S.S. VAN DINE |
Copyright S. 8. Van Dine
WNU Service
by
=
SYNOPSIS
Philo Vance, famous detective, and John
¥. X. Markham, district attorney for New
York county are dining in Vance's apart
ment when Vance receives an anonymous
telephone message Informing him of a “dis-
turbing psychological tension at Professor
Ephriam Garden's apartment” advising
that he read up on radio-active sodium,
consult a passage in the Aeneid and coun-
seling that “Equanimity is essential.” Pro-
fessor Garden is famous in chemical re-
search. The message, decoded by Vance,
reminds him that Professor Garden's son
Floyd and his puny cousin, Woode Swift,
are addicted to horse-racing. Vance says
that “Equanimity’’ is ahorse running next
day in the Rivermont handicap. Vance is
convinced that the message was sent by Dr.
Siefert, the Gardens’ family physician. He
arranges to have lunch next day at the
Gardens’ penthouse. Vance is greeted by
Floyd Garden and meets Lowe Hammle, an
elderly follower of horse racing. Floyd ex-
presses concern over Swift's queer actions.
Mrs. Garden, supposedly ill, comes down-
stairs and places a $100 bet on a horse.
CHAPTER II—Continued
pl
“Right-o, Baby - face,” grinned
Garden. ‘Step into our parlor.”
She started forward, and hesitat-
ed momentarily as she caught sight
of Vance and me.
“Oh, by the way, Zalia,”’—Garden
put the receiver down and rose—
“let me present Mr. Vance and Mr.
Van Dine . . . Miss Graem.”
The girl staggered back dramat-
ically and lifted her hands to her
head in mock panic.
“Oh, Heaven protect me!” she
exclaimed. “Philo Vance, the de-
tective! Is this a raid?”
Vance bowed graciously.
“Have no fear, Miss Graem,” he
smiled. “I'm merely a fellow crim-
inal. And, as you see, I'm drag-
ging Mr. Van Dine along the down-
ward path with me.”
At this moment Garden pressed
forward the key on the switch box,
and in a moment the voice we had
heard earlier was again coming
through the amplifier.
“Coming out at Rivermont, and
here's the new line: 20, 6, 4, 8 to 5
scratch twice, 3, 20, 15, 10, 15. . .
Who was it wanted the run-down at
Texas—1?"
Garden cut the amplifier.
He turned to his cousin.
you, Woody?"
Swift shook his head.
race.”
“Saving it all for
eh? Right-o.”
Despite the superficial buoyancy
of the gathering, I could detect an
undercurrent of extreme tension
and expectancy; and I made men-
tal note of various little occurrences
during the first hour or so.
One incident connected with Swift
puzzled me greatly. I had noticed
that he and Zalia Graem had not
spoken to each other during the
entire time they had been in the
drawing - room. Once they had
brushed against each other near
Garden's table, and each, as if in- |
stinctively, had drawn resentfully to
one side. Garden had cocked his |
head at them irritably and said:
“Aren't you two on speaking |
terms yet—or is this feud to be per- |
manent? . . Why don't you kiss
and make up and let the gaiety
of the party be unanimous?”’
Miss Graem had proceeded as if
nothing had happened, and Swift
had merely given his cousin a
quick, indignant glance.
“And
‘Not this
Equanimity,
CHAPTER Il
“The great moment approaches!”
Garden announced, and though he
spoke with sententious gaiety, I
could detect signs of strain in his
manner,
Kroon rose, finished the drink
which stood on the table before him,
and dabbing his msuth with a neat-
ly folded handkerchief which he took
from his breast pocket, he moved
toward the archway.
“My mind was made up yester-
day.” He spoke across the room,
as if including every one. “Put me
down in your fateful little book for
$100 on Hyjinx to win and $200 on
the same filly to place. And you
can add $200 on Head Start to show.
Making it, all told, half a grand.
That's my contribution to the after-
nocn's festivities.”
“Not deserting us, are you Cecil?"
Garden called after him.
