Evening Star Newspaper, October 18, 1930, Page 5

By S. S. Copyright, 1930, THE STORY THUS FAR. 1t is doubtful it Philo Vance, althoush endowed with a fine analytical mind and 8 remarkable flair for the subtleties of uj psychology, have_solved the bizarre murder of Benjamin H. unless he had been the first observer on the scene. Carefully he noted the aze of ~topsy-luryy clues before the artivai of the police; afier Donald Scars lett had stumbled upon the body in the rivate museum on East Twentieth street, maintained by C. Bliss, famous well-to-do Englishm: who had been a college mate t Oxford. was se stunned by disco of Kyle's body. the head terribly Datiered and a heavy Egvptian statue Iying over it. that he had hurried to Vance for advice. By phone Vance Teported the crime to his friend, District Attorney John F. X. Markham iScaTiett aaid e knew of ng reason had backed Bliss' fons. "should have been had made_an appointment fio massurn “with Kot ToEC11 thet Torning o supmmiy & Anancial statement o the wealthy art patron. The museum Tas inone of two browi-sione houses, family retainer; rush. the butler, and Dingle, the cook. Mrs. Bliss was half Egyptian, and much younger than her husband. Brush told Vance that Kyle had arrived at 10 o'clock, going direct to the museum and telling him not to disturb Dr. Bliss, s he withed 1o look over some new Dr, Bliss had been in his study g T e R and Mrs. Bliss left at about that hour to go shopping. Hani had been upstairs in his room, not feeling well. Salveter had gone out soon after Mrs, Bliss left. Brush aaid he had not heard Scareit enter at 10: y because of the noise mm- by me vacuum cleaner he ng. He the Intrh on. the ltlr 't door lock s off when Scarlet arrived, as he fi:a seen to i Biiasel{"thad it ‘Wl ‘locke Kyf's body lay wi e underworld, of e Gyine nad e Ui " pd:giriend statue. wrs:‘l:or;-dt«lmm-d,xm s death, bou feet Jong. It was that of Bakhmet, goddess of v ‘Scariett 'saidl the Sakhmel statue had ood on a cabinel more than seven feet igh. directly over Kyle's head. Seret. Ernest Heathh arpived with three other detectives from the ici % Beside the body Vance found a modern scarfpin set with a scarab. which had n the state se haraoh who {ived about 1650. It belonged to Dr. INSTALLMENT VL THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, “That's the whole trouble Suddenly he moved toward the statue | of Anubis, and, leaning over, picked Van Dine ’ by 8. 8. Van Dine. intently, a look of horrified amazement | on his round bronzed face. “I'm afrald you're right, he sald, nodding ' with reluctance, | “Dr. Bliss found that scarab on |the site of the excavation of Intef's ! tomb two years ago. He didn’t mention |it to the Egyptian authorities; and when he returned to America he haa it set in a scarfpin. But surely its| presence here can have no signifi- cance. “Really, 1o Vance faced Scar- lett with a steady gaze. “I remember | |quite well the episode at Dira Abu ‘n-Noga. 1 was particeps criminis, as it were, to the theft. But since there were other scarabs of Intef, as well as a cylindrical seal, in the British Mu- seum, I turned my eyes the other way . 'This is the first time I've had a se look at the scarab—- Heath had started toward the front stairs. “Sa ‘Vance,” | el you—Emery!” he bawled, ad- dressing one of the two mep on' the landing. “Round up this guy Bliss and | g ’im-in here "“Oh, T say, sergeant!” Vance hastened after him and put a restraining hand | on his arm. “Why so precipitate? Let's | be calm This isn't the correct mo- | ment to drag Bliss in. And when we want him all we have to do is to knock {on that little door—he’s undoubtedly in | his study, and he can’t run away . . . |'And there's a bit of preliminary sur- veying to be done first.” Heath hesitated and made a grim- ace. Then: “Never mind, Emery. But go out in |the back yard and see that nobody | tries to make a getaway . . . And you, Hennes he addressed the other man, “stand in the front hall. If any one tries to leave the house, grab ‘em and bring ‘em in—see?” The two detectives disappeared with a stealth that struck me as highly Iudicrous. “Got something up your sleeve, sir?” the sergeant asked, eyeing Vance hope- fully. “This homicide, though, don’t look very complicated to me. Kyle gets bumped off by a blow over the head, and beside him is a scarf pin belong- ing to Dr. Bliss . . . That's simple } e up a folded plece of paper which had lain _ almost hidden beneath one of | Kyle's outstretched hands. Carefully unfolding it. he heid it toward the light. It was a legal-sized sheet of paper and was covered with figures. “This document,” he remarked, have been in Kyle's possession when he passed from this worl Know anything about it, Scarlett? Scarlett stepped forward eagerly