Evening Star Newspaper, October 30, 1930, Page 48

The Scarab er Case By S. S. Van Dine Gopyright, 1930, by 8. 8. Ven Dine. | =S 1 | He broke off, as if he did not quite lare to articulate his thought. “Yes, T believe this crime was merely a means to an end.” Vn:meedremmrd. “Its real object, I'm convinced, was to Bliss brought him to Amer-|nvolve an innocent person, and thus fea 5ol use Meryt in- | y sisted on it. T think he belleves Hani| vasiy, ‘e, Siate, clean of several an is spying on him for the Egyptian gov-| " Markham stood stock-still for several “Is 1t entirely unlikely?” Vance put| **S"(Riny 1 see what you mean.” he| the question offhandedly. | nodded. “It's possible, of course.” | “Really, Vance,.I can't answer that.” | He walked up the museum and back Scarlett suddenly leaned forward and again, his head clouded in cigar smoke. his features became tense. “But Il tell | “See here"—he stood looking grimly | Jou, this: Meryt is incapable of any | down at Vance—“I want to ask you a damental disloyalty to her husband. |question. I recall your asking Salveter Even though she may think she made a | for a pencil. . . . What make of pen- | mistake in marrying Dr. Bliss—who's|cil was used for that ‘upright’ which | much older than she is and completely | you found on top of the end cabinet? | absorbed in his work—she'd stand by | Was it a Mongol No. 17" her bargain . B like & thoroughbred. | “Vance shook his head. “Ah. . . . just so.” Vance nodded| «No. It was not a Mongol. | RNty and) seiscted s Tegle TrOm BiK | mam i N e, T ey case. “And that brings me to & mOst|jeaq than the No. 1 Mongol, which is | delicate question. . . : Do you think |yvay soft. . . . ¥* know Mongols and that Mrs. Bliss has any—what shall I g} j-noors look exactly alike; they're say?—interests outside of her hus- band? That is, aside from Dr. Bliss' both hexagonal and yellow. The Koh. lifework, is it possible that her more noor is made by Hardtmuth in Czecho- | Utework, 18 1t e Holved olse: |flovakia. one of the oldest firms in Eu- | where?” rope. Originally the Koh-i-noors were | began | Austrian pencils, but after the World | Scarlett got to his feet and began ywar the old Austrian Empire was di- . vided—" ally, Vance . Dash it “Never mind the kindergarten lesson | E :}u:m:);' no “l{‘,;‘“‘n:‘:“u}:e in_history.” Markham's face became such & question. . - . Im RO Sue:|suddenly overcast. So it wasnt a Mon such things; it's not cone—really it fsn't, cld man. . . . You put me in a most embarrassing position. . . gol that was used in the death| trap »" He came closer to Vance, (Scarlett’s predicament roused my sy pathy.) . “Another question—and all your gar- rulrusness about the Austrian successer states ean't divert me: What make of pencil were those you lnoked at on Dr. “Neither is murder done in the best |Bliss' cesk in the study?” circles,” returned Vance equably. Vance sighed. “We're dealin’ with & most unusual sit- | “I feared you'd ask that question uation. And somebody translated Kyle And, v’ know, I'm almost afraid to tell from this world into the hereafter in & & very distressin’ fashion. . . . But since | your sensitivities are so deuced lacerated, Tl withdraw the question.” He smiled u're so impulsive. . . . kham glowered with exasperation | disarmingly. “You're not entirely im-| pervious to the la charms yourself— M and started toward Bliss’ study. eh, what, Scarlett?” ‘The man whirled about and glared at Vance ferociously. Before he could an- swer, Vance stood up and looked him steadily in the eyes. “A man has been murdered,” he said quietly, “and & devilish plot has been; introduced into that murder. Another | human life is at stake. And I'm h!re' INSTALLMENT XVIIL never been any lnve;d between the doctor and Hani,” Scarlett remarked evasively. 3 m- *Oh, it won't be necess'ry for you tos trudge up the spiral stairs,” called after him. “T'll tell . ... e Koh-i-noors.” —are vou goin’ to let that o before fact influence Th-re was a slight pause Markham answered. | “No. . . . After all, the pencil is not a particularly convincing plece of to find out who concocted this hideous scheme and to save an innocent per- gon from the electric chair. Therefore, I'm not going to let any squeamish conventional taboos stand in my way.”, His voice softened somewhat. ciate your reticence. Under o: cumstances it would be most admirable. But just now it's' rather silly.” Scarlett met Vance's gaze squarely, and after a few seconds he sat down ain. “You're quite right, old man,” he ac- quiesced, in a low voice. “Tll tell you | anything you want to know.