CENTRE HALL, PA.
S. S. VAN DINE
Copyright 8. 8. Van Dine
SYNOPSIS
Philo Vance, famous detective, and John
F. 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 a horse running next
day in the Rivermont handicap. Vance is
convinced that the message was sent by Dr.
Slefert, 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.
Gathered around an elaborate loud speaker
service, listening to the racing are Cecil
Kroon, Madge Weatherby and Zalla Graem,
who bet varying amounts on the race.
There is tension under the surface Ralety.
Zalia and Swift are not on speaking terms.
Kroon leaves to keep an appointment be-
fore the race starts. Miss Beeton, a nurse,
and Vance bet on "Azure Star.” Swift reck-
lessly bets $10,000 on “Equanimity” and
goes to the roof garden to hear the results.
Floyd follows Swift, remaining away sev.
eral minutes. Kroon leaves to keep an ap-
pointment before the race starts, Zalia an-
swers a telephone call in the den. A short
time after the announcement that “Azure
Star” wins, the guests hear a shot
Vance finds Swift dead, shot through the
head with a revolver nearby. He says
Swift has been murdered. After calling
the police, he finds the door of a vault ajar,
CHAPTER IV-—Continued
le
“No!” Kroon sucked in his breath
with a whistling sound, and his eyes
slowly contracted. “So he shot him-
self, did he?”
Vance'’s eyebrows went up slight-
ly.
“That’s the general impression,”
he returned blandly. “You're not
did die by a revolver shot. Super-
ficially, I admit, it looks like sui-
cide.” Vance smiled coldly. “Your
reaction is most interestin’. Why,
for instance did you assume that
he shot himself, instead of—let us
say-—jumping off the roof?”
Kroon set his mouth in a straight
line, and a look of anger came into
his narrowed eyes. He fumbled in
his pocket for a cigarette, and fi-
nally stammered:
“I don't know—exactly . . . ex-
cept that—most people shoot them-
selves nowadays.”
“Oh, quite.” Vance's lips were
still set in a stern smile. “Not an
uncommon way of assisting oneself
out of this troublous world. But,
really y'know, I didn't mention sui-
cide at all. Why do you take it for
granted that his death was self-
inflicted?”
Kroon became aggressive. ‘He
was healthy enough when I left
here. No one's going to blow a
man’s brains out in public like this.”
“Blow his brains out?” Vance re-
peated. “How do you know he
wasn’t shot through the heart?”
Kroon was now obviously flus-
tered.
“I—I merely assumed—""
Vance interrupted the man's em-
barrassment.
“However,” he said, without re-
laxing his calculating scrutiny,
“your academic conclusions regard-
ing a more or less public murder
are not without some logic. But
the fact remains, some one did actu-
ally shoot Swift through the head—
and practically in public. I could
bear to know just where you've been
and just when you returned to the
apartment house here.”
Kroon's gaze wandered.
“lI believe I remarked before I
went out,” he said, with an attempt
at serenity, “that I was going to a
relative’s to sign some silly legal
documents"
“And may I have the name and
address of your relative—an aunt,
I believe you said?” Vance re-
quested pleasantly. “I'm in charge
of the sitvation here until the offi-
cials arrive.”
Kroon took the cigarette from his
mouth with a forced air of non-
chalarce and drew himself up
haughtily.
“I cannot see,” he replied stiff-
ly, “that that information concerns
any one but myself.”
“Neither can LI" admitted Vance
cheerfully. “I was merely hopin’
for frankness. I can assure
you, in view of what has happened
here this afternoon, that the police
will want to know exactly when you
returned from your mysterious sign.
ing of documents. And now I must
ask you to join the others in the
arawing-room, and to wait there un.
til the police arrive. I trust you
have no objections.”
“None whatever, 1 assure you,”
Kroon returned with a display of
cynical amusement. “The regular
police will be a relief, after this
amateur hocus pocus.’
When Kroon had disappeared into
the drawing room, Vance went im-
mediately to the front door, opened
it quietly and, walking down the
narrow public corridor, pressed the
elevator button. A few moments
later the sliding door opened and a
dark, thin, intelligent-looking boy of
perhaps twenty-two, in a light-blue
uniform, looked out enquiringly.
“Going down?” he said respect-
y
“I'm not going down,” Vance re-
plied. “I merely wanted to ask you
a question or two. I'm more or
less connected with the district at-
torney’s office.”
“lI know you, Mr. Vance.” The
boy nodded alertly.
‘A little matter has come up this
afternoon,” Vance said, “and I
think you may be able to help me
“I'll tell you anything I know,”
agreed the boy.
“Excellent! Do you know a Mr.
Kroon who visits the Garden apart-
ment?—The gentleman is blond and
has a mustache.”
“Sure, I know him,” the boy re-
turned promptly. ‘He comes up
here nearly every afternoon. I
brought him up today.”
“About what time was that?”
“Two or three o'clock, I guess.”
The boy frowned. “Isn't he in
there?"
Vance answered the question by
asking another,
‘‘Have you been on the car all
afternoon?”
“Sure I have—since noon. I don't
get relieved till seven o'clock.”
‘““And you haven't seen Mr. Kroon
since you brought him up here early
this afternoon?”
The boy shook his head.
sir; I haven't.”
“Many thanks,” he said.
all I wanted to know."
The boy pocketed the money and
released the door as we turned
back to the apartment.
When we re-entered the front hall,
the nurse was standing in the door-
way of the bedroom at the right of
the entrance. There was a worried,
inquisitive look in her eyes.
Vance closed the door softly and
was about to start up the hall, but
he hesitated and turned toward the
girl.
“You look troubled, Miss Beeton,"”
he said kindly. “But, after all, you
should be accustomed to death.”
“I am accustomed to it," she an-
swered in a low voice. “But this is
so different. It came so suddenly
—without any warning . . . Al
though,” she added, “Mr. Swift al-
ways impressed me as morc or
less the suicidal type.”
Vance looked at the nurse ap
“Your impression may
“No,
“That's
“I Say, Stop This Nonsense,” He
Admonished Her Sternly.
have been correct,” he said. “But
it happens that Swift did not com-
mit suicide.”
The nurse's eyes opened wide. Her
face paled perceptibly.
“You mean someone shot him?"
Her words were barely audible.
“But who—who——1?""
“We don’t know.” Vance's voice
was matter-of-fact. “But we must
find that out . . Would you like
to help me, Miss Beeton?”
She drew herself up; her fea-
tures relaxed; and she was once
more the unperturbed and efficient
nurse.
“I'd be very glad to.”
“Then I would like you to stand
guard, as it were,” he said, with a
faint friendly smile. “I want to
talk 0 Mr. Garden, and I don't
want anyor.e to go upstairs. Would
you mind taking your post in this
chair and notifying me immediately
if anyone should attempt to go up?”
“That's so little to ask,” the girl
replied, as she seated herself in a
chair at the foot of the stairs.
Vance thanked her and proceeded
to the den. Inside Garden and Zalia
Graem were sitting close together
replied. ‘You may be as mysteri-
ous as you wish.”
Garden rebuked her peevishly,
‘Never mind the hauteur, Zalia.”
Then he turned to Vance, “Why
didn’t you ring the buzzer for me?
I would have come up. I purpose-
ly stayed here in the den because 1
thought you might be wanting me.”
“I did ring, don't y’ know,” Vance
told him.
“Twice, in fact. But as you didn’t
come up, I came down.”
“There was no signal here,” Gar-
den assured him. “And I've been
right here ever since I came down-
stairs.”
“I can vouch for that,” put in
Miss Graem.
“I'm dashed grateful for the cor-
roboration,” Vance murmured.
‘Are you sure you pressed the
bytton?’ Garden asked Vance. “It's
damned funny. That system hasn't
failed in six years. Wait a minute
Going to the door he called Sneed.
*‘Go upstairs to the study, Sneed,”
Garden ordered, “and push the
buzzer button.”
“The buzzer is out of order, sir,”
the butler told him imperturbably.
“I've already notified the telephone
company."
“When did you know about it?”
Garden demanded angrily.
The nurse, who had heard the con-
versation, left her chair and came
to the doorway.
“I discovered this afternoon that
the buzzer wasn't working,” she
explained; ‘so I told Sneed about it
and suggested that he notify the
telephone company.”
“Oh, I see. Thank you, Miss Bee-
ton.” Garden turned back to Vance.
‘Shall we go upstairs now?”
Miss Graem, who had been look-
ing on with a cynical and somewhat
amused expression,
the room.
“Why go upstairs?” she asked.
content right here.”
seconds, and then bowed slightly.
“Thank you,” he said. ‘““That will
be much better.”
as she strolled leisurely into the hall
and closed the door after her.
swiftly to the door,
direction.
Vance's voice was
ance.
she proclaimed spiritedly.
head in negation, his eyes holding
hers.
She returned his look, but could
come over her.
and tears sprang into them.