and | took the paper with an unsteady hand. “Good heavens!” he exclaimed, “it’s the report of expenditures we drew up last night. Dr. Bliss was working on i this tabulati “Uh-huh! Heath grinned with vicious_satisfaction. “So! ~Our dead friend here musta seen Bliss this morn- ing—else how could he have got that paper?” Scarlett frowned. “I must say it looks that way,” he conceded. *“This report hadn't been made out when the rest of us knocked off last night. Dr. Bliss said he was going to draw it up before Mr. Kyle got here this morning.” He seemed utterly nonplussed as he handed the paper back to Vance. “But there’s something wrong somewhere . . . You know, Vance, it's not reasonable——" “Don’t be futile, Scarlett,” Vance's admonition cut him short. “If Dr. Bliss had wielded the statue of Sakhmet, why should be have left this report here to incriminate himself? . . . As something is wrong some- is it?” Heath scoffed ‘There’s that bectle—and now we find this report. What more do you want, Mr. Vance.” “A great deal more,” Vance spoke softly. “A man doesn’t ordinarily com- mit murder and leave such obvious bits of direct evidence strewn all about the place . . . It's childish.” Heath snorte “Panic—that’s what it was. He got scared and beat it in a hurry. . . " Vance's eyes rested on the metal door cf Dr. Bliss' study. “By the by, Scarlett.” he “when did you last see that scarfpin?” “Last night.” The to pace restlessly up was beastly hot in the study. and Dr. Bliss took off his wllar and four- in-hand and laid ’em on the table. The scarab pin was sticking in the cravat.” “Ah!” Vance's gaze did not shift from the little door. “The pin lay on the table during the conference, eh? . . . And, as you told me, Hani and Mrs. Bliss and Salveter and your- self were present.” “Right.” little asked. scarab man had begun and down. “It Vance thought a moment. “Still, this report . . . most curi- ous! I copld bear to know how it got in Kyle's hands. You say it hadn’t been completed when the con- ference broke up?” “Oh, no.” Scarlett seemed hesitant about answering. “We all turned in our figures, and Dr. Bliss sald he was going to add 'em up and present them to Kyle today. Then he telephoned Kyle—in our presence—and made an appointment with him for 11 this morning.” “Is that all he said to Kyle on the phone?” “Practically . . . though I believe he mentioned the new shipment that came yesterday——" “Indeed? Very interestin’. . And what did Dr. Bliss say about the ship- ment?” “As'I remember—I really didn't pay much attention—he told Kyle that the crates had been unpacked. and added that he wanted Kyle to inspect their contents. . . . You see, there was some doubt whether Kyle would finance another expedition. yptian gov- ernment had been somewhat snooty, and had retained most of the choicest | items for the Cairo Museum. Kyle didn’t like this, and as he had already put oodles of money in the enterprise, he was inclined to back out. No Kudos for him. you understand. . . . In fact, Kyle's attitude was the ~cause of the conference. Dr. Bliss wanted to show him the exact cost of the former excavations and try to induce him to finance a continuation of the work. . . “And the old boy refused to do it." supplemented Heath, “and then the doctor got excited and cracked him over the head with that black statue.” “You will insist that life is so simple, ant,” sighed Vance. T'd sure hate to think it was_ as complex as you can make it. Mr. Vance.” Heath’s retort came very near to_an expression of dignified sarcasm. The words were scarcely out of his | mouth when the main door was opened | quietly and a middle-aged, dark-com- | plexioned man in native Egyptian cos- tume appeared at the head of the front stairs, calm, and slowly and with great de- liberation of movement, descended into the museum. “Good morning, Mr. said, with a sardonic smile. Scarlett,” he He glanced He surveyed us with inquisitive | D. €. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18 ' 1930.° at the murdered man. “I observe that tragedy has visited this household.” “Yes, Hanl.” Scarlett spoke with a | certain condescension. “Mr. Kyle has been murdered. ‘These gentlemen"— he made a slight gesture in our di- rection—“are investigating the crime.” Hani bowed gravely. He was of me- dium height, somewhat slender, and gave one the impression of contemptu- ous aloofness. There was a racial ani- mosity in his close-set eyes. His face was relatively short—he was markedly dolichocephalic—and his straight nose had the typical rounded extremity of the true Copt. His eyes were brown— the color of his skin—and his eyebrows He wore a close-cut, semi-gray and his lips were full and sen- His head was covered by a soft a rbush bearing a pendant tassel of blue silk, and