GARDEN MURDER CASE by S. S. VAN DINE Copyright S. S. Van Dine WNU Service CHAPTER VI—Continued sree] ree “Yes, yes. So I understand. And I want to hear more about this af- fair.” The tension in his voice was patent. “Floyd told me that Woode's death had all the appearance of sui- cide, but that you do not accept that conclusion. Would it be asking too much if I requested further de- tails with regard to your attitude in this respect?” “There can be no doubt, sir,” Vance returned quietly, ‘that your aephew was murdered. There are too many indications that contra- dict the theory of suicide. But it would be inadvisable, as well as unnecess'ry, to go into details at the moment. Our investigation has just begun. By the by, doctor, may I ask what detained you this after- noon?—I gathered from your son that you usually return home long before this time on Saturdays.” “Of course, you may,” the man replied with seeming frankness: but there was a startled look in his eyes as he gazed at Vance. “I had some obscure data to look up before I could continue with an ex- periment I'm making; and I thought today would be an excellent time to do it, since I close the laboratory and let my assistants go on Satur- day afternoons.” “And where were you, doctor,” Vance went on, ‘between the time you left the laborat'ry and the time of your arrival here?” “To be quite specific,” Professor Garden answered, “I left the uni- versity at about two and went to the public library where I remained until half an hour ago. Then I took a cab and came directly home.” “You went to the library alone?” asked Vance. “Naturally I went alone,” the pro- fessor answered tartly, “I don’t take assistants with me when I have research work to do.” “My dear doctor!” said Vance placatingly. *'A serious crime has been committed in your home, and it is essential that we know-—as a matter of routine—the whereabouts of the various persons in any way connected with the unfortunate situ- ation.” “l see what you mean.” “l am glad you appreciate our difficulties,” Vance said, “and 1 trust you will be equally consid- erate when I ask you just what was your nephew?’ The man turned slowly and leaned against the broad sill. “We were very close,” ment, regarded Woode almost as a son, since his parents died. He was not a strong person morally, and he needed both spiritual and material assistance. Perhaps because of this fundamental weakness in his na- ture, we have been more lenient with him than with our own son.” CHAPTER VII Vance nodded with understanding. “That being the case, I presume that you and Mrs. Garden have pro- vided for young Swift in your wills.” “That is true,” Professor Gar- den answered after a slight pause, “We have, as a matter of fact, made Woode and our son equal beneficiaries.” “Has your son,” asked Vance, “any income of his own?” “None whatever,” the professor told him. “He has made a little money here and there, on various enterprises—largely connected with sports—but he is entirely dependent on the allowance my wife and I give him. It's a very liberal one— too liberal, perhaps, judged by con- ventional standards. But I see no reason not to indulge the boy. It isn’t his fault that he hasn't the temperament for a professional ca- reer, and has no flair for business.” “A very liberal attitude, Doctor,” Vance murmured: ‘especially for one who is himself so wholehearted- ly devoted to the more serious things of life as you are . . But what of Swift: did he have an in- dependent income?” “His father,” the professor ex- plained, “left him a very comfort- able amount; but I imagine he squandered it or gambled most of it away.” ‘“There’s one more question,” Vance continued, ‘that I'd like to ask you in connection with your will and Mrs. Garden's: were your son and nephew aware of the dispo- sition of the estate?” “I couldn’t say. It's quite possi- ble they were. Neither Mrs. Gar- den nor I have regarded the subject as a secret . . . But what, may I ask,” Professor Garden gave Vance a puzzled look—‘‘has this to do with the present terrible situa- tion?” “I'm sure I haven't the remotest idea,” Vance admitted frankly. “I'm merely probin’ round in the dark, in the hope of findin’ some small ray of light.” Hennessey, the detective whom Heath had ordered to remain on guard below, came lumbering up the passageway to the study. “There's a guy downstairs, Ser- geant,” he reported, “who says he's from the telephone company and has got to fix a bell or somethin’. He's fussed around downstairs and couldn't find anything wrong there.” Heath shrugged and looked in- quiringly at Vance. “It's quite all right, Hennessey," Vance told the detective. “Let him come up." Hennessey saluted half-heartedly and went out. “You know, Markham,” Vance said, “I wish