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Show LEHI FREE PRESS, LEHI. UTAH - ViO In ScVie TU, A man Drought up at i uliea for Ull I'H r. charged with no fewer tbaa ect thefts, all committed i had last come out of prisos eight months earlier. The T1! the 6tolen goods was put fivL'i This 1. by no means a recwf cently a German named Peter f I ho was aentenced at Coio- -J eight years' penal servitude i fessed to 435 sparate thefu B i year, the value of the goodi m- for UrS8 t By S. S. Van Dine SYNOPSIS "It merely struck Phil Vane, erlma a'xpart loreitl-ata- a tba auppoaed auicida of Arcber Coa. With District Attorney Markham. fca oaa ta Coa'a houaa. Tbay find Wrada. a triand of Coa'a. thera. also BlKBor Orassl. guest. Tha door of tba death chamber la boltad from tba a. Tbay forca It. Coa la aeatcd, a revolver la bla rl-band and a bullet hot In bla tempi. Ha ta clothed In a dreaalnr (own, but wear atreet ho. Uarkbam tbinka It la auicida. Vane aaya It la murder. Medical Examiner Doremua declarea Coa bad been dead for boura when tha bullet entered hla head. A wound, made by a dagger, la found on the body, and there la proof that Coa waa fully dressed when he waa atabbed. The Investigator Und a wounded Scottish terrier In a room of tb Co bouse. Vane declarea the animal will prove an Important connecting link. Brisbane Coa, Archer' a brother, la believed to have left for Chicago tha praviou afternoon, but bla dead body is diacovared In a closet In tb Co horn. Vane Interrogates th Chinese cook, Liang. A splinter of porcelain from a vase that baa disappeared la found to have blood on It. CHAPTER V Continued "llang, eht That's quite different There'g something secretive and about that Chinaman. I've never wholly understood his being nere. He's certainly not a cook by profession; and from my apartment window Tre often seen him sitting on the rear porch writing for hours. My Impression Is he's a spy of some kind. And he knows Chinese art I distrusted him from the first" Wrede nodded his head sagely. "If you knew more of what was back of his presence here, yon might know more of Archer Coe's death. At least," he hastened to add, "that Is my Impression." Vance stifled a mild yawn. "The oriental temperament Is full of mystic potentialities," he commented. "And my own Impression Is that Liang knows something about what hap- ireueu nere urn nignr, tsut, as you suggest, a motive In that direction Is still lacking. On the other hand, you yourself had abundant motive for do ing away with Archer Coe." Wrede, to my surprise, did not ap pear to be offended by this remark. "Archer was admittedly opposed to your marriage with his niece," Vance wenf on. 'And until he died Miss Lake was limited to a small allowance. She would have received her patri mony at Archer's decease. Thus, If you had successfully put Archer out of the way, you would have at once gained a fairly wealthy bride with no obsta cles. Is It not so, Mr. Wrede?" The man gave a harsh laugh. "res, I suppose so. As you point out I had ample motive for murder ing Archer. But, on the other hand. I would have had no reason whatever for murdering Brisbane." "Ah, yes Brisbane. Quite quite, That second corpse complicates the whole matter." "Where was Brisbane's body found, may I ask?" "In the closet at the end of the lower halL . . . You didn't, perchance, open the coat closet this morning?" "No!" Wrede shuddered. "But 1 came very near It Instead, I threw my hat oa a chair In the drawing room," He lapsed Into retrospection. Presently he spoke. "What I can't understand Is that bolted door upstairs." "Neither can we," said Vance, In a matter-of-fatone. "It's most I'm thoroughly convinced you didn't bolt It" The mail jerked his head up In a queer way. , "Oh, thanks." His attempt at pleasantry was unsuccessful. "Have you found the weapon?" he asked lamely. "That might give you a clew." "I'm sure It would," agreed Vance. Heath, who had been standing by the front windows, stepped forward. "That reminds me. The boys and I are going to give this house a swell All right with you, looking-oveMr. Markham?" "Uo to It Sergeant. The sooner the ... con-fusl- r. ... better." Heath went from the room, and Tance resumed his Interrogation. "By the by, Mr. Wrede, are you Interested In Chinese ceramics?" I have a few "Not particularly. pieces, but I'm no expert However, I couldn't help learning something about the subject during my long association with Archer." Vance walked to the table behind the davenport and pointed at the Tao Kuang vase. "WhPf.1 your opinion of this Ting yao?" Wrede rose and came forward. "Ting yao?" There was a perplexed look In his eyes. "That's not a Ting yao. Is It?" "I don't believe It is. But 1 was under the Impression that Archer Coe