The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-01-03
The Step on the Stairs
BY Isabel 0strander

wo passed anyone unohservcd in our
descent, hurried as Il was.
who was Miriam yane1 From
whence did she Gomez II the excel.
lent organization OF which YOU arc Il
part should In the next few days
learn anything OF Mrs. yane's anto.
cedonts or previous history and nsso.
clatcs which is not given out general.
~ TO the press. would II bc too great
"a breach OF professional etiauet TO
put me into strictly confidential pos.
session OF ne"
'By no means, professor. In view
not only OF your standing but OF tho
splendid services YOU have rendered
voluntarily 20 tho homicide bureau In
the past" Barry responded.
II shall be grateful" tho professor
declared. II know nothing. absolute.
~ nothing more than You and yet
have formed a theory which l should
Hike to test and which I think only
Mrs. Vane's past viii prove or dis.
prove"
Sergeant Barry smiled 20 himself.
tho not n muscle OF HIS countenance
betrayed his Inward amusement. He
thought that no knew what that
theory, engcndercd by an almost
childish personal animosity. consist.
cd OF and he was glad to humor the
tolbles OF this old man, so great In
his own line.
'Just what Is generally known
about Mrs. Nane. beyond the promi-
hence her odd style OF por;ralturo
has brought her latelyf'' no asked.
Il know only what I have seen
casually In tho papers about her and
what Mrs. MeGrath. entirely without
encouragement. has volunteered" re.
piled the professor. Mira. Vnne ar.
rived last october from France. be.
lleve, II was some two months lator
that her vogue began and spread like
wildnre, 30 that by spring Hho was
quito famous"
There can DO no doubt OF her
strange. whimsical talent" Barry re,
marked, THAT unfinished portrait
before which sho lies dead. for In.
stance: Il is as Enthusiastically recog
nized as photograph. l fancy Mr..
Theodore vnnslttart would give
something 20 have his wlfc's picture
removed before the notoriety OF to
morrow"
Professor Semyonov nodded slowly,
you observed the most prominent
thing IN the portrait. did you not 2"
he asked. The vansittnrt emeraidT
I, has figured IN moro than one un.
lsavory episode in the traditions Of It's
history. yet Il Is the pride OF the
family. Perhaps that Is the reason
why Mrs. vane has. one might say.
malieiously emphasized u. Tho por.
trait was 20 have been that OF a
Jewel. not a lady"
| And the critics will fan upon that
fact like dogs upon boner' Barry
laughed and then his face sobered
How long have tho other tenants
been In the house. Professor scrny.
onoy7''
THE thin. little creature In the at.
tic studio was hero when came. two
years ago next October, and heaven
knows how long before that" he re.
lsponded. The young man. Mr. Ladd
moved In only three months ago. on
the first of May. ard my rnoross
nelghbor. Jus, below. took possession
q year before that after myself had
been here six or seven months. The
janitor. or superintendent, looks az
tho he might have been the furnace
man for the original householder
and his name ] believe 70 be Kedgc.'
II as he spoke there came a respect
fnl bat authoritative knock upon hi,
door and he arose with a Sigh Rne
waddied over 20 admit n long.armed
wiTy young man whose blue eye.
were ns keen as Barry's own.
Hello. crnigr' tho latter cried be
fore either OF the others could speak
did the chief send you over from
} headquarters 10 take charge Of IN,
case7 Mr.. ssmyonov. this Is Ser
geaint Craig, from tho homicide bu
rcau."
II guess we all know what PROBES
sor Semyonov has done for us II
times past" The newcomer iauEhes
as he shook hands. then turned frank