OCR Text |
Show LEH1 FREE PRESS, LEHl UTAH v ' Ptillo Vanes, crime expert. Is called bullet hole In his temple. He Is clothed la a dressing own, but wears street Shoes. Markhsm thinks It Is suicide Vance says It Is murder. Medical Examiner Doremus declares Coe had been dead for hours when the bullet entered his head. A wound, made by a dagger, la found on the body, and there Is Coe was fully dressed when rroof that stabbed. The Investigators And A wounded Scotch terrier In a room of the Coe house. Vance declares the animal will prove an Important connecting link. Gamble says Brisbane Coe, Archer's brother, left for Chicago the previous afternoon. III CHAPTER Continued 5 "He wasn't la Chicago at that time, lr," Gamble explained. "lie was en y route, ao to speak, tie took the train from the Grand Central last evening." "Dow do you know Mr. Coe took the y train Gamble looked perplexed. "I dldnt exactly see him off, sir," be replied, after blinking several time. "But I phoned for the reservations, and packed his suitcase, and got him five-thirt- r flve-thlrt- a taxi." "What time did he leave the house?" A little before Ave. sir." Vance roused himself from apparent S. S. Van Dine remarked Vance casually, with a faint smile. "Tell me. Is It usual for the servants to stay out late -- Tea. air." "Then. If anyone were familiar with the domestic arrangements here, he would know that be could count on the house being free from servants Wednesday nights." "That's right, sir." Vance smoked thoughtfully a mo menu Then: "Do you know at what hour Miss Lake and Mr. Grass! came In last night "I couldn't say, sir." Gatnlile shot Vance a curious look from the corner of his eye. "But It must have been very late. It was after one o'clock before I went to sleep, and neither of them had returned at that time." "Mr. Grassl has a key to the house?" "Yes, sir." "How long has Mr. Grass! been Mr. Coe's guest?" "It was a week yesterday." Vance was silent for a moment There was the suggestion of a frown on his forehead; and I knew that something was troubling him. Without change of expression he put an apparently Irrelevant question to Gam- r ble. "Did you, by any chance, see Mr. Archer Coe after you returned to the house last night?" "No I didn't see him. sir." There was a alight hesitancy In the reply, and Vance looked toward the man quickly. "Come, come, Gamble," he admon ished "What's on your severely. mind?" "Well, sir It's really nothing; but when I went up to bed I noticed that the library doors were open and that the lights were on. I thought, of course, that Mr. Archer was still In the library. And then I noticed the light In Mr. Archer's bedroom here, through the keyhole, and I took it for granted that he had retired. So I went back to the library and turned out the lights and shut the doors." "You heard no sound In here?" lethargy. "I say, Gamble," he spoke without looking up "when did Mr, Brisbane decide on his jaunt to Chicago?" The butler turned his head toward Tance in mild surprise. "Why, not until after four o'clock. It was a rather sudden decision, sir or so It seemed to me, lie generally plans on his Chicago trips the day before," "AM Vance raised his eyes languidly. "Does he make many trips to Chicago "No. sir." "About one a month, I should say, Vance yawned mildly. lr." the by, there's a question I for"By "Do you know what the attraction got to ask. Did Mr. Brisbane Coe take Is in Chicago?" "Not exactly, sir. But several times a walking stick with him when be set forth for Chicago?" I have heard him discussing the meet"Yes, sir. Fie never goes anywhere ings there of some learned society. without a stick. He's subject to rheuMy Impression Is that he goes to Chimatism " cago to attend them." , "So he's told me a score of times. . "Yes, quite reasonable. . . Queer , . . And what kind of stick did he chap, Brisbane," Vance mused. "lie's take with him?" Interested In all sorts of "Ills stick, sir. It's his So he made a subjects. sudden decision to migrate west after favorite. "The one with a crooked handle and four o'clock yesterday, and departed before five. . . . Most interestln'. the carvings?" "Yes, sir." . . . And now, Gamble, think care"You're quite sure, are you, that he fully before you answer. Did you notook this particular stick with him to tice anything unusual in Mr. Brisbane Coe'a manner last evening?" Chicago?" "Positive. I handed it to him myThe man gave a slight start His gaze turned quickly to Vance, and he self at the door of the taxlcab." wallowed twice before answering. Vance kept his eyes on