kept a Ting yao vase of the same shape on this table." Wrede stood, his hands behind him, looking down at the vnse. Suddenly he said: "By Cad. he did, Mr Vance! But this Isn't the varis." Hi? looked at Vance questioning!?, "lias rljfn vise an-lto do with with- - ?" "It's difficult to snv." Vnncp replied. ng as peculiar that Archer would have a vase Uke this in his collection." "It ts peculiar." Wrede turned his attention again to the table. "This vase might have been substituted for the other. "It was." said Vance laconically. "Aha!" Wrede, for aoine reason 1 could not understand, seemed pleaded; and I asked myself If he were think lng of Grassl. Vance glanced at his watch. "That will be all. Mr. Wrede. You'd better run along and get some lunch. But we may want you tomorrow. Will you be at your apartment?" "Yes, all day." He hesitated. "May I see Miss Lake before I go?" "By all means. And you might break the newg to her of Brisbane's death Wrede went out and we could hear him mounting the stairs. Markham rose nervously. "What do you make of the fellow?" be asked. "Peculiar character far from ai pealln'. I wouldn't choose him for a boon companion." "It occurred to me." said Markham. "that be might have opened the hall closet this morning, and, because of what he saw. told Gamble to phone me." "It's possible," Vance nodded. "The same thought flitted through my mind. It's safe to conclude he Anyway, doesn't care a great deal for GrassL It struck me be was jealous of the Italian. But Wrede's real passion of hatred Is directed toward the cook. He has sized up Liang pretty accu rately. . . . It's strange that Archer. with his Slnologlcal knowledge, didn't suspect Liang's true status." "Maybe he did," Markham suggest ed, without Interest . Vance looked up quickly and took his cigarette from his Uds. "My aunt! Maybe he did! . . ." There came a Doundlne of heavy footsteps on the hall stairs, and the next moment Heath was standing In the door, beaming triumphantly. He held something In his hand and. cross lng to the table, he threw the object down for our lnsneetlon. It was one of the most beautiful and Interesting Chinese dazeers I have ever seen. The blade tapered from a thickness of about half an Inch at the guard to a stiletto-likpoint, and was partly encrusted with dried blood. The cylindrical handle was wound with vermilllon silk, with the usual row of knots running down one side; and it was surmounted by a tiny figure of Kuan Tl, the Chinese god of war, carved In brown jade. That this dagger was the murder weapon was obvious at one glance. "Good work, Sergeant," said Vance "Where did you find It?" "Under the cushion seat of the easy chair where we found the dead guy this morning." "Oh, I say Really? In Archer Coe's bedroom?" Vance seemed astonished at Heath's announcement "Most amazln. . . ." Heath watched him a moment and then looked back at the dagger. "And not a chance to nick ud a fin gerprlnt," he complained with disgust cue Case end of each piece of string was tied securely to a large bent pin. Heath was looking on with rapt fas cination. "And what might that be. Mr. Vance?" he asked Vance did not answer, but nut bis band again Into the left band pocket of the topcoat When be withdrew It he was holding a long slender piece or steel. "Ah !" he exclaimed with satisfac tion. We all looked down at it wonder- Ingly. It was perhaps the last thing in the world we expected to see. The object which Vance had taken from the pocket of Brisbane Coe's coat was a darning needle! CHAPTER VI Copyright by W. J H. Wright WMJ Servlca "I'm afraid mi theory la a mere broken reed." be sighed. haven't been leaning "I certain! on it" retorted Markham. He was an at Vance's secretive manner. eiiuer IIBe I, lur luai maun, Mill Vance a little sadly. "But it fur nished a starting point to reason from provided, of course. I could verify it " He came back slowly toward the renter of the room where we were grouped about the davenport and the circular table. As he reached the end of the library table, be halted and looked down at a small low teakwood stand on which stood a cornucopia shaped white vase. A set of books piled high on the end or tne tame almost obscured it Vance approached the vase. "That's dashed Interesting be mur mured. "A piece of later Ting yao from the Yung Cheng era, I should noyed Jr ,1 J vase, returned to the house and killed Brisbane, too." "Then, 1 ask you," the sergeant broke out "bow did the dagger get In the bolted room? and who put the bullet through Archer's head, and why?" "If I could answer those questions. Sergeant" Vance told him. "1 could solve this whole Insane problem." At this moment. Wrede came down the stairs and walked past the library to the front door. "Oh. I