Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-19

and, with great care, lifted the black
statue of Sakhmet from Kyle's head.
I'm saving this for f1nger-prints.
Any signs of struggle, doc?"
Doremus turned the body over and
made careful inspection Of the face,
the hands and the clothes.
Don't see any," he returned Ia
conically. WAS struck from the rear.
I'd say. Fell forward, arms outstretched
ANY chance, doctor, of his having
been dead when the statue hit him?"
asked Vance.
Nope" Doremus rose and teetered
on his toes, impatiently. TOO much
blood for that"
Simple case of assault, them"
Looks like 1t I'm no wizard,
though" The doctor had become ir-
ritable. "The autopsy will settle that
point"
lean we have the post-mortem re-
port immediately" Markham made
the request.
"As soon as the sergeant gets the
body to the mortuary."
It'll be there by the time you've
finished lunch, doc" said Heath. Il
ordered the wagon before l left the
bureau"
"That being that, I'll run along"
Again Doremus shook hands with
Markham and Heath and, throwing
friendly salutation to Vance, walked
briskly out of the room.
had noticed that ever since Heath
had placed the statue of Sakhmet to
one side he had stood staring i'm
patiently at the small pool of blood.
AS soon as Doremus had departed ne
knelt down and became doggedly IN
tereSted in something on the floor. He
took out his flashlight, which Vance
had returned to him, and focused 1t
on the edge of the blood-pool at the
point where had noted the outward
smear. Then, after a moment ne
moved a short distance away, and
again shot his light on a faint smudge
which stained the yellow wood floor,
Once more he shifted his position
this time toward the little spiral stairs
A grunt of satisfaction escaped him
now and, rising, he walked, in a wide
circle. to the stairs themselves. There
he again knelt down and ran the beam
of his hashlight over the lower steps.
On the third step the ray OF light
suddenly halted, and the sergeant's race
shot forward in an attitude OF intense
concentration.
A grin slowly overspread his broad
features and, Strengthening up, he
brought a gaze Of triumph to bear on
Vance.
"I've got the case tied up in sack
now, sir" he announced.
"I take it," replied Vance, you've
found the spoor of the murderer"
"Ir say!" Heath nodded with the
deliberate emphasis of finality. ITS
lust like I told you. :"
Don't be too positive, sergeant"
vance's face had grown somber. The
obvious explanation Is often the wrong
one"
Listen, Mr.. Scarlet, I got question
answer" Scarlet bristled, but the
sergeant paid no attention to his re-
sentiment. What kind of shoes does
this DR.. Bliss generally wear around
the house?"
Scarlet hesitated and looked appeal
ingly to Vance.
"Tell the sergeant whatever you
know" Vance advised him. This Is
no time for reticence. You can trust
me. There's no question of disloyalty
now. The truth, dye see, is all that
matters"
Scarlet cleared his throat nervously.
Rubber tennis Shoes" he said, in a
low voice.
Ever since his first expedition In
Egypt he has had weak feet-they
have troubled him abominably. He got
relief by wearing white canvas sneak
ers with rubber soles."
Sure he did" Heath walked back
toward the body of Kyle. "Step over
here a minute, Mr.. Vance. got some
thing to show you"
Vance moved forward, and followed
him.
take a look at that footprint" the
sergeant continued, pointing toward the
smear at the edge of the pool of blood
where Kyle's head had lain.
1T don't show up much till you get
close TO it but, once you spot it,