Evening star., 1928-05-31
CHAPTER III.
The Investigation Opens.

- "aS' GAOuA tilc very llISt ulSllke0
the man. He was of medium height
and was bordering on cornulerSce
There was something soft and fablJy in
his contours; and, though he was
dressed with studied care, there were
certain signs Of overemphasis about his
Clothes. His cuffs were too tight. his
collar was too snug, and the coiored
SIX handkerchief hung too far out of
MS breast pocket. He was slightly bald
and the lids Of his close-set ewes pro-
Jected Ike those Of q man with Brieht,s
disease. His mouth, surmounted by a
close-cropped blond moustacl1e, was
loose. and his chin receded slightly
and was deeply creased below the un-
oer np He typified the pampered
idler
When he had shaken hands with
Markham, and Vance and had been
introduced. he seated himself and
metlculously inserted brown Russian
cigarette In long amber -and-go
ia De tremendously obliged. Marx
man," ne said, lighting his cigarette
from an ivory pocket lighter. "H would
MAKE q personal Investigation of the
row that occurred at our diggin,s last
nignt. The police win never get any
Wnere the way they're going about
it. Good fellows. you understandable
ponce. 6ut-well, there's something
about this affair-don't know t,Ist ho1
TO put 1t. Anyway, don't like It,"
Markham studied him closely for sey-
eral moments.
Just what's on your mind, Greene7'
Xhe other crushed cut his cigarette.
tn9ugh ne had taken no more than half
dozen puffs, and drummed indecisive.
~ on the arm Of his chair.
wish I knew. It's a rum AFFAIR
damned rum. There's something back
OF 1t, too-something that's going to
raise the very devil II We don't stUo IL
Can't explain it. It's q feeling I've cot. !"
Perhaps Mr.. Greene Is psychic" COM
mented Vance, with look Of bland
innocence.
The man swung about and scrutinized
vance with aggressive condescension
'Tosh!" He brought out another Rms.
sian cigarette, and turned aeair In
Markham: II wish you'd take peep at
the situation"
Markham hesitated. surely. you've
some reason for disagreeing with the
police and appealing 70 me-"
Funny thing, but I haven't" ct
seemed 70 me Greene,s hand shook
slightly as he lit his second cigarette. )
simply know that my mind rejects
the burglar story automatically.
1t was difficult to tell II he were be-
Ing frank or deliberately hiding sofne-
thing. 7 did feel, however, that some
sort OF fear lurked beneath his uneasi-
ness; and ! also got the impression that
ne was for from being heart-broken
over the tragedy.
ssTk RAnx~.S 4a
that the theory Of the burglary is en-
tirely consistent with the facts. There
have been many other cases of a house
breaker suddenly taking alarm, losing
his head and needlessly shooting peo-
pie"
Greene rose abruptly and began pac-
ing up and down.
can't argue the case" he muttered.
Its beyond all that, IL you understand
me-" He looked quickly at the district
attorney with staring eyes. "Gadl It's
got me In q cold sweat"
IT'S all too vague and intangible. |"
Markham observed kindly. I'm In
cltned to think the tragedy has upset
you. Perhaps after day or two"
Greene Lifted q protesting hand
ITS no 60. I'm telling you, Mark
ham. the police win never find their
laid q manicured hand on his breast.
Vance had been watching him with a
faint suggestion of amusement Now he
stretched his legs before him and gazed
up at the ceiling.
i say, Mr.. Greene-pardon the In
trusion on your esoteric gropings-but
do you know Of any one with q reason
for wanting your two sisters out of the
way?"
The man looked blank for a moment.
mo-" he answered finally; cant
say that do. Who In Heavens name,
would want to kill two harmless wom-
en-"
II haven't the groggiest notion. But,
since you repudiate the burglar theory,
and since the two ladies were undoubt-
edly shot. it's inferable that same one
sought their demise. and It occurred to
me that you, being their brother and
domiciled en- famille. might know Of
some one who harbored homicidal sem
timents toward them"
Greene bristled. and thrust his head
forward. Il know Of no one" he
blurted. Then, turning to Markham,
he continued wheedlingiy: "If I had
the slightest suspicion, don't you think
I'd come out with it9 This thing has
got on my nerves. I've been muliing
over 1t all night, and it's--it's bother
some, frightfully bothersome."
Markham nodded non-committally,
and rising. walked to the window, where
he stood. his hands behind him. gazing
down on the gray stone masonry Of the
Tombs.
Vance. despite his apparent apathy.
had been studying Greene closely: and.
as Markham turned to the window, he
nv tnh Al A1s ts& - .A-a
TEL me-" he began. an ingratiating
note In his voice. lust what happened
last night2 ! understand you were the
first 10 reach the PROSTATE women"
II was the first 10 reach my sister
julia" retorted Greene, with q hint
of resentment. "It was Eproot. the
butler. who found Ada unconscious.
bleeding from q nasty wound in her
back"
"Her back. eh?" Vance leaned for
ward. and lifted his eyebrows. "She
was shot from behind, then?"
yes" Greene frowned and inspect
cd his tingernails, as II no too sensed
something disturbing IN the fact,
And Miss Julia Greene. was she too
shot from behind2"
"No-frOm the 'front.'"
"Extf'ordinryf" Vance blew ring Of
smoke toward the dusty chandelier,
And had both women retired for the
nsght?"
FAN hour before. hut what
has all that got to do with it?"
"One never knows. does one? HOw-
ever, It's always well to be In possess
sion OF these little details when trying
10 run down the elusive source OF 8
psychic seizure"
"Phychic seizure be damnedl" erowled
Greene truculently, Cant man have