“Frightfully sorry,” Kroon an-
swered, looking back. “I'd love to
stay for the race, but a legal con-
ference at a maiden aunt's is sched-
uled for 4:50.” He waved his hand
and, with a “"Cheerio,”” continued
down the hall.
Madge Weatherby immediately
picked up her cards and moved to
Zalia Graem's table, where the two
women began a low, whispered con-
versation.
Garden's inquiring glance moved
from one to another of the party.
At this moment a young woman
of unusual attractiveness appeared
in the archway and stood there hes-
itantly, looking shyly at Garden.
She wore a nurse's uniform of im-
maculate white, with white shoes
and stockings, and a starched white
cap set at a grotesque angle on
the back of her head. She could not
have been over thirty; yet there was
a maturity in k2r calm, brown eyes,
and evidence of great capability in
to the two other women in the room.
“Hello, Miss Beeton,” Garden
greeted her pleasantly. ‘I thought
you'd be having the afternoon off,
since the mater's well enough to go
shopping . . What can I do for
you? Care to join the madhouse and
hear the races?”
“Oh, no. I've too many things to
do.” She moved her head slightly
to indicate the rear of the house.
“But if you don't mind, Mr. Gar-
den,” she added timidly, “I would
like to bet two dollars on Azure
Star to win, and to come in second,
and to come in third.”
Every one smiled covertly, and
Garden chuckled.
Vance, who had been watching
the girl with more interest than he
usually showed in a woman, leaned
forward.
“I say, Garden, just a moment.”
He spoke incisively. ‘I think Miss
Beeton's choice is an excellent one
—however she may have arrived
at it.”” Then he nodded to the nurse.
“Miss Beeton, I'll be very happy to
see that your bet on Azure Star is
placed.” He turned again to Gar-
den. “Will your book-maker take
$200 across the board on Azure
Star?"
“Will he? He'll grab it with both
hands,”” Garden replied. “But
why—1"
“Then
quickly.
said Vance
And two
it's settled,”
‘““That’s my bet.
The Two Women Began a Low,
Whispered Conversation.
dollars of it in each position be-
longs to Miss Beeton.”
‘““That’'s perfect with me, Vance.”
And Garden jotted down the wager
in his ledger.
I noticed that during the brief
moments that Vance was speaking
to the nurse and placing his wager
on Azure Star, Swift was glowering
at him through half-closed eyes. It
was not until later that I under.
The nurse cast a quick glance at
Swift, and then spoke with sim-
ple directness.
“You are very kind, Mr. Vance."
Then she added: “I will not pretend
I don’t know who you are, even if
Mr. Garden had not called you by
name.” She stood looking straight
at Vance with calm appraisal;
then she turned and went back down
the hall
Swift stood up and walked to the
cabinet with its array of bottles. He
filled a whiskey glass with Bourbon
and drank it down. Then he walked
slowly to the table where his cousin
sat. Garden had just finished the
call to Hannix.
“I'll give you my bet now, Floyd,”
Swift said hoarsely. He pressed one
finger on the table, as if for empha-
sis. “I want $10,000 on Equanimity
to win.”
Garden's eyes moved anxiously
to the other.
“lI was afraid of that, Woody,”
he said in a troubled tone. ‘But
if I were you—"
“I'm not asking you for advice,”
Swift interrupted in a cold steady
voice; “I'm asking you to place a
bet.”
Garden did not take his eyes from
the man's face. He said merely:
“1 think you're a damned fool.”
“Your opinion of me doesn’t in-
terest me either.” Swift's eyelids
drooped menacingly, and a hard
look came into his set face.
Garden capitulated.
“It’s your funeral,” he said, and
turning his back on his cousin, he
took up the gray hand set again
and spun the dial with determina-
tion.
Swift walked back to the bar and
poured himself another generous
drink of Bourbon.
“Hello, Hannix," Garden said into
the transmitter. “I'm back again,
with an additional bet. Hold on to
your chair or you'll lose your bal-
ance. I want ten grand on Equanim-
ity to win . . . Yes, that's what I
ten G-strings—ten thousand
iron men. Can you handle it? Odds
probably won't be over two to one
. . « Righto."
