Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-22
The Scarab Murder Case
By S. S. Van Dine
INsTALLAEKNT XIII.
copyrishs. 1890. ss o. 9. van DINE.

v VANCE turned TO Markham.
cts legal point which really
" doesn't matter. Salveter might
not have been convicted; but
Bliss plot would none the less
have succeeded. With Kyle dead, Bliss
would have had access TO one-half OF
Kyle's fortune--in his wtfe's name, TO
be sure-and Meryt-Amen would have
repudiated Salveter. Thus Bliss would
have won every trick. And even legally
Salveteer might have been convicted
had it not been for Hani's removal OF
two direct clues from Salveter'e room
the opium can and the sheath. Fur
thermore, there was the letter In Scar
let's pocket.
but, Vance, how would the letter
have been found?" Markham asked. III
Won have not suspected the plot and
looked for Scahlett's body, It might have
remained in the sarcophagus almost In
definitely"
"No." Vance shook his head. "Scar-
lett was to have remained in the sar-
cophagus only for . couple OF days
When 1t was discovered tomorrow that
he was missing Bliss would probably
have found the body for US, along with
the letter."
He looked questioningly at Markham
How are we going to connect Bliss
with the crime, since Saltwater was In the
house at the time Of the attack"
"If Scarlet should get we'll"
eff Just so. But suppose ne
shouldn't--and the chances are against
could only testify that Bliss had made
an abortive and unsuccessful attack on
him. True, you might convict him for
felonious assault, but it would leave
KyIe's murder still unsolved. And Il
Bliss said that Scarlet attacked him
and that he struck Scarlet in self-de-
Tense, you'd have O q Ilcult time con-
victing him even Il assault"
How does this Al ,aba at into the
picture, Mr.. Vance?"
"Hani knew from the flrst' what had
happened; and he was shrewd enough
to see the plot that Bliss had built up
about Salveter. He loved Salveter and
Meryt-Amen, and wanted them to be
happy. What could he do except lend
his every energy to protecting them
And he has certainly done this. SER
geant. Egyptians are not like Occiden-
tails. It was against his nature to come
out frankly and tell US what he sus-
pected. HAM played clever game
the only game he could have played. He
never believed in the vengeance OF
Sakhmet. He used his superStitious
logomachy to cover up the truth. He
fought with words for Salveteris safety.
Markham halted In front Of Vance.
1.-THE thing is incrediblel have never
known q murderer like Bliss.
Vance lighted the cigarette he had been
holding Tor the past Ave minutes. aHe
frightfully oyerdid the clues; he made
them too glaring. Therein lay his
weakness"
''still." said Markham, Elf you hadn't
come into the case I'd have brought q
murder charge against him."
"And you would have played into bis
hands. Because ] didn't want you TO,
appeared to argue against him."
"A palimpsestp Markham commented
Vance took q deep draw on his Gig
agette.
Exactly. Palimpsestos- rub
smooth First came the true story OF
the crime, carefully indicated. Then 1t
was erased, and the story Of the muir
der, with Salveter as the villain, was
written over It, This, too, was erased,
and the original story-in grotesque
outline and nIled with inconsistencies
and loophOles-was again written. We
were supposed TO read the third version,
become skeptical about it, and md the
lines. My task was to push through 70
the flrst and original versions-the twice
written-over truth"
And you did it, Mr.. Vancel" Heath
had risen and gone toward the door.
THE doc is in the study, chief. I'll take
him to headquarters myself"
II say, sergeant Don't be rash"
Despite the drawing quality Of Vance's
tone Heath halted abruptly. II were
you I'd take q bit of legal advice from
Mr.. Markham before arresttng the doc
tor
Legal advice be damnedl"
ooh, quite. In principle agree with
you. But there's no need TO be temer-
arious about these little matters. Cau-
ton Is always good"
Markham, who was standing beside
Vance, lifted his head.
"Sit down, sergeant" he ordered. I'VE
can't arrest man on theory. He
walked to the fireplace and back. This
thing has to be thought out. There's no
hold him an hour II clever lawyer got
busy on the case
and Bliss knows it." said Vance.
"But he killed Kylel" Heath expostu-
lated.
Granted" Markham sat down be-
side the table and rested his chin In
his hands. But I've nothing tangible
to present to grand jury. And, IS Mr..
Vance says, even II Scarlet should re-
cover I'd have only an assault charge
against Bliss"
what wallops me, sir" moaned
Heath, ''is how o guy can commit muir
der almost before our very eyes, and get
away with it.. 1t amt reasonable"
"Ah, but there's little that's reason
able IN this fantastic and ironical world,
sergeant" remarked Vance.
well, anyhow" returned Heath, "Id
arrest that bird in . minute and take
my chances at making the charge
stick
IT feel the same way" Markhsm said.
"But no matter how convinced We are OF
the truth, we must be able to produce
conclusive evidence. And this flend has
covered all the evidence so cleverly that
any Jury In the country would acqutt
him, even II VIC could hold him for trial
which Is highly dubious"
Vance sighed and stood up.
1.-THE lawls He spoke with unusual
feryor. aAnd the rooms In which this
law Is put on public exhibition are called
courts Of Justice. Jusitcel --Oh, my prec-
ious aunt Summum jus, summa IN
juria. How can there be justice, or even
Intelligence, in echolalia? Here
we three area district attorney, q
sergeant OF the Homicide Bureau, and
lover Of Brahms B-flat piano concerto
with q known murderer within so feet Of
Us; and we're helplessl Why? Because
this elaborate invention Of imheciles.