oily swer to his knocking. . . ." Wrede appeared 111 at ease. "But "So he peered through the keyhol- e- servience. "It's very terrible, sir. And somehow my Instinct told me that It really didn't know Just what I should yes, yes, butlers always do. Some day. might be best " do- -" I In a moment of shall, Markham, "Quite quite." Vance took out his Markham brushed the man aside leisure, invent a keyhole that can't be case. "You, too, were scepcigarette and we stepped Into the dimly lighted tical seen tnrougn ny Dutiers. nave you the appearances." despite Scotties and Chinese. Ceramics! A ever stopped to think how much of the hallway. Ahead of us a broad flight Wrede gave a start and stared fixTruly Unusual Combination. of carpeted stairs led upward Into a world's disturbance Is caused by butedly at Vance. vault of darkness. On the right hung lers being able to see through key York police department were plunged "Coe," Vance continued, "wasn't a pair of deep maroon portieres evi Into one of the most astounding and holes?" the suicidal type was he?" "No-o.- " Wrede's eyes did not shift. "No, Vance, 1 never have," returned dently veiling double sliding doors. baffling murder mysteries of our day. To the left were other portieres; but Vance lighted a cigarette. It was shortly after half-pas- t eight Markham wearily. "My brain Is Inad on the' morning of October 11, that equate I'll leave that speculation to these were drawn back, and we could "My own feeling Is you acted quite Vance's doorbell rang ; and Currle, his you. . . . Nevertheless, because of look through the open doors Into a wisely." stuffy drawing room, filled with all old English valet and majordomo, your dalliance In the matter of Invent"Come!" Markham turned toward ushered Markham Into the library. 1 ing opaque keyholes, Gamble saw Coe manner of heavy ancient furniture. the stairs and made a peremptory geswas temporarily Installed In Vance's seated In his armchair, a revolver In Two men came forward from this ture to Gamble. "Lead the way." The butler turned and mounted the apartment at the his hand, and a bullet wound In his room to greet us. J he one in ad duplex vance I recognised immediately as stairs. Markham, Vance and I foltime. For years, a'most since our right temple. . . ." But what about Brisbane Coe? Why Raymond Wrede. He, I knew, was a lowed, but Wrede and Grassl remained Harvard days, I had been Vance's close friend of the Coe family, and below. Gamble, without a word, Indl legal adviser and monetary steward did Gamble call Wrede when Archer's (a post which included as much of brother was In the house?" particularly of Hilda Lake, Archer cated the door. He was a studi"Brisbane Coe didn't happen to be Coe's niece. Markham came forward, tried the friendship as of business) and his In the house. He's at present In Chiaffairs kept me fairly busy. ous man In his late thirties, slightknob, and shook It Then he knelt On this particular Autumn morning 1 cago." down nnd looked through the keyhole. ly gray, with an ascetic, calm face of "Ah I Most convenient. was busily engaged with a mass of So the chevallne type. He was mildly When he rose his face was grim. canceled checks and bank statements when Wrede arrived he advised GamInterested In Oriental ceramics prob"It looks as If our suspicions were ble to phone direct to you, knowing when Markham arrived. unfounded," he said In a low voice. ably as a result of his long associa "do ahead with your chores, Van that you knew Coe. Is that it?" tion with Coe though his particular "Coe Is sitting In his chair, a black "As fax. as I, can make., out". Dine," he said, with a perfunctory nod. fancy was ancient oil lamps; and he hole in his right temple, and his hand "And you, knowing that i had visited owned a collection of rare specimens. Is still clutching a revolver. The elec"I'll rout out the sybarite myself." He Coe on various occasions, thought eemed a trifle perturbed as be dis As ha greeted us, there was a look tric lights are on. . . . Look, Vance." witch-doctor- s; g had but of the deduction he upon to the surrounding test The Kennel Murder Case of conflicting pointing to half per Through 1R and with unerring the of the fr him to problem to him. ... old-fas- h bell-knob- .f mm ex-nct- ly roof-garde- ... . -- ," -i amtii mm f nrrt