He replaced the receiver and tilt
ed back in his chair just as Swift,
headed for the hall, was passing
him.
Woody. 1 want to say a word to
you.” And he stepped after him.
1 saw Garden put his arm around
Swift's shoulder as the two dis-
appeared down the hall,
When Garden returned to the
room his face was a trifle pale, and
his eyes were downcast. As he ap-
proached our table he shook his
head dejectedly.
“I tried to argue with him,” he
remarked to Vance. “But it was
no use; he wouldn't listen to reason.
He turned nasty . . . Poor devil!
If Equanimity doesn’t come in he’s
done for.” He looked directly at
Vance. ‘I wonder if I did the right
thing in placing that bet for him.
But, after all, he’s of age.”
A bell rang somewhere in the
apartment, and a few moments lat-
er Sneed appeared in the archway.
“Pardon me, sir,” he said to Gar-
den, “but Miss Graem is wanted on
the other telephone.”
Zalia Graem stood up quickly and
raised one hand to her forehead in
a gesture of dismay.
“Who on earth or in the waters
under the earth can that be?’ Her
face cleared. ‘Oh, I know.” Then
she stepped up to Sneed. “I'll take
the call in the den.” And she hur-
ried from the room.
Garden a few moments later
turned in his chair and announced:
“They're coming out at River-
mont. Say your prayers, children
"
As the radio tubes warmed up,
McElroy's well-known voice gained
in volume over the loud speaker:
«“ _. . and Equanimity is now
making trouble at the post. Took the
cue from Head Start Now
it looks as if we might get a—Yes!
They're off! And to a good even
start.
Heat Lightning is close behind. The
others are bunched.
from the other yet. Wait a second.
Hyjinx on top now, by two lengths;
and behind her is Train Time; and—
yes, it's Sublimate, by a head, or
a nose, or a neck—it doesn't mat-
ter—it's Sublimate anyway.
there's Risky Lad creeping up on
Sublimate . . . And now they're go-
ing round the fist turn, with Hyjinx
still in the lead. The relative posi-
tions of the ones out front haven't
changed yet They're in the
back stretch, and Hyjinx is still
ahead by half a length; Train Time
has moved up and holds his second
position by a length and a hall
ahead of Roving Flirt, who's in
third place.
behind Roving Flirt,
is pocketed.”
Equanimity
Zalia Graem appeared suddenly in
the archway and stood with her eyes
fixed on the radio, her hands sunk
mous stride. Hyjinx has dropped
back and Roving Flirt has taken
the lead by a head,
Time second, by a length, in front
of Azure Star, who is running third
and making a grand effort
And now they're in the stretch.
Azure Star has come to the front
and is a full length in the lead.
Train Time is making a great bid
for this classic and is still in sec-
ond place, a length behind Azure
Star. Roving Flirt is right behind
it looks as if she was no longer a
serious contender. Equanimity is
pressing hard and is now in sixth
place. He hasn't much time, but
he's running a beautiful race and
may come up front yet.
won't be much change.
ond, Here theycome .. .and. ..
lengths. Next is Roving Flirt. And
Upper Shelf finished fourth . . .”
“Not such a hot race,” Miss
Graem remarked with a toss of
her head.
even .
my phone call.”
back down the hall.
Garden seemed ill at ease and,
for the second time that afternoon,
mixed himself a highball.
Just then Mrs. Garden bustled
into the room.
“Don’t tell me I'm too late!” she
pleaded excitedly.
“All over but the O. K., mater,”
Garden informed her.
“And what did I do?” The wom-
an came forward and dropped
wearily into an empty chair.
“The usual,” grinned Garden. “A
Grand Score? Your noble steed
didn’t score at all. Condolences.
But it's not official yet. We'll be
getting the O. K. in a minute now.”
“Oh, dear!” sighed Mrs. Garden
despondently.
“Well,” said Garden, ‘““Mr. Vance,
the eminent dopester of crimes and
ponies, can now take a luxurious
vacation. He's the possessor of
thirty-six hundred and forty dollars
—of which thirty-six dollars and
forty cents goes to our dear nurse
. . . And Woode, of course . . ."”
