| Show FICTION ITI r i i 1 r rI I I 1 1 a as aa s a 1 1 T- T I 1 V 1 8 M TC CASE f fa AS 1 I W E cO 1926 1923 y G SONS SONa ON BEGIN TOn TOny y MUS PRESTISS who ho ho lIf from from Insomnia sees ICS mysteriously disappear lo the thc TU next floor loor one nIght flight and tho bo next morn morn- morn Ing Ing ng G Is nol nog with the TIr of of or MYRA and anil thc tho ho disappearance or of PERRY her heir husband House lIest 1 of the lie are LA LAWRENCE LA INMAN and nUSSY Inman might Jun-c Jun a B because JI be Is heir to consider ConsIder- ablo able fortune he lie having ln hn cut lt Ott orr her husband In 10 her hr will gol Suspicion also aso points to gol gol- gol s vl Bunny Moore I ec b of or tier her refusal to questions at the In inquest In- In quest Ira wasa was a peculiar Site She used LCd cos- cos cos never ne wore colors Clor She had a l mania for fop col collecting J gla glass and It was as a a- a rare roro old whisky bottle that thatUS was US the I of or lice hel death Candles were burning nt at lice hl licad and nl feet rt hen luen hena ft a maid discovered ert her hr bod body and nearby nan ag a 1 card mark mark- Id I'd d TIe The n c Work VOrk ork ot or Perry Perry- Heath Strangest st of or all she sho sas as y made up rip and dressed with 1 gay cay colors Die Ile strangest t tiling thing thin disappearance Is the fact Jact that all the indo 15 and doors loons ha had bad l b been en locked on on before were found round thata that a nay ay irs In Inthe the morning Finger Ir prints or Bunny Dunny and nn Ionian luman are ure roun found l on o tho bottle A Aan Ait inn ly an anIt It it- it case JC J C has lias my mysteriously dis- dis disappeared dis disappeared appeared and physicians de- de determine de determine termine that the lie rouge route lIS ras applied to Myras Myra's lace face after dath At the tho Country Club the murder muroN Is Iq by SAM SUI AX EnOS Heaths Heath's rital for the club presidency AIl AIa CUS who Is try try- try trying lug ing tn to solve oIvo the case ease nn anul 1 others Some belice nth lIc-nth the murderer Others I disagree din Cnn Cun- lj belle Bunny Moore js 13 concealing some some- something thing calls on Mrs ho rho tells him luini of the mysterious ous lights Mrs Prentiss nephew suggests that Perry also may have hae been murder murder- murdered murdered ed cd SOW cOv OW GO OX OS WITH THE STORY STOny CHAPTER XVI H That evening Larry Inman and Bunny Moore dined aono alone It was waa an ordeal but they had agreed that It was wai wise for them to keep up the ordinary routine of ot the tho hoase hoise as far as possible and be ready at Dot any too too- moment mo moment ment meat for the return of ot Perry heath Ileath As a a matter mailer of course and also because there was need for fora II master Inman assumed the head of o tho the house while Bunny Dunny naturally rille tilled Myras Myra's place In affairs of domestic detail Bunny's eyes filled as the he be re- re remembered re remembered the say cay gay party at the tha table the night before but the conquered her ler ier emotions motions an and 1 con con- contrived contrived contrived to manage manae a o little light conversatIon with Inman We have ha to face the tho situa situation tion ho he said Eald ald gravely Bravely an and 1 we nAy as well do the best wo 0 can canto canto canto to keep keep- keep Keep the home fires tires burn burn- burnIng burning ing Bunny said mid with an effort to o speak lightly yes he responded against P rry's return L Where here Is Bunny said for tor Horrick was momentarily ly Iy out of ol the room There hero was lS a note of or Intense anguIsh In her voice olee a hint of tragedy that was breaking her youn young heart I i 1 dont don't know Bunny Inman said aid but ho did not look at her herIt It Is very hard to know what to todo todo todo do Unless he comes soon I Ishan Ishall shan shall have to look after alter some of ohis bis business In matters for tor him A note of or his falls rails duo due tomorrow and nd such things should not be neglected Oh no o of course not Do at attend at- at attend tend to It it- It Larry lf Larry It It he come tonight here could he lie have gone gono Bunny Dunny you know Perry I Is n a law unto himself lIe He may havo gone away last night before before- before before Myra died dietL She may have havo known all 1111 about Ills his going and said sald goodby to 10 him and aU- aU ill jq 4 J J 1 I 1 4 arter after you ou and I went vent upstairs It wouldn't be I do an n unheard or of thing N N do N no o I suppose not But In that case hell he'll see about the the- the the tho crime In tonight's papers and hell he'll como come right home of course Yes Ys of course But again Inman Inman- did Inman-did did not look nt at her Ho lie seemed to avoid her eyes and turned his glance aside when he ho spoke to ther her What hat about Myras Myra's will sill the girl said suddenly suddenly-so suddenly BO sud suddenly that Inman gave a 0 start Why the lawyer lawer Hart hIatt Is away Hes He's expected home borne In a aday aday aday day or two Ire lie will wilI doubtless come as os soon as os he lie hears the news Are you 2 Myras Myra's heir I 1 dont don't knows know Bunny You heard what she sho saI said sald 1 to heath neath list night II If I am I shall be glad for tor the tho money belongs in our