about his shoulders hung a long kaftan of red-and-white striped cotton, which fell to his ankles and barely revealed his yellow-leather babushes, He stood for a full minute looking down at Kyle's body, without any trace of repulsion or even regret. Then he lifted his head and contemplated the statue of Anubis. A queer devotional expression came over his face; and presently his lips curled in a faint sar- donic smile. After a moment he made a sweeping gesture with his left hand and, turning slowly, faced us. But his eyes Were not on us—they were fixed on some distant point far beyond the front windows 'here is no need for an investiga- tion, gentlem he said, in a sepul- chral tone. “It is the judrrnwm. of Sakhmet. For many generations the | sacred tombs of our forefathers have been violated by the treasure-seeking Occidental. But the gods of old Egypt were powerful gods and protected their children. They ve been patient. But the despoilers have gone too far. | It was time for the wrath of their| vengeance to strike. And it has struck. | | The tomb of Intef-o has been saved from the vandal. Sakhmet has nounced her judgment, just as she did wheh she slaughtered “the rebels at | Henen-ensu to protect her father, Re, nst their treason He paused and drew a deep breath. “But Anubis will never guide a sacr legious gisour to the halls of Osiris— however reverently he may plead. . . ." Both Hani's manner and his words | were impressive; and as he spoke I re- pro- | K; membered, with an unpleasant feeling, the recent tragedy of Lord Carnarvon and the strange tales of ancient sorcery that sprang up to account for his death on supernatural ‘grounds. “Quite unscientific, don’t y' know.” Vance's voice, cynical afld . drawling, brought me quickly to the world of reality. “I seriously question the abil- ity of that piece of black igneous rock to accomplish a murder unless wielded by ordin'ry human hands. . . And if you must talk tosh, Hani, we'd be tremendously obliged -if yowd do it in the privacy of your bedchamber. It's most borin’."” The FEgyptian shot him a look of hatred. “The West has much to learn from the East regarding matters of the soul,” he pronounced oracularly. “1 dare say.” Vance smiled blandly. “But the soul is not now under discus- sion. .The West, which you despise, is prone to practicability; ‘and you'd 'do well to forego the metempsychosls for the nonce’and answer a‘few questions which the district attorney would -like to_put to you.” Hani bowed his acquiescence; and Markham, taking his cigar from his mouth, fixed & stern look upon him. “Where were you all this forenoon? he asked. “In my room—upstairs, well.” “And you heard no sounds in the museum here?” “It would have been impossible for me to hear any sound in this room.” “And you saw no one enter or leave Ihe house?"” “No. My room is at the rear, and I did not leave it until a few moments ago.” KVMB? put the next questiol “Why did you leave it them? “I had work to do here in the mu- | seum,” the man replied sullenly. “But I understand you heard Dr. Bliss make an appointment with Mr. {yle for 11 this morning.” Vance was watching Hani sharply. “Did you in- tend to interrupt the conference?” “I had forgotten about the appoint- ment.” The answer did not come spon- taneou: “If I had found Dr. Bliss and Mr. Kyle in conference, 1 would have returned to my room.” “To be sure” Vance's tone held a tinge of sarcasm. “I say, Hani, what's your full name?"” I was not VIEW U.S. ECONCMIC': STATUS AS “SOUND” Engineers See Business De- pression Due to “Enthu- siastic Pessimism.” Directors of the Society of Indus- trial Engineers in session here at the Mayflower Hotel were on record as de- ditions in the United States are sound. The statement was issued following last night's session of the board. It added that “enthusiastic pessimism is raising hell with business in the United States today.” “There is no excuse,” it continued, “for mmxnum.m of the presem. slght— ‘The Egyptian hesitated, but only for a second. Then he said: “Anupu Hani” (This unusual name 1 learned later was the result of his father’s Interest in Egyptian mythology.) Vance's eyebrows went up, and there was irony in the slow smile that crept to the corners of his mouth. “‘Anupu,’” he repeated. “Most allur- in’. Anupu, I believe, was the Egyptian form of Anubis, what? You would seem to be identified with that unpleas- ant-lookin’ gentleman in the corner | with the jackal's head.” Hani compressed his thick lips and made no response. “It really doesn't matter, y' know,” Vance remarked lightly. . . “By the by, wasn't it you who placed the small statue of Sakhmet atop the cabinet yonder?" “Yes. It was unpacked yesterday.” “And was it you who drew the cur- | tain across the end cabinet: “Yes—at Dr. Bliss' request. The ob- jects in it were in great disarray. We had not yet had time to arrange them.” (To be continued.) claring that fundamental economic con- | "A—S Mnt';lxo(mhbhfl “Optimism, courageous u-a tm::pinrnred - gredients for a mm dome of c- mon sense needed by the victims of puslmmlc ‘whooping “The key log and they will buy, Business executives must take courageous action now. They must show backbone and spunk in get- ting their credit to work. They must drag the idle credit dollars from the vaults and get them back to their Jobs. Active selling, backed by in- telligent production, backed by eredit dollars will turn the pendulum the other Way." Straightening the channel of the Mis- sissipp!