His voice trailed off.
“What did Woody do?" demanded
Mrs. Garden, sitting up stiffly in
her chair.
“I'm frightfully sorry, mater,” —
her son groped for words—"but
Woody didn’t use his head. I tried
tc dissuade him, but it was no
io...
“Well, what did Woody do?" per-
sisted Mrs. Garden.
Garden hesitated, and before he
could formulate an answer, a par:
sound, like a pistol sl»
broke the tense silence.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
les
ap “
(A
COMMON PRACTICE
They were a couple of lads from
the ““upper crust,” making an At
lantic crossing on the same liner,
but they hadn't been introduced.
Consequently, when the ship sank
and they found themselves swim-
ming together, neither spoke for
several miles.
Finally one of them coughed ten-
tatively. ‘“‘Er-—beg pahdon,” he be-
you?”
“What can I do for you?”
“Well, I'd appreciate it awfully if
you'd direct me toward New York.”
~Washington Post.
THE HABIT
“Do you think our boy wil leave
“He'd leave ‘em anywhere. Just
A dear old lady entered a shop
and . aid, “I want one of those water
The shopkeeper, however, had
only plain bowls in stock, and ex.
pressed his regret at being unable
to meet her wishes.
The old lady, on second thought,
agreed to accept a plain bowl, re
marking, “After all, the puppies are
Inquirer.
Just a Call
Actor—What about the salary?
Manager—Suppose we call it $250
Actor—All right.
Manager—Of course you under-
Turn About
Pamela-—Isn’'t Spot a naughty dog,
mummy? He ate my doll's slipper.
Mother—Yes, darling. He ought to
be punished!
Pamela—I did punish him. I went
straight to the kennel and drank his
milk.
What Price Art?
Motorist—1 will give you $5 for
that picture.
Artist—Won't
have finished it?
Motorist—No, I want the canvas
to mend a puncture.
you wait until I
Dread of the Future
“What day in human history
caused the greatest woe and anxi-
“Speaking off-hand,’”" said the
philosophical student, “I would say
Naturally
Niece—They say there are more
blondes than bru
Why is that?
Bachelor Uncle—~H'm! Naturally
DEBTS INCLUDED
“We don’t meet people who be-
long to the Don’t Worry Clubs these
days.”
‘No, the tendency today is to be-
long to Don’t Hurry Clubs.”
Initiative Not Required
“It is always a mistake to start
a quarrel,” remarked the cautious
friend.
“You don't have to start quarrels
ghum. “You can always find one
ready made whenever you feel like
mixing in.”
Cool Job
Where did Tony learn to swim
so wonderfully?
He used to be a traffic cop in
Venice.—The Automobilist.
Ball
“That new farm-hand is terribly
dumb.”
“How’s that?”
“He found some milk bottles in
the grass and insisted he had found
a cow's nest.” —U. 8. Coast Guard.
On the Right Path
Moe-—My ambition is to be a t
doctor. I want te become a
specialist.
Rose Well, have a head
tor BoB'nal Brith Magatime:
Jee de dee dee de dee dee de ede dee
STAR
DUST
Movie + Radio
*%% By VIRGINIA VALE k&k
PICTURE that will endear
itself to every dog lover in
the world and every humani-
tarian, based on that heart-
warming institution known as
“The Seeing Eye,” is planned
by Warner Brothers. As you
probably know,
22 20 20 24 2 2 2 26 2 2 2 2
22222222 22 2s
dogs to lead blind men.
panions, ‘‘The Seeing Eye'' has
completely changed the
The dogs lead their men through
but better even than that, provide
understanding companionship.
tn
Far away in Boston making per-
sonal appearances, the Ritz Broth-
ers heard that the
Twentieth Century-
Fox studio planned
to separate them,
putting brother Jim
into “Last Year's
Kisses’ with Alice
Faye, Tony Martin,
Don Ameche and
others. They com-
plained by tele-
gram, they howled
over long - distance
telephone, they ob-
jected with such
embittered frenzy that the studio
had to give in. All three Ritz Broth-
ers will appear in the picture. The
appearance of Alice Faye with the
boys should add to the fun of the
picture.
