Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-20

II ~
~ Heath, "you said"
II did not say one word to
give you the definite impress
sion that exonerated Bliss.
Not once did say he was innocent. !.
Think back. You'll remember said
only that the clues did not ring true
that things were not what they seemed.
knew the clues were traps, set BY Bliss
to deceive US. And also knew--as Mr..
Markham knew--that If we arrested
Bliss on the outward evidence, 1t would
be impossible to convict him"
Markham nodded thoughtfully.
"Yes, sergeant. Mr.. Vance Is quite
correct can't recall single remark
Of his inconsistent with his belief In
"Although I knew Bliss was guilty"
Vance continued, ST didn't know what
his ultimate object was or whom he was
trying to involve. / suspected 1t was
Salveter-though it might have been
either Scarlet or HAM or Mrs. Bliss.
ct once saw the necessity of determin-
ing the real victim Of his plot. So
pretended to fall in with the obvious
situation. couldn't let Bliss think that
] suspected him-my only hope lay in
pretending that believed some one else
was guilty. But did avoid the traps
set for US. wanted Bliss to plant other
clues against his victim and perhaps
, give US some workable evidence. That
was why I begged you to play q waiting
"But what was Bliss idea in having
himself arrested2" Markham said.
There was danger in that"
Every little He probably believed
that even before an indictment he or
his lawyer could persuade you OF his
innocence and Of Salveter's guilt. Or,
II he had been held for trial, he was
AIW aAnk ~ ~ AaNtaffto1 and TrnfllH
then be entirely safe on the caressin'
principle OF double jeopardy, or autrefois
acQuit No, he was running no
great risk. And remember, too, he was
playing q big game. Once he had been
arrested, he would have felt justified In
pointing openly to Salveter as the muir
derer and plotter. Hence fought
the very thing he wanted. AS long as
he thought he was free from suspicious
y there was no point in his defending
himself ct Salveter's expense. And, in
order to involve Salveter. he was forced
to plant more evidence, to concoct 9TH
er schemes. And it was on these
schemes that counted cunt for evidence nce,..
cigar toppled on and fell over his
waistcoat, but he didn't notice them.
But, sergeant. I gave you many
warnings. And there was the motive.
I'm convinced that Bliss knew there
was no more financial help coming from
Kyle; and there's nothing he wouldn't
have done to insure continuation of
his researches. Furthermore, he was
intensely jealous of Salveter; he knew
Mrs. Bliss loved the young cub"
"But why" put in Markham, did he
not merely kill Salveter?"
"Oh, sayi The money was q car
dinal factor--he wanted Meryt-Amen
to inherit Kyle's wealth. His secondly
object was to eliminate Salveter from
Meryt.Amen's heart; he had no reason
for killing him. Therefore, he planned
subtly to disqualify him by making it
appear that Salveter not only had muir
dered his uncle, but had tried to send
y another to the chair for il"
Vance slowly lit a fresh cigarette.
bliss was killing three birds with
one stone. He was making himself Q
martyr in Meryt-Amen's eyes; he was
eliminating Salveter; he was insuring
his wife q fortune with which be could
continue his excavations. Few murders
have had 50 powerful triple motive.
And one Of the tragic things Is that
Mrs. Bliss more than half believed In
Salveter's guilt She suffered el1nnAiil-i
ably. You recall how she took the at
titude that she wanted the murderer
brought to. justice. And she feared all
the time that it was Salveter :"
"Still and ALL" said Heath, bliss
didn't seem very anxious to get Salveter
mixed up In the affair"
"Ahl but he was, sergeant. He was
constantly involving Salveter while pre-
tending not to. A feigned reluctance, as
il we're. He couldn't be too obvious
about it-that would have given his
question Of who had charge Of the med
zeal supplies. Bliss suffered, as If try
ing to shield some one. Very clever,
don't y'know."
"But If you knew this" Heath
began.
II didn't know all Of it, Sergeant. /
knew only that Bliss was guilty. was
not sure that Salveter was the object of
ais plot. Therefore, had to investigate
and learn the truth"
Anyhow, I was right in the first
place when I said Bliss was guilty,
Heath declared doggedly.
"Of course you were, sergeant"
Vance spoke almost affectionately.
"And felt deuced bad to have to APP
pear to contradict you" He rose and,
: going to Heath, held out his hand.
WV w.. you forgive ms?% r,..t,.. quo.
belied his gruff tone as he grasped
VaE1ce's hand Anyhow, I was right"
Vance grinned and sat down.
THE plot itself was simple" he con-
tinued after a moment. Bliss phoned
Kyle in the presence of every one and
made the appointment for IL. He spe-
cifically mentioned the new shipment,
and suggested that Kyle should come
early. You sse, he had decided on the
murder-and on the whole plot, in fact
when he made the fatal rendezvous.
And he deliberately left the scarab pin
On the study desk. After killing Kyle
he placed the pin and the financial re-
port near the body. And note, Mark
ham, that Salveter had access TO both
objects. Moreover, Bliss knew that Sal
veter was in the habit Of going to the
museum after breakfast; and he timed
Kyles appointment so that Salveter and