OCR Text |
Show The KENNEL MURDER CASE I By S. S. Van Dine Copyright by W. H. Wright tOT g,,,..,.. SYNOPSIS Phllo Vance, crime expert, Is called to Investigate the fluppo-ied suicide of Archer (Joe. With District Attorney Markham, he goes to Coo's house. They find Wrede, a friend of Coe's. there; fclso Signer Oraasl, a guest. The door of the death chamber Is bolted from the Inside. They force It. Coe Is seated, m. revolver In his rlKht hand and a bullet hole In his temple. He Is clothed In a dressing gown, but wears street fehoes. Markham thinks It is suicide. Vance says It Is murder. Medical Ki-pmlner Ki-pmlner iJoremus declares Coe had been Iflead for hours whon the bullet entered lila head. A wound, made by a Jaeger, Is found on the body, and there Is proof that Coe was fully dressed when lie was stabbed. The Investigators find l wounded Scotch terrier In a room of the Coe house. Vance declares the ftnlmal will prove an Important connecting con-necting link. Gamble says Brisbane Coe, Archer'B brother, left for Chicago the previous afternoon, but Vance points out that his favorite walking tick Is hanging In the hall. CHAPTER IV Continued 6 lie pulled the door open, revealing only a great rectangle of blackness. Almost simultaneously, the circle of yellow light from Heath's pocket flashlight flash-light penetrated the gloom. "Lower, Sergeant !" came Vance's dictatorial voice. "The floor the floor I . . ." . The light descended ; and then we saw the thing that Vance, through Borne process of obscure logic, had been searching for. There, In a huddled heap, his glassy eyes staring up at us, lay the 'dead, body of Brisbane Coe. Though the sight was not altogether unexpected, In view of Vance's strange actions and even stranger comments, I received a tremendous shock as I gazed down into the closet. Even to on amateur like myself the fact that Brisbane Coe was dead was apparent. The stiff, unnatural pose of the body, and the hideous fixity of his gaze, together to-gether with the drawn bloodless lips and the waxen pallor of his skin, at tested to violent and unexpected death. And as I looked at It, temporarily petrified by the horror of this new development, de-velopment, I could not help comparing compar-ing the dead body of Brisbane with that of Archer. Whereas Archer had died with a peaceful expression on his face, and In a natural and comfortable comfort-able position, Brisbane had a shocked, almost wild, look In his eyes, as If he hnd been startled and frightened at the moment of death. The discovery of Brisbane Coe's body affected all of us strongly. Heath Btared down with hunched shoulders. The blood seemed to have left his face, and he was like a man hypnotized. hypno-tized. Markham's jaw was set, and his eyes were mere slits. Vance spoke, and his voice, usually bo calm, sounded strained and unnatural. un-natural. "It's worse than I thought. ... I had hoped he might still be alive a prisoner perhaps. I didn't altogether expect this." Vance closed the closet door. "It's very strange," he murmured, looking at Markham yet past him. "He Is without his hat and topcoat; and yet his stick Is hanging here In the hall. And he Is dead In the closet. Why not In his own room? or the library? or anywhere else, but In there? . . . Nothing fits, Markham. The whole picture has been painted by a crazy man." Markham said In a dazed voice: "I can't follow any of It. Why did Brisbane Coe return here last night? And who knew he was going to return?" re-turn?" "If only I could answer those questions ques-tions '." Burke and Gamble were sitting on a hall bench near the drawing room floor. The butler had not seen the dead man In the closet, for our bodies had shielded him. But It was obvious that he suspected the truth. Vance went to him. "What kind of topcoat and hat did Mr. Brisbane wear when he went to the station last night?" The man made a desperate effort to pull himself together. "A a tweed coat, sir," he replied huskily, " black-and-white tweed. And a light gray fedora hat." Vance returned to the closet, and presently emerged with a hat and coat. "Are these the ones?" Gamble swallowed hard and nodded his head. "Yes, sir." Vance replaced the coat and hat In the closet, and commented to Markham: Mark-ham: "They were hanging up so neatly." "Is It not possible," asked Markham, "that Just as he hung them up after returning to the house, he was killed?" "Possible yes." Vance nodded slowly. slow-ly. "But that would not explain the other things that went on here last night. It's more reasonable, I think, to assume that Brisbane was killed as he was preparing to leave the house. But then ngaln, there's the time element. . . ." Heath had already gone to the hall telephone and was dialing a number. "I'll soon get the time element for you." he growled A moment later he was speaking to Doctor Doremus. "The doe's coming right away," he said, banging up the receiver. "In the meantime, Markham," suggested sug-gested Vance, "I think we. might have parlance with the Chinese cook. . . . Fetch him, will you, Gamble." The butler hastened through the dining room door at the rear, and Vance strolled Into the library, the rest of us following. We had scarcely seated ourselves when a tall, slender, scholarly looking Chinaman of about forty stepped softly soft-ly into the room through the door between be-tween the library and the dining room. He stood beside the door with relaxed Immobility, and, after one swift glance at us, lifted his eyes uneagerly above our heads. Though