this infernal buzzer hadn't gone out of order at just this time. I abominate coinci- dences—"' “Do you mean,” Professor Gar- den interrupted, ‘‘that inter-commu- nicating buzzer between here and the den downstairs? It was working all right this morning— Sneed summoned me to breakfast with it as usual.” “Yes, yes,” nodded Vance. “That's just it. It evidently ceased functioning after you had gone out. The nurse discovered it and report- ed it to Sneed who called up the telephone company.” “It's not of any importance,” the professor returned with a lacka- daisical gesture of his hand. “It's a convenience, however, and saves many trips up and down the stairs.” “We may as well let the man attend to it, since he's here. It won't disturb us.” Vance stood up. ‘“‘And I say, doctor, would you mind joining the others downstairs? We'll be down presently, too.” The professor inclined his head in silent acquiescence and, without a word, went from the room. Presently a tall, pale, youthful man appeared at the door to the His Eyes Peering Cautiously Into the Garden. He carried a small black buzzer,” he announced with surly indifference. “I didn’t find the trou- ble downstairs.” “Maybe the difficulty is at this end,” suggested Vance. “There's the buzzer behind the desk.” The man went over to it, opened his case of tools and, taking out a flashlight and a small screw-driver, removed the outer shell of the box. Fingering the connecting wires for a moment, he looked up at Vance with an expression of contempt. “You can't expect the buzzer to work when the wires ain't connect. ed,” he commented. Vance became suddenly interest. ed. Adjusting his monocle, he knelt down and looked at the box. “They're both disconnected—eh, what?" he remarked. “Sure they are.” the man grume- bled. “And it don’t look to me like they worked themselves loose, either.” “You think they were deliberately disconnected?’ asked Vance. “Well, it looks that way.” The man was busy reconnecting the wires. “Both screws are loose, and the wires aren't bent—they look like they been pulled out.” “That's most interestin’.” Vance stood up, and returned the monocle to his pocket meditatively. “It might be, of course. But I can’t see why anyone should have done it . . . Sor- ry for your trouble.” “Oh, that's all in the day's work,” the man muttered, readjusting the cover of the box. ‘I wish all my jobs were as easy as this one.” Aft- er a few moments he stood up. “Let's see if the buzzer will work now. Any one downstairs who'll answer if I press this?” “I'll take care of that,” Heath in- terposed, and turned to Snitkin. “Hop down to the den, and if you hear the buzzer down there, ring back.” Snitkin hurried out, and a few moments later, when the button was pressed, there came two short answering signals. “It's all right now,” the repair man said, packing up his tools and going toward the door. "So long.” And he disappeared down the pas- sageway. Vance smoked for a moment in silence, looking down at the floor. “l don’t know, Markham. It's dasaed mystifyin’. But I have a notion that the same person who fired the shot we heard disconnected those wires . . ."” Suddenly he stepped to one side behind the draperies and crouched down, his eyes peering out cautious- ly into the garden. He raised a warning hand to us to keep back out of sight. ‘“Deuced queer,” he said tensely. “That gate in the far end of the fence is slowly opening . . . Oh, my aunt!” And he swung swiftly into the passageway leading to the gar- den, beckoning to us to follow. Vance ran past the covered body of Swift on the settee, and crossed to the garden gate. As he reached it he was confronted by the haughty and majestic figure of Madge Weath- erby. Evidently her intention was to step into the garden, but she drew back abruptly when she saw us. Our presence, however, seemed neither to surprise nor to embarrass her. “Charmin’ of you to come up, Miss Weatherby,” said Vance. “But I gave orders that everyone was to remain downstairs.” “I had a right to come here!” she returned, drawing herself up with almost regal dignity. “Ah!” murmured Vance. ‘Yes, of course. It might be, don't y' know. But would you mind explainin’?"’ ‘““Not at all. I wished to ascertain if he could have done it.” ““And who,” asked Vance, ‘is this mysterious ‘he'?"”’ “Who?” she repeated, throwing her head back sarcastically. “Why, Cecil Kroon!” Vance's eyelids drooped, and he studied the woman narrowly for a brief moment. Then he said lightly: “*Most interestin’. Jut let that wait a moment, How did you get up here?” “That was very simple. I pre- tended to be faint and told your min- ion 1 was going into the butler’'s pantry to get a drink of water. I went out through the pantry door into the public hallway, came up the main stairs, and out on this ter- race.” *““But how did you know that you could reach the garden by this route?" “I didn't know." She smiled enig- matically. "I was merely recon- noitering. I was anxious to prove to myself that Cecil Kroon could have shot poor Woody." “And are you satisfied that he could have?’ asked Vance quietly. “Oh, yes,” the woman replied with bitterness. ‘“‘Beyond a doubt. I've known for a long time that Cecil would kill him sooner or later. And 1 was quite certain when you said that Woody had been murdered that Cecil had done it. But I did not understand how he could have got- ten up here, after leaving us this afternoon. So 1 endeavored to find out.” “And why, may 1 ask.” said Vance, “would Mr. Kroon desire to dispose of Swift?" The woman clasped her hands the- atrically against her breast. “Cecil was jealous — frightfully jealous. He's madly in love with me. He has tortured me with his attentions ."" One of her hands went to her forehead in a gesture of desperation. ‘‘There has been noth- ing I could do. And when he learned that I cared for Woody, he became desperate. He threatened me.” Vance's keen regard showed nei- ther the sympathy her pompous re- cital called for, nor the cynicism which I knew he felt. ‘““Sad-—very sad,” he mumbled. Miss Weatherby jerked her head up and her eyes flashed. “I came up here to see if it were possible that Cecil could have done this thing. of justice!" “Very accommedatin’.”” Vance's manner had suddenly changed. that sort of thing. others. down the apartment stairs.” he drew the gate shut and directed the woman to the passageway door. followed his indicating finger. When we were back in the study Vance sank into a chair and yawned. case is difficult eriough without these amateur theatricals.” Markham, I could see, had been both impressed and puzzled by the incident. “Maybe it's not all dramatics.,” he suggested. “The woman made some very definite statements.” “Oh, yes. She would. She's the type.” Vance took out his ciga- rette case. “Definite statements, yes. And misleadin’. Really, y'know, I don’t for a moment believe she re- gards Kroon as the culprit.” “But she certainly has something on her mind,” protested Markham. (TO BE CONTINUED) Sermons in Stone In the Regional Museum in Aber- deen, Scotland, are many sermons exhibited in stone. These sermons are gathered from all over the Brit- ish Isles, particularly Scotland, and represent both social and natural history, and are more impressive than textbooks. As an illustration, Carlyle’s life is not only exhibited by his library of books, but from scenes associated with his life from his castle visits to his fishing haunts. Axe weapons, windmills and other paraphernalia of man’s early history in Scotland are shown as processes of evolution. Geologic. al specimens are shown amid flow- OO OH, OH! Did you ever see anything in the way of fabric 80 dazzling to the eye, so daringly designful, so altogether fascinating as the new cotton weaves that are dancing so madly, so merrily, so fashionably into the current style How perfectly they tune into the costume needs of carefree summer- time activities! It is no wild state- ment to say that an e e wardrobe ton materials that will carry smart- ly through active sports and morn- ing dress hours, that will answer to the call for voguish afternoon costumes, climaxing the around-the- clock program with evening formals that are just too lovely for words. Cottons for formal wear? Yes, in- deed! The next time you go to a dance or nighttime society event, count for your own satisfaction, the dresses fashioned of one type of cotton or another. You will see glam- orous printed piques, the flattering swisses, shadow printed organdies, merous to mention. Perhaps after all has been said and done it is the amazing cotton prints that are of outstanding style significance. For excitement at high pitch, watch the procession of ex- otics in cotton that are that authen- tically oriental and superbly color- ful you feel that they must have sia, or East India, perhaps Java or China, or from Hungary or some other central-Europe country, or just as likely the print that holds American origin, for the latter rank high in style »stige this season, Do these looking Amerie can-made prints make up effective! in dance { the cl rignt i 2 i less evening skirt and is made garian cc 3 14. wrrnels ice old-w ¢ repro- til The col rich yd ing and there is a gypsy flavor about them and the beads and the bracelets in definite keeping with the trend in the summer mode. Needless to are worn are and washing. Take the thought of the perfectly gorgeous new cot thought of the stunning new coats, such as are proving the big sensation in fashion realms, put the two together and the duo-theme is