Show The KENNEL MURDER CASE 0 o 0 o 0 By S. S S. S Van Ian Dine o 0 o o o 0 o o wow S Copyright bJ w W. n. n Wright SYNOPSIS Philo Vanes pert export rt Invest ate KAtei at th the supposed suicide of Archer Co Co With District Attorney Altorn Markham h lIa t go got 10 t to Coti Cos hou house houle They find and Wr d a friend of Coe there also alo Iao Signor Ora OruI Orasa il a t Quest The Th door of th the haCh dath chamber I Is III bolted from lh the In In In- Id Id ld Th Tho They y force forca It Co Coe Co le 10 seated a revolver In his bli right hand hond and a bul let lat hole hol In hie hla tempi Markham It le Is suicide Vane Vance says a It la ii murder Medical Examiner Doremus declares declare Co Co had been dead for hours hour when the bullet entered hi hla hi head heILd A wound mad b by a dagger I I. I found on th the body bOd and there I I I. proof that Co Coo Coe was wae fully full dressed when he wa was stabbed d. d Th The find And a wounded Scottish terrier In fn a room of th the lb Co C Coe house houi Vance Vane declares declare th the tha ani del animal mal real will prove an Important connect connect- Ing link Coe A Archer reher broth broth- r er r I I. I believed to have hava left for Chicago th the previous afternoon but hI dead body It is discovered In a closet In th the Co Coe home Vance interrogates Interrogate the ChIli Chi ChI- tier lotse cook Liang Brisbane bane died from stab In the back a In Archers Archer's cat ease eue Vance coat find waxed wand thread d attached che to 10 a bent pin ale and a darning needle A lipstick discovered In Archer Co Coe wate basket indicates Indicate that thaC a woman call called callI I n him th the tho night of th the murder mur By I manipulating the string th the bent pin and nd th the darning dl needle found In Dris- Dris DrisLane's Lanes tane's pocket Vane Vance bolt Archer Co Coe Co door from th the outside CHAPTER VIII VIII-Continued VIII Continued 11 11 Vance sat eat down and Inhaled deeply pf pt t his cigarette Archer Archer yes yes It ft could h have ve been Sergeant suppose you JOu fetch the tenor signor Heath went from the room and Vance said laId to Markham Ceramics I 1 opine Nothing would lie lea to so likely to stir up Grassl Grassi as a disappointment along that line The Italian was wan wall ushered In by the ergeant and Vance went straight to the point Who telephoned I to you Mr at t Doctor Montrose Montrose's yesterday during dur dur- ing ng dinner Grass gave t ve a slight Blight start then looked defiantly at Vance It was WILl a personal matter matter my my own affair r It was Mr Archer Coe who phoned you ou was It ft not Dir Mr Ir came dances Vances flat fiat and unemotional voice Grassl neither moved nor spoke Perhaps he regretted the bargain he lie had made with you Vance o- o fled Ved Perhaps he decided to call can th the deal Coal off after thinking It over alone atone with Hh his treasur treasures Perhaps h he thought It best to Inform you yon Imme Imm Immediately me- me e- e of his lets decision so you would not lIot talk of ot the transaction to Doctor Still Crass Grassl did not move but th the tho e Inevitable Impression he be gave wa was s that Vance had guessed the Import t of the telephone call he had received receive d at t tho the curators curator's home the night before I can well Imagine how you felt Mr Jr Ir Vance anco went on without alteration Iteration of ot tone After all all the bar bar- rain had bad been boen made and you held Mr Coos Coo's letter of ot confirmation Hut But t really y y know you shouldn't hav have threatened him Suddenly the Italians Italian's up pent-up em emotion emotion emo emo- e. e tion Von broke forth I had every right to threaten him Itie I tie lie burst forth the blood rushing bad back k to his face tace For a week I 1 have been bee z n negotiating meeting Negotiating meeting his constantly y Increasing prices Finally yesterday we e reach an understanding He ne puts put s It In writing and I 1 cable to Italy announcing announcing an an- my success Then he rejects reject S the agreement he tells te me he will 1 pot Hot sell that sell that he be has hns changed hl his mind He lIe Insults me mo over the tel telephone tele tele- e phone he says lays I have hue swindled him himlie him lie said ho he would break every e va vase so h he e owned before he would let me have hay them t I Ivanc Vance vanc gave gaTe a mirthless smile No 0 wonder you were a bit disconcerted disconcerted discon disco s. s at the sight light of ot those Ting ya yao o fragments fragmental 1 But nut Mr Coe Coo didn't didn r smash mash the tho vase Mr Grassl Grassi That desecration desecration des des- aeration was achieved achieved Inadvertently Inadvertently I Iby by by the tho person who killed him Mo Most of unfortunate te what t Vance Vanco got to his feet wearily That will be bo all for the present be said Crass Grassl made a low bow and left th the e room Markham addressed Vance as soo soon loon n as s Grassl Grassi was out of hearing A curious carious and ominous situation n. n Grassl Grassi Is fa refused the collection o on n which he has obviously set his hea heart rt and staked his honor and ho he threatens threat threat- t ens Coe Then he ho disappears for three ea hours saying he be took the wrong train n and this morning Coe Is found dead