the man, and "I did, sir so help me God, I did I stood up. He walked very deliberately He was not altogether himself. lie's to where Gamble sat and looked down But at him searchlngly. usually very calm and before he left here he seemed distract"Gamble," he spoke pointedly ed and and fidgety. And he did a "did you see Mr. Brisbane Coe tn this most peculiar thing, sir, before he left house after you returned Inst night?" the house: he shook hands with Mr. The butler went white, and his lips I've never seen him shake began to tremble. The question was Archer. hands with Mr. Archer before. And so unexpected that even I received a he said 'Good-by- , brother. It was distinct shock from it Markham half most peculiar, for he has never, to my knowledge, called Mr. Archer by anything but his first name." "As I understand it, when Mr4 Brisbane had gone you and Mr. Archer were left alone In the house." "Why, yes, sir." The man was breathing heavily: all of his obsequiousness had departed. "But I only stayed long enough to prepare , Mr. Archer's supper. . . J. "And left Mr. Archer alone?" "Tesl He was sitting In the library downstairs reading." "And where did you go and how disport yourself?" Gamble leaned forward earnestly. "I had dinner, and then I went to a motion picture." "And what other servants are there in the house?" For some reason the man breathed a deep sigh of relief. "There's only two, sir, beside my-- v self." His rolce was steadier now. "The Chinese cook " "Ah, a Chinese cook, eh? How long , baa he been here?" "Only a few months." "How Do You Know Mr. Coo Took "Go on." y the Train?" J "Then there's Miss Lake's personal . maid. "Arid that's all, sir." rose In his chair, and Heath froze Into a startled attitude, his cigar half "When did the cook and Miss Lake's raised to his lips. Gamble cringed bemaid leave the house yesterday?" "Right after lunch. 'That's the usual neath Vance's steady gaze, "No, sir no, sir!" he cried. "Honest order on Wednesdays, sir." to God, I didn't I I would have told "And when did they return?" "Late last night. I myself came in you If I had." Vance shrugged and turned awny. at eleven. I was Just retiring about "Still, he was here last night" midnight, I should say, sir when I heard the cook sneak In." "What's back of that remark?" Vance's eyebrows went up. Markhnm demanded. "How do you "Sneak?" know Brisbane Coe was here last "He always sneaks, air. ne's very night?" ly and tricky and and devious, sir "Very simple: his stick r If you know what I mean." Is hanging over the back of one of the Probably hl oriental upbringing," chairs In the lower hnlL" r ... i By Mimdem Case to Investigate the supposed suicide of Archer Coe. With District Attorney Markbs.ni, he joes to Coe's bouse. They find Wrede, s friend of Coe's, there; Also Signor Orusi, a guest. The door f the death chamber Is bolted from the Inside. They force It Coe is seated, a revolver In his rtsht band and a Sally Sez llr! IT XL EL SYNOPSIS "Tin ivory-heade- d ..." even-goin- . Flve-thlrt- y Ivory-heade- d CHAPTER IV The Missing Man and the Ting Yao Vase. There was a momentary tense silence. Vance's statement with the possibilities it suggested, threw a pall of vague horror over all of us. Unsteadily Gamble rose, and bracing himself with oue band on the back of his chair, glared at Vance tike a man who had seen a malignant specter. "You are sure you saw the stick, sir?" he stammered, with a hideous contortion of the face, "I didn't see It. And Mr. Brisbane never hangs his stick over the hall chair. He always puts It In the umhrelia stand. Maybe some one else " "Who but Mr. Brisbane himself would bring that stick back to the house and hang It over a chair In the halir "But. Mr. Vance, sir." the man persisted in an awed tone, "be once reprimanded me for hanging It over a chair he said It might fall and get broken. Why. sir. should he hang It over the chair?" "Iss noisy, perhaps, than chucking It Into a brass umbrella holder." Markham was leaning over the desk scowling at Vance. "What do you mean by that?" he demanded. Vance lifted his eyes slowly and let them rest on the district attorney. "1 opine, my dear Markham," he said slowly, "that brother Brisbane didn't want anyone to bear him when he returned here last night He started for Chicago on a night when he knew no one but Archer would be home. And then he missed his train to speak euphemistically. He returned to the house with his stick. And here's his stick . . . . but no Brisbane. And Archer the sole occupant of this cluttered domicile last night-- has gone to