The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-01-25

1.-THE Chief, 1t need not nave been a
discreditable ono" Barry's matter
of fact tone was IN sharp contrast
to the dreamy, almost mystic note
which had como into the Russians
voice.
"And the empty cartridge ,shell?'
the professor reminded him. mo,
my friend. That was her ghost of
Banquet"
II think SO. myself The ser
geant rose. 81 won't keep you from
your laboratory any longer now,
professor.
"WIll you let me know the real
report Of the medical examiner
after the autopsy? The full report,
whether It is all given out to the
press or not2" asked Professor
semyonov. II make particular re-
ference to the distance from which
the shot that killed Mrs. Vane may
have been fired"
In spite of himself the detective
started slightly.
But you have calculated that
! already, sir. You said last night
after we returned hero to your
rooms that it must have been fired
by someone she knew who was in
tho studio with her and that she
may have turned from her canvas
to speak to this person and so pres
ented the opportunity for an unim.
peded aim-!"
Again tho professor smiled and
this time 1t was with a significance
which told Barry that 1t would be
useless to disseMble.
"You forgot that ! spoke then
before | had made my search Of
all the apartments for traces OF
turpontine." said the professor.
81 respect your professional reser-
vations. my friend, but /, too have
eyes! In the studio OF Mrs. Vane
observed the raised window
shade the little bulls eye-the
cross In red paint on the back OF
the portrait and the small puncture
which had penetrated it. and turn,
ing, | looked over at that dark and
silent house across the strip Of
garden. Some OF its blank, star'ng
windows were directly in line and
/ wondered"
Not another word On the subject
could Barry persuade that eccsn-
trie scientist to utter and the lat,
ter departed, still smiling to leave
tho detective in a decided yreflec-
tive frame OF mind Time pressed,
however and descending the stairs
! Sergeant Barry easily persuaded
Hedge to unlock the door Of Henry
Griswold's tmporarily empty apart
ment for him.
After dlsntssing the ianitor he
proceeded to force the drawers OF
the desk neatly and with dispatch
but the documents and ledgers
with which it was filled told him
nothing, and in spite OF himself
the rigid form and fixed. CLASSY
stare Of the melancholy moth eaten
old hound In the corne. seemd Dor.
ing into his consciousness reproack
fully as though even in death the
beast would guard and defend his
masters rosekDlons
Leaving the desk atlast he cross
ed and examined the stuffed animal
closely. It was MS the professor had
said. redolcnt Of %turpentine and the
musty. spicy odor Of taxidermy
OF other days. He WIS lingering
enc OF the long, still silky ears
when the door suddenly bust open
with such force that It banged
against the wall aud Griswold
strobe in. stopping short In speech.
ISIS astonishmen4 and affront when
he behell the intruder.
Then his glance travelled to the
rlfled desk and found his voice in
u strong Of oaths which left him
painting and notified Of countenance
"Just a moment" Mr.. Grlswold "
Barry remarked smoothly your
apartment was entered and your
desk opened by official authority
and l think your interview at
headquarters with the chief during
tho last hour must have told you
that even you cannot combat it.
Who owns this house next door?
H0 shot the question so unex-
pectedly at the angry man that for
a minute Griswold blinked. Then
he replied with 9 gulp:
"The Gotham Rdalty Company"
"Nho Is the president OF it,"
Il am. and | refuse to reply to
any further question:"
but Mrs. Vane has stated to
witnesses whom we can produce
that you and she knew each other
before she ever came here" Barry
declared.
Then shc llcd!" Griswold cried.