say, Mr. Wrede." Vance called out "Could we speak to you a moment before you go?" The man turned and came into the library His face was flushed and 1 111 " 3.4G0. Ft. In Paris a man named f waa arrested and charged wlti burglaries. He burst out langhia "Three burglaries. I have'tajj into 250 houses since my iast day." be said, and by ail lceoJ this boast seems to have beejj true one, Another Frenchman. Joseph M was a thief for five yean befci he was detected. I have committed a burglar, J most every night for the put (J years, except on Saturdays," said when arrested. He had kept a diary with i ej cot ful record of some 1,500 erimei & value of the stolen goods wai In every case, and the total J ceeded (close to $100,000) J cording to Bearson's Weekly, LontJ More Bloodstains. Markham looked from the needle say." back to the little pile of strlnsr. and He picked up the vase and began then at Vance. it Inspecting MOTH Well what does that mean If anv "A rather thick biscuit and dec be asked. thing? oi Si orated in relief: copied from an anVance slowly picked up the needle cient bronze. . . . Angular crackling In made and the two pieces of string and put the sever glaze, which Is brittle and glossy. them In his own coat pocket A very beautiful and perfect spec "It means deviltry. Markham. Ami imen. it means that we are dealing with a As he talked, he moved toward the shrewd, subtle, and tricky brain. The window and held the vase to the lleht lhe average notg technique or this crime had been In such a manner that he could look gives any laxauvt thought out to several decimal points Inside It family may be t while family and then everything went wrone. "I believe there Is something here. give children i sjj ine murderer was forced to add com he said. Moistening his fineer on his Nati oi jtutss laxative plications to his plot to cover him be put his hand deep into the Ingredients, suitable strengti,! self. And he has confused the Issue tongue, vase. When he withdrew It there was in suitable amount. out of all recognlzabllity. . . .' a red smear on the end of his flneer. If you want to know just ifo "But who used this string and tremendous difference this meaoi "Yes, quite so," he said, looking needle? And for what purpose? any youngster, just inquire dr closely at bis finger. Vance looked up gravely. mother who has tried itl "What have Isn't found?" demanded you If I knew who used them. I'd have She knows that a bilious bojf Markham thorlty an Important key to the entire sltua girl needs a gentle liquid kous" Vance held out his finger. Vitami; when constipated, and a litllt fa? tton. The fact that they were In Bris A Look Almost Murderous. "Blood!" he said. "And that vase every dose is seal bowels until repeated banes topcoat means little. That Is was also near the day I davenport only a there was a sullen, angry look In his be moving regularly and thorotp tne logical place that anyone would few feet from where the Sung Tine eyes a look almost murderous. without need of help. thing t have put them after having used them. Use a liquid laxative conlah stood. Both vases were used In retting "Here I am," he announced curtly us always safe, don't y' know, to yao senna (a nataranaxative). Califc A subtle concep we wer this devilish plot through set Jaws. tnrow suspicion on a dead man. Syrup of Figs has the right amrf tion but the plan fell to pieces fruits I; "So I observe," Vance murmured Markham stiffened and his eyes be for children's use, and this rich,fc 'See Markham Vance," Of co here, spoke mildly. "And you seem rather upset came hard. docs or harm not ops syrup Dad tlu quietly, trying to curb his annoyance don t y know. child's system. You believe the same person killed "Just how were those vases used? And agree w Wrede's tense attitude did not re Get a bottle of the real Cains both Brisbane and Archer?" where did the blood on them come festive of and said he druggist's.! at Vance lax; nothing. Fig3 Syrup any nodded. "Undoubtedly. The from?' , children like its agreeable taste, s "You saw Miss Lake?" Vance asked usually tecnnique or both murders was the As I see it Markham. those two with No need to if bnorma it them. agrees same ; and the same weapon was used pleasantly. child anything stronger. Thisfri Ting yao vases were used to divert cldity o The man gave a jerky nod. m Doth killings." syrup is laxative enough; intf suspicion from the real murderer and condition "And since speaking to her," Vance But," argued Markham. "the dae- - to focus It on another many adults use it in preferenctf and the stom person; "do still feel pursued languidly, you I ger was round In Archer's bolted bed they were employed as symbols In or pilU and tablets. I have n that you have no suggestion to make room. " THE "LIQUID TEST." R aer to create a false motive." lty and to a possible perpetrator of this as t of the a select laxative "That's another Incredible eomnllea liquid "You mean we were to regard the different double crime?" strength for children. Second: tion," Vance returned. "Keallv. y crime as being connected with Arch are acid child's the suited dose the to A shrewd light came into the other's Know, tne dagger shouldn't have been er's collection of Chinese ceramics?" Third: reduce tne dose, null and are eyes, and he hesitated for several sec there. It should have been here In the Vance nodded. bowels are moving without anji It is thes onds. Then he said: library." "I feel sure of It But In lust what An ideal laxative for this pre traJize ad "Not at the moment But it might Here?" Markham uttered the word is me pure caiuorma syrup a way 1 don't know. It would probably ef such fo be well If you temporarily concen De sure with astonishment "But why In the nave been me word LaluoEi, dui Do not perfectly clear if there had on the bottle. on Mr. UDrary? iselther man was killed here. not been a gross miscalculation on the trated your investigation most eat Grassl. I have Just learned that Archer 'I wonder. . . .' Vance leaned over murderer's part. t Prevent ac had to Coe sell him a consider agreed the table, deep In thought "It would "We were, you think, supposed to inon occu have been the logical place . . and find the blood In the vase? Where did able section of his collection." Wrede food ade hesitated. Then he added: "It may In that blood come from?" yet neither body was found here, enough fn terest you to know, Mr. Vance, that "From Archer Coe's bodv!" Vance' "Why was this room the locical Wsh us wi Miss to my Lake been has engagement answer sent a chill up my snlne. w will piace? Markham asked sharply jus broken. But there was no external bleed Because of this substituted Tao Con from n "Most dlstressin'." Vance his gave Manufactured by balc "7 some ci Kuang vase and the broken piece of ing," Markham reminded him, True." Vance leaned aeainst the attention to his cigarette. "But what creates It ling yao porcelain with the blood on powder Specialists could Archer's willingness to dispose He stopped abruptly and his bacK of the davenport and lighted a o it Ik make but neutraliz of of nothing his collection to part have do cigarette. "But there was blood on the eyes drifted into space. "That blood und! dltlons. his death? Even had Archer con. with stained ling yao! Ah! What han- - dagger when It was withdrawn from Vitamin of exp iE sented to dispose of certain pieces in between Archer's ribs. As I see pened after that Sung vase was brok Jtant iten tne chemists. hope, let us say, of acauiring oth en what would the stabber have It, Markham, the bloodv dairirer that 08 from I still can't see what Mr. Grassl set ers, done then? Would he have gone out killed Archer was thrown into the would have gained by his death." ALWAYS vase the on fragile was blood that Ting yao the with him? talcing ome svmnt No! "Archer may have regretted his deHe wouldn't have dared it wouldn't table there, in order to indicate hv a of the nliV cision after had he committed him subtle and devious symbolism the have fitted In with his sinister purand n self. . . ." pose. He would have been afraid. He motive for the crime. But the stpel modei see "I and gold of the dagger broke the vase your point, Mr. Wrede," was biding something, Markham jfresh foodg Vance Interrupted coldly. "But what it was of almost eggshell delicacy Vance looked about the room. "That's develop and so the dagger was then niared In or Brisbane?" It: he was hiding somethlns! dsease "Could not Brisbane's death have this other In Twice he hid It . and then Ting yao. some clearing up been an iofo Same accident?" tne DroKen pieces of the first vnse thing unexpected happened something no kn01 "Yes quite." Vance smiled thoughtup 44 startling and upsetting. The corpse the murderer overlooked one small IJItamin c, ai fully. "I'm sure It was an accident a snouid have been here in the library, fragment rich h far 2J 25 most unfortunate accident Last nleht "But why the substituted vase?" d'ye see; and therefore the dasger had diet was filled with the most amazin' acci In order that no attention would to be here. PACK FULL be . . . But I shan't keen vou from attracted by the glaring absence dents. "I have a theory, Markham a the SLACK ory to account for certain contradictory of the original one. If a valuable Ting your lunch any longer." Wrede bowed stiffly. pnases or this case hut I wouldn't yao were missing. It might Indicate He had no sooner closed the fmnt another motive for the crime, and that dare express It's too outland motive would have confused the issue