_River from Cairo to the Gulf at & cost of about $2.500,000,000 was proposed as a solution of the problems of flood control and navigation by Maj. Gardner S. Williams of Ann Arbor. Mich,, vice president of the counell, in_an address last night Maj. Williams asserted that the Jad- | win plan being followed by the Army | engineers contributed absolutely noth- ing to the navigability of the Missis- sippl. ‘The Jadwin plan, he added, would cost nearer a billion than the original estimate of $325,000,000. SENTENCED BY COURT By a Staff Correspondent of The Star. UPPER MARLBORO, Md, October 18.—Lee Day of Forestville, convicted by & jury of assault and battery on William Leatherer, Washington radio salesman; yesterday was sentenced by Judge Joseph C. Matlingly to four months in the House of Correction and fined $200. Charles Dustin of Laurel, convicted of a liquor law violation, was given & similar_sentence. 3 Rooms, Kitchen $65.00 The Montana 1726 M Street N.W. enough, ain't it?” “Too dashed simple, sergeant,” Vance returned quietly, contemplating the “Any one, then, might have seen it and taken it?” “Well--yes . . . (FRIDAY, JULY 13; 12:15 P.M.) 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These are only one and a half inches high, and weigh but six and a half ounces, yet they have a wide vision range, re- quiring little adjustment, Helps for a Hallowe'en Bridge Party Tallies, 35¢ dozen 1 hlack cats and pumpkins and bats very sinister looking witches, these es bring your bridge an atmosphere Hallowe’en. Centerpieces, $3 A fat pumpkin with carrot-shaped arms makes a jolly centerpiece for your table. Others, $5 and $7.50 Table Cover and Cards $3.50 A black table cover, and 2 decks of black cards, patterned to match, with striking designs in gold or silver. STATIONERY, AlsLE 2, First FLOOR We now carry a complete line of Zeiss Binoculars OprICAL SECTION, FIRST FLOOR. These Black Fabrics make the leading Black Fashions Smart Washington women are reproducing the smartest Black Fashions for themselves with these smart black silk and wool fabrics Black Silk Crepes Canton end Satin Crepes the leading day- time and efternoon fabrics—especially in black. $1.65 1o $4 Yard Black Sheer Crepes Chiffon and Roma, the important fashions for Sunday Night frocks—loveliest in black. Chiffon, $1.75 Roma, $3 Black All-Silk Velvet The velvet that makes the romantic evening gowns and luxurious evening wraps. $3.50 to $10 Yard Black Transparent Velvet A foremost fabric for Sunday Night frocks and afternoon gowns. $4 10 $9 Yard Black Astrakan and Broadtail of wool, $7.50 to $12 the yard. A Representative From Marie Earle’s Books About Bridge “Contract Bridge,” by Milton C. Work, $2 “Sane and Sound Contract Bridge,” by Mis. CC.Reene ... i 8 “Contract At a Glance,” complete in 20 pages, by Whitehead ..........$1 THE Book STORE, ArsLEs 23-25, Fmst FLOOR. Beauty Salon —will be here Monday and all next week to introduce a new line of Marie Earle prepara- tions, and show you those which will keep your skin lovely this Fall, TOLLETRIES, AISLE 16, Fmsr FLOOR. Black Coatings A crepe woollen that is exceedingly smart for coats, ensembles and su 54 inches wide. $6 Yard Black Kashmirluxa Is what its name implies—a smart kashmir fabric with a luxurious finish. 54 inches 5 $12 Yard Black Broadcloth In plain and crepe weaves for suits, coats and ensembles. 54 inches wide. $3.50 to $5.50 Yard Black Crepe Woollens Toga, a jersey crepe weave—Veld: new heavy dress woollen and sheer wool cnn $2.50 to $6.50 Yard ‘WoOLLENS, SECOND FLOOR. in "Khoklomsky“—A Secret Wood Finish Shown The Exhibition and Selling of Russian Handwork “Khoklomsky” is the secret process of enameling that finishes many of these interesting Russian utensils. They may be washed in hot, soapy water . . . there is no taste, odor, stickiness and no deterioration of the finish. October 23 is the last day to see this exhibit—after that day we cannot make exchanges or refunds on articles bought in this event. A Large Collection from 10c to $1,200 RUSSIAN EXHIBITION, SEVERTH FLOOR.