family romny and and Perry ron can ai- ai al always ways make his own living hiving Yes Is this house Myras Myra's too Her money was used to build It but but Im I'm not sure sure who ho tho holds the title Dont Don't talk about such things are bad enough without dragging In mone money mat mat- matters tera The death of 2 Myra lyra was a tragedy that sank tho the whole In gloom But Heaths Heath's absence vas waa ns treated as merely I part of or the usual routine And whatever these two two- might think aboUt it they must assume hIs impending impending- re rc reappearance They were not confidential this pair but hut they were at one In preserving a a calm exterior anti a courteous attitude Dinner oser o they went Into the lounge for coffee By y a common though un- un unspoken un unspoken spoke spoken Impulse they avoided the studio All that r remained 1 or of of- of beautiful beautiful ful Myra Mra Heath Hc th had Ju d been taken away by the the- funeral directors director's men but plans for the obsequies were In abeyance pending return r But though th the studio had been restored to its lIs its u usual ulLI condition n of of orderly Informality It was and would ever eyer a be Q a room of ot horror to any Inmate of ot th the Heath ho So Bunny Dunny a II crumpled and pathetic little figure sat In the corner of o the big davenport and Inman stalked about the great room In one hand and coffee cup In the other They were WeN full rull of of- of unrest of-unrest unrest both bothof bothof botho of them but could not net bring themselves to talk talk of o Iyra yra 1 I wish I could go home Bunny nunny said plaintively Wont they let me go Larry I dont don't think ko 80 o l I If seems a 1 coroners coroner's verdict if br from far final In the minds o of the poll police e They dont don't seem seem- Inclined Inclined- to m make ke a move though or let anybody else make one until perry comes home Aho they doing anything to rind find him Yes tn Yes In a 11 B stupid wa way They telephoned to the deal deal- dealer erho er who sho often Bells sella his hIt pictures and the man said sald said he hadn't seen slen Perry for tor two or three throe weeks A fat let lot of good s l sz such h hunting does doos What do you think they ought to do doT This little flower face looked up at him wistfully as If It he ho were ere the only hope or reliance As Indeed ho was vas Poor little DunnY had never before known a trouble or care greater than the tho misfit of ot a n new gown or the tragedy ot or an unbecoming hat And now plunged suddenly Into a sorrow so BO grave and terrible terrible and with no hope of ot rescue or relief her hr daz dazed d brain an nl stun stun- stunned tun ned heart could scarcely meet the Issues issue Yet she was learning Already she he was wa beginning to see that the must rely on herself for decIsions and actions Her hIr thoughts thought new flew to the rather nice woman who h haul bad d that morning offered to help her Who had hILd even offered her a temper temper- home and home and who seemed to consider ono one Larry she the raid Bald suddenly X I ought not to be here hero alone with with you He Ho set et down down hIs cup and came and seated by her side No Dunn Bunny he ho said seriously YOU ought not To be sure a 11 situation liko hiko this a II terrible crisis cr of this tort Sort gives one liberty to break all laws lawa of convention convention convention- Indeed It makes to m kes ke convention seem seeni seema seenia II a trivial and ond futile thing thiD But con C le remain when situa- situa situations situa I pass I wish I knew what Is best for you ou to do Im I'm sorry to tell you that lat I 1 know you will not be allowed to go 0 home just cot ot Mott Is very busy with his inquiries and ond hes he's only waiting a little longer for fol Perrys Perry's re- re re reappearance appearance oppe before ho he breAks loose with Ith some terrible develop develop- developments developments ments What do you mean Larry you ou scare me to dea death h Dont be bo frightened till the I timo comes Ill comes Ill I'll keep you OU ad ad Isel and all that but but-be but be bc prepared for stormy times ahead What do you OU mean the girl cri cried d She lS was as ashy white now and her blu blue eyes blue eyes were big and dark with apprehension ton Larry sh she whispered you know know- know that awful man said that our finger our prints finger were on that bottle bottle bottle- Yes I know Inow he did What does docs that moon moan Larry Well Yell Bunny what does It mean But a sudden change came over o the queer queer elfin child She sprang prang up from the couch and almost dancing across the room she seated herself herse bolt up- up upright upright up upright right In a small straight chair She folded her arms and her lovely mouth purse pursed 1 itself Into a pout ot of mutinous rebellion Im not afraid of of them she saId defiantly They can say what they choose and do what they choose Im I'm not net afraid Are Aro you Larr Larry I l o he nuzzled t her r attitude Why should I be Ah why should you OU be she repeated why should I be Why should anybody be Dunn Bunny hush Youre You're talking nonsense exclaimed exclaimed- n a vas vague fear rear coming o him that the matter mailer bad 1 her affected affected h r mind No No no Im I'm not net netI I 1 say I-say sa