den with all the tho superficial Indications of ofa a suicide suicide- But why should he also stab s- s bane tano Vance asked dispiritedly And A nd why the revolver ert And why the bolted bolted bolt bolt- t- t I ed ed door And especially why the Scottie Scot Scot- t tie You were counting a great grent deal on the dog this morning Markham o ob ob- tr served Yes yes yes the the dog Vance lapsed lapse d Into silence for a while his eyes gazIng gazing gaz gaz- ga z ing tog out of ot the tho east cast window And no cre ora here liked dogs dogs no no one b but ut Wrede Funny he should gIve giro hIs bis p pet et away Vances Vance's voice was scarcely scarce scare e ly audible It was as though he be were wet e thinking out loud A Doberman Pi Pin Pin- n too big of ot course to kee keep p la JD a small email apartment And nd I J wouldn't wouldn t take Wrede for tor a dog dot lover Too un nn- sympathetic I think Ill I'll have converse COR with him Mm I He lie stepped to the telephone A moment moment mo- mo moI ment later he was talking with Wrede The conversation was very brIef but during It Vance jotted jolted down some notes on the phone rhone pad pal When he had replaced the receiver Markham gave an exasperated grunt Why should hould you be he concerned with Wrede's former pets ho naked asked Im sure suro I dont don't know Vance ance admitted ad- ad adt milled frankly Some vague tion perhaps nut But alii nod and dogs dont don't go together together the the combination Is almost as Incongruous as aa WR was the presence presence pres pres- ence of the wounded Scuttle In the hall hail And I 1 hate Incongruities Markham strove to control his Irrl tallon tation Well what did you learn about dog Nothing lie Ile had the tho Doberman only a few rew months bought bought him at a t show how In Westchester When ho he moved from his house In Greenwich Green Oreen wick Village to his present apartment he gave ve the tho dog to some sorno friends of his lie He pointed to the phone pad I have ha their name Think Ill I'll drop by y and see lice them V Y know Markham Im I'm dashed Interested In Doberman They're beautiful dogs It was decided to discontinue the I Investigation for the day We were all t tired ired and confused and there were n no o leads lends to follow Vance Vanco suggested a c complete cessation until he be could make an Inquiry Into fate tin the ownership of the wounded Scottie Ills sanguine attitude attitude atti atti- t tude ude toward the presence of the dog dogIn dogIn dogIn In the house struck mo me as extravagant extravagant gant gnat and I 1 knew Markham felt the same way about It Hut Buts since there was little more moro that could be bo done at atthe atthe the moment ho gave In hopefully to Vances Vance's suggestions suggestion Its t quite safe Vance told him hint when he had reached the lower hall hall to let the tho various members of the household h go about their business I 1 can assure you assure you Markham no one will wll run away away Gamble was told to proceed with h his hI is duties as usual and Miss Lake and Grassl were Informed that they were free to go and come as I they chose provided they were available f for tor or questioning Keep a man In Coes Coe's bedroom however however however how how- ever Vance admonished tho the sergeant and It would also be well to have a aman aman man outside to check on anyone anone enterIng entering enter enter- ing or leaving the tho house Vance Markham and I 1 went out Into the chill air It had lend been a n day dayot of ot horror and the cool breeze from tho the nark ark sack was Invigorating When we were entering the district attorneys attorney's car Markham asked Were you serious Vance about seeing awing those people to whom Wrede gave the Doberman PInscher Oh quite It will take only a few minutes The name namo of ot tho the people was EnrIght Enright En En- rIght and they lived In to a n penthouse In to one ono of ot the new v apartment buildings on Central Park West The butler Informed In on- formed us that Mrs EnrIght was as out of ot the city and that Mr I Enright wasat was wasat at that moment walking the dog In n the park Entering the park we sat down on ona ona a n bench by the path entrance and waited waite Presently there thero appeared a avery avery very large man with a dog on a leash That will be Enright said Vance Suppose we stroll toward him to be a genial easygoIng easygoing easy easy- going type typo of man of ot great bulk Vance Introduced himself and presented presented pre pre- seated Markham and me EnrIght was cordial and talkative and atod when Vance mentioned Wrede name be he became voluble regarding his long friendship with the man As Ai he chatted chatted chat chat- ted fed I had a good look at the dog He lie was lean and muscular with beautiful beau benu- lines his cont coat a shiny black with rust-red rust sharply defined markings markIng The dominating Impression be ho gave ga was that of compact muscular power combined with great speed and Intelligence Intel Intel- a a dog that would make a loyal loal and protective friend and a dangerous dangerous dan dnn- gerou enemy Oh yes yes EnrIght said sold In to answer to a question from Vance ance Wrede gnome gave o me mo and the missus Ruprecht last spring Said he couldn't keep him In Ina a small apartment Weve