The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-09-03
1.-THE VANITY CASE %
A Tale of Mystery and LoUe
By CAROLYN WELLS

most anything they want said, and
then announce it as evidence. You've
heard of railroading. Well, Bunny
will be railroaded, unless we look
alive! There, I've told you my opin-
ions, and as you know, your old
Aunt is fairly astute in her judy
ments."
you bet you are, Aunt EN-. Now
I'm going to fly at this thing, and if
| can't get at the truth of the bust.
ness, 1 know somebody who can"
"Who?'
| "A friend of nline-a regular de.
teckatif Teller. But I'm going to
have whack myself first. You see,
HNe got a hunch!'
I'm not deeply impressed by that
news, Todhunter l can't think you
! know bunch when you see one, If
you know a really good detective,
| you'd better get hold of him than
to follow your own silly hunches."
II like your pleasant frankness,
Auntie, and 1 believe you're pretty
darned near right! But l do want
| to look into one side of the matter
first, and if that doesn't pan out
anything, I'll yell for Truitt. That's
my friend, Steve Truitt"
Tive heard of him. He's rather
celebrated"
Yes, though he's a young chap.
We were college chums, and he's as
bright as they come Well, Auntie,
here's my bunch. l think Inman
killed the lady. And 1 think he did
it, because he wanted her money.
And think lie was not In love with
her-no, not by no means.-but 1
think she was in love with him. and
pestered the life out Of him. 1 think
he is in love with Bunny-who could
help it? And so Myra bored him,
and when she begged him to elope
with her, he just got mad and-per-
haps unintentionally-I mean, UMPIRE.
meditatedly, let fly the bottle, and it
did for her"
Ingenious enough, Tod but moth.
ing to back up such a theory"
"Oh, don't know" said her nep.
hew, alrily, and went off by him
self to think things over.
Strolling about his aunt's grounds.
he drifted over to the Heath house,
and found Larry Inman alone on a
verandah.
Hello" Tnman said take seat
and sit down."
Care if 1 ask you some ques-
tions?" Tod said, with a straight.
forward glance at the other.
Wish you would. I say, I'm up
against it-have you ideas?"
Buck looked at him. curiously.
Nothing but" he returned
Haven't your"
yep. But they're all no good.
Say, I'm told you have a detective
INSTINCT believe that's the techni.
cal term-cah't you ferret out who
killed my cousin?"
Didn't your"
Buck shot out the words with such
clear-cut emphasis and assured in
tent, that Inman, instead of show.
ing any resentment. merely replied
mo, 1 didn't do it,"
Suddenly Todhunter Bucks heart
fell.
He couldn't have explained it him.
self, but there was something about
Inman's plain statement that car.
ried conviction-a deep conviction
that he was telling the simple
truth.
But, who did them" was all he
said.
You're in love with Miss Moore?"
lnman asked; quietly, and Teddy.
having suddenly taken liking to
this calm person, replied, yes"
"Then, III tell you of the danger
she's in. For I'm hoping you can
help me to help her"
You know somethingn" Buck ex.
claimed, with a flash of his aunt's
sort Of intuition.
yes, this. 1 heard a sound on
the stairs that night at half past
one o'clock, and I opened my door
just a crack, and I saw Bunny com.
ing up, with her vanity case in her
hand and looking as white as death.
and trembling like a leaf"
"And them"
Then, after a few moments, I
went downstairs, and found Myra
dead in the studio. The candies
burning at her head and feet-and.
Buck-when I felt of her outstretch.
ed arm, tit was still warm.'
ITO Be COntjnuedN