The Coolidge examiner., 1935-02-01
Markham gave a start OF sxasper

\ M"A"4t% @N@s 0'At A1f nANttE
explained.
Before Markham could answer
Vance had leaped TO his feet
That's the thing I've been wait.
Ing for" There was q suppressed
note az excitement 10 bis voice. "A
wounded dog Ny word lie
went swiftly 10 the door. ~C0me
along. Gamble" be called. as he
passed quickly down the stairs.
We all followed In silent amaze
meut. Where Is itt' Vance do
mauded when be had reached the
lower hall
Gamble stepped TO the heavy por-
ilcres az the right of the entrance
door and drew one 81 them aside.
= heard o strange sound just
now" he explained. like n whine.
sir II startled me terribly. when
looked back OF this curtair. there
saw the dog"
"pocs 4 belong to anyone IN The
housef" Markham asked.
"uh. NO. SIR the man assured
him. That's why I was - star
tied There's never been q dog In
this house since I've been hrle-and
that's going on ten years"
A. be held back the portIe1e. we
could see the small prone shape
OF q slightly brindled Scottish ter
rier lying on It's side with It's four
short legs stretched out. over the
left eye was a clotted wound: and
on the floor was n black stain OF
dried blood. The eye beneath the
wound was swollen shut. but the
other eye. dark hazel and oval.
looked up at Us with an expression
% tragic appeal
Vance took the dog tcnderly In
bis arms
what streets thlsf" he asked
o, no one In particular Seventy.
nrs,7 Open that door. Gam
bic"
The butler. apparently as much
surprised as any OF the rest OF Us.
hurried 10 obey
Vance stepped into the vestibule.
the dog held gently against his
breast
I'm going 20 Doctor Blamey." be
announced He's