Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-25
The Greene Murder Case
A Philo Vance Story
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Bv S. S. Van Dine
Conyrssht. 1928. nv Charles scribners Sons.


will get by oBrien; and she's as strong
as man"
There's another thing you'd better
speak to her about as soon as possible"
And Markham related in detail the
facts of Won Blon'S visit to the office
after lunch IF those drugs were
stolen in the Greene mansion. your
woman may be able to find some trace
of them"
Markhams account of the missing
poiSons had produced a profound effect
on both Heath and the inspector.
Good heavens" exclaimed the latter
rs this affair going to develop into a
poisoning case? It would be the finish
ing touch" His apprehension went
much deeper than his tone implied.
Heath sat starting at the polished
table top with futile CONSERVATION.
Morphine and Strychninel There's
no use looking for the stuff. There's
a hundred places in the house where
it could be hid; and we might search
a month and not find it. Anyway, I'll
go out there tonight and tell O'Brien
70 watch for it, If she's on the lookout
she maybe can spot any attempt to use
it."
What aStounds me" remarked the
inspector. is the security felt by the
thief. Within an hour of the time Rex
Greene is shot the poison disappears
from the upper hall. Good Cad! That's
cold bloodedness for you! And nerve,
too"
There's plenty of -bloodedness
and nerve in this case" answered
Vance. "A relentless determination is
back of these understand calculation
no end. l wouldn't be surprised II the
doctors Satchel had been searched a
score of times before. Perhaps there's
been a patient accumulation of the
drugs. This mornings theft may have
been the final raid see in this whole
affair carefully worked-out plot that's
been in preparation perhaps for years.
And--what is even more hideouS-we're
confronted with the perverted magma
ton of q Enthusiastically romantic mind.
Hell, Mr. Vance!" Heath Tas I'M
easy. You're trying to make this case
something that ain't-well, natural
Can you make it anything else, ser
geant? Already there have been three
murders and an attempted murder. And
now comes the theft Of the poisons from
Won Blon."
Inspector Moran drew himself up and
rested his elbows on the table.
We'll. what's to be done? That,
believe, is the business Of tonight'S
conclave'' He forced himself to speak
break up the establishment; and We
can't assign separate bodyguard for
each remaining member of the house
hold
mo: and we can't give EN- the works
at the police station, either" grumbled
Heath.
1T wouldn't help you if you could.
sergeant" said Vance. There's no
third degree known that could unseal
the lips Of the person who is executing
this particular opus. There's too much
fantaticiSm and martyrdom in 1t"
Suppose We hear those wills. Mr..
Markham" suggested Moran. We may
then be able to figure out motive.
You'll admit, won't you, Mr.. Vance, that
there's a pretty strong motive back OF
these killings?"
There can be no doubt as to that.
But / don't believe it's money. Money
may enter into it-and probably does
but only as a contribut'ry factor. I'd
Scy the motive was more fundamental
that it had its matrix in some power
full but suppressed human passion.
However. the financial conditions may
lead us to those depths"
Markham had taken from his pocket
several legal-sized sheets of closely
typed paper, and smoothed them on the
There's no necessity to read these
verbatim" he said. I've gone over
them thoroughly and can tell you brief
~ what they contain" He took up the
top sheet and held it nearer 30 the light.
Tobias Greene's last viii, drawn up,
less than year before his death, makes
the entire family, as you know, the
reSiduary deviseeS, with the stipulation
that they live on the estate and MAIN
tain it intact for IS years At the end
of that time the property may be sold
or otherwise disposed of. I might men
ton that the domiciiiary stipulation
was particularly strict: the legatees
must live in the Greene mansion in esse
no technically viii suffice. They
are permitted to travel and make visits.
but such absences may not exceed three
months in each respective year. :"
What provision was made in case
one of them should marry" asked the
inspector.
None Even marriage on the part
of any of the legatees did not vitiate
the restrictions of the will. II Greene
married, he or she had to live out the
IS years on the estate just the same,
The husband or wife could share the
residence, Of course. In event OF chill
dren the will provided for the erection
of two other small dwellings on the
Fifty-second street side Of the lot. Only
one exception was made to these Stipu-
lations. II Ada should marry, she
could live elsewhere without losing her
inheritance, as she apparently was not
Tobias own child and could not, there
fore, carry on the blood line OF the
Greenes"
Continued in Tomorrow's Starr