his Maker in most outlandish fashion." "Good G d, Vance!" Markham sank hack In his chair. "You don't mean that Brisbane ?" "Tut tut! There you go Jumping at conclusions again. . . ." Vance began walking up and down, his hands sunk deep In his coat pockets. "I can understand Brisbane's presence here last night" he murmured as if to himself, "but I can't understand the presence of his stick here this morning. It's very curious It doesn't fit Into the picture. Even if he had not taken the Lake Shore Limited to Chicago, there were other trains later on." Heath took his cigar from his mouth. "How do you know the bird didn't take another train that Is, supposing he'd missed the Lake Shore Limited?" "By the stick In the lower hall. Ser- geant" "Couldn't a guy forget his stick?" "Not Brisbane Coe and certainly not In the circumstances. . . ." "What circumstances?" cut In Markham. "That's what I don't know exactly." Vance made a wry face. "But I begin to see a method In all this seeming madness; and that stick downstairs stands out like some terrible and accusing error. . . ." He stopped abruptly, and suddenly swinging about went toward the door. "I'll be back In a minute. There's a possibility. . . ." He passed swiftly into the hall. Heath looked disgustedly at Markham. "If you ask me," he submitted surlily. "I think Mr. Vance Is leaning too heavily on that stick. We've only got this guy's word" he Jerked his thumb toward Gamble "that he took It with him In the first place." Markham made no comment. Presently Vance returned to the room, smoking abstractedly. His face was crestfallen. "He's not there," he announced. "I thought Brisbane might be In his room. But the shades are up; and the bed hasn't been slept In; and the lights are out" He sat down wearily. "His room's empty." The sergeant planted himself In front of Vance. "Look here, Mr. Vance, even If he did miss the Lake Shore Limited, he's probably on his way to Chicago. Anybody might forget a stick. His suitcase ain't here " Vance leaped to his feet "The suitcase that's it! What would he have done with the suitcase If he had not taken the early train and had Intended to go on to Chicago later. "He have checked It In the station, wouldn't he?" "Exactly!" Vance wheeled to Gamble. "Describe that suitcase." "It was quite an ordinary case, sir," the man replied In a dazed tone. "Black sealskin, leather lined, with rounded corners and the Initials 'B. C In gold letters on one end." Vance turned back to Heath. "Can you check on that In the par eel room at the station, Sergeant? It's ...'?" Important" 'Sure I can." He becko'ned Snltkln with a Jerk of the head. "Got the dope?" The detective glnnned. "II 1, yes," he rumbled. "A cinch." "Then hop to it," ordered Heath. Copyright by last night Certain plans went awry. Events overlapped one another. Nothing happened on schedule," "But Brisbane Coe," persisted Mark- turned Vance slowly back to the room. "There has always been bad blood between Archer and Brisbane, for I've never understood some reason. the by, maybe Miss Lake By It could enlighten us while we're waitI say, ing for Snltkin's calL Gamble; ask the young lady to be good enough to Join us here." The butler went out and five minutes later Hilda Lake came swinging Into the room. "Sorry to have kept you waiting and all the usual amenities," she said, sitting down and crossing her knees; ... H. Wright WKD Service) "And phone me pronto. . . , Make It snappy." Snitkln disappeared. "Where do you think Brisbane Coe fits Into this affair?" Markham asked Vance. "I don't know I'm not sure." He "But spoke quietly, without turning. many strange things happened here ham. W. ... murder. I'm sure he'd arrange it so ai She paused to escape detection." momentarily. "Did Cncle Brisbane remain in New York last night?" "I don't know." Vance responded candidly. "1 was merely Indulging In suppositions." "How clever of you 1" There was a steely look in her eyes. At this moment Gamble passed the door on his way upstairs, with a small In his hands. covered servlng-traVance stood up. "Ah! There are your muffins. Miss Lake. I shan't keep you any longer." She rose and "Thanks awfully." went quickly from the room. Vance stood at the door until Gamble returned from the third floor, and ordered him to wait In the lower hall. When the man had gone below, ho glanced at bis watch and strolled back Into the room. "I'd rather not go on till we hear from Snltkln. Do you mind waiting, Markham?" "Have it your own way," Markham grumbled. "But I can't see the ImThere's portance of the suitcase. small