® Vance ~nodded - indifferently smoked for a while. “I think you've told me everything, he said finally. “But we may call on /| you later. . . . ll;zdé?: ast Aunch:l time. Suppose you ong_home. Scarlett drew a de=p sigh of relief and got to his feet. “Thanks awfully.” And without an- other word he went out. Heath followed him and we could hear him giving instructicns to Snit- kin to let Scarlett leave the hou “Well.” said Markam to Vance, when the sergeant had returned, “how has Scarlett’s information helped you? I can’t see that it has th;gr‘n any very dassling light on our problem.” | “H;‘W‘?fl!" Vance shook his. head commiserating incredulity. “Scar- | and Dept. stores—only 35¢ box. has put us infinitely forrader. He e mostre ’. We now have a def- o ' Pt Toundation on which to stand when | D,. ,schOII K} we chivy the members of the house- o i - LINno~padas “I'm glad you Leel 80 dc'%nnge.x;‘t‘:e' ’ Markham rose and regar | e Yl sternly. “You can't really beli n S Penv.on: the # pain is gone. SAFE INSTANT RELIEF | Aching corns, sore toes, pain- " | ful callouses, tender bunions —these troublesome foot aile ments are relieved in_on minute by Dr. Scholl’s Zino- pads. L ‘Their soothing, healing med- ication gives you this quick re= liet. At the same time they cushion th pot—remove the cause ~fi d pressure of shoes. Zino-pads are absolutely safe, sure. Doctors recommend t ial sizes for each nts. At Drug, Shoe and Ridiculously Low Pricesto Clean Up el a much harder |, Ll Iy NN DLAK, evidence, especially as every one had access to the study.” Vance grinned and looked puckish. “Such broadmindedness in a district attorney is positively amazin',” he said. (FRIDAY, JULY 13, 2:45 P.M.) Markham resumed his seat. He was far too dismayed to resent Vance's good-natured irony. The murder of Kyle, which at first had appeared so straightforward and simple, was be- coming more ani more involved. Subtle !end terrible_ undercurrents were begin- ning to make themselves felt: and it was now clear to every one, I think, that the crime, instead of being a mere brutal braining, was a sinister factor in a_deep, ramified plot. Even Heath had at last begun to sense the hidden sig- ' | nifications of the obvious clues to which he had at first pinned his hope for a speedy solution. ““Yes,” he admitted, his cigar bobbing up and down between his thin lips, “that pencil dont mean anything in particular. . This case—as you'd say, Mr. Vance-is getting a bit thick. Nobody with a brain is going to smear the whole works with clues pointing to mself, if he's guilty.” He frowned at Markham. “What about that opium in the coffee, chief?” Markham pursed his lips. “I was just thinking about that. And it might be advisable to try to find out | at once who could have drugged Bliss. What's your opinion, Vance?” “A ' corsuactin’ idea.” Vance was smoking thoughtfully. “It's most es- sential to know who could have put the sleepin’ powder in the doctor’s coffee, for there's no doubt that the person who did it is the one who sent Kvle on his long pilgrimage. In fact, the key to the whole plot lies in the question of who had the opportunity to meddle with_that_cup of coffee.” —_— Quick, Sure Relief for BILIOUSNESS SLUGGISHNESS CONSTIPATION Take one tonight Make tomorrow\\ I PPRBRIGHT ™ ascarets “THEY WORK i WHILE YOU SLEEP' CORNS CALLOUSES-BUNIONS - Don’t experiment! Using harsh tiguids or plasters or cutting your corns or callouses is dangerous. FRIDAY ONLY! Every Itém a Rare Bargain = AllOdds & Ends, Floor Samples and Slightly Marred Furniture. (1) $35 Chaise Lounge in figured denim (2) $25 Extension Davenport Tables, mahogany finish (28) $1 Boudoir Lamps, metal bases 8198 3-Pc. Mohair Suite $185 2-Pc. Tapestry Suite . (11) Floor Lamp Bases, marred and damaged (€] 1) 3) 1) @y (6) 2) (¢} $59 Denim Upholstered Sofa.. 898 4-Pc. Bed Room Suite, walnut veneered $49 Odd Vanity Dressers in walnut $159 10-Pc. Dining Room 8135 7-Pc. 