Evening star., 1928-06-15
The Greene Murder Case
A Philo Vance Story

By S. S. Van Dine
coprrirh,. 1928. br CharIes scribner,a sosa.

- - <E1fk<Sz<tzszS
and vituperation welled shrilly from his
twitching lips. His inSensts wrath
seemed to pass all ordinary bounds.
His enormous head was thrust forward
like a python's; and his face was
cyanoSed and contorted.
Vance stood poised. watching him
alertly; and Markham had instinctively
moved back his chair. Even Heath
was startled by Rex's inordinate ma
lignity.
What might have happened ! don't
know, had not Won Blon at that mo-
ment stepped swiftly into the room and
placed a restraining hand on the
youths shoulder.
"Rexl" he said, In a calm, authorita-
tive voice. Get grip on yourself.
You're disturbing Ada"
The other ceased speaking abruptly;
but his ferocity of manner did not
wholly abate. He shook of the doctors
hand angrily and swung around, facing
| Won Blon..
What are you interfering for?" he
cried You're always meddling In this
| house, coming here when you're not
| sent for, and nosing into our affairs.
Mothers paralysis u only an excuse.
You've said yourself she'll never get
well, and yet you keep coming, bringing
| her medicine and sending bills" He
gave the doctor crafty leer. "Oh, you
don't deceive me. I know why you
come here! It's Sibella!" Again he
thrust out his head and grinned
shrewdly. Shed be good catch for
a doctor, too-wouldn't she7 Plenty
Of money"
Suddenly he halted. His eyes did not
leave Won Blon, but he shrank back
and the twitching Of his face began
, once more. A quivering finger went up;
and & as ne spoke his voice rose excitedly.
You want ours along with hers. So
you're arranging for her to inherit all
Of it. That's it-that's it You're the
one who's been doing all this. &.
oh, my Cod You've got Chester's gun
you took it! And you've got q key
to the house-easy enough for you to
have one made. That's how you got in"
| Won Blon shook his head sadly and
smiled with rueful tolerance. 1t was
an embarrassing moment. but he car
ried it OF we'll
Come, Rex" he said quietly, like
person speaking to a refractory child
You've said enough--7
| Have IT, cried the youth, his eyes
| cleaning unnaturally. "You knew
Chester had the revolver. You went
camping with him the Summer he got
/ it-he told me so the other day, after
Julia was killed" His beady little eyes
seemed to stare from his head; spaSm
shook his emaciated body; and his nm
gers again began worrying the hem OF
his jacket.
Won Bion stepped swiftly forward
and, putting a hand on each Of his
shoulders, shook him.
"Thatu do, Rex" The words were
a sharp command. If you carry on
this way. well have to lock you UP in
an Institution"
The threat was uttered in what I con-
| sidered an unnecessarily brutal tone:
but 1t had the desired effect. A haunt
| ing fear showed in Rex's eyes. He
seemed suddenly TO go limp. and he
| docilely permitted Won Blon TO lead
"A sweet specimen, that Rex" COM
mented Vance. mot q person one
would choose for boon companion
Aggravated cephalia-cortical ir-
ritation. But I say, Sergeant; really
y know, you shouldn't have prodded
the lad So"
Heath grunted.
you can't tell me that guy don't
know something. And you can bet your
sweet life I'm going to search his room
damn good for that gun"
1T appears to me-" rejoined Vance,
hes too fiighty to have planned the
massacre in this house. He might blow
up under pressure and hit somebody
with a handy missile; but ! doubt if
he'd lay any deep schemes and bide his
time"
He's good and scared about some
thing" persisted Heath morosely.
Hasn't he cause 10 be? Maybe he
thinks the elusive gunman hereabouts
Will chose him as the next target"
IF there is another gunman, he
showed damn bad taste not picking Rex
out FIRST" II was evident the sergeant
was still snarting under the epithets
that had so recently been directed al
him.
Won Blon returned to the drawing
room at this moment, looking troubled.
I've got Rex quietei." he said.
Gave him five grains Of luminal. Hell
sleep for few hours and wake up peni-
tent. I've rarely seen him quite as vio-
lent as ne was today. He's supersensi-
tiver-cerebral neurasthenia; and he's
apt to fly OF the handle. But hes
never dangerous" He scanned our
faces swiftly. "One of you gentle
men must have said something pretty
severe"
Heath looked sheepish. Il asked him
where he'd hid the gun
"Ah!" The doctor gave the sergeant
q look OF questioning reproach. "Too
bad! We have to be careful with Rex.
He's all right so long as he isn't opposed
too strongly. But don't Just see, sir,
what your object could have been in
You surely don't suspect him Of having
had hand in these terrible shootings."
/ You tell me who did the Shootings,
doc" retorted Heath pugnaeiously, land
then I'll tell you who don't suspect"
| II regret that / am unable to en-
tighten you" Won Blon's tone exuded
its habitual pleaSantneSs. But I can
assure you Rex had no part In them
They're quite out OF keeping with his
| pathologic state"
That's the defense Of half the high
| countered Heath.
Il see can't argue with YOU" Won
, Blon sighed regretfully, and turned an
engaging countenafce in Markham's
| direction. HRex'S absurd accusations
puzzled me deeply. but, since this ofncer
| admits he practically accused the boy
OF having the revolver. the situation be-
comes perfectly clear. A common form
OF instructive Self-proteetion. this at
tempting TO shift blame on others. You
| eau see, Of course. that Rex was merely
trying to turn suspicion upon me so
as To free himself. It's unfortunate,
Tor he and l were always good friends
Poor Nex!"
BY the by. scctor," came VanceS
being with Mr.. Chester Greene on tnv
camping trip when he first secured the
gun; was that correct? Or was IL
merely fancy engendered by Rex's