probability, it seems to me, of its being at the station. And In the event It Isn't there, we will be no better off than we are now," "On the other hand," Vance returned, "If It Is at the station, we may conclude that Brisbane did not go to Chicago last night But I'm quite sure be Intended to go. And If he didn't go, something unexpected kept him here," "But his being in New York doesn't connect him with Archer Coe's mury local patrons acglect Bone Ioauuy seme wemea neglect their dtiaa tor thlags weald seea be "ell washed everybody. Let's keep ea Patronising Berne Isdajtq; If Bke i Penn Was Born in London William Penn, the eminent Quak-and founder and proprietor of the colony of Pennsylvania, was born in London October 14, 1644. He died July 80, 1718, and wti buried in the churchyard of tt Friends' meeting: house at Jordan, near Chalfont St Giles, Buckin. er hamshire, England. EXCELCIS BEAUTY SCHOOL ' Learn modern beaaty pleasant, profitable work. known aatienslly, off en yos mtvj advantages. Far free catalog firing fall particular!, address EXCELCIS BEAUTY SCHOOL 221 Be. W. Temple Salt Lake City ENROLL NOW t caltare der." not . . . But Markham, decision of Brisbane's to get out of town had some connection with Archer's death I'm sure of that He knew something or feared something. Or perhaps. . . . But anyway, he Intended to go to Chicago last night And maybe he did go . . . but I want to be sure." The phone rang. Heaft answered It and after listening for several minutes, replaced the receiver on the hook. , "The suitcase is there, all right," he announced. "The bird at the window nervous guy says a middle-agechecked It around six last night, saying he'd missed his train and he was shaking so he could hardly lift the bag to the counter." Vance nodded slowly. "I was afraid of that and yet 1 was hoping It wasn't so. Markham, I don't like this situation; I don't at all like It Something unforeseen has happened: unforeseen and sinister. It wasn't on the cards. Brisbane Coe Intended to go to Chicago last night and he didn't go. Some terrible thing stopped him. . . . And something stopped Archer Coe before he could change his shoes. . . . Don't you see what I mean? Those shoes of Archer's and that stick of Brisbane's. That stick ! In the front hall I . . It shouldn't have been there. . . . He Oh, my precious aunt! threw his cigarette into a tray, and hurried toward the door. "Come, Markham. . . . Come, Sergeant. There's something hideous In this house . . . and I don't want to go alone." As he spoke, he ran down the stairs, Markham and Heath and I following. When he had reached the lower hall, he pulled the portieres aside and opened the library door. He looked round him, and then passed into the dining room. After several minutes' search, he returned to the hall. "Maybe the den," he said; and hurrying through the drawing room, where Wrede and Grass! sat near the window, he went Into the small room at the rear. But he came back at once, a bewildered look In his eyes. "Not there." His tone was unnatural. "But he's somewhere somewhere. He came again into the front hall. "He wouldn't be on the third floor, and he's not on the second. There's his stick," he said; "but his hat and topcoat . . . Oh,' what a fool I've "Certainly that last-minu- d Smile Curled Her Lips. "Money Nothing Else." A Cynical "but I hadn't quite finished doffing my admirable golf togs when the Crlchton summoned me. Anyway, I should be furious with you. Why was I denied my muffins and tea?" Vance apologized. "We've been using Gamble a bit Gamble, take tea and Intensively. muffins to Miss Lake's quarters." The man, who had been standing in the door, bowed and disappeared; and Vance turned pleasantly back to Miss Lake. "By the time your breakfast is ready we will let you return to your rooms." Then he added with a serious mien. "There are a few questions we'd like you to answer. What was the cause of the animosity between Archer and Brisbane Coe?" "Oh, that!" A cynical smile curled her Hps. "Money nothing else. Old Major Coe left everything to Uncle Archer. Uncle Brisbane had only an allowance until Uncle Archer should die. Then the money was to go to him. The situation naturally irked him, and he got pretty nasty about It at times. It amused me no end, I was In the same predicament. The fact Is, I've often been tempted to make an alliance with Uncle Brisbane for the purpose of murdering Uncle Archer. Together we could have got away with it, don't you think?" "I'm sure you could even alone. And now some one has killed Uncle Archer for