We've got a pent house plenty house plenty of roof for the tho fellow to run nun around nut Hut I always take him out nt at night and give sire m a n to to- fro and In to tho the park Good for him Oh quite agreed Vance ance pleas pleas- antly lie He went toward the Doberman and bent over making a friendly clicking clicking click click- ing sound with his tongue and calling the dog gently by name He Ue extended the back of ot his hh hand slowly toward the dogs dog's muzzle and ran can his hand band handover over his and down his slightly arched archell neck nut Hut the dog would not respond He lie shrank back bock gave ta a frightened whine and crouched down on au his haunches trembling That Pilaf dont don't mean menn he ho dont don't like you air Mr Ir Vance Vonee explained putting patting the dog on tho the head had lies Hes shy as the de II ll Distrustful of ot strangers Cad Gadt You should have ha him when I 1 first got him lie He crawled u under cader lder a e abIg abig big settee In the fife den and wouldn't come out for TWO rive o days not days not even to eat tBt Had to drag him out twice a aday aday day and put pat him on the root Then n I back hed he'd go fa under the settee 1 Lots better now than he used to be Getting Gelling a little confidence ties lIe pretty I near all right when hes he's alone alono with i me Hell probably get et over It Vance ance t told him encouragingly The right t treatment dont don't y know lIes lIe's lIesa a beautiful specimen lacer Ever Iver show him Oh Ott I entered him once once Cornwall I nut lot he wouldn't show Lay i down inthe In Inthe Inthe t the clog and whimpered D n D-n n shame t too for the two fellows that went over I him lacked quality Wo 0 walked with the tho garrulous EnrIght Enright En- En rIght back to h his hi apartment house and took leave Ilave of him When we wo were In the district attorneys attorney's car headed down town Vance ance spoke poke and his v voice oice was troubled Something queer about that dog Markham something deuced queer W Why hy should he be timid Why should t he distrust and tent rear strangers Its It's not like a Doberman to act that way Something has tins happened to him lies He's had a blighting experience of ot sonic some kind Markham teat bent an annoyed tattoo on the window lodge ledge of ot the tho car Yes yes Its It's very sad I suppose Out nut what possible connection can there be he between a shy Doberman In Central Park West Vest and the murder r of Archer Cue I r haven't the v vaguest guest notion Vance returned cheerfully nut Hut there ar are e only two five dogs In this case and one of ot o f fd them Is la browbeaten and timid an anthe and d the otter other la Is viciously wounded Pretty farfetched fetched Markham grumbled Vance sighed I dare say lIay nut But so are arc the circumstances circumstances circum circum- st stances ances surrounding the tho murders them s selves elves He lIe lighted a fresh cigarette e and glanced at his watch Its draw draw- L Lii I IiiI IJ ii e 1 1 i il l tl r L Well Anyway You Weren't Killed Ing on tow toward ird dinner time Does that the t tempt you your 7 And And Ill I'll open a bo botie bottle bottle bot bot- t- t tle tie of that t 03 3 Chateau youre you're e so fond of ot You cheer me old man Markham Markham Mark Mark- ham gave an sn order Jo so the chauffeur Ah a bit of ot forgetfulness forgetfulness-e eh eh h. h what Quite right you are Therell There'll 1 be Do to Irk us till t tomorrow But nut Vance was mistaken That night nigh t t the he Coe case caso entered a new and mot moro s sinister inister phase It was exactly halt half past t two In tn the tho morning when Vances Vance's s private phone rang rani It woke me IDe from froma fro fros a s deep sleep and It was wal several mi n- n utes before I 1 could answer It Mar Marham's Markham's Markhams Markhams Markham's Mark Mark- k hams ham's voice came over the tho wire d demanding demanding de de- o- o manding Vance I carried the portable e phone set to his hla room and handed It to him In to bed He Ue listened a brief mf minute minute min min- n- n ute then he be set the Instrument on th the e floor yawned stretched and threw thre w back the tho bedclothes Dash It all Van I 1 he complained complainer 1 as he rang for Currle Currie Grassl Grassi ho has s been stabbed I a t When Vance and I 1 arrived at Hi the tho e Coe house Markham and Sergeant nt Heath were already there There w wa was wasa ns a detective from tho the homicide bureau turea u sitting glumly on the front steps We went cent to the second floor walked walk ed back toward the front of ot the hou housand house hous e and entered Grassl's quarters T The he curtains were drawn and all the light lights to were on Heath and Markham stood at U the te foot of Grassl's Grassis bed looking at t the he prostrate figure lying there Sitting I Ia In Ina Ina a straight chair on the opposite side sl de of the bed ed was a capable looking m man manof manof en of about forty This Is Doctor Lobsenz Markham Markha m Informed Vance Gamble called hl hImIn him mu In In Doctor Lobsenz looked up nodded ed and went on about his bis work with awl swift ft efficiency Grassl lay on his back clad In who white to silk pajamas pajama He Ue was ghastly pal pale pal e and the arm nearest us as moved re restlessly rest it- it |