Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-15
The Scarab Murder Case
BY S. S. Van Dine
COpsrisAs. 1850. ), 8. Q. Van Dine.

ately scotched Il, lest there Be some
outward show OF sentiment
The program for tomorrow"
Vance took up MarkhaTn's question.
Really, yknow, I hadn't given it any
Careestan consideration. There's
an exhibition Of oauguins ct wilden-
g q. I'm, might stasgsr In and 6ass
Pont-Avenois. Then there's q per-
Torrance Of the Beethoven SepteE at
Carnegie Hall; and q preview Of
Egyptian wall paintings from the tornbs
OF Nakhte and Menena and Rekh-mi-
Re"
"And there's an orchid show at the
Grand Central Palace" Markham sug-
here, Vance, II we let this thing run
on another day without taking some
kind OF action. there may be danger
ahead for some one else. just IS there
was danger for Bliss tonight. II the
murderer Of Kyle Is as ruthless as you
say and his job hasn't been complet-
cd"
mo, I don't think So" vsnces face
clouded again. The plot doesn't in
clude another act Of violence. be-
lteve 1t has now entered upon q
quieseent and subtle-and more dead
ly--stage." He smoked moment specu-
latively. And yet there may
be . remote chance. Things haven't
gone according to the murderers calcu-
lations. We've blocked his two most
ambitious moves. But he has one more
combination left, and I'm countin' on
his trying 1t !"
His voice faltered. and rising he
walked slowly TO the French window
and back.
Anyway, I'll take care Of the situa-
ton in the morning." he said. "I'Il
guard against any dangerous possible
ity. And at the same time III hasten
the planting Of that last clue"
How long IS this rigmarole going To-
take?" Markham was troubled and
nervous II can't go on indefinitely
waiting for apocalyptic events to hap
pen"
give me "a hours. Then. If we
haven't received further guidance from
the gentlemen who Is pulIin' the
strings, you may turn Heath loose on
the family"
II was less than "a hours when the
eliminating event occurred. The l4th
OF July will always remain in my men,
DRY as one Of the most terrible and ex-
citing days OF my life: and as I set
down this record Of the case, years
later, I can hardly refrain from shud-
der. do not dare think Of what might
AA&NC AaRRGltCl--Ok WklHb &QUl~3tlIIAnK
injustice might have been perpetrated
In good faith--had not Vance seen the
inner Vaccinations Of the diabolical
plot underlying Kyle's murder, and per-
sisted In his refusal 10 permit Markham
and Heath taking the obvious course OF
arresting Bliss.
Vance told me months later that
never In his career had he been con-
Ironted ny so delicate task as that
CT placating Markham and convincing
him that an impassive delay was the
only possible means of reaching the
truth. Almost from the moment Vance
entered the museum In answer to Scar
let's summons. he realized the ire
mendous diniculties ahead for every
thing had been planned in order to
force Markham and the police into
making the very move against which
he had 30 consistently fought.
Though Markham did not take Ms
departure from Vance's apartment on
the night of the dagger episode until
half past two. Vance rose the next
morning before o.cock. Another
sweltering day was promised, and he
had his coffee In the roof-garcen. He
sent Currie TO fetch all the morning
newspapers and spent q half hour or
so reading the accounts Of Kyle's
murder.
Heath had been highly discreet about
| giving out the facts, and only the bar
est skeleton Of the story was available
TO the press. But the prominence OF
| Kyle and the distinguished reputation
4. DR.. Bliss resulted in the murder
creating tremendous furoTe. It was
ebeblazoned across the front page az
every metropolitan journal, and there
wele long reviews Of Bliss Egypto-
logical work and the financial interest
taken in It by the dead philanthropist.
The general theory seemed to be-and
recognized the sergeant's shrewd
hand In it-that some one from the
street had entered the museum, and,
IS an act OF vengeance or enmity, had
killed Kyle with the first available
weapon.
Hsath had told the reporters Of the
finding Of the scarab beside the body.
but had given no further information
about 1t. Because Of this small object.
which was the one evidential detail
that had been vouchsafed, the papers,
always on the lookout for identifying
titles, named the tragedy the Scarab
murder case; and that appelation has
chung TO 1t to the present day. Even
those persons who have forgotten the
name Of Benjamin H. Kyle stiil re-
member the sensation caused by his
murder, as a result of that ancient
piece of lapis-lazuli carved with the
name Of an Egyptian Pharaoh Of the
year 1880 BIC.
Vance read the accounts with a
cynical smile.
Poor Markham he murmured.
Unless something definite happens
very soon, the Observation-Disclosures crit
les will descend on him like q host Of
trolls. I see that Heath has an
nounced to the world that district at
torney's ONCE has taken full charge Of
the case. :"
Ito he continued