you." "I'm sure it's my reward for virtue." Though her tone was hard, there was an undercurrent of bitter passion In It. "Or perhaps," she 8dded, "Uncle Brisbane went ahead on his own." "That might bear looking Into," smiled Vance, "The only difficulty is that Gamble tells us Mr. Brisbane last hopped to Chicago at evening." "That doesn't mean anything. Uncle Brisbane has dabbled enough In criminology to prepare a perfect alibi In the event he himself contemplated a flutter In crime." "What takes him on these periodical trips to Chicago?" Vance asked. Hilda Lake shrugged. "Heaven knows. He never mentioned the matter to me and I never asked." She leaned forward. "Perhaps it's a lady!" she exclaimed in a taunting tone. "If he told anyone, that person was Uncle Archer. And I'm afraid It's too late to get any information from that, quarter now." "Yes, a bit too late," agreed Vance. "But let us suppose that after Mr. Brisbane announced his intention of going to Chicago last evening, he remained In New York nil night. What would you say to that?" Hilda Lake Vance scrutinized shrewdly for a time before replying. Then she answered gravely. "In that case you may eliminate Uncle Brisbane as a suspect He's much too smooth and canny to leave any such loopholes. If he planned a far-fro- five-thirt- y ..." ..." Berber Customs Among the Berbers a young wife is always chaperoned by her mothor some other feer, mother-in-la- w male relative, for the couple never speak directly to each other, la the absence of the father, the oldest son is in command of the house-hold. THIS WEEK'S PRIZE STORY in region produces end there none better. When yon bay Intermoantsi it bays yours se bay Intermountoin. NORMA WHITE. - At 400 Utah Oil Refining Types of Glass Lead or flint glass is the most expensive, the finest; another type, "lime" glass is used in the cheap grades. While it is satisfactory and inexpensive, it lacks the sparkle, and ring (when lightly struck) of the former. briil-lianc- Chief Crane Led Warriors Ohio's Chief Crane (Tarhe) marched on foot at the head of his warriors through the whole of Gen. W. H. Harrison's campaign into Canada and was an active fighter" in the battle of the Thames in 1813 at seventy-tw- o years of age. Civilization Culture, Culture is of the soul, of the intellect. ff fcO wttk wl" De Mis ot n civiliza-io- p"'..'!'U arw-U,U- en "Why yen should a" Simitar Intermenntain made Goodi" to above. Send year story In roie er verts te Intermountain Products P. O. Bex 1S5S 8alt Lshe City. year story appears this column yea will ceive check for n. t $3.00 Week No. S442 dls-Unio- e, Take a Look acOptimism is the natural or quired ability to see things in the best possible light. i "Your flashlight, Sergeant," he caller over his shoulder. . . Service Stations in Utah and Idaho halt Ohio's 1863 Election of gubernatorial campaign 18G3 In Ohio Is without parallel In the state's politics. John Brough, a war Democrat, was nominated by the Union party, while Clement L. a vigorous peace Democrat, was nominated by the peace Democrats. On this election hung, the fate of the nation. It was Brough and Union, or Vallandigham and Ohio was then one of the three most important states In the Union, and as she decided, others would be apt to decide. After much political strife, a mighty victory was wonfor Brough and the Union. Upon receiving the message of victory, Lincoln telegraphed: "Glory to God In the highest; Ohio has saved the Nation." . Milford. Utah Sacrifices for Progress "Evolution", said Hi Ho, the sage of Chinatown, "indicates that in order to progress we must make sacrifices. A monkey is at a considerable advantage in having- four hands instead of only two." He brushed Gamble out of his way, and walked swiftly down the narrow corridor along the stairs until he came to the closet door at the rear of the The They represent Every Intermoantaia year achievements. product yon bay Increases the demand for it. They represent the finert the hi been!" TO BE CONTINUED. are the remits Intermenntain product! ef faitermoantain labor. WJMI 0 Salt Lake No Place to Sit Down Twenty thousand plants are the in the cactus gardens of Huntington library in Los Angeles. " , t con-tain- 'North Carolina's Waterways Inland waterways of North Cart .lina cover 3,600 square miles. First "Bowler" Hat The first "bowler" hat was about 1850. Tskht Weakens Papers Trjt chew that light has a t . mads j ' ' i rapid or ; Contentment Wealth Oh, Contentment, make me rich for without thee there is no wealth, ' weakenimj papers. aict on all grades j ? j |