“But you don’t understand,”
protested, in a broken voice. “I'm
the race.
Woody would be alive now.
feel terrible about it.
to go upstairs—to see him.”
shoulder.
nothing to indicate that you're to
blame.”
Zalia Graem looked up at Vance
searchingly.
“Then what Floyd has been try-
ing to tell me is true—that Woody
didn't shoot himself?”
“Quite true,” said Vance.
The girl drew a deep breath, and
her lips trembled. She took a quick
impulsive step toward Vance, and
resting her head against his arm,
burst into tears.
Vance placed his hands on her
arms and held her away from him.
“I say, stop this nonsense,” he
admonished her sternly. “And don't
try to be so deuced clever. Run
along to the drawing room.”
Soon Mrs. Garden came through
the archway with a look of resent
ful determination, and strode ag-
gressively down the hall
“Zalia has just told me,” she
sad angrily, “that you forbade her
to go upstairs. It's an outrage! But
surely I may go up. This is my
house, remember. You have ne
right whatever to prevent me from
spending these last minutes with
my nephew."
Vance turned to confront her.
There was a pained look on his
face, but his eyes were cold and
stern.
“I have every right, madam,” he
said. *‘The situation is a most seri-
ous one, and if you will not accept
that fact, it will be necess'ry for
me to assume sufficient authority to
compel you to do so.”
The woman raised her eyebrows,
shrugged her shoulders, and, turn-
ing indifferently, went back up the
hall.
“Frightfully sorry, Vance,” apol-
ogized Garden.
“The mater is a dowager. Not ac-
AROUND I Items of Interest
he HOUSE Sted
Dust-Proofing Pictures—Has the
dust got inte your picture frame?
It should be examined periodical
ly and new brown paper backings
should be stuck on to make it
dust-proof,
celery and cheese. Or if preferred
use creamed cream cheese for
the filling after flavoring it to
taste with pepper, salt, paprika,
chopped chives or shallots and
pimiento. A touch of tomato cat
sup can also be added.
* * .
Cleaning Reed Furniture — A
stiff brush dipped in furniture poi-
ish is good for cleaning reed and
rattan furniture.
. * #*
Colorful Apples — If apples
are put in water containing a little
lemon juice a few minutes before
cooking, they will keep their color.
. . »
Oiling Household Machinery—
A little oil applied when needed
will keep household machinery
working longer and always ready
for work. You can use cooking or
salad oil to lubricate small cook-
ing equipment,
* ® »
Garbage as a Compost—Gar-
bage and vegetable matter of all
sorts buried underground will in
time rot into excellent compost
for use on lawn, garden or field.
WNU Service.
KILLS INSECTS
ON FLOWERS « FRUITS
VEGETABLES & SHRUBS
Demand original sealed
bottles, from pour dealer
Angel Cake — One cupful of |
white of eggs, one and one-quarter |
cupfuls of granulated sugar. One
cupful of flour, One-half teaspoon
cream of tartar. A pinch of salt
added to whites before whipping;
flavor to taste. Cook in a very
slow oven. Yolks of the eggs may
be used for mayonnaise.
* . *
The Hardened
Justice must tame whom mercy
Date Pie—Two cups milk, half | cannot win.—Saville.
HEADACHE
due to constipation
Relieve the cause of the trom
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BLACK-DRAUGHT
A GOOD LAXATIVE
CLASSIFIED
IAF Vy e iA
SEEDS
FOR BALE PEAS
Mixed $205, New Eras
Bra Mixed $2.15
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KENNEDY
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= « WILLISTON,
pound dates, two eggs, one-quar-
How CARDUI
Helps Women
Cardul Is a purely vegetable medi-
and salt. Line pie plate with paste, | cine. found by many women to ease
nlso helps to strengthen women, who
heat afterwards.
2 | Ishment, by increasing their appetite
Stuffed Celery—Prepare inner! and Improving their digestion. Many
the
ance obtained by taking Cardul, If
you have never taken Cardul, get a
bottle of Cardul at the nearest drug
store, read the directions and try it.
Rocque- |
and cream cheese, mashed
smooth with paprika, and]
side by side on a boat-|
in place of
till
EMPLOYMENT
WANTED —Amateur-Professional Singers,
dancers, musicians, all kinds of entertain-
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BOX 633 = = = « JORNETOWN, PA.
FLOWERS
Gladiolus—Selected large healthy bulbs, 8
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ardy $1 postpaid. Catalog free, Bichziad
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INSTRUCTION
STUDY AT HOME. BE A HOTEL CHEF,
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