The Coolidge examiner., 1935-02-22

hsh" %t@ = NA tA Ekf'AA 10 rf'fA stAA
ploymeni with Mr. CoeT"
Il had heard OF bis collection o,
Chinese antiques and Of his great
knowledge of oriental art. and | D.
lieyed that the atmosphere might
prove 10 be congenial.~
And have you found II con.
genIalY
Not altogether. Mr. Coe was a
very narrow and selfish man. Ills
Interest 10 art vas purely person
I al. lie wished 20 keep his treas
ures away from the world--noi 20
share them wlth humanity"
a typical collector observed
'ance. by the by. Mr.. LANG. when
did you leave the house yesier
dsyT-
"Abosi half-pas, two" came the
low answer.
AID you returned at what
timer
shortly bcforc midnight Twas
visiting friends on Long Island"
Chinese frlends?"
Yea They viii be most happy
10 verify my statement"
Vance smiled.
I've no doubt Where DO you
sleepT-
My quarters. such as they are.
are connected with the Kitchen"
Did you so 10 bed Immediately
upon your reiurnY~
There was momentary hesita
tion on the mans part"
Not Immediately" b. said. Il
cleared away the remains OF Mr.
Goes supper. and made myself some
tea"
did you. by any chance. see Mr..
Brisbane Coe after you returned
last nlghtg"
Mr.. Brisbane CoeY The other
repeated the name questionlngly,
The butler told me this morning
not 20 prepare breakfast for him
as he bad gone 10 Chicago.
Was be here last nIghtT
Vance ignored the question.
did you hear any sounds In
the house before you reiired?" he
went on.
Not until Miss Lake returned
She IL always vigorous aud noisy
And a quarter OF an hour later Mr..
Grassl came In. But aside from that
| heard 10 sound whatever"
Vance. during this Interrogation.
had appeared casual: and hls man
ner had been deferentiaL But now
perceptible change came over his
attitude. His eyes hardened. and
hs leaned forward In his chair
When be spoke. bis voice was cold
and uncompromis!ng.
"Mr Lang" he said. "at what
time did you FIRST return TO this
house-early last nlghtT"
There was a clonded faraway look
in the chinaman's eyes.
Il did not return early last
night he answered. In q family
sing-song voice Il arrived al mid
night"
Yes. you arrived at midnight
Gamble heard you come In But I
am speaking OF your earlier visit
some time around eight O'Clock. let
Us say"
You are evidently laborlng IN.
der misapprehension," Lang re.
turned.
Vance ignored the re,orI
And what did you see In this
room at about eight o'clockY"
How could have seen any
thing. when / was not here?" came
the calm, unrufrled reply.
did you see Mr. Archer CoeT'
persisted Vance.
Il assure you"
And was anyone with hlm!"
Il was not here"
Perhaps you visited Mr.. Goes
bedroom upstairs" Vance went on
with quiet but firm insIstence. And
then. II may be. you thought IL ad-
visable 10 disappear from the
house for several hours; and you
went out, returning at midnight" 4"
Il was not In this house"-Liang
spoke with delIberation-'bet
half-past two yesterday afternoon
and midnight" There was a final
ity In both his manner and his tone.
Vance sighed wearily. and. turn
Ing 10 the hall door. called Gamble.
Where was Mr.. Archer Coe sit
ting last night when you went out? p
he asked.
"0n the davenport, SIR" Gamble
told him "In that corner near the
hoor lamp. II was Mr.. Archer's
fa.orite seat"
Vance nodded and rose.
THAT viii be all for the pres
ent Attend to your duties till we
need you"
Gamble went out and Vance
walked to the davenport and
! looked down at It Beside the