Evening journal., 1922-01-21

York apartment house. They discover
, portrait painter. has been murdered in
= her studio apartment on the third floor.
4 l.add. young artist on the second
floor, Griswold, bachelor on the fourth
and Patricia Shaw, writer on the
sixth. deny having heard the shot.
- Griswold states that Ladd had been
I friendly with Miss Vane. This, Ladd
denies.
Well" Gordon Ladd moistened
his lips and spoke slowly, weighing
each word with care. Il let myself
\ in at the entrance with my house
key and had reached the door Of
my apartment outside here when
II glancing up the stairs / caught a
glimpse OF Mrs. Vane in the han
above. just outside her own door.
LAS l had not seen her in several
| days / went halfway up the stairs
and greeted her with the half
formed intention OF paying her a
short call II il were not too late.
but she said that she was too busy
and must work upon portrait, or
words to that effect, so ] bade her
goodnight and coming back 10 my
own apartment. let myself in and
closed the door.
Tt seemed almost the next mo-
ment, as I have stated, that the
1 commotion arose, and as no one else
seemed likely to reply to that bang
ing on the entrance door 1 went
down and admitted the policeman.
We heard voices and saw lights
coming from Mrs. Vane's apart
j ment and went up together. but /
had heard no shot and OF course
had no suspicion OF the truth. That
Il is why It fioored me so when
Il when I saw the body"
II was only at the conclusion OF
4 his long explanation that the young
I man faltered and into his eyes there
4 came again that swift fieeting look
OF sheer, stark horror which Barry
Il had noted earlier. when he had col
a iapsed at the discovery Of the mu--
a der
Mr.. Ladd." he commenced
suaveiy. How was Mrs. Vane
dressed when you saw her in the
landing above? The same as when
her body was found?"
"Of course," The artist stared.
"a Did you see anyone else in the
"a Railways or on the stairs. either
above or below"
NO one" The reply was decisive
al but the pause before II came was a
# fraction roo long and Barry seized
upon II.
Then. Mr.. Ladd. what IN your
M estimation was the reason for Mrs.
81 Vane's presence out there in the pub
E lie hail7 Did she offer any explana-
s. tion?"
Certainly not. and I thought
{ nothing OF IT." Iadd replied hotly.
SCI 1T - a ridiculousiy trivial notion 10
IA bubble overl There might have
81 been a hundred unimportant rea-
"a sons"
<I There might have been a hundred
reasons Mr.. Laddi" Again there
came that maddening repetition OF
his name which had so often helped
in breaking a stubborn witness under
the third degree. but in this case
here was only one. and you know It.
4M Mrs vane was either receiving or
tzS ,lecting a guest. and n you saw no
one else. you yourself must have
fW been that guesti We have purposely
81 nterrogatcd the other tenants Of the
louse before approaching you and
We have learned more than you
hinkl The saying that walls have
ears is true also OF ceilings"
He paused significantly while Ser
yeant Craig stared at him in genuine
urprise. but the shot found its mark
Gaping TO his feet with his hand
'ome face darkened and distorted in
paroxysn OF rage. Ladd cried:
IS 80 that's what you two have been
wing to get at. is Il? That miserable
vretch Griswold has noted my &C
iuaintanceship with Mrs. vane and
I'LL deliberately tried to blacken her
FL character in your eyesi I admit thai
III was in love with her; all our world
y Paris as well as here will tell you
~ y my long attempt to make her my
wife. but they viii also tell you thai
|< Re has laughed at my love for her
~ g she has at that OF all others.
Az would have said nothing. but now
lat he has spoken. ask him whai
lain he has upon her gentlemen
or I lied 10 youi / did see someone
II non the stairsl L was he whom ]
III iw leaving her apartment a mo
< tent before I entered my own and
he ahot was fred which must have
nded her lifel"
Sergeant Barry felt that the mo-
nfnt was too tense and the possible
ssue too important to give his coll
~ esgue an opportunity 10 interrupt.
without a glance at Craig. he de-
handed Of the almost distraught
o<ng artist before him:
THAT being the case. Mr.. Ladd.
~ us the truth OF what happened
~ ST night! Why did you go half
ay up the flight OF stairs leading
Mrs. Vane's apartment IL you
v her in the hall talking 10 a
cighbor whom you apparently dis
ke2"
Mrs. Nane seemed bantering her
aparting guest in her usual gay
amer. and he was glowering at
er in a resentful fashion. The mo-
ent he had disappeared up the
airs and before Mrs Vane had had
opportunity TO turn and re-enter
err own apartment I called to her.
nd-went up to her" His tone had
zen more and more uncertain and
ow he hurried on. 81 begged for
We minutes Of her time. but she
usbed me laughingly and re-
rned here"
There was silence for a moment.
lille Sergeant Craig made no effort
enter the examination, and Barry
led the young man before them
nv. graVolV At 1onrfh tho mora