he looked at nothing noth-ing In particular, I felt that he saw everything. Vance asked : "What Is your name?" "Liang," came the soft and almost Inaudible response. "Your whole name, please." There was a slight pause, and the man gave Vance a fleeting glance. "Liang Tsung Wei." "Ah! . . . And I understand you are the Coe cook." The other nodded quickly. "Me cook." Vance sighed, and a faint smile overspread his face. "Be so good as to forgo the pidgin-English, pidgin-English, Mr. Liang. It will handicap our conversation terribly. And please take a chair." The Chinaman, with a faint flicker in his eyes, moved his gaze till It rested on Vance's face. Then he bowed and sat down In an arm chair between the door and the book shelves. "Thank you," he said In a finely modulated voice. "1 suppose you desire de-sire to question me regarding the tragedy last night. I deeply regret I can throw no light upon it." "How do you know there has been a tragedy?" Vance Inspected the end of his cigarette. "I was preparing the breakfast," Liang returned, "and I heard the butler but-ler Impart the Information over the telephone." "Ah, yes of course. . . . Have you been long in this country, Mr. Liang?" "Two years only." "Interested In the culin'ry art of America?" "Not particularly although I am a student of occidental customs. Western West-ern civilization Is of great Interest to certain of my countrymen." "As are, also, 1 Imagine," added Vance, "the rare ceremonial pieces of Chinese art that have been pilfered from your temples and graves." , "We of course regret their loss," the man answered mildly. Vance nodded understandingly, and was silent for a moment. Then: "How did you happen to seek employment em-ployment with Mr. Coe." "I had heard of his collection of Chinese antiquities and of his great knowledge of oriental art, and I believed be-lieved that the atmosphere might prove to be congenial." "And have you found It congenial?" "Not altogether. Mr. Coe was a very narrow and selfish man. His interest In art was purely personal. He wished to keep his treasures away from the world not to share them with humanity." human-ity." "A typical collector," observed Vance. "By the by, Mr. Liang: wheo did you leave the house yesterday?" "About half-past two," came the low answer. "And you returned at what time?" "Shortly before midnight I was visiting vis-iting friends on Long Island." "Chinese friends?" "Yes. They will be most happy to verify my statement." Vance smiled. "I've no doubt. Where do you sleep?" "My quarters, such as they are, are 'connected with the kitchen." "Did you go to bed immediately upon your return?" There was a momentary hesitation on the man's part "Not Immediately," he" said. "1 cleared away the remains of Mr. Coe's supper, and made myself some tea." "Did you, by any chance, see Mr. Brisbane Coe after you returned last night?" "Mr. Brisbane Coe?" The other repeated re-peated the name questioningly. "The butler told me this morning not to prepare breakfast for him, as he had gone to Chicago. . . . Was he here last night?" Vance ignored the question. "Did you hear any sounds In the house before you retired?" he went on. "Not until Miss Lake returned. She Is always vigorous and noisy. And a quarter of an hour later Mr. Grassi came in. But aside from that I heard no sound whatever." Vance, during this interrogation, had appeared casual; and his manner had been deferential. But now a perceptible percepti-ble change came over his attitude. His eyes hardened, and he leaned forward for-ward in his chair. When he spoke, his voice was cold ami uncompromising. "Mr. Liang." he said, "at what time did you first return to this house early last night'" There was a clouded, faraway look In the Chinaman's eyes. "I did not return early last night," he answered, In a faintly sing-song voice. "I arrived at midnight." "Yes, you arrived at midnight Gamble heard you come In. But I am speaking of your earlier visit some time around eight o'clock, let us say." "You are evidently laboring under a misapprehension," Liang returned. Vance ignored the retort. "And what did you 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 you see Mr. Archer Coe?" persisted per-sisted Vance. "I assure you " "And was anyone with him?" "I was not here." "Perhaps you visited Mr. Coe's bedroom bed-room 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 midnight." "I was not In this house" Liang spoke with deliberation "between half-past two yesterday afternoon and midnight." There was a finality In both his manner and his tone. 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 seat." Vance nodded and rose. "That 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 "By the By, Mr. Liang; When Did You Leave the House Yesterday?" Yester-day?" tabouret of teakwood ; and on the floor near the hearth lay a copy of Tchou 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 tab-ouret 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 un-doubtedly find my fingerprints on It. I often touch the furniture and objects ob-jects in this room." Vance smiled faintly and, I 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 dav-enport In the center of the table, on a slender teakwood base, stood a white baluster-type vase about nine Inches tall. I 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 puz-zled him. We were all watching him; and not the least interested person in the room was Liang. His eyes were fixed on Vance's face. "Extr'ordin'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 