New Britain herald., 1922-01-25
Continued from our last issue. )


 Miss Shaw's door happened to be ar old acquaintance, He helped me te open the small skylght in the mair hall which led to the roof, Fron there l descended the fire escane tl the window of Miss shaw's studio and found her huddlcd up in n bare, hard :. eha'r In slumber that l fear was not a normal one, for small carton ot tablets was beside her. l went through The entire attic, examined the pitiful- " Few garments and other things and ' found no paint or other stains, nor any cradicator save soap.
 Climbing farther down the fire escape past the windows of my own apartment, l came to those of my neighbor, Henry Griswold His dreams must have been deep. He smiled as l looked at him and made sounds in his throat like those of an eNutant dog over . bone. And men tioning dogs, that stuffed monstros- ity which holds the place of honor in his sitting room was the only object in the whole apartment that gave any evidence of having been cleaned In the last decade, and I found It '''c'Nhh ci Ndi iOuS Cl1tIfllcalS, among them also strong odor of turpcn- tine
 ''The dog." muttered Barry. "rhe old stuffed dog!"
 When l had completed my search there l left as l had come. That portion of the fire escape ends on the floor below as you know, on the sky light of Mrs. Vane's studio, but a Wak-way runs around the edge to the outside row of windows of the extension, where the second section of the fire escape begins and continues to tho street,
 Was Gordon I.add out or asleep?" demanded Barry, half incredusly.
 Professor Semyonov smiled mean ingly.
 Neither, at first. When l appeared at the window of his studio l could see through the door that led into his living room. He was tramping ID and down, and though l do not pretend to be a psychologist, l would be willing to swear that sorrow alone grief that tore at his heart strings twas reflected upon his face. He was in solitude, aware of no eavcsdropper and yet l saw no signs of either grief or fear"
 You returned then, Professor, the way you had come?"
 Yes; for a soporitlc made from formula of my own which is less harmul and more effective than that in which Miss Shaw had induged. With 1t l returned by way of the fire escape to Mir. Ladd's window and rapped on the easement. He was astonished and resentful, naturally, but when ] made myself known to him not only as his neighbor but as the person you know at Headquarters, he admitted me- think the poor young man was glad of someone to talk to, for after your departure the full import of what had occurred must have descended upon him. We had a sympathetic little hour. in which 1 learned much that had no bearing upon the crime but which l will tell you of later, and at it's end ! he was quite willing to take the opi ate and get little rest and surcease from his grief He fell into deep sleep almost at once, but it was then morning and I could make only a superficial search. There was tur- pentine nowhere but in his studio"
 'So we drew blank, ch, Professor Semyonov?" Barry shrugged. Sorry to have kept you up all night and made that request of you for noth- ing, but l had a hunch that some one who had no business to do so had touched that portrait of Mrs Van sttart last night while the paint was wet and brought away traces that they would try to get rid of at all costs"
 It was the professors turn to shrug.
 T know nothing of that, for I have not yet heard what you may have to tell me, my friend, but the turpen- tine did find, and in a most un- likely place." he observed. You for get that horrible stuffed dog in the apartment of Henry Griswold.'
 "No," responded Sergeant Barry, thoughtfully, "I have not forgotten the dog"
 CHAPTER VIII.
 You may have forgotten the dog, but I have not forgotten my break- fast" Professor Semyonov laughed. You have had yours Sergeant? Then, while I make my tea l hold you to your promise to tell me what is per missble of your investigations"
 "It seems fairly evident, then, that Miriam Vane, the portrait painter was born only few years ago. He remarked when the detective finished .'I wonder who inhabited that splen did body before that, and what havoc she wrought in the lives of men and women?" "Oh, undoubtedly she buried past of some kind but as ] told the chief, it need not have been a discroditable one" Barry's matter-o Of fact tone was in sharp contrast 10 the dreamy, almost mystic note which had come into the Russians voice. And the empty cartridge shell"' the professor reminded him. No, my friend. That was her ghost Of Ban auo!" R. Il think so, myself" The sergeant rose. "l won't keep you from your k t, poratory any longer now. professor. "Will you let me know the real re- port of the medical examiner after the autopsy? The full report, whether 1t is all given out to the press or not?' asked Professor Semyonov "l make particular reference to the distance rom which the shot that killed Mrs. yane may have been fired. / In spite of himself the detective