South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-21
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Well" Gordon Ladd mOistened
his lips and spoke slowly Weighing
each word with care. Il let myself
il ar the entrance with my house
kew and had reached the door OF
my apartment outside here when
elancing up the stairs / caught
glimpse of Mrs Vane in the hall
above lust outside her own door.
AS ] had not seen her in several
davs T 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 "A portrait. or words 10 that
eject. so I babe her goodnight and
coming back TO my own apartment.
let myself i'm and closed the door.
II seemed almost the next moment.
as I have stated that the commotion
arose. and as no one else seemed
likely 70 reply 20 that banging on the
entrance door 7 went down and ad-
mitted the policeman. We heard
voices and saw lights coming from
Mrs. Vane's apartment and went up
together. but I had heard no shot
and of course had no suspicion Of the
truth. That is why il floored me so
when-when I saw the body"
IL was only al the conclusion OF MS
long explanation that the young man
ALTERED and into his eyes there came
again that swift fleeing look OF
sheer. stark horror which Barry had
noted earlier. when he had collapsed
III the discovery or the murder
Mr.. Laid. " he recommended
suavelv. How was Mrs. Nane
dressed when you saw her in the
landing above2 The same as when
her body was found ~
"Of course The artist stared.
Did YOU see anyone else in the
Railways or on the stairs. either
above or below %
NO one" The reply was decisive
I,ut the pause before IL came was a
fraction too long and Barry seized
upon IT,
Then. Mr. Laid. what i'm your
estimation was the reason for Mrs
Vanc's presence out there in the pub
iic hall? Did she offer any eXplana-
lion -
Certainly not. and thought
nothing of it," Ladd replied hOtly,
1T is a ridiculously trivial notion TO
bubble over, There might have
been "a hundred unimportant rea-
sons.
There might have been a hundred
reasons. Mr.. Lsdd'' 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
there was only one. and YOU know il,
Mrs. Vane was either receiving or
ciectiug a guest. and if YOU saw no
one else. YOU yourself must have
been that guest We have purposely
interroCated the other tenants of the
house before approaching YOU and
we have learned more than YOU
think The saying that walls have
ears is true also OF ceilings
lie nausea significantly while Ser
eeaut Craig stared at him in genuine
surprise. but the shot found its mark
Leaping TO his feet with his hand
some face darkened and distorted in
SO that's hat YOU two nave been
trying to get at. is il? That miserable
wretch Griswold has noted my &C
workmanship with Mrs Nane and
deliberately tried 90 blacken her
character in your eyes I admit that
was IN love with her; all our world
In Paris as well as here will tell YOU
or my long attempt TO make her my
wife. but they will also tell YOU that
She has laughed at my love for her
as she has at that OF all others.
would have said nothing but now
hat ne has spoken. ask him what
claim he has upOn her gentlemen
Tor ] lied TO ven, did see someone
upon the stairs, It was he whom
-a,v leaving her apartment a mo-
mcut before entered my own and
The shot was fired which must have
rdad her iifc,
Serceaut> Barry feit that To,
moment was too tense and the
possible issue too important 10 civ,
his colleague an opportunity 10 in
terrupt. Without a glance ar Crais
ho demanded Of the almost dis
frauCht YOUNG artist before him.
THAT being the case. Mr.. L.add
TEN MS tho truth Of what happened
last uicht, why did YOU so half
rav up the GiEht OF stairs leadiu2
20 Mrs Naue's apartment IL yot
-aw her iu the halI talking TO
ueizhbor whom YOU APPARENT,
dislike"
Mrs. Tane seemed blntering hel
departing guest I'm her usual ga
manner. and he was Elowering a
her fin resentful fashion The mo-
uent he had disappeared up the
stairs and before Mrs Nanc had had
AN opportunity 90 turn and re-entel
her own apartment I called 10 her
aud-wcnt mp 60 her" His tone had
Eeen more and more uncertain and
now n hurried on 'I begged fol
i've minutes OF her time but sh'
snubbed nae laughingly and re
turned here.
There was silence for moment
while Sergeant Craig made no eHor
% enter the examination. and Barr,
eved the young man before then
very gravely At length the nfbr'
experienced Official spoke.
.Afr I-add. YOU have not told u
au the truth, What happened be
tween those two on the stairs which
made YOU rush mp 10 Mrs. Nane
only 90 be- repulsed Were YOU re
pulsed Were YOU not with her. il
her studio when the deadly shot wa
.l-sd p"
a. t--, -,,,~-roc+ad ar-u-affov n.