Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-13
The Scarab Murder Case
By S. S. Van Dine
INsTALLasENr xxxII
Copyright. 1880, ~ 9. Q. vaa pias.

SATURDAY, JULY IA, lis A. M
YAM Joined us In the drawing
room. He was very calm and
dignified. and his inscrutable
il II eyes rested impassively on
Vance like those Of an ancient
Egyptian priest meditating before the
shrine of Osiris.
How do you happen to be up and
about at this hour?" Vance asked casu.
ally. Another attack Of gastritis?"
mo, effendi" Hani spoke IN slow,
measured tones. II rose when heard
you talking TO Brush. ! sieep with my
perhaps. then, YOU heard sakhunst
when she returned 10 the house To-
night"
ian lifted his head slightly in mid In
tereSt
I'm q manner Of speaking. -.
But she's q most inefficient deity. She
bungled everything again"
Are you sure she did not intention
ally buneie things9" Despite the dron-
ing quality Of Hani's voice, there was
. significant note in 1t.
Vance regarded him Tor moment
Then:
did you hear footsteps on the stairs
or along the second-floor corridor short
ly after midnight"
The man shook his head slowly.
"Dr. Bliss himself" Vance exc
planned, "eame downstairs and tele-
phoned TO me. You did not hear him
either?"
"The FIRST sound perceived was
when you gentlemen came into thu
front hall and talked TO Brush"
And Of course you were not aware
second-story hall round midnight"
Had ! not been asleep would Ger.
tainly have noticed it, as the light
shines dimly up the stairs into my
room. But when awoke the light was
on as usual" HAM frowned slightly
who would have turned the hall light
of at that hour?"
IT wonder. :" Vance did not
take his eyes from the Egyptian. DOC
tor Bliss has Just told US that 1t was
some one who had designs on his life"
1T was not Sakhmet." HAMS pro-
nouncement was almost sepulchral.
Really. now" Vance smiled slight
~ I'm jolly glad to be able to
was at work, perhaps you can suggest
who would have had motive TO cut
the doctors throat"
! weep If he were to quit this life; but
know of none who would take 1t upon
himself to pFecipitate that departure
Vance lighted Reggie and sat down
why, HAM, did you imagine YOU
might be Of service to u1?"
Like you, effendi." came the soft
reply, II expected that something dis
tressing, and perhaps violent, would
| happen in this house tonight. And
when heard you enter and go TO Doc
| tor Bliss room, 1t occurred TO me that
the Iooked-for event had come to pass
SO ! waited on the upper landing un-
Most considerate and thoughtful Of
YOU" Vance murmured, and took sew
eral puffs on his cigarette. After
moment he asked: IF Mr.. Salveter hae
emerged from his room tonight aftei
you had gone Y, to BE- bed would you have
The Egyptian hesitated. and his eye
contracted.
Il think I would. His room i d.
yectly opposite mine"
Hapi vas watching Vance with lower
.Did Doctor Bliss suggest that Mr.
Salveter left his room tonight7"
"Oh, TO the contr'ry," Vance assured
| him. The doctor said quite empnattc'
ally that any attempt TO connect Mr
| Salveter with the stealthy steps outside
Of his door at midnight would be
| grave error"
Doctor Bliss Is wholly correct" the
Egyptian declared.
aAnd yet, HAM, the doctor insisted
| that q WouId.be assassin was prowlin
about the house. Who else could II
| have been2"
II cannot imagine" HAM appeared
almost Indifferent,
"You do not think that II, could have
been Mrs. Bliss?"
"NeVer!" The mans tone had be-
come quickly animated. "Meryt-Amen
| would have had no reason to go int
the hall. She has access to her hus-
bands room through q communicating
door"
80 I observed Q while ago--she
| Joined our pour-parler In the doctors
room. And / must say, HAM. that shs
was most anxious for us TO md ths
person who had made the attempt on
her husbands life"
"Anxious-and sad, effendi." A new
note crept into HAMS voice. "She
does not yet understand the things that
have happened today. But when she
I'VE won't speculate along those lines