afSasa, gdftaa Tea feneralry fet art of car sheet It. what re pat lata P. 8. Especially whoa yoa aw "PEP". Baa adrertiaeaaeat la this celuaa. ii- Provision of Constitution The Supreme Court of the United States is unique. It is the only Federal court of the country which has its existence provided for in the Constiution. Other courts were created by statute. EXCELCIS BEAUTY SCHOCL ENROLL NOW: Lfara modern besaty culture pleasant, profitable work. Ex. celcis, know nationally, off en yoa nan? For free eatalof firing advantages. fori particulars, address EXCELCI8 BEAUTY SCHOOL 121 So. W. Temple Salt Lake City - PHILO VANCE e Vance was gazing at an etching on the wall at the bead of the stairs. "I'll take your word for it Mark-hamhe drawled. "Really, y' know, it doesn't sound like a pretty sight And I'll see it infinitely better when we've forced an entry." At this moment the front door bell rang violently, and Gamble hastened down the stairs. As he drew the door Then He Knelt Down and Looked Through the Keyhole. back. Sergeant Ernest Heath and De tectlve Hennessey burst Into the lower hallway. "This , way, Sergeant," Markham called. Heath and Hennessey came noisily up the stairs. 'Good morning, sir." The sergeant waved a friendly hand to Markham. Then he cocked an eye at Vance. "I niighta known you'd be here. The world's champeen trouble-shooter!- " He' grinned and there was genuine affection In his tone. "Come, Sergeant," Markham ordered. "There's a dead man In this room, and the door's bolted on the Inside. Break It open." Heath, without a word, hurled him self against the crossplece of the door just above the knob, but without re sult A second time his shoulder crashed against the crossplece. "Give me a hand, Hennessey," he said. "That's a bolt no foolln'. Hard y, wood." The two men threw their combined weight against the door, and now there was a sound of tearing wood as the bolt's screws were loosened. During the process of battering in the door, Wrede and Grassl mounted the stairs, followed by Gamble, and stood directly behind Markham and Vance. Two more terrific thrusts by Heath and Hennessey, and the heavy door swung Inward, revealing the death chamber. The room, which was at the extreme rear of the house, was long and nar row, with windows on two sides. There was a bay window opposite the door, and a wide double window at the left facing east. The dark green shades were all drawn, excluding the daylight But the room was brilliantly lighted by an enormous crystal chandelier In the center of the ceiling. At the rear of the room stood an enormous canopied bed, which, I no ticed, had not been slept In. The bed room, like the drawing room, con tained far too much furniture. On the right was a large embayed book-cas- e filled with octavo and quarto volumes. and, facing the door was a mahogany kidney-shapedesk covered with books. pamphlets and papers the desk of a man who spends many hours at lit erary labor. To the left of this desk. In the east wall, was a large fireplace. Gas logs were In the grate. About the walls hung at least a dozen Chinese scroll paintings. Had there not been a bed and a dressing table In '.he room, one would have taken It for a collector's sanctum."These details of the room, however. protruded themselves upon us later. What first focused our attention was the Inert body of Archer Coe, with its quiet pallid face and the black grisly spot on the right temple. The body was slumped down In a velour uphol stered armchair beside the desk. The head seemed to lie almost on the left shoulder, as If the Impact of the bullet had forced it Into an unnatural angle. There was an expression of peace on the thin aquiline features of the dead man ; and his eyes were closed as though In sleep. His right hand the one nearest the fireplace lay on the end of the desk clutching a carved. revolver of fairly large caliber. His left hand hung at his side over the tufted arm of the chair. Cicero Great Orator Cicero was a gTeat orator and a lifelong student. He maintained that an orator should possess almost universal knowledge. THIS WEEK'S PRIZE STORY t ' Bay Intermountsln Made Goods at lower prices for the superior quality of merchandise. I choose these foods that are reliable and dependable by teat. 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