New Britain herald., 1922-01-18
GO ON WITH THE STORY


 bachelor from the fourth. enter the studis after being told of tho murder.
 GO ON WITH THE STORY
 Sergeant Barry shrugged.
 "When a case Of this sort occurs professor, there's little time for di- Dlomacy. We've got to get the dope and get 1t quick. So you, too, heard that step on the stairs directly after the shot was fred?"
 Professor Semyonov laid a quick hand on his arm.
 eve will discuss that later, my friend" His keen eyes beneath their shaggy brows rested for a moment on the grabbed face of Henry Griswold and then drifted to Gordon Ladd, who had once more dropped his head in his hands. Let us have little talk together in my rooms. as soon as the official formalities have been com piled with, which will grant us tenn porary privacy"
 Policeman Boyle descended with unexpected haste.
 That's one of those nutty artistic danes up there, with hair like sky terrier and the nerve of mouse" he confided in a quick undertone to Barry.
 In the shabby comfortable living room once more, the professor low cred the light and raised the window shades with sigh of relief, then turned to his younger companion. What do you make of it all, Ser geant? Who do you think killed the Vane woman, and why?" / Barry shrugged.
 ''rhe last part of your question would explain much, professor, and probably answer the first part hs we'll. l haven't had time to draw any defi- i. mite conclusions as yet, have you? Professor Semyonov sank once more into his own chair and motioned 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 mo- ment was known to her. Remember she was standing or sitting directly before her easel and evidently paint ing or starting to paint when the end came. No intruder could have got so close to her, or practically be- tween her and the easel in order to fire directly into her heart without her knowledge. It is possible that she turned to speak to this person and thus unwittingly gave opportun- ity for an, unirnpeded aim. I think it is fairly certain that she did not an ticipate what was coming"
 Barry nodded.
 That seems clear. But about those footsteps that we both heard geing down the stairs when we opened 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-Gris- wold's below you. and the woman above in the attic! According to Off, cer Boyle the woman went into hys- terics when she heard how you had to pound upon Griswold's door to arouse him and how leisurely and re- fluctantly he came down finally to in vestigate There did not seem to be anywhere in the hallway, badly light cd as it was, where anyone could have hidden himself
 Professor semyonov, smiled and his white whiskers lifted slightly.
 'I anl not thinking of the woman, he seid. Nor do imagine that we passed anyone unobserved in our de- scent hurried as it was.
 "Who was Miriam Vane? From whence did she come? If the excel lent organization of which you are part should in the next few days learn anything of Mrs. Nane's ante ce,lents or previous history and asso- cates which is not given out generally to the press, would it be too great breach of professional etiquet to put noe into strictly confidential possess Eion of it?'
 By no means, professor, in view not only of your standing but of the Eplendid services you have rendered oluntarily to the homicide bureau in be past" Barry responded.
 "I shall be grateful" the professor hccared q know nothing, absolute nothing more than you and yet have formed theory which I should ike to test and which l think only Mrs. Vane's past will prove or dis brOve.'
 Sergeant Barry smiled to himself, hough not a muscle of his counte- nance betrayed his inward amuse- 1ent. He thought that he knew what hat theory, engendered by an almost hildish personal animosity, consisted f and he was glad to humor the bibles of this old man, so great in is own line.
 Just what is generally known bout Mrs. Vane, beyond the promi- ence her odd style of portraiture has rought her lately?" he asked. "I know only what have seen cas- ally in the papers about her and hat Mrs. McGrath, entirely without ncoura cement, has volunteered, re- lied the professor Mrs. Vane ar we'd last October from France l be- eve. It was some two months later