Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-01-18

ed to the one opposite.
"Only some very obvious minor
ones" he responded. "She was shot
by no stranger, but by someone
whose presence in her studio at the
moment was known to her Re-
member she was standing or sitting
directly before her easel and evil
IDENTIFY painting or starting to paint
when the end came. No intruder
could have got SO close to her, or
practically between her and the
easel in order to fire directly into
her heart without her knowledge.
1t is possible that she turned to speak
to this person and thus unwittingly
gave opportunity for an unimpeded
aim. | think it is fairly certain that
she did not anticipate what was com
ing"
Barry nodded,
"That seems clear. But about
those footsteps that we both heard
going down the stairs when we
opened your door here just after
the shot startled us?"-
Going up, my friend, not down, "
the professor interrupted
"Up?" repeated Barry. 'Why
we passed nobody on the stairs, and
there are only two other apartments
Griswold's below you, and the wo-
man above in the attic According
to Officer Boyle the woman went
INTO mysteries when she heard the
news and you know yourself how
you had to pound upon Griswold's
door to arouse him and how leisurely
and reluctantly he came down final
ly to investigate! There did mott
seem to be anywhere in the hall,
badly lighted as it was, where any,
one could have hidden himself.
Professor Semyon0v smiled and
his white whiskers lifted slightly.
Il am not thinking of the woman"
he said. ''Nor do imagine that
we passed anyone unobserved in our
descent, hurried as it was.
who was Miriam Vane? From
whence did she come? If the ex-
cellent organization of which YOU
are part should in the next few
days learn anything of Mrs. Vanc's
antecedents or previous history and
associates which is not given out
the press, would it be
too great a breech of professional
etlquet to put me into strictly con-
fldential possession Of it?"
by no means, professor, in view
not only of your standing but of
the splendid services you have rem.
dered voluntarily to the homicide
bureau in the past" Barry re-
sponded
Il shall be grateful" the professor
declared. II know nothing, abso-
lutely nothing more than you and
yet | have formed theory which /
should like to test and which | think
only Mrs. Vane's past will prove or
Sergeant Barry smiled him
self, though not a muscle of his
countenancc bestfayed his inward
amusement, He thought that he
knew what that theory, engendered
by an almost childish personal ami
mostly, consisted of and he was glad
to humor the foibles of this old man,
so great in his own line.
"Just what is generally known
about Mrs. Vane, beyond the promi-
nence her odd style of portraiture
has brought her lately?" he asked.
Il know only what have seen
casually in the papers about her
and what Mrs. McGrath, entirely
without encouragement, has vol
unteered," replied the professor.
Vane arrived last October from
France / believe. 1t was some two
months later that her vogue began
and spread like wildfire, so that by
spring, she was quite famous"
There can be no doubt of her
strange, whimsical talent" Barry re-
THAT unfinished portrait
before which she lies dead, for in
stance; it is as Enthusiastically reeoo.