The Washington times., 1935-08-10
WHOSE WIFE?--SOCIETY NIGHT LIFE SECRETS Barred
Who Holds Key to Riddle
Of the Disappearance
OF LsObel Vane?

| 44OAAACs
why, no." Betty said. 1T was
with him most of the time, but
was in and out-there are things
a hostess must attend to-"
did Mr.. Renton mention Mrs.
Vane?" the D. A. asked.
eyes. He did" Betty leaned
forward in her chair. I'm glad
you asked me that, because I
wanted to tell you. It's really just
one of those things that sound
awful, but are actually perfectly
harmless. You see, Wilbur was
sort of bitter against Mrs. Vane
because. b cause. She
faltered, and the D. A. said
| quietly:
Eyes, we know Of your break
with Mr.. Renton, and the reason
for it,"
so you see," Betty rushed on,
'ehe got rather excited, and he
said a lot Of things that he didn't
mean"
What sort Of things?"
ooh! he said that he wished she
were dead-that it would be better
for everyone. and. and that's
ALL"
VoodOO
"Are you sure? He made no
threats?"
well, he did sly he would like
to Strangle her, but he didn't
mean any Of that talk. He was
just excited"
Turnbull leaned forward.
Miss Potter" he said. Can
you tell me why Mr.. Renton
should have told the police
sergeant, who went to question
him the morning following the
murder, that he was at home and
in bed asleep by II o'clock on the
preceding night?"
IT hardly think my niece can DO
expected to know Mr.. Renton's in
nermost thoughts and motives" he
said mildly. Might I suggest that
you ask Mr.. Renton himself how
his mind workS?"
For a moment Turnbull looked
at the little detective quietly, then
he smiled.
Just what we are going to d."
he said. But, in the meantime,
there is another phase of this case
that interests this office"
He paused and thought .
minute, then went on:
my men have found out from
one Robert E. Lee Jackson,
elevator operator at 784, that Miss
Potter's maid Suky is follower
of voodoo, and that she has been
practicing magic against some
man ever since this murder. Mr..
Mantel, it is the opinion Of this
office that that man is either
Renton or Vane. I have sent for
Suky. She is outside now. I will
have her sent in"
She was obviously pleased to see
Betty and cyrus K, as her wide
smile showed. She also ducked
curtsy to Inspector 1ngles and
beamed at him.
"Howdy, Mistah Ingles, sub"
she said.
Cyrus K. spoke gently.
"Mr. Turnbull," he said, "may
I ask that you permit me to ques'
ton Suky? She will be less ner.
vous, and-if you will pardon me
more trustful."
"By all means. Go right ahead"
The D. A. was glad to relinquish
the job. II want to know if she
overheard anything-you know"
He looked at Cyrus K. signifi-
cantly. And about the other
thing-who is the man, and why?"
II understand" Mantel nodded.
Then: "Suky," he said, I'VE want
you to tell us if you heard Mr..
Renton say anything about Mrs.
Isobel Vane, when ne dined with
Miss Betty the night of the muir.
der"
"Sho, Mistah Cyrus. He done
talk erbout that women plenty"
Suky assured him.
WAS he friendly?" The D. A.
took up the questioning.
do you like Mr.. Lawrence
Vance" The D. AS question was
a surprise to them all.
II amt nobody to like or dis
like gentlemen" she reproved him
mildly. IT likes everybody that's
good to my ladies. I think Mr..
Vane is a fine gentleman. He
don't come to our house, but I
heahs talk. And he's very kind
to everybody"
And Mr.. Renton? Do you like
him?" Turnbull's voice was harsh
and his eyes were keen.
Suky'S Code
"Sho now, of course, likes Mr..
Wilbur" she said. II knows that
he says things that he don't mean
heaps o'o times. But then every
mothers chile oh us does that.
Why, the other night, when no
was up ter Miss Betty's, didn't I
heah him acarryin' on erbout Miss
Isobel-ashoutin' he was, that he
would like to have his hands
eroun' her throat and be achokin'
Of her life out" The old woman
doubled up in silent laughter.
"And ashoutin' and ashoutin' that
he wished she was daid, and that
she'd be better off so, and so
would eberybody else, and that
she was jes' a no-count woman"
Again she doubled up and rocked
back and forth with her mirth.
and all the time he was shoutin'
and arantin' Miss Betty heah try.