The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-03-14
BEGIN HERE TO-DAY

ROANSSOA 'iAlNNAlNNH III All' AbANNA ~
rooms on the fifth floor Of Il New
York apartment house. \ revolver
shot is heard from below and then
nurrying footsteps on the stairs
They rush downstairs and in the
studio apartment on the third floor
discover the occupant, a. beautiful
woman, lying dead on the floor in
front Of an unfinished portrait \
bullet has Just pierced her breast
co On WITH THE STORY
Sergeant Barry made no comment
but gently dropping the limp, warm
head back npon the rug he rose
and started a swift, comprehensive
search OF the apartment. From just
behind hun over his shoulder Il
large reflector threw the powerful
light whose refracted RAYS had penc-
trated even into the outer hall; bacl;
Ct the easel and at one side whera
TIE artis. could obtain The best view
Of it stood small, improyised model
throne with three steps and q sec
ton Of balustradc, and back Of Z
again the drawn shades over a row
ot halfopenod windows flapped il
the little. hot breeze which had sprung
mp with tho passing OF the threatened
storm.
A long table covered with scat.
tered tubes OF paint and brushes,
few plain chairs and many canvas
of various sizes stacked against the
walls completed the furnishings Of
the worl;manlike studio. the ceiling
Of which was one huge skylight Of
glass. and the detective turned back
into the luxurious living room, his
hand mechanically searching for and
finding he light switch in the wall
Instantly the soft glow of many
opal-tintel lamps sprang into being
and revealed the sheer beauty of
the arrangements of the room. but
Sergeant Barry's eyes searched only
for some sign of disorder that would
indicate hurried flight, and finding
none he opened the door at the back.
1t led into boudoir upholstered
delicately IN light blue and rose, and
through thai he passed into an ivory
and gold bedroom and TO the tiled,
immaculate kitchenette beyond, but
nowhere was there a sign of alien
presence.
THE icebox contains only butter
and cream, and that dress and hat
upon the bed would indicate that
Mrs. Vans had dined out" the pro.
fessor observed.
''Vane? Miriam Vane?" Barry
wheeled suddenly. rs that who she
is. the artist who has created such
q stir with her new type Of por.
traiture among the celebriues?"
Yes. Her portraits are danger.
ously near caricatures, for some per-
verse Impulse has seemed to guide
her brush although so subtly that
her clients themselves have rarely
detected that sardonically revealing
touch or two, but the critics have
raved about her genius" The profes.
sor turned. 1T is evident that we
are too late her FOR this kitchen
ette door Leading into the outer hall
is bolted from the inside, but some
one is coming
N''''N 4'SN iHut'A suElNtu lncy
hastened tack to the living room TO
find standing just within the door.
way young man in a dinner coat
with wildly rumpled hair. and po
liceman In uniform.
The laiter advanced with agrees.
sive authority which suffered = sud
den change.
WHAT'S been going on here?
heard a SHOT and I've been pound
ing below IN! this young gentleman
here let ME IN! Oh, you're here.
Sergeant larry! This is my regular
beat, sir, and thinking there was
something unusual"
There IL. Boyle" Barry nodded
gfimly TO the policeman. In that
studio yonder there's d woman lying
shot through the heart"
"A woman!" The young man in
the dinner ccat repeated with a gasp.
Not Miriam Vane, It's impossibler'
lie rushed past the group to The
studio doorway. clung there FOR a
moment In wordess horror. then
collapsed into the nearest chair.
burying his face In his hands.
Boyle was instantly all business.
After quick examination Of the
body he turned TO Barry.
"Woud you mind telling me. Ser
gcant?' hc began but the other In.
terrupted him.
Not IN the least. although we
know very little. | was here un.
officially, visiting this old friend of
mine, Mr.. Semyonoy. who lives on
the fifth lloor--two above this
when We heard the shot aud rushed
down to Investigate. There seems
to be no one In the apartment 1T.
rcctly above this one, and tool,
the responsibility OF breaking In tho
door here because We could get no
reply 20 repeated knocking and the
light FROM the studio there streamed
out under the sill into the outer hall.
You can see how brilliant 1t Is: Il
must be some special light for artists
to paint by at night"
"Tll have to report this at once
to the station" Boyle. who had
boon listening 0ttentively. nodded and
turned to the professor. Have YOU
anything, sir, to add to what Ser.
goant Barry has told me9"
Professor scmyonox pondered FOR q
moment. and then said slowly.
only that when We heard the
sound OF ue shot and opened my
door 1 fancied that heard foot
stems on flp atuira haluvv
Barry. whose eyes had turned te
that collapsed figure IN the chair,
thought that he saw shuddef
sweep over Il as though an unseen
hand had, shaken the inert form,
but he aid nothing as the. police
man paused at the screened tele
phone on the table TO inquire;