The Coolidge examiner., 1935-01-18

p
10 front of him. was a pair of high.
heavy street shoes. laced and tied.
Again a question flashed through
ny mind why did Coe not wear
bedroom slippers with his dressing
gowu7 The answer 20 this question
also was 10 prove a Vital point in
the solution of the tragedy.
Vance went Immediately 10 the
body. touched the dead mans hand.
and bent forward over the wound
10 the forehead. Then he walked
back 10 the door with its hanging
bolt scruunired II for n moment.
ran hls ere around the heavy oak
framework and Intel. and turned
slowly back 10 the room. A frown
wrinkled his brow. VERY dellber-
afely he reached IN bis pocket and
took out another cigarette. When
he had lighted r. he strolled 10
the west wall ot the room and stood
gazing ht a faded Slnth century
Chinese painting.
In the meantime the rest of Us bad
pressed around the body of Coe. and
stood inspecting Il IN silence. wrede
and Grassl seemed appalled, In the
actual presence of death. wrede
spoke to Markham.
Il trust did right Ia advising
Gamble 10 call ron before breaking
In the door. realize row that II
there had remained a spark o.
life"
~Oh. be was quite dead hours
ago" Vance interrupted. without
turning from the painting. Your
decision has worked out perfectly. /"
Markham swung about.
What DO you mean By that.
yAnceEH
Merely that. II the door had
been broken In. and the room over.
run with solicitous friends. and the
body handled for signs of life. and
al the lockedIn evidence probably
destroyed. we would have had q
deuced dlfficnl, time arrivln' at any
sensible solution of what really
went on here last night"
"well. It's pretty plain 70 me wha;
went on here last night" II was
Heath who projected himself. bit
belllgerently. Into the talk. This
guy locked himself In. and blew his
brains out. And even you. Mr. Vance.
can't make anything original outa
that"
Vance turned slowly and shook his
head
Tut. tut. Sergeant" he said pleas.
antiy. Its not / who am going 20
spoil your simple and beautiful
theory"
Nor" Heath was stin belllger-
ent. Then who isY'
THE corpse" answered Vance
theory"
Before Heath could reply, Mark
ham. who had been watching Vance
closely. turned quickly TO wrede
and Grassl.
Il will ask you gentlemen TO wait
downstairs Hennessey. please
20 10 the drawing room and see
that these gentlemen do not leave
IL until l give them permission.
You understand" he added TO Wrede
and GrassI. that it viii be neces-
sary 10 question you about this az.
fair after we have had the verdict OF
the medical examiner"
The two. followed by Heunessey,
passed ont of the room and down the
stairs.
And you" said Markham to Gam
bic. wait at the front door and
oring Doctor Doremus here the mo.
ment he arrives"
Gamble shot a haunted look al
the body. and went out.
Markham closed the door, and
then wheeled about. facing Vance.
who now stood behind Goes desk
gazing down moodily at the dead
mans hand clutchIng the revolver.
What's the meaning OF all these
mysterious lnuendosT" be demand
ed testify.
Not inuendos. Markham" Vance
returned quietly. keeping his eyes
on Goes hand Merely specula-
tons I'm rather interested In GER
tain aspects OF this fascinatin'
crime"
''CrimeT" Markham gave a mIrth-
less smile. 1T was all very well for
Us 10 theoriZe before we got here
and was inclined TO agree with
you that suicide seemed incompat-
ible with Goes temperament-but
facts, after all, form the only rea-
sonable basis for a decision. And
the facts here seem pretty clean
cut. The door was bolted on the In
side; there's no other means OF en-
trance or exit TO this room; Coe is
sitting here with a revolver in his
hand. and hole In his rlgnt tenn
pie. There Is no sign OF a struggle ;
the windows and shades are down,
and the lights burning How.
in Heavens name. could It have
been anything but suicide?"
I'm sure I don't know" Vance
shrugged wearily. But 1t wasn't
suIcide-really. don't y know" he
frowned again. And that's the
weird part OF IL. Y see, Markham.