the table early last night?" "How could I possibly know that?" Liang asked in a vague, mechanical voice. Vance picked up the vase and Inspected In-spected It closely. "Not exa'ctly a museum piece. Is It, Mr. Liang?" he mused. "Rather Inferior. In-ferior. I should say It was imitation Ting yao made under Tao Kuang. This piece would never have deceived 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 Vance. Vance shook his head sadly. "No, Archer would never have been taken in by this specimen. . . . It's most confusln'." lie started to replace the vase on the stand, but suddenly withheld the movement of bis hand and set the vase to one side. Leaning over, he pushed the little teakwood pedestal out of the way, revealing re-vealing 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 fore-finger to the light. "Now, this is eminently different," he remarked, studying It closely. "Apparently "Ap-parently a particle of genuine Sung Ting yao. A vase of this delicate porcelain would do honor to any collection." col-lection." Gently he placed the little white triangle tri-angle 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?" Ku-ang?" "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 see this nineteenth-century Imitation?" He pointed to the vase on the-table. Liang did not reply at once. He looked thoughtfully at the vase for a full half-minute; then his eyes returned re-turned to Vance. "I have never seen It before," he said finally. "Fancy that I" Vance returned his monocle to his waistcoat pocket "And here it sits in a place of honor, crying out Its spuriousness to anyone who enters the room. . . . Most lnterestin'." Markham, who had been chafing under un-der Vance's apparent Irrelevancies, now spoke. "What possible connection can a vase have with the murder of Archer and Brisbane Coe?" "That point," answered Vance dul-cetly, dul-cetly, "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. no-tion. 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 I." Vance became serious. "But It has significance and a vita 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. it 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 Instruc-tions to remain in the house until further fur-ther notice. While we were waiting for the medical med-ical 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 beck-oned 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 apolo-getic obsequiousness: "1 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. Vance scrutinized the man closely. "When he returns keep him downstairs," down-stairs," he said. "And you'd. better stay here yourself." Gamble bowed and returned to the dining room; and a moment later Doctor Doc-tor Doremus arrived. neath went briskly out of the room and down the corridor to the closet We were close behind him when he opened the door. Doremus, straightway straight-way assuming a professional air, knelt down and touched Brisbane Coe's body. "Dead," he announced. Heath simulated astonishment. "Honest, Is he dead? And me thinking think-ing all the time he was playing 'possum 'pos-sum !" 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 asked, "which of the two victims died first?" Doremus, who had been testing the movability of the dead man's head and limbs, glanced at hi watch. "That's easy," he said. "The one upstnirs. The advance of rigor mortis In the two bodies Is practically the same. This one might be slightly further fur-ther along; but It's been nearly four hours since I went over the other fellow. fel-low. Therefore, I'd sny 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, four-cornered four-cornered Instrument. Only, In this case, the hemorrhage was external. A lot of blood lost." "Died instantly, I take It," remarked 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 commented. com-mented. "A minor point, but worth verifying. ... I say, Doctor; any Indications Indi-cations of a struggle?" "Nope. Not a sign. He got It In the back when he wasn't expecting It. Startled him for a split second probably prob-ably look 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 Markham. Mark-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 hnd slammed the front door behind him. Heath went at once to the telephone and ordered the wagon from the department de-partment of public welfare. Then he returned to the library. "Now where do we stand?" 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?" sighed Vance. "You haven't a particle of evidence evi-dence 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 al-ways comes In silently It's a Chinese characteristic. On general principles, the Chinese never want their movements, move-ments, 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 prob-ably saw Gamble's boudoir light ablaie and let It be known, In a subtle way, that he was arriving from his afternoon after-noon 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 Signor Grassi?" Markham waved his hand In assent "And we'd better go upstairs," Vance suggested. "Brisbane Is not a pretty sight." TO BE CONTINUED. "Fort Blunder" The fortification known as "Fort Blunder" was started In 1816 at Rouses Point, N. Y., under the supervision super-vision of a Cnlted States engineer. The plan of the fort was octagonal. It was to be 10-bastloned and occupy about three-fourths 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 lo-cated 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 1342 the fort was ceded to the United States. |