Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-12-24
CHAPTER I.
Gnnl Nfnf~A

l. SOui
What do they mean by such sen
sational headlines as Tho Kiss OF
Death? The newspapers are az bad
as tho police"
Some Shuman producer, and Bar
clay Pcniicld, playwright. author
OF the comic opera. lingerie" In
(which Gene Jarvis, tho dancer. had
made the hit of tho season. had pur-
sued Kennedy even to our apart
mcnt on the Drive.
Il suppose they want circulation, e
reasoned with Shunan. who was
Tho excited spokesman. ~ rather
admired tho way they dressed UP
this case and presented it."
'But-my Godfrcy-man-its my
money" Shuman threw out his
arms. palms up. before us. his eyes
bulging aud his mouth open.
Kennedy and | had been discussing
tho case. for he had more than half
expected TO be dragged into Il.
not figured out. ono thing he had
Inquired on; it looked sufficiently
mysterious TO be Interesting.
Matte Mclean. the model, a very
pretty divorCce. and Dudley Dexter.
8tho postsr artist. had been found
dead In DeNtcrs studio over Mort
MIS- in GreoHwich Village. | recalled
8that only IL week or 50 before Mat =
tic had been chosen ~ committee
headed by Dcxtc. to pose as the
Diving Venus !n a tablcau at the
Artists ball, Dexter was engaged
TO Gene Jarvis.
The police had discovered some
letters from Matte TO Dexter. burn
Hans letters that had better have
been burnt. letters about soul mates.
Hand aCnnltl"s. -ompleHcs, urges. a
passionate pouring forth OF unsup-
4rrcgscd desires. As for DeIters let
a tors 10 her. none had appeared as
3yct imagined that would come
3ncSt when some ono hobhed up 20
scn the papers diary or something
: by Dexter.
AZ any rate there had been COL
uuns about Gene JARVIS Jealousy
> OF Matte and other women. Some
inspiration had written the headline.
The Poison kiss" and from that
moment the story was made. for the
name. the poison kiss case" seemed
to. NJ spioHdiily with the circum
stances. under which the dead model
and artist had been found.
| ono jealousy story OF Gene Jarvis
and Matte in particular, about "a
Wild orgy following tho one hum
drcdth performance OF Lingerie"
the night before tho tragedy. had jus,
|aproared.
what do you know about THAR
Craig passed over copy OF the
pnper with a shea! OF pictures OF
the dead model Ike tho window OF
n Tender!oin nrt shop. and down IN
Tho corner Dexter In n two-Inch oval.
your namc and Pcnae!d's arc men
toned"
Pcnncld rrowncd and shuman
swore. Another explanation 10 be
made 10 Mrs. Shuman! Out o; luckr'
II laughed. FOR Shuman was "A rather
l'kahlc chap. 'Cifvs II TO mo. I
want TO see how much to ten the
wife"
shuman seized tho raper while
chair and read over his shoulder the
STORY Of the midnight madness rs
written by somo clover newspaper
woman.
babylon. Egypt and Rome had
nothing on mat party the way she
tells H." commented pcnneld
ION. Lord, read this. Pcnfeld.
Ono OF the beauties in tho chorus
or lingerie" admitted to mo that
sho had had go much that although
DcXtcr's studio had only three mir
parts Of the room. I have heard Of
dual personality. hut tho winters
must be selling something far more
precious than the thing they buy IL
Il can make triple decentralization
bct'cr!"
Yes, Pm, the next Every
ltEins was good fun until Matte Nc
Lean put IN all appearance. Then
tho FUN hogan. Thay were all prct-
~ women. hut there was no doubt
Matte was the most beautiful. In
fine clothes she was striking; in few
clothes she was gorgeous Now.
You'd think this was a strip poker
gam instead o. IA decent party"
"Im-- whose party is th!s?"
Gene Jarvis i,sinuatcd rather spite
fully. 'Wcrc you invited? You
can do better than that-dcar, You
use your legs better than your
head Now. I use ny whole body
Matte was unb!ushingly and conf
IDENTIFY al home IN Dudley Dexters
studio.
There was n general laugh. Most
people In tn" gay life OF bohemia
liked her. She was a good fellow, a
little Wild. even FOR them. but good
natnred and generous. And Gene
was Intensely jealous of her: the
laugh was too much for her tempcra-
ment.
Matte was laughing and singing
when. from Behind. came rcsound-
Ing slap. She turned, hard CLINT
IN her eyes, calm and cool. It's n
shame to waste good stuT-hut Il;
has TO be done Gene received. the