Evening star., 1928-06-12

relgned Until nalI past IL, when
heard the shot in Chefs ROOM"
"How long was this interregnum Of
quietude?" asked Vance. -
well, mother generally ends her
daily criticism Of the family around
1880: so I'd say the quietude lasted
about an hour"
"And d..ring that time you do not
recall hearing slight shufling sound
In the hall? Or door closing softly?"
The girl shook her head indifTerently.
and took another cigarette from small
amber case she carried in her sweater
pocket.
sorry but didn't. That doesn't
mean, though. that people couldn't
have been shutting and shutting doors
all over the place. My rooms e. the
rear. and the noises on the river ana
in Flfty-second street drown out almost
anything that's going on in the front
Of the house"
Vance had gone to her and held a
match TO her cigarette.
Il say, you don't seem in the least
worried"
"Oh. why worry?" She made a ges-
ture of resignation. "n anything Is 70
happen to me. it'll happen, whatever
do. But don't anticipate an immedi-
ate demise. No one has the slightest
reason for killing n1e-unless, Of course.
It's some of my former bridge partners.
But they're all harmless persons who
wouldn't be apt to take extreme mea-
sures"
"Still"~-Vance kept his tone incon-
sequential-"no one apparently had
any reason for harming your two sis
ters or your brother"
"On that point I couldn't be alto
eether lucid. We Greenes don't con-
fide In one another. There ) a beastly
spirit of distrust in this ancestral do
main. We all lie to each other on
general principles. And as for secretsl
Each member OF the family is a kind
OF masonic order IN himself. Surely
there's some reason for all these shoot
ings. l simply can't imagine any one
indulging himself in this fashion for
the mere purpose Of pistol practice"
She smoked moment pensively, and
went on:
Eyes, there must be a motive back
Of 1t although for the life of me I
| can't suggest one. OF course, Julia
was a vinegary, unpleasant person, but
| she went out very little, and worked
of her various compiexes on the family.
And yet, she may have been leading a
double life for all know. When these
sour old maids break loose from their
| tnhibitionS ! understand they do the
most utterly utter things. But I lust
can't bring my mind to picture Julia
with bevy Of jealous Romeos." She
made comical grimace at the thought.
Ada, on the other hand is what We
used to call in algebra an unknown
quantity. No one but dad knew where
she came from. and he would never tell.
n ha rtza
| to run around-mother keeps her too
busy. But she's young and good-look-
ing in common sort Of way"-tnere
was tinge Of venom in this remark
'ahd you can't tell what connections
she may have formed outside the sacred
portals Of the Greene mansion. As for
Chet, no one seemed to love him pas
sionately. never heard anybody say
good word for him but the golf pro
at the club, and that was only because
Chet tipped him Ike parvenu. He
had a genius for antagonizing people.
Several motives for the shooting might
be found in his past"
Il note that you've changed your
ideas considerably in regard to the
culpahility Of Miss Ada" Vance spoke
incuriously
Sibella looked a little shamefaced..
Il did get a bit excited. didn't II"
Then a defiance came into her voice
But just the same she doesn't belong
here. And she's a sneaky little cat
Shed dearly love to see US all nicely
murdered. The only person that seems
to like her is cook; sui then. Gertrnde's
a sentimental German who likes every
body. She feeds half the stray cats
and dogs in the ueighboTl1ood. Our
rear yard is a regular pound in SUN
mer"
Vance was silent for a while. sud
denly he looked up.
i gather from your remarks, Miss
Greene, that you now regarG the shoot
ings as the acts Of some. one from the
outside"
Does any one think anything else?"
she asked, with startled anxiety. Il
understand there were footprints in the
snow both times we were visited. Surely
they would indicate an outsider"
Quite true" Vance assured her. a
bit overenphatically. obviously striving
TO allay whatever fears his queries NAV
nave aroused In her. Those footprints
undeniably indicate that the intruder
entered each time by the front door"
And you are not TO have any uneasi-
ness about the future Miss Greene"
added Markham. shall give orders
today to have a strict guard placed
over the house, front and rear until
there Is no longer the slightest danger
OF recurrence Of what has taken
place here"
Heath nodded his unqualified ap-
probation.
I'm arrange for that. sir. Therein
be two men guarding this place day
and night from now on"
How positively thrillingl" exclaimed
Gfh0ilas hIIf Il TnffaoA cfr
ton OF apprehension III her eyes.
We won't detain you any longer,
Miss Greene" said Markham, rising
But I'd greatly appreciate 1t If you
would remain In YOUR room until our
inquiries here are over. You may, OF
course, visit your mother"
Thanks awf'ly. but I think III in
dulge In a little lost beauty sleep"
And she left us with friendly wave Of
the hand.
Who do you want to see next. Mr.
Markham" Heath was on his feet.
vigorously relighting his cigar.
But before Markham could answer
Vance lifted his hand for silence. and
leaned forward in a listening attitude.
"Oh, Sproot!" he called, step in
here moment"
The old butler appeared at once. calm
and subServlent. ana waited with 4
vacuouSly expectant expression.
Really, y know said Vance, there's
not the slightest need for ycu to hover
solicttously amid the draperies OF the
hallway while we're busy in here. Most
considerate and loyal of you; but If we
want you for anything weu ring"
"As you desire, sir"
Sproot started to go. but Vance halted
him
Now that you're here Won might
answer one or two questions"
Very good sir"
First. I want you to think back