Evening star., 1928-06-07

The Greene Murder Case
A Philo Vance Story
By s. S. Van Dine
Copyright. 1928. Oy charle. scribners Sons.


| sinking doWn-deep :"
When she had ceased speaking tense
| silence fell on the room. Her account,
| for all its simplicity. had been tremen-
! dously graphic Like a great actress
she had managed to convey to her
| listeners the very emotional essence Of
| her story.
Vance waited several moments before
| speaking.
1T was a frightful experience! he
murmured sympathetically. Il wish 1t
wasn't necessary to worry you about de-
| tails. but there are several points I'd
like to go over with you"
She smiled family in appreciation Of
| his considerateness. and waited.
/ IF you tried hard, do you think you
could recall what awakened you?" he
asked.
"No-there wasn't any sound that
can remember"
Did you leave your door unlocked
Il think so. don't generally lock IT,"
"And you heard no door open or close
-anywhere?"
mo; none. Everything in the house
was perfectly still"
And yet you knew that some one
was in the room. How was that?"
Vance's voice, though gentle, was per-
sistent.
"I-don't know and yet there
must have been something that told
me"
Exactly! Now try to think" Vance
bent little nearer to the troubled girl.
"A soft breathing perhaps-a slight
gust of air as the person moved by
your bed-a faint ordor Of per-
tune :. 2"
She frowned painfully, as II trying
to recall the elusive cause Of her dread
Il can't think-I can't remember"
Her voice was scarcely audible. II was
so terribly frightened"
IF only We could trace the sourceI"
Vance glanced at the doctor, who nod
ded Understandings and said:
obviously some association whose
stimulus went unrecognized.
Did you feel Miss Greene. that you
knew the person who was here?" con-
tinued Vance. That is to say. was 1t Z
familiar presence?"
II don't know exactly. only know
I was afraid of it."
But you heard 1t move toward you
after you had risen and fed toward the
window. Was there any familiarity III
the sound?"
mol" For the first time she spokc
with emphasis. 1T was just footsteps
soft. sliding footsteps"
"Of course. any one might have wall.
cd that way in the dark, or person IN
bedroom slippers
1T was only few steps-and thcu
came the awful noise and burning"
Vance waited moment.
Try very hard TO recall those Ste-,<
or rather your impression Of their
Would you say they we're the steps c.
man or woman?"
An added pallor overspread the girl,
face; and her frightened eyes ran over
all the occupants of the room. HeI
breathing. I noticed had quickened,
and twice she parted her lips as i
to speak, but checked herself each tine.
At last she said in low tremulou-
voice.
4 dent know I haven't the slightez'
idea"
A short hiah-strung laugh, bite,
and sncering. burst from Sibella; ans
al eyes were turned in amazed atten-
ton in her direction. She stood rigid,
ST the foot Of the bed, her face flushed
her hands tightly clinched at her side
Why don't YOU tell them wou reccs-
nized my footsteps?" she demanded q
/ her sister in biting tones. You hs
every intention of doing so. Haven
Sobb.ng little cat2"
Ada caught her breath and seem-
10 draw herself nearer to the doctc
. who gave Sibella stern. adnoniio.
look.
'Oh, I say. Sib! Hold your tongue
II was Chester who broke the startle.
silence that followed the outbreak.
Sibslla shrugged her shoulders az
walked to the window; and Vance aga
turned his attention 70 the girl on III
bed. continuing his questioning as :.
nothing had happened.
There's one more point, Mis-
Greene" His tone was even gentlc'
than before When you CROPPED you
| way across the room toward the switch
AT what point did YOU come in contac
| with the unseen person?"
About halfway 10 the door-jus
| beyond that Center-table"
You say a hand touched you. e
how did II touch you2 Did II shove yc,
or try tn take hold Of youa"
She shook her head vaguely.
Not exactly don't know how
explain 1t. but I seemed to walk il
the hand. as though it were OF.
Misunderstanding for me"
Would you say it was large hars
or a small one? Did you. for instance
get the impression Of strength"
There was another silence. Again n
girls respiration Quickened. and sh
cast frightened glance az Sibella
who stood staring out into the blacS
swinging branches Of the trees in III
side yard
II don't know-oh. don't know
Her words were like = Stified cry &
anguish. i didn't notice. II was all 5,
Sudden-So horrible"
"RfiL try tn think " nryAi NanrAsS low
inSiStent voice surely you got som
impression. Was 1t mans hand. or 4
womanSs"
Sibella now came swiftly To the bee
her cheeks very pale. her eyes blazing
For moment she glared at the stricS
en- girl; then she turned reSolutely tg
Vance.
"You asked me downstairs II I had
any idea as % who might have doDc
the shooting I didn't answer you then,
but I'll answer YOU now, III tell Yea
who's guilty." She jerked her head To-
ward the bed, and pointed a auivertng
finger at the Still figure lying there
There's the guilty one that Snivellirg
little outsider. that sweet angelic little
snake in the gTaSSl"
So incredible. so unexpected. was tbs
accusation that for time no one in
the room spoke, A Groan burst mon,
AdaS lips, and she clutched at the dos
tors hand with SpaSTno0ic niovcmen,
OF despair.
"oh, Sioella--how could youl" Shc
breathed.
Won Rlon had Sttnened. and an ar
gry light came into his eyes, But b..
fore he could speak Sioella was rllShlng
ON with her Illogical. astounding in
dictment.
"Oh, she's the one who did itl And
shes deceiving YOU juSt rs she always
tried 10 deceive the rest OF us She
hates uS-,SheS hated us ever since
father brought her into this house she
reSentS uS~~the things we have, thc
very blood IN our VEINS. Heaven knows
hAk hl-A.a4t. -. Il ~. h..