door behind him than Vance cniipd lsh. And moreover. It doesn't fit twothirds of the facts. . . . But give me and diverted attention from the person Gamble from the hail. "Run upstairs," he said. "and. with. a few minutes. Let me see If I can tne murderer wanted us to think wns Age and the Mini out saying anything, find out where behind the crime." verify one important Item In mv the Middle nap. Is a state 'That's all very well, nerhans" Mr. Grassl Is." ory. If I'm able to find what I'm til i V., TfiT than a chronological rather Markham The butler left the room, rptnm. returned dubiously, "hnt w looking for, we'll be a little farther lag. George W. Coleman, 1 did not find the dagger In the other Ions. lng shortly. of Ford Hall Forum. vase Mr. He walked to the nianteloiere and Grassl, sir." he reported "ta 1 "It was taken out and used tn tin In conversation with Miss Lake in her Wtns 1 MiEUTtcu stood pel ore a large vase wiMM..M'M"m' J!; i.iui. .tJ,)ii. Brisbane. room on the third floor." 'A beautiful example of Tsui so" sitting Vance gave a faint satisfied smile. "By the murderer of he said, running his fincers over rh' "But This Isn't the Vase" "And now. Gamble,' will vnn con "Unquestionably. No one else wnnM ck m He put his finger in the neck. glaze. mi, j "A silk handle." He chewed Grassl to come here." too small, he commented, and mnvpri nae Known where the dagger was." vlclously on nis nurnt-ou- t Gamble Vance, that But, flr doesn't went cigar. out theory and Vnnca 1.., to another vase a bottle-shanedark the facts. The sergeant found the to Markham. "No no fingerprints." murmured red specimen at the dag further end of Vance without lifting- - his eyes from ger upstairs in Archer's room with TO BE CONTINUED. the mantel tne door bolted on the tnsidp And the floor. "But that Isn't the chief "One of the most perfect examrlP Pork Barrel Legislation Archer died hours before Brisbane was difficulty. Sergeant. Brisbane Coe was of Lang yao I've ever seen The first bill for harbor Imnrnvo. if the same person suiobed. stabbed hours after Archer Coe waa or Why, sang de boeuf. as we mil u it. killed both of them, didn't he ments was passed bv stabbed. The whole thing Is mad " replace A, 18J3. nngereu the vase lovingly and hel.t it the Enemies of tho htn lie continued pacing in a brown toward tne dagger In this vase? Arrh light. that Its advocates voted for It study. Suddenly he drew up short purely Vance set the K'ang Hsl mirror. already dead, and Brisbane was killed for political reasons, to mako them"Sergeant I Bring me Brisbane C.te'a black vase back on the cabinet. nrt uowusrairs. why should the dagger I have been In Archer's bedroom chair?" selves popular among their noft,.. topcoat the tweed let his eyes run over the other ceramic ents by Vance one from the hall closet." His voice smoked unhappily for some getting something for their dis I specimens in the room. But he did not nine i.fiore I tricts, mis Ifching.roughness. rush upon tha held a tinge of excitement. replying. over one of them. He irnvo I JJfl any linger relieved federal was treasury Vacking.easily I mats what can't nmiro nnt t, Heath left the room and return..,! mem compared to the rush made by the slaves on the southmerely a casual inspection, n admitted. "Brisbane with was the not snortly garment stabbed ern seemed to be searching for some nnr, plantations when the untu nours after Archer. The murderVance began turning the norketa In barrel ticuiar type or vase, for he would hpai. er could have was opened. River and pork harbor Imside out. From the left hand outsl.io been In tate here and there, shake his hend the time Brisbane was stabbed. He provement bills were ever after facetipocket he drew forth two pieces of as If In rejection, and pass on to other called pork barrel bills. Later nne, waxed linen string about four wouldn't have tarried here ously certH.uiy the term was extended to pieces. At last he completed his for several hours any legislaleer long. He was about to thmu, rounus after wntj w disposing of tion supposedly ana halted. There was a ,11a. . passed for purposes of these to one side, when he nnnMnn t ine only ein I suddenly tlnct look of disappointment on his Is that the political patronage. The total o.ntrl-butlonbent forward and Inspected them. One race as ne BAT.KSMKN TOP murderer, after killing to a campaign fund are turned back to us. 111 VIC VK tMSMna Bn placing the dagger In the times called the Runaent in tiiM rear" ""z,.fW pork barrel iii ASK THE who has this change Vi IK i ... e J 1 ... ing powder supervision .. J ... ire fH . fffit mm li . ta pries S years tuntii NO 17 25 ityet b - j f 1 : blue-gree- n v ,. oiij MS, g S Sfa'n7brM e i ResmoH pw r;feS WpT an-ner- ;,,. BAA CBJOOT, IDAHO, |