The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-01
WHOSE WIFE?--SOCIETY NIGHT LIFE SECRETS BAR


The two men left the studio
together and went out into the
pitch blackness Of the roof ter.
race.
Officer Larkin flashed his cleo
trio torch low as they stepped
over the doorsill.
The body must have been
dragged from this door to the
far corner" he said. There are
distinct traces from here to where
it is lying. But the curious pert
of it all is that there is no sign
of any struggle"
Ingles nodded, and let the beam
of his own torch follow the OBJ
vious track, until it fell on the
huddled object propped up in the
northeast corner.
Good God!" he calculated,
with a quick drawing in of his
breath. This is awful. It's un-
oeIleVable. Vane must have lost
his reason. No one but a mad
man could have done this
His whole six feet of brawny
manhood seemed to shrink for a
moment at the sight before him.
In his many years of service he
had had to see many horrible and
sordid sights, but now, the fact
that his own good friend had
committed this sickening crime
made it seem a thousand times
worse.
Come on, Larkin," he said
abruptly. Let's go and see if
the doctor has got Vane round
yet. If he has, we will soon see
how he reacts to the sight of his
own handiwork.
Vane was standing when they
reentered the studio though he
was looking desperately i'll. He
Swayed slightly as he tried to
hold himself erect and the side
OF his head showed swelling
from the blow he had received in
his fall. But he seemed COM
posed amid quiet. At the sight of
The Inspector, his face lit up.
why, Ingles," he said, I'm
glad you're here. What is this
nightmare? I've been bullied and
told tales to, and knocked about,
and for the life of me, I don't
know what it's all about"
He held out his hand for the
clasp of his friend, but the In
spector ignored it. His steel blue
eyes looked Vane in the face
coldly and in their depths there
was a challenge, and curiously
broken trust, overlaid by a hard
hostility.
why, Ingles," he faltered at
last, "why-whet'S thr matter
Why do you look at me like that?"
Lawrence Vane," answered In
giles formally, Il am here tonight
in duty, not in friendship
And that duty must and shall be
performed. Stand up straight
there! Now! Can you walk?"
A Challenge
II don't understand, 1ngles,"
Vane cried desperately, I'm in
great trouble here. Isobel has dis
appeared. I can't find her any
place. You've got to help me, In
giles. You know how love her.
We've got to find her. We've got
to-"
1--WE have found her." said the
inspector quietly; then his voice
changing to his usual official
tone, Murphy" he said, bring
this man out onto the roof. We
will soon find out who is mad in
this affair"
Murphy, in the most matter OF
fact way, frisked him for a posi-
BILE gun, and now seeing him
sway, he and Larkin caught hold
OF him on either side, and half
assisted, half dragged him toward
the door to the terrace.
Pathetically Vane protested.
"Mayn't I walk alone?" he
asked, lat least, Ingles, whatever
this is all about. you might let me
walk alone. I can't possibly run
away, you know I am all
right now"
"All right, let him alone" he
groWled, trying to keep the SYM
pathy out Of his voice-trying to
keep anyone else from knowing
that he suffered each and every
pain C1dG Ills 1r1cIlQ Su11ercQ.
In silence, the sturdy officers
and Lawrence Vane made their
way out onto the terrace, and those
who had already seen the horror
on the roof dreaded that which
they would have to look at again
in the line of duty.
For a few breathless moments
they all stood in the dark-a dark
ness pregnant with meaning and
horror 1t was enough to
make the strongest nerves snap
with the strain.
Abruptly, the inspector gave a
sign to both Larkin and Murphy
and both officers in answer to 1t,
flashed their torches onto that
object, huddled in the corner.
There in the circle of the flash.
lights, was the glistening white
body of a Woman-a beautiful
body that under ordinary condi-
tions would have held all the
allure of the ages, but that now
was a symbol of hate. and of
sin. of vengeance and Of horror
unspeakable.
The Ordeal
For the softly curved body of
the woman was stripped of all
clothing, so that it lay naked and
stark before the gaze of the on
lockers. it's WhiteneSs clothed only