The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-04-11

Most significant"
He, returned Grassi's letter to his
pocket, and went toward, the front
door.
"Cheer up, old DEAR" he exhorted
Markham. "ft's not nearly so, black as
it seems. The 'clouds are beginning to
~disperce. We have all the data now
and it's simply matter of arranging
them and interpreting them correctly.
81 wish I could feel so optimistic"
grumbled Markham, following Vance
into the vestibule.
Vance halted and, turning, regard
ed the perplexed Heath.
ooh, by the by, Sergeant" he said;
zone or two little favors-there's a
good fellow. Will you check up at
once on the-shall I say alibis of
Miss Lake and Signor Grassi?"
"That's easy" snorted Health.
1.-TWO good men can do that in few
hours. :"
"And," added Vance, "you might
,~give this house another search. Pm
= dashed interested in a blunt instru-
ment that might have been used for
striking Archer and the wee Scottie.
noticed that in the fire set in the
living room everything was intact in
the rack but the poker"
Heath nodded. 81 get you, sir. If
there's a poker in this house, I'll lay
hands on it."
"Stout fellap Vance continued to-
ward the front door.
"And speaking of, dogs, SIR" Heath
added, "that guy Wrede told me he
was very fond of the animals. Owned
one before he moved"
"Ah!" Vance paused. odd he men,
ton the breed? 2"
cit was a Doberman Pinscher,"
Markham informed him.
"Now, that's deuced interestin', y
know" Vance murmured. "Be SO
good, Sergeant, as to have the bolt
on Archer's door fixed while we're
lunching. I'll want it in perfect work
ing order when I return"
The sergeant grinned broadly.
$50 that's on your mind, is it?
Sure, I'll have it fixed"
We walked through the invigorat-
ing autumn air to small French
'estaurant in West Seventy-second
Rtstreet near the Drive. Vance talked
at length of dogs in general and of
Scottish terriers in particular. Finally
he smiled waggishly at Markham.
II know Pm boring you. But you've
been thinking much too strenuously
all the forenoon. Your brain needs a
little relaxation-and what could be
more soporific than my cackle about
dogs? And while Pm on the sub
ject, want to tell you, Markham,
that the little wounded Scottie
Gamble discovered behind the library
portieres is beautiful specimen Of
what a Scottie should be. Poor little
devil. She certainly didn't deserve
that wound, and I hope she'll have
her revenge by helping us find the
murderer. I think I'll phofie and see
how she's getting along"
He went out and returned shortly
to the table. He looked more cheerful.
""The doctor says she's not as badly
hurt as he thought at first. She's eat
ing. No fever. Be pretty normal by
tomorrow"
He took another sip of wine.
"And that means that I'll be pretty
busy tomorrow. I'll have to visit the
American Kennel club and perhaps
interview few Scottie Judges
81 can't see the connection"
Markham began.
"But there is a connection" insist
ed Vance. cit is no coincidence that
wounded dog is in a strange hostile
house at the exact time of murder.
And it's reasonable to as sumo that it
was admitted to the house by the
murderer, either accidentally or for
a purpose. In either case it will be
definite clew. The ownership of the
dog-and especially the address of
the owner-will give us something
pretty definite to work from. The mi
grations of the dog last night will
throw much light on the movements
of the person who came to the Coe
house. From the dogs presence we
may argue several very interestin'
and illuminatin, possibilities. First,
that the dog did not arrive before the
murderer, because Archer would have
thrown her out"