New Britain herald., 1922-01-23

tne mystery or II all, do rememDer though, quite distinctly, that she turned on me In A-cod fury, forbade me ever to address her again, and entering her apartment. shut the door in my face! l descended. let myself in here alru lst mechanically and dropped into that chair you're sit ting In now, sergeant.
 Craig was settling back in his chair, with gesture to Barry when the lat- ter stepped forward.
 MT. Ladd, as I understand it your apartment here is a replica of the one just above studio and all. Have you any objection to showing us about?"
 Not at all" In contrast to that of the dead woman's Ladd's studio was hung with rare tapestries and furnished as luxuriously as that of social dilettante, yet its easel upon which stood an unfinished landscape and the carved refectory table care lessly covered with paint tubes and smeared cloths showed it to be a workroom no less than hers.
 What color do you call this?" Barry picked up tube, and squeezing a bit of its contents on the palette. he indicated the blotch of reddish brown.
 Burnt sienna," responded the art ist, promptly. ''I seldom use it-you can see there was none on the pal cite before-but always keep a full assortment of colors on hand. It is odd you should have asked me about that"
 ~Whyo" demanded Barry quickly, for the young mans tone had tensed with some sudden emotion.
 Well, it is just trivial matter, but over a week ago-the last time, in fact, that Mrs. Vane and I had chummy little talk in her studio-I advised her to use more burnt sienna with the seal brown to get the proper effect of the wood on the staircase in that portrait of Mrs. Vansittart the one before which her-her own body was found tonight"
 Barry replaced the tube reflective ly on the table as Craig, with an evi- picked up one of the bottles and sriffed it speculatively.
 That's turpentine," Ladd re- marked, and his voice had sunk again to a dull apathy.
 Its funny about this turpentine." Craig still stood by the table. Its used as cleaning fluid, isn't it? Seems to me I've smelt that odor somewhere else in this house tonight.
 Naturally the studio above is per ,neated with it. Barry turned away from the window and let the shade drop. "Mr. Ladd, if you'll just show us through the rest of your apartment now we won't trouble you any more tonight"
 Barry thanked the artist and bade him good night Tn the hall Craig produced handkerchief and wiped his ruddy brow.
 well John, we've nice mess to report at hcadauarters!" he an- nounced in a low tone that the po liceman on guard might not hear. Here's a woman shot dead, and every last tenant in the house except the professor seems mixed up In it somehow, though every one of them have lied and peached on the rest! Who the devil was this Miriam Vane. anyway? Where did sine come from and what were the rest of them to her?"
 ''I think we can guess what Ladd was." Barry whispered as he led his colleague up the stairs once more. Just an idealistic young fool who let her play with him like cat with a mouse to please her vanity and then kicked him out when he became inconvenient He may have killed her but don't think 50; 1 think he would would adored the woman he thought she was, and protected her with his last breath"
 "The woman he thought she was!' repeated Craig. pausing on the stars in hts astonishment.
 VI.
 What are we going upstairs again for?" demanded Craig. i've got to make my report at headquarters, and it's getting on toward morning
 You're not going to rouse up old Griswold again, then, and ask him why he lied about his acquaintance with Mrs. Vane ?' Barry bent a quiz- zical glance upon the younger ser geant-
 T am not" the other announced with decision. we have young Ladd's word for it that Griswold lied, but neither of them were under oath. They're both under guard and in the morning we'll have them down on the carpet and get the truth out of them
 That's good idea" approved Barry. And while you are about it, you might find out what time little Miss Shaw goes out and let the pro- lessor know. fancy he'll be waiting to hear"
 Craig stared.
 "Oh, yes: forget that note you slipped under his door. You said about porch climbing and chemistry. You're not putting any thing over on me, John?"
 No" Barry smiled.
 "Ill put the men on guard outside wise, so that they won't kick up a rumpus if they see him, like modern Santa Claus, perambulating the fire escape with his white whiskers way ing fin the early morning breeze That .. note simply asked him to get into the other apartments when he was sure the occupants were gone, and search for traces of a certain chemical com pound"
 But we'd only just left Miss Shaw's apartment; we hadn't seen either Griswold's or I.add's them" Craig ex- claimed beneath his breath You don't suspect her, John?"
 Barry smiled, but trif1e dryly
 Barry waited until the younger ser