The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-09-07
1.-THE VANITY CASE %
A Tale of Mystery and Love
By CAROLYN WELLS

| saw Inman on the front terrace, and
stopped to speak to him.
II say" Mott began, do you think
Perry Heath could have been muir
dered by the assassin of his wife,
and his body concealed in the
house2"
stared at him.
Eyes, it sounds absurd, I know.
But many details of this mysterious
case are absurd. 1 say do you think
it could be possible?"
II certainly do not. But it is sure
ly question easily answered. Why
not search the house? There are
not many hiding places in it that
would serve such a purpose"
Look here, Mr.. Inman," Mott
stalked along by the others side, as
they patrolled the long terrace, who
killed your cousin?"
That's the question that's tor
menting me to death!' Larry ex-
claimed, so emphatically, that Mott
more than half believed him.
rs it tormenting you because YOU
don't know the answer or because
you do?" he said, shrewdly.
Just what do you mean by that?"
Inman stopped and stared at him.
Il mean, do you suspect some.
body whom you do not want to sus-
pect? Are your convictions forced
to conclusion that you cannot bear
to accept? In a word, do you feel
you must suspect Miss Moore,
though you hate to do so?"
The other glared at him.
No" he said, " do net suspect
Miss Moore, and any one who does
must be out of his mind It's too
absurdr'
Now don't go on to say that that
sweet young thing couldn't commit
crime! Crimes have been commit
ted by young women, by girls, even
before this day of the wicked and de-
generate flapper."
Il suppose, Mr.. Mott, your DO
sition and your calling give you a
right to voice such monstrous be-
liefs, but / can't believe you really
mean them. 1 think you are putting
it to me, to see what 1 will say to it.
We'll, sir, l say this. Miss Moore
could no more have killed Mrs.
Heath than, 1 could myself. And I
think your accusation of her is to
get me to deny it, and stand up for
her, and then you will accuse me, as
the only other possibility. Why do
you leave Perry Heath out of your
reckoning?"
First, because I cannot believe
he could be the criminal and place
that card in evidence as a clue to his
guilt. Another could do it. but not
the criminal, himself. Had Heath
committed that crime, he would
have left a false clue that would
have pointed to yourself or to some
other person but not to his own
name"
This doesn't seem to be one of
those cases that have the regulation
clues - ikitialled handkerchiefs.
broken cuff-links, special sort of
tobacco ash"
Footprints, one of a pair of pis
tolls, library table paper cutter. but
ton torn from assailants coat.-no
Mr.. Inman, none of the hackneyed
clews are present, except-finger-
prints. You know of those impor,
tant ones on the bottle,-the weapon
How do you explain those?"
II daresay they are easy of ex
PLANTATION. Both Miss Moore and nv.
self fingered that bottle when Mrs
Heath was showing it to us"
Yes, and after that. Mrs. Heath
polished it clean with her delicate
handkerchief. leaving no marks on
it of any sort"
"Oh, don't know. We must have
picked it up again, Miss Moore and
/, after that. You know how idlv.
even unconsciously one picks UP OBJ
1ects that are lying about"
yes, but there are only the prints
of you two people, and Miss Moore's
are beneath yours. she grasped it
first"
Indeed" said Larry Inman, and
turned aawy with a yawn.
(To Be Continued