Evening star., 1928-05-31

Markham came forward and sat
down on the edge Of the table. His
curiosity had been aroused, and he
indicated to Greene his sympathy with
Vance's interrogation.
Greene pursed his lips, and returned
his cigarette holder 10 his pocket.
"Oh, very well. What else do
want to know"
You might relate for u.s." dulectly
resumed Vance, "the exact order Of
events after you heard the first shot.
presume you did hear the shot"
Certainly / heard it--couldn't have
helped hearing It, Julia's room is next
to mine, and was stiII awake. I
jumped into my slippers and pulled on
my dressing-gown: then / went out into
the hall. It was dark, and I felt my
way along the wall until I reached
in-didn't know who might be there
waiting to pop me-and I saw her
lying in bed, the front Of her night
gown covered with blood. There was no
one else In the room, and went to her
Immediately. Just then I heard an
other shot which sounded as II IL came
from Ada's room. was q bit muzzy
by this tirne-didn't know what I'd
better do: and as stood by JuIia's bed
in something Of q funk-oh, I was In
a funk all right ="
Cant say that I blam, you" Vance
encouraged him.
Greene nodded. "a damned tickIish
position to be in. Wen, anyway, as I
stood there. heard some one coming
down the stairs from the seryants'
quarters on the third floor. and recog-
nized old Sproot's tread. He fumbled
As@ -
enter Ada's door. Then he called to
me, and hurried over. Ada was lying
In front Of the dressing table; and
Sproot and I lifted her on the bed.
I'd gone a bit weak IN the knees: was
expecting any minute to hear another
shot-don't know why. Anyway, t.
didn't come: and then heard Sproots
voice at the hall telephone calling up
DR.. Won BIon"
"I see nothing In your account,
Greene, inconsistent with the theory
OF a burglar" observed Markham.
And furthermore, Feathergill. my as
sistant, says there were two sets Of con-
fused footprints in the snow outside
the front door,"
Greene shrugged his shoulders, but
did not answer.
"By the by, Mr.. Greene,"-vance had
slipped down In his chair and was star
ing into space-"you said that when
you looked into Miss Ju.ia's room you
saw her In bed. How was that? Did
you turn on the nght?"
'Why, MOI" The man appeared pug
zled by the question. The light was
on"
There was . futter CT interest i'm
Vapce's eyes.
"And how about Miss Ada's roomf
Was the light on there also7"
"Yes."
Vance reached into his pocket, and,
drawing out his cigarette case, care
fully and deliberately selected Q ciga-
rette. I recognized IN the action an
evidence Of repressed inner excitement
$50 the lights were on In both rooms.
Most interestin,."-
Markham, too, recognized the eager
ness beneath his apparent indifference.
and regarded him expectantiy.
And" pursued Vance, after lighting
his cigarette leisurely, "llow long Q
time would you say elapsed between the
two shots?"
Greene was obviously annoyed by
this cross-examination, but he answered
readily.
"Two or three minutes certainly no
longer"
still" ruminated Vance. "after you
heard the first shot you rose from your
bed, donned slippers and robe, went
into the han, felt along the wall to the
next room. opened the door cautiously,
peered inside, and then crossed the
room to the bed--all this, I gather, be-
fore the second shot was fred Is that
correct?"
Certainty It's correct"
"Well. we'll As you say, two or three
minutes. Yes, at least that. Aston
ishin'l" Vance turned to Markham
Really. y know. old man, don't wish
to influence your judgment. but I rather
think you ought to accede TO Mr..
Greene's request to take hand In this
investigation. too have . psychic
me that your eccentric burglar win
prove an ignis fatuus."
Markham eyed him with meditative
curiosity. Not only had Vance's Ques-
tioning Of Greene interested him keeniy,
but he knew, as result OF long ex-
perience, that Vance would not have
made the suggestion had he not had Q
good reason for doing 50 was In
no wise surprised. therefore, when he
turned to his restive visitor and said:
''Very well. Greene, III see what
can do in the matter. III probably be
at your house early this afternoon.
Please see that every one Is present, as
III want to question them"
Greene held out q trembling hand.
THE domestic roster-family and serv-
antS-will be complete when you arrive"
He strode pompously from the room
Vance sighed. mot q nice creature,
Markham-not at all a nice creature.
shall never be . politician If It In
wolves an acquaintance with such
gentlemen"
Markham seated himself at his desk
with q disgruntled air.
Greene is highly regarded as .
sociai-not political-decoration." he
said maliciously. He belongs to your
totem, not mine"
Fancy thatl" Vance stretched him.
self luxuriously. "Stfll, It's you who
fascinate him. Intuition tells me he
Is not overfond Of me-"
"You did treat him q BIT eavalieriy.
Sarcasm is not exactly q means Of
endearment,"
"But, Markham old thing. wasn't
pining for Chester's affection"
you think he knows. or suspects.
something9"
Vance gazed through the long window
into the bleak sky beyond.
II wonder" he murmured. Than:
'Is Chester, by any chance, q typical
Of the Greene familyP
OF recent years I've done so little ming
ling with the elite that I'm woefuliy
ignorant OF the East Side nabohs."
Markham nodded reneetively.
I'm afraid he Is. The original
Greene stock was sturdy. but the pres
ent generation seems In have gone
70 pot. Old Tobias the third
-Chester's tather--was a rugged and,
in many ways, admirable character.
He appears. however, TO have been the
last heir Of the ancient Greene qualities.
What's left OF the family has suffered
some sort Of disintegration. They're
not exactly soft. but tainted with