The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-03-07
THE KENNEL
MURDER CASE
By s. S. VAN DINE

| VIVA
did it. If Mr.. Markham would give me
the word, I'd arrest himnow."
"Why such haste, Sergeant" sigh
ed Vance. "You haven't particle of
evidence against him-and he knows
it. That's why he will not admit that
he was here earlier last night"
"See here, Vance," Markham said,
show do you know Liank was here
early last night?"
"By the fact that Gamble heard
him come in at midnight. I imagine
he always comes in silently-it's a
Chinese characteristic. On general
principles, the Chinese never want
their movements, however innocent
to be known to foreigners. But last
night LANG was heard returning
and Gamble had already retired to
the fourth floor. A bit significant
Ell, what? LANG probably saw Gam
ble's boudoir light ablaze and let it
be known, in subtle way, that he
was arriving from his afternoon and
evening off"
81 see what you mean," Markham
nodded obviously. "But, after all,
your reasoning is purely speculative"
ooh, quite" Vance admitted. "But
the entire case is in a speculative
stage just now, what? Anyway
I have even more definite evidence
that LANG was here early last night,
and I'll present him with it later. D..
What do you say to our having polite
intercourse with Wrede and the Sig
nor Grassi?"
Markham waved his hand in as
sent.
"And we'd better go upstairs"
Vance suggested. brisbane is not a
pretty sight"
Heath gave orders to Burke to re-
main at the library door and see that
no one entered the room. Gamble was
told to stay in the front hall and an
swer the doorbell.
(which one Of the babies do you
want first?" the Sergeant asked.
"The Italian, by all MEANS" said
Vance. "He's frightfully upset, and
therefore in an admirable state of
mind for questioning. Well keep
Wrede till later-he's teeming with
possibilities"
Grassi and the sergeant joined us
few seconds later.
"Mr. Grassi," Vance began without
preliminaries, eve should like to
know exactly what your social and
professional status is in this house.
We understand you have been a
house guest of Mr.. Goes for a week."
The Italian had himself we'll in
hand. He sat down in leisurely fash
ion.
"Yes-that is right" he returned,
looking at Vance with calm disdain.
81 came here at Mr.. Goes invitation
week ago yesterday. It was to
have been fortnight's visit"
"Had you any business with Mr..
Coe ?"
ooh, yes. I am connected, in an
official capacity, with a museum of
antiquities in Milan," he explained;
"and I had hoped to be able to pur-
chase from Mr.. Coe certain specimens
of Chinese ceramic art from his re-
markable collection"
"His Ting yao vase, for example ?"
.Grassi's dark eyes became suddenly
brilliant with establishment; but al
most at once wary look came into
them, and he smiled with cold polite
ness.
~ must admit l was interested in
the vase" he said. cit is a magnif-
cent specimen, of the amphora shape.
. Have you examined it,"
"No," Vance told him. give never
seen it but l think I've had a
fragment of it in my hand"
Grassi stared.
"A fragment"
eyes; a small triangular piece"
Vance nodded. Then he added: 81
have grave fears Mr.. Grassi that the
Ting yao vase has been broken"
The Italian stiffened and his eyes
clouded with suspicious anger.
"Its impossible!sI was inspecting
the vase only yesterday afternoon. 1t
was on the circular table in the Ii
brary."
"There's only a Tao Kuang vase
there now" Vance informed him.
"And where, may be permitted
RI och d;d Won oet this fra Unoent IF