Evening star., 1928-06-03

!
cattle It was positively disgraceful
/ And here was Ia helpless old woman
entirely neglected and forgotten suf-
/ fering agonies with my spine"
After a few commiserating banalities
| Markham thanked her for her assist
1 ance and withdrew As We passed out
and walked toward the stairs | could
hear her calling out angrily; Nurse!
NurSel Can't you hear me? Come at
once and arrange my pillows. What
do YOU mean by ncglccting me this
/ way ="
I The voice trailed of msrcifully as we
4 descended to the main hall.
! CHAPTER "
The Missing Revolver,
Tuesday, November 9: 3 PM
The matters a crabbed old soul"
Greene apoiogized offhandcdly when
We were again in the drawing room.
Always grouSing about her doting off,
/ spring Well, where do we go from
hcre?"
/ Markham seemed lost in thought, and
I it was Vance who answered
Let us take a peep al the servants
and harken to their tale; Sproot for a
starter"
Markham rousei himself and nodded,
I and Greene rose and pulled a Silken
/ bell cord near the arcllway minute
/ later the butler appeared and stood at
/ obSequious attention lust inside the
+ room. Markham had appeared some
what at sea and even unnterested dur
/ ing the investigation. and Vance as
SuTled command
"Sit down. Sproot and tell us as
briefly as possible lust what occurred
I last night
Sproot came forward slowly. his eyes
on the flocr, but remained standing
before the center table.
Il w2s reading Martial. sir. in my
/ room" ne began. lifting his gaze sub
miSSively when / thought / heard a
muffled shot. I wasn't quite sure. for
/ the automobiles in the street back-fire
quite loud at times: but al last said TO
! myself I'd better investigate. l was In
neglige, If you understand what mean,
+ sir: SO l slipped on my hath robe and
/ came down I didn't know Just where
/ the noise had come from: but when
was half way down the steps, | heard
another shot and this time it sounded
/ like it came from Miss Ada's room
! So / went there at once. and tried the
door II was unlocked and when
/ looked in saw Miss Ada lying on the
/ dooR-a very distressing sight, sir,
called to Mfr Chester. ana we lifted the
poor young lady to. tne bed. Then I
! telephoned To DR.. Won Blon."
Vance scrutinizad him
You were very courageous, Sproot.
I to brave a DARK hall for the source of
a shot in the middle o. the night"
Thank you. sir. the man answered,
with great humility I always try to
/ 60 my duty BY the Greene family. I've
been with them"
s9sI III
cut him short. The light was on In
/ Miss Ada's room. I understand. when
! you opened the door"
Yes. sir"
And you saw no one. or heard no
noise? No door closing, for instance?"
No, S.r"
And yet the person who fired the
shot must have been somewhere in the
/ hall at the same time you were there. +"
Il suppose SO. sir"
And he might we'll have taken shot
f at you. too"
Quite 50. sir" Sproot seemed wholly
/ indifferent to the danger he had es-
capped But what viii be. viii be. sir
If you'll pardon my saying 50. And
I I'm an old man"
Tut tut You.l probably live con-
siderable time yst--just how long /
cant. Of course. say"
mo. sar" Sproot's eyes gazed blankly
ahead NC one understands the mys-
+ teTaeg Of life and death 9
You're somewhat pniiosophic, see. .
! cr.ly commented Vance Then. When
/ you paored to Dr.. yon Blon. was he
! in?"
; "Eo. sir. but the night nurse told
me he'd be- back any minute, and that
she'd send MIN over he arrived in
! less than half an hour"
Vance nodded That will be all.
. thank you. Sproot. And nov please
send me die gnadige Frau Kochin"
yes. sir" And the old butler shut
fed from the room
] vance's eyes followed him thought
fully.
An inYesglin' character" be mur-
INJURED
/ Greene snoTted. you don't have 10
live with him. He'd have said Yes
sir If you'd spoken 10 him In WaIloon
or yoiapuk. A sweet little PLAYMATE 10
/. have shopping around the house "a
hours days"
The COOK. a por''y. nhicgnatic Ger
man woman of aDout IS. named Ger
sgude Mannheim. came IN and seated
/ herself On the edge of chair near the
entrance. Vance. after a moment e
keen inspection Of her asked.