New-York tribune., 1922-11-01
THE GREAT GLAND MYSTERY
archy

| HI.
! Let us return to the aged millionaire,
who has just learned that the Gland
| had been stolen.
Lock the DOORS" he cried, "and
search the housed"
| 1t was done His word was law.
Hidden in an eight-day clock at the
! foot of the stairway was discovered
a pale, furtive youth dressed in long
overcoat and with lawyers brief
case in each hand. The detectives
hailed him into the presence of the
millionaire.
/ Explain yourself" said the aged
millionaire.
| 81 ain innocent" said the pale, furtive
man. "I am only bootlegger who
was hiding here to interview your
butler. But I know who took the
Gland. And | will tell. 1t was" "
But at that instant a shot rang out,
and the bootlegger fell dead on the rug.
The six detectives Immediately be-
gan to examine dark stain which
spread slowly over the rug from the
place where the body lay.
Could it be blood?
Or had the whisky bottles in the
brief cases been broken when the man
fell?
ut is my theory" said one of the
detectives, Chat there has been Foul
Play here"
"Send for the newspaper reporters
at once" said another detective. "I
wish to decline to be quoted"
The dark stain spread and spread,
and the six detectives watched it
'solemnly in the early morning light
for some time and then, after con-
sutation, took the fngerprints Of the
dead man.
Everything" said third detective,
points to suicide"
"Ha! Ha! Suicidel" cried scorn-
full voice from the window SILL
Turning in that direction the six
detectives saw beautiful brunette
woman dressed in purple satin, with
smoking pistol in her hand.
''I fired the fatal shot!" she cried.
as if to capture her.
"Be CAREFUL" cried more expert
enced sleuth. "She is probably only
saying that to throw us off the scentl"
"Yes," said another experienced de-
tective, "her statement does not fit in
at all with the theory of suicide we
have developed"
eve must consider" said another de-
tective. "what motive she could pos
sibly have had for killing this man, be-
fore we believe that she killed him."
But" began the youngest detec-
tive, II can tell you why she fired the
fatal shotl 1t was because'----
He never finished. The Woman in
Purple raised her pistol and shot him
through the heart.
The FIVE remaining detectives were
nonplussed.
IF she keeps this sort of thing up"
said one of them, I'VE will have to
make some kind Of case against her,
am afraid"
The oldest detective shook his head
sagely. "No," he said, "that would
only complicate the theory on which
we are working. Everything points to
suicide, and the first thing we must do
is to establish motive for this mans
suicide. After that the rest will be
easy"
"Chief, is it possible that our fallen
comrade here may have had something
to do with this case?" asked the Sec
ond in command, after moments
deep thought.
Take his fngerprints," said the
Chief. ut does look suspicious. It is
very clear that he got himself shot in
order to conceal the motive for the
~AU SA~S aASAASaAS Sho ASpVAIcES aE.
rived.
The Woman in Purple leapt from the
window sill, threw an automobile coat
over her conspicuous garb, entered the
house and mingled with the reporters,
passing herself off as Sob Sister.
"Whom do you suspect, Chief?" she
asked the principal detective.
II could make an arrest within forty
eight hours" he replied. "And If
pushed to desperation may do 50.
There are elements in the case that
point to a conspiracy on the part of
the radicals. Startling disclosures may
be expected at any moment. We have
already in our hands a signed con-
fession in which we put no confidence"
At that instant frightfuI ex.
nlosion shattered the front Of the
house.
The butler turned pale.
ARREST that man, said the Chief
Detective. "He knows more Of this than
he Is willing to tell"
An East Indian cobra crawled from
under the bed, took it's place by the
butler's side, raised it's wicked looking
head and seemed by It's attitude to
dare any Of those present to touch
him on peril Of their lives.
1t was trained cobra.
ITO Be Comtinued.)