The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-01-19
g nsg esNSoN NavRpeR CASE

mad been necessary to force 1t, and
beside it lay a brass-handlcd, cast
iron poker which had evidently been
brought from the living-room and
used as make-shift chisel with
which to pry open the lock.
Vance had glanced but casually
at the different objects in the rooms
as we made our rounds, but when
he came to the dressing table he
paused abruptly. Taking out his
monocle he adjusted it carefully
and leaned over the broken jewel
case.
"Most extraordinary he murmur.
ed, tapping the edge Of the lid with
his gold pencil. "What do yor
make Of that, Sergeant?
Heath had been cycling Vance
with narrowed lids as the latter
bent over the dressing-table.
whats in your mind, Mr.
Vance," he, in turn asked.
"Oh. more than you could ever
guess" Vance answered lightly
"But just at the moment I was toy
ing with the idea that this stecl
case was never torn open by that
wholly inadequate iron poker
what?"
Heath nodded his head approx.
ingly. $50 you, too. noticed that
did you? And you're dead
right. That poker might've twist
ed the box little. but it never
snapped that lock-"
He turned to Inspector Moran
"That's the puzzler I've sent foi
Prof Bremen to clean up--if he
can. The jimmying Of that jewel
case looks to me like high-class
professional job. No Sunday
school superintendent did it,"
Vance continued for while to
study the box, but at length he
turned away with a perple:Nd
frown.
II say" he commented. "Some-
thing devilish queer took place here
last night"
"Oh, not SO queer" Heath
amended. ut was a thorough job,
all RICH, but there's nothing mys-
ferrous ABOUT IT.
Vance polished his monocle and
put it away.
IF you go to work on that basis,
Sergeant" he returned carelessly.
II greatly fear you'll run aground
on a reef. And may kind Heaven
brine you safe to shorc!"
- TUESDAY. Sept. IL; $3.50 a. mo-
A few minutes after we had re-
turned to the living-room Doctor
Doremus. the chief medical exam
liner, arrived. jaunty and energetic.
Immediately in his train came three
other men, one Of whom carried Il
bulky camera and a folded tripod.
These were Captain Dubois and
Detective Bellamy, finger-print ex-
perts, and Peter Quackcnbush, the
official photographer
swell. well, we'll" exclaimed
Doctor Dorcmus. "Quite a gather
ing of the clans. More trouble, eh /?
=. II wish your friends, Inspector,
would choose IA more respectable
hour for their little differences.
This early rising upsets my liver"
He shook hands with everybody
in a brisk. businesslike manner. {
where's the body" he demand
ed breezily, looking about the room.
He caught sight of the girl on the
davenport. "Ah! A LADY,"
Stepping quickly forward, he
made rapid examination Of the
dead girl, scrutinizing her neck
and fingers, moving her arms and
head to determine the condition Of
rigor mortis. and finally unfleXing
her stifrened limbs and laying her
out straight on the long cushions,
preparatory to a more detailed neg
ropsy.
The rest Of us moved toward the
bedroom, and Heath motioned TO
the finger-print men TO follow.
Go over everything" he told
them. "But take a special look at
his jewel-case and the handle Of
this poker, and give that document
box in the other room a closeup
and-down."
Right" assented Captain Du-
bois. We'll begin in here while
the docs busy in the other room."
And he and Bellamy set to work.
Our interest naturally conferred
on the captains labors. For fully
five minutes we watched him in
speeding the twisted steel sides OF
the jewel-case and the smooth, pol
ished handle Of the poker. He held
the objects gingerly by their edges,
and, placing a jewelers. glass in his
eye, flashed his pocket light on
every square inch Of them. At
length he put them down, scowling.
"No finger-prints here" he an
nounced. "Wiped Clean"
II mighta known it, grumbled
Heath. ut was a professional job,
all right He turned to the other
expert. "Found anything, Bel
lamI?"
Nothing to help" was the
grumpy reply. "A few old smears
with dust over 'em."
"Looks like a -washout,' Heath
commented irritably; though Pm
hoping for something in the other
roOm."
At this moment Doctor Doremus
came into the bedroom and, taking
a sheet from the bed, returned to
the davenport and covered the body
of the murdered girl. Then he
snapped shut his case, and putting
on his hat at a rakish angle,
stepped forward with the air of a
man in great haste to be on his way.
"Simple case Of strangulation
from behind" he said, his words
running together. "Digital bruises
about the front of the throat; |
thumb bruises in the sub-occipital
region. Attack must have been
unexpected. "A quick, competent
job though deceased evidently bat
tied little"
Elbow do you suppose her dress