4
Alice Faye
-
Gertrude Niesen's first song num-
ber in “Top of the Town" is “Where
Are You,” her lucky number. Jimmy
MeHugh and Harold Adamson
wrote it for her three years ago, to
use when auditioning for a big com-
mercial radio program. She got the
job. Last fall while in Hollywood
for a vacation after a strenuous
stretch on the radio, she sang it at
a party and was immediately of-
fered a screen contract by produc
ers present,
sands
While producers of “Gone With
the Wind'' are still arguing over
who should play the leading roles,
Paramount is stealing a march on
them. They have bought a story
called “Gettysburg’ which has the
same setting and similar characters
and are putting it into production at
once.
males
As a fitting salute to Spring, War-
ner Brothers have released ‘‘The
King and the Chorus Girl" and Unit-
ed Artists have put out “History Is
Made at Night.” They are both
giddy and romantic and have set
everyone to arguing over who is
the greater matinee idol, Fernand
Gravet or Charles Boyer.
both grand romantic heroes. “The
King and the Chorus Girl" is some-
it is a Warner Brothers
interrupt the gaiety. And “History
Is Made at Night” is completely
baffling because it mixes spectacu-
lar scenes and grim tragedy with
farcical situations.
ln
Talent scouts from the motion-
picture studios are suspected of do-
ing their hunting
nowadays in nurser-
jes, for suddenly all
Hollywood is in a
dither over child
prodigies. If
the
before she started
work for Metro-
Goldwyn - Mayer,
Bing Croshy you may have mar-
veled at her talent. She is prac-
tically middle-aged, though, com-
pared to their newest discovery, for
the new contract player is Suzanne
Larson, aged ten, who will be fea-
tured in a musical, “B Above High
C” which gives you an idea of her
voice range.
ODDS AND.ENDS . . . Freddie Barthol-
Nis Sediime 10 08
My Favorite
By
Helen
Twelvetrees
Creamed Eggs With Chili
and Rice
To two cupfuls of well-seasoned
medium white sauce add one tea-
spoonful chili powder and six
hard-cooked eggs, cut in quarters.
Meanwhile, cook one cupful of
rice, season it to suit the taste
platter. Pour the egg mixture into
the center. Serves six.
Copyright. WH Bervics,
m
A Reminder
“Well, dear,” said B.air after
tea had been cleared away,
“what are you planning tc do to-
night?”
Mrs. Blair shrugged her shoul-
ders.
“Nothing special,” she replied.
“I'll probably write a letter or
two, read, listen to the wireless,
and so on.”
“1 see,” he replied. “And when
you come to the ‘so on,’ don't for-
get my shirt buttons.”
SMART FELLER
Teacher—Now
afe as long
lay School
Samson was s
key to his
How Could It Be?
“Yes, sir, these are the ruins of
a building that was in existence
2.500 years ago,” declared the
guide
“What rubbish!” one member
of the tourist party answered.
“Why, it's only 1837 now."
"
And So He Did
Judge—Why did you steal the
woman's carpet?
Tramp—I did not steal it.
Judge—She says you stole it.
Tramp—She said, “Take that
carpet and beat it.”
Te ——
TRADE MARK REG.
biliousness, sour stomach,
bilious indigestion, flatu.
lence and headache, due
to constipation.
10c and 25¢ at dealers
Hasten Early
Hasten in the morning so that
by evening thy work for the day
be accomplished.
FROM GIRL TO WOMAN
Mm J. A Hagler of
17582 Wilkinson St, Char
lotte, N. C., said: “1 owe
much to Dr. Pierce's Fae
vorite Prescription for
help #t gave me when 1
was just a girl 1 would
have a great deal of suf
fering, due to minor fume
tional disturbances. My mother had me take
Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription and its
tonic effects proved to be what I necded
stimulate my appetite and to relieve my
disturbances,
astronomy.
It rests my mind
somehow
To think about those
far-off worlds —
Our owns so mussed