woman into action. Which is exactly what is happening. She who loves to go nautical will enjoy making up the beach coat to the left in the picture, which may be artly used later on as an evening coat or as a coat. The patterned an- chors and other seafaring house with hem rl material, lose its laundering, lose out in A cool ¢ perfect lines or fit from neither will the colors tubbing impetent play outfit of American print trio. Being dependably pre-shrunk it is able to take its tubbings cheerfully without tendency to lose shape. The shirt and shorts are in one. The skirt whisks on and off at will © Western Newspaper Union. WITH LACE JACKET By CHERIE NICHOLAS This lovely lace gown has a matching jacket, which it should have according to all the laws of fashion. The idea of each dress with a related cape or jacket t the entire style pro- has become a SEPARATE BOLERO IN LACE IS SMART By CHERIE NICHOLAS great popularity of the becoming bolero is its ability to dress up a have only to slip one on over a sim- ple crepe dress to achieve the ef- fect that is especially attractive this year. Boleros are particularly prominent in starched cotton lace, of these, in different colors, will en- able you to get different effects with a single frock. The simple, brief bolero would probably be most practical, for the lace pattern gives a dressy effect to all types of costumes. One very attractive design has short puff sleeves, and wide revers, with the short jacket slightly flared. If you can sew at all, it is the easiest thing to make, of little more than a yard of lace. Such a bolero shows off is fairly simple, whether it be an afternoon frock, or a gown for eve- nir ig. Renaissance of Interest in the “Polka Dot” Theme There is a renaissance of interest in the polka dot theme. There are enormous plate-sized dots with smaller dots scattered around them, all sprinkled with tiny confetti dots in contrasting colors. There are zig- zag polka dot arrangements, irregu- IATA AAAR RAR RAAAR STAR DUST Movie + Radio * wkd By VIRGINIA VALE o&% HE President of the United States, no less, is the new diction coach at the Selznick- International studios in Holly- wood. Whenever President Roosevelt makes an address over the radio, David Selznick has it recorded, and these rec- ords are used daily in training actors for voice tests. Players memorize his speeches, then play the records over and over following his every intonation until they have mastered the art of per- fect phrasing. Considering the great charm of the First Lady's recent studios might do well to 30 20 20 20 26 2 2 2 2 2 M00 2 2 2 broadcasts, get records of her talks. I In recent weeks Carole Lombard has been the busiest young woman Holly wood, be- Carole Lombard All of us who could not get to London for the coromation can com- fort ourselves by watching the long- ago coronation scenes in “The Prince and the Pauper.” This is a most likable and refreshing picture and very exciting too. The Mauch twins are a grand addition to the ranks of young players. —_— Some weeks ago, you may recall, Gloria Swanson's return to the screen was all set. She was going to make ‘“‘Mazie Kenyon" for M-G-M. And then when Gloria ar- rived at the studio all ready to go to work, the director looked at her horror-stricken. She wouldn't do at all; she looked too young. Dashing over to London to coronation festivi- ties to forget her disappointment, Gloria had about decided that her future lay in radio work, when Co- luz a pictures got her on the transatiantic phone and told her to hurry home, they had found the per- for her. It sounds like a Gloria. fect story break for wen We 3 yori pr rfiel wongeriui In spite of her outstanding sume- cess in “Valiant Is the Word for Carrie’ and the forthcoming “They Gave Him a Gun” which is said to be even better, Gladys George looks on herself as just a novice at screen acting. So intent is she on becoming as skilled a player on the screen as she was on the stage, that she spends all of her spare time studying movies. The players she admires most are Garbo, Spen- cer Tracy, and Merle Oberon, wa Social life and cafe-hopping were at low ebb during the weeks when there was talk in the air of a strike of the Screen Actors’ guild which counts all the great in its ranks, but the homes of Robert Montgomery, Jim Cagney, Fredric March and a few other leaders were continual mob scenes. These men won the undying James Cagney gratitude of extras no strike was necessary. These leaders ral- ers so quickly and thoroughly that the producers gave in to their de- mands without a struggle. Pe ODDS AND ENDS—Hollywood throw a grand : ; Weber f HLH ikl! i I HHI HET byl Ine i: THF ah { is jill ll Fg i H fis jpeg He
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers