Evening star., 1928-06-05
BY S. S. Van Dine

4
were hot-footing 1t after a burglar"
Sibella made no answer. With a
slight toss of the head she leaned over
and threw her cigarette into the CRATE.
by the by, Miss Greene"-Vance
spoke casually-"tflere has been con-
siderable mystery about the disappear
ance of your brothers revolver. 1t has
vanished from his desk
drawer. I wonder if you have seen 1t
about the house anywhere"
At his mention Of the gun Sibella
stiffened slightly. Her eyes took on an
expression of intentness, and the cor
ironical smile.
Chefs revolver has gone, has it?"
She put the question Colorlessly, as II
her thoughts we're elsewhere. mo
I haven't seen it. Then, after
a momentary pause: But 1t was II
Chefs desk last week"
Chester heaved himself forward
angrily.
what were you doing in my desk
last week?" he demanded
Don't wax apoplectic," the girl SAID
carelessly. II wasn't looking for love
missives. simply couldn't imagine you
to amuse her. II was only looking for
that old emerald stick-pin you bor-
rowed and never returned"
TITS at the club" he explained
sulkily.
"Is it, really! Well. 1 didn't find it
anyway; but did see the revolver
Are you quite sure It's gomez"
Don't be absurd" the man growled-
I've searched everywhere for it. ..
Including your room, he added venge-
fully.
"Oh, you would! But why did you
admit having it in the first placer"
Her tone was scornful. Why involve
yourself unnecessarily"
Chester shifted uneasily.
This gentleman again pointed
impersonally to Heath-"asked me Z
1 owned a revolver. and told him yes
If hadn't, some Of the servants or ono
of my loving family would have told
him. And I thought the truth was
best"
Sibella smiled satirically
MY older brother, you observe, is &
model of all the old-fashioned virtues
she remarked to Vance. But she was
obviously distraite. The revolver epiN
sode had somewhat shaken her self
assurance.
"You say, Miss Greene, that tho
burglar idea does not appeal to YOU
Vance was smoking languidly with
half-closed eyes. Can you think c.
any other explanation for the tragedy"
The girl raised her head and re-
garded him calculatingly.
Because I don't happen TO believe
in burglars that shoot women and
sneak away without taking anything
it doesn't mean that I can suggest alter
natives. I'm not policewoman--
though I've often thought it would Be
jolly good sport-and / had a vague
idea it was the business Of the police to
run down criminals-You don't beiievs
in the burglar either. Mr. Vance, or you
wouldn't have followed up Chefs
hunch. Who do you think ran amuck
here last night?"
MY dear girl!" Vance raised 4 pre-
testing hand. IF / had the fogg.ezt
idea I wouldn't be annoying you With
impertinent question: I'm p,odd,ns
with leaden feet in veTitable beg g.
ignorance"
He spoke negligently. but Sibalc's
eyes were clouded with suspicion. Pres
emily, however. she laughed g7lly ana
held out her hand.
Another Reggie, monsieur. I was on
ths verge of becoming serious: and
simply mustn't become serious. Its
one wrinkles And I'm much too young
for wrinkles - .@e'o1r
Like Ninon de LEncloS. you'll always
be too young for wrinkles" rejoined
Vance, holding q match &c her cigarette
But perhaps you can suggest. without
becoming too serious, some one who
might have had a reason for wanting
to kill your two sisters
"oh. as for that, Ia say we'd az
come under suspicion We're not an
ideal home circle. by any means. l.
fact, the Gresnes are \ queer collec-
ton. We don't lore one another tha
way perfectly nice ana proper fsnlif'
should. We're always az each others
threats. pickering and fighting sbcu'
something or other. It's rather moss
this msnage. It's = wonder 70 me-
murder hasn't b2sn dons long before
And we've all got TO live here until
1882, or 80 il CT our own; snd, 0.
course. none of us could make a decent
living. sweet paternal heritagst"'
She smoked m0odily for n few
moments.
"Yes, any one OF us had ample reason
to be murderouSly inclined toward all
the others. Chet there would strange
me now II he didn't think the nervous
aftermath Of the act would spoil bis
golf--wpuldn' YOU. Chet dsar2 Rex re-
CARDS us all as interiors. and probably
considers himself highly indulgent ana
altruistic not to have murdered Us al
long ago. And the only reason mother
hasn't killed us is that she's p2ralygs5
and can't manage 1t. Julia, too. fer
that matter could have Ssen US al
boiled In oil without turning 8 hair
And as fer Ada"-ksr browS cop-
tracted and an extraordinary fcyOcity
erept into her eyeS--"Shed dearly love
ia see us all eXtsTmiCatsd. She's no,
really one Of US, and she hates Us. Nor
would l myself have any scrup,cS about
doing away with the rest OF my fond
family. I've thought Of 1t cftcn. but 7
could never decide on 3 nice thNrCugh
method" She flicSed her cigarctts ash
on the floor, so there you are, II
you're looking for possibilities you have
them ga1crs. There's no one under this
ancestral roof who couldn't ouslty."
Though her words were meant 20 b.
satirical, I could rot hep feeling thar
a somhre, terrible truth underlsv them
Vance. though apparently listening
with amusement. had. knew. heen
absorbing every infection Of her voice
and play Of expression In an effort 70
relate the details cf her sweeping sn-
dietment to the problem IN hand.
"At any rate" ne reVaT&ed oGhand-
ediy, YOU are an aina&iaSly fvans
young woman, However. I Ssa'nI
recommend YOUR arrest inst vet
haven't particle Of evidence asatnS,
you. don't v know, Annoyip.' aiat tt2'
"oh, well" sighed the girl IN mock
disappointment, "you may pick up =
Gle later on. Theren probably be an
other death or two around here before
long. I'D hate % think the murderer
would give up the tcb with 81 little
really accomplished At this point
Dr, Won Rlon entered the araWipS roaG
Chester rose 20 greet him, and the fer
maltieS OF introduction were quickly
over. Ven B.0n bowed With reserved
but l n2teI, that his manner
to Sihella while pleasant was casual
in the cxereTae wondered a uttlS