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The man was palpably in a state of fright; his face was very pale, and he held his bands tightly ‘clinched. He approached us unsteadily, but bowed with instinctive correctness and stood quite erect, like a well trained servant waiting for orders. “Sit down and relax, Brush.” Vance busied himself with lighting a frash ci- garette. “I can't blame you for being wrought up, don't y' know. A most tryin’ situation. If you'll try to be calm you can help us. . I say, stop fdgetin'! . . . “Yes, sir.” The man sat down on the edge of & chair, and gripped his knees tensely with his hands. ““Very good, sir. But I'm very much upset. I've been in the employ of gentlemen for 15 years, and never before——" “Oh, quite. I fully sympathize with your predicament.” Vance smiled pleas- =1 AR PIVPLES || ON CHEST Back and Shoulders. Cuticura Healed. l.lll:r-d:ul: tr:ubhd with - ples for the las: few years. wmhnrdmnflunkwd-y‘wmlg get red and festered. After that they would break and then scale over. They were on my chest back and shoulders. The breaking out caused, grea: discomfort and the irritation caused me to scratch until they would bleed "I began using Cuticura Soap and Ointment and got good results, and after using two cakes ot Cuti- cura Soap and one box of Cuticura. Ointmen I was healed.” Signed) Chas. C Kichak 543 N. 7sh St., Phila Pa. Give Cuticura Soap and Oint- ment the care of your skin. Ointment 2 and &e. Taleum 2be. Bold Soap 2e o e ADlS pemy T e A D, U, 1RUKDUAY, antly. “Emergencies do arise, though. And this may be your great opportunity to enlarge your field of activities. The fact is, Brush, you may be able to lead us to the truth concerning this unfor- tunate affair.” “I hope 80, sir.” The butler had per- ceptibly calmed down under Vance's casual attitude. “Tell us, then, about the breakfast arrangements in the house?” Vance. with Markham's tacit consent, ass the role of interrogator. ‘“Where does the family indulge in its morning coffee?” “In the breakfast room downstairs.” Brush was now controlling himself ad- mirably. “There's a small room at the front of the house in the basement which Mrs. Bliss had decorated in Egyp- tian style. Only luncheon and dinner Il’!‘l served in the main dining room up- stairs.” “Ah! And does the family break its | fast_together?” “Generally, sir. I call every one at 8; and at 8:30 breakfast is served.” “And just who appears at this un- earthly hour?” | “Dr. and Mrs. Bliss and Sylvester— and Mr. Hanl.” FINE TRAINS DAILY LEAVE VL Lusi 30, 195V, Vance's eyebrows went up slightly. “Does Hani eat with the family?" “Oh, no, sir.” Brush seemed per- plexed. “I dont exactly understand Mr. Hani's status—if you know what I mean, sir. He is treated by Dr. Bliss as a servant, and yet he calls the mis- tress by her first name. . . . He has his meals in an alcove off the kitchen- he will not eat with me and Dingle.” There was & certain resentment in his tone. Vance sought to console him. “Mani, you must realize, is a very old retainer of Mrs. Bliss’s family—and he is also dn official of the Egyptian gov- ernment. . . .’ “Oh, the arrangement suits Dingle and me perfectly, sir,” was the evasive answer. Vance did not pursue the subject, but asked: “Does Mr. Scarlett ever breakfast with the Blisses?"” “Quite often, sir—especially when there's work to be done in the museum.” “Did he come this morning?” “No, sir.” “Then, if Hani was in his room all the morning and Dr. Bliss was in his study, Mrs. Bliss and Mr. Salvator Florida WASHINGTON 9:05 A.M. 2:20 P.M. 11:59 P.M. Smooth Roadbed—Speed—Comfort—Safety _ Reduced rate round trip Winter tourist tickets now on sale daily. Special low rate round trip excursion fare Nov. 15, Dec. 13 and 27, 1930, Mar. 14 and April 4, 1931. Reduced rate one-way coach fares Oct. 15 to Nov. 30 and certain dates thereafter. Wri our money-saving optional route solve your travel problems. for_full information about these Travel Bargains and privileges in Florida. Let us GEO. W. VIERBUCHEN District Passenger Agent Telephone National 0637 eab AIR LIN S 714 14th Street N.W. Washington, D. C. TRAVEL BY TRAIN oar E RAILW 4 Iownmlnlnm.mm.hdrml and Mr. Salvator a few minutes later. e A s The doctor had told me at 8 o'clock on Cotton Deliveries Trebled. the way to the study that he had work | NEW ORLEANS, la., October 30 to do and the others should not watt | Y —pamuel Bass, genersl of for him.” rative Association sald Tuesday “And who informed you of Hani’s in- ‘ that indicated deliveries of cotton to disposition?” the association treble last year's figures, “Mr. Salvator, sir. He told me that | Already twice as much cotton as last Mr. Hani had asked him to tell me he | year has been delivered. He sald the wouldn't be down for breakfast. . . .| association has so far received. about Their rooms, you see, face each other | 1,280,000 bales. An increase in sales on the third floor, and I have noticed | inquiries has been reported. 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