Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-06
1NsrALLMENT XIV.

INSTALLMENT XIV.
IN Y Yio said there was opium
n in my room?" Salveter
NV squared his shoulders.
w Vance leaned back in his
chair.
at really doesn't matter. Anyway,
there's no opium, there now. =. ] say,
Mr.. salveter; did you return TO the
breakfast room this morning after you
and Mrs. Bliss had gone up stairs?"
81 did notl ). That is, he amended
81 don't remember. :"
Vance rose abruptly and stood men,
acingly before him.
Don't try to guess what Mrs. Bliss
told us. If you don't care to answer
homicide bureau--and God help you!
We're here to learn the truth, and
we want straight answers. Did you re-
turn to the breakfast room?"
mol did not"
That's much better-oh, muchl"
Vance sighed and resumed his seat.
"And now, Mr.. Salveter, we must ask
you a very intimate question: Are you
In love with Mrs. BlissP"
'T refuse to answer"
"Goodl But you would not be en-
tirely broken hearted If DR.. Bliss should
be gathered to his fathers?"
Salveter clamped his jaws and SAID
nothing.
Vance contemplated him ruminat-
ingly. :.
"That Mr. Kyle has left you con-
siderable fortune in his will. Ii
DR.. Bliss should ask you to finance the
continuation of his excavations IN
Egypt would you do it?"
"I'd insist upon it even if he did not
ask me-" A fanatical light shone in
Salveter's eyes. That is he added,
Is a reasoned afterthought, "if Meryt-
Amen approved. would not care to
20 against her wishes"
"Ah!" Vance had lit his cigarette
and was smoking dreamily. And do
Salveter shook his head.
mo, I think she would do whatever
the doctor wanted"
"A dutiful wife-quoi?"
Salveter bristled and sat up.
"Shes the straighteSt, most loyal
'Yes, yes" Vance exhaled a spiral
OF cigarette smoke Spare me your adj
tectives. take it, however, she's
not entirely ecstatic with her choice of
o life mate"
ssIf she wasn't" Salveter returned
angrily, "she wouldn't show it"
Vance nodded uninterestedly.
what do you Think Of Hani?" he
asked.
"He's a dumb beast-a good soul,
though. Adores Mrs. Bliss :" Sal
veter stiffened and his eyes opened wide
"Good God, Mr.. Vancel You don't
think" He broke of in horror;
then he shook himself. II see what
you're getting at. But but
They're all alike-Oriental dogs, every
one of 'em. No sense of right and
wrong - superstitious devils - but loyal
as they make EN-. I wonder
quite We're all wonderin'." Vance
was apparently unimpressed by Sal
veters outbreak But, as you say, he's
pretty close to Mrs. Bliss. He'd do
great deal for her-eh, what? Might
even risk his neck, don't y know, II he
thought her happiness was at stake. OF
course, he might need bit OF coach
A hard light shone in Salveter's eyes
you're on the wrong tack. Nobody
coached HAM. He's capable OF acting
for himself"
"And throwing the suspicion on some
one else?" Vance looked at the other.
I'D say the planting Of that scarab pin
was bit too subtle for mere fellah."
sYou think SOP" Salveter was almost
contemptuous. You don't know those
4 ASts&
were working out intricate plots when
the Nordic race we're arh0reanss
bad anthropolOgy," murmured Vance.
'And you're doubtless thinkin' Of Hero
dotus' silly story of the treasure house
Of King Rhampsintus. Personally,
think the priests were spoofing the papa
of history. BY the way, Mr.. Sal
veter, do you know any one round here
besides DIR. Bliss who uses Koh-i-noor
pencils?"
Didn't even know the doctor used
'em" The man fiicked his cigarette
ashes on the carpet and brushed his
foot over them.
"You didn't by any chance see DIR.
Bliss this morning."
mo. When I came down to break
fast Brush told me he was working in
the study"
Did you go into the museum this
morning before you went on your errand
to the Metropolitan"
Salveter's eyes blinked rapidly.
"Yesl" he blurted finally. II gen.
orally 60 into the museum every morn
ing after breakfast kind of habit.
like to see that everything is all right
that nothing has happened during the
night. I'm the assistant curator, and