say Larry have you OU looked over Perrys Perry's papers No of o course not What right have I to do that Oh hell he'll never nc come balk back backI I thought at first Ie he e would would- would now I know he wont won't And I miss him 80 1 miss so-I-miss so miss I-miss miss him him so so 50 her voice trailed away like a diminishing echo e ho no Inman sighed She was such sucha sucha child a Yet the next moment she spoke seriously Larry Lar the tho lady next door door door- that Sirs Mrs Prentist Prentiss you know has asked me mo togo and otay tay wIth her for awhile until I Ican can go lome Has Una she the Why i Bunny that's the very thing I Ido do do hope go Are Arc YOU you you- so anxious anxious tobe to-be to bo rid or of me Yes for Yes your for your own good For your own good name You see people would talk It if yot your yo and I stayed hero here alone Nor Would It make It any better for you ou If PeTry turned up You must see that But for you to go to Mrs would be plan Do go Bunny do You can run lun over oyer hero herd rc every day you know to l look ot over things and all that Please Bunny let Itt me urge you OU to go so lali Dont attempt to boss mel me You know It always alwa's makes mo me obstinate Well Ill I'll coax you then Go Co dear theres there's d b t good girl You will wont won't ont you I 1 I I dont don't know know- know Now Now Bunny had Immediately and fully made up her mind to togo togo go but she sho couldn't resist the th chan chance chante o to tease Larry He lIe was so ridiculously insistent Then Just at that crisis the knocker knocker door sounded and lIer- lIer rick Her rick admitted three throe callers caller 5 C CJ rl jt J TEU The three callers were 2 Mrs Irs Prentiss and her nephew Tod- Tod tooter Buck end with them was wasa wasa wasa a young oung man ft a stranger to Dun Dun- Dunny Dunny Bunny ny but butan an acquaintance of o In- In Inman Inman In Inman man Alexander CunnIngham Im out to find Perry heath Cunningham said after arter they were all seated Im sure you under under- understand stand Mr Inman the tho the and anxiety felt relt b by the the Country Countr Club members and as they cant can't do much as a body they've asked toe e to Institute a search for tor heath IleAth an and 1 also to do what I c can n to- to toward toward to toward ward unraveling tho mystery of Mrs Heaths Heath's tragic death dath Detective work worl asked Lar Lar- Larry Lar- Lar Larry Larry ry In a non committal voice olce Yes but not men like Arthur Black Dlack Sam Anderson Andorson and nd others of that cro d have Ina in a a way WilY engaged mo me to do this this- and Im I'm mighty glad s-Ind to try We e are assuming that as as the nearest kin of kIn ot Mrs Heath you will sanction any and every effort erfort to solve the mystery of the case Im I'm Well Im I'm not sure about that Inman said slowly I want to know who killed my cousin of course but your blanket proposition as lIS to any and every effort seems to me a abit er bit er unlimited You want to limit It asked Cunningham his cool grey eyes fixed on Larrys Larry's race face The latter looked up quicklY Perhaps not limit but it It rather assist in its direction Oh that's all right right- rIght were we're glad ot of any my assistance Now while Im I'm not a professional detective Tam I am acting under authority I am amen en- en endorsed endorsed by the club and so I trust Im I'm not exceeding my rights In la arking for the fl of the house for purposes of ot investigation Investigation I tion You me mean n unquestioned access to to all alt rooms Inman stared at him I mean moan just that an and ond Cun Cun- Cunningham Cun- Cun Cunningham stared back I 1 can ImaGine no possible objection The examination of or Mrs Heaths Heath's room Is of or utmost Importance and Im I'm sure Miss lust Moore would say Eay no word against my soy entering her room Indeed I would and Bunn Bunny drew h herself up angrily hy should you go Into Ito my room Mr Cunningham m It is la an on established custom is Miss Ml Moore to Inspect carefully and 1 with lIh an art eye oyo to helpful evi evl evidence dence nil all parts of o the house and ond grounds In which a a crime crimo haD ban boon committed I am sorry orry to say the police In this ibis case have lax In IIi this respect But Dut I Iam Iam Iam am told It Is duo to the nb absence or of Mr Mu II Heath That however Is really an reason reason for baste and care rore In the matter of search searel for tor Mr Heaths Heath's disappearance disappearance Is a puzzle Itself and It ItIs itis Itis Is highly that the two are interdependent Now Mr rr Cunningham ham Mrs broko In you o wast wat wasting vast vast- ing lug good time thrashing out foolish questions Of Ot course Mr wants you to have full rull swing here and likewise of course II Miss Moore wants you ni to fn make a 0 full search She's Sho's new business and doesn't So you just go right ahead full steam and Ill I'll bet bel a a- a cooky cooks you unearth some same clue that nobody ese has hns noticed You go Into that studio there there-that's there that's wh re rethe the awful thing happened happened you see Bee what you can see Cunningham Into the studio with young oung Duck Buck fol following 01 lowing like 1110 a shadow at his All rubbed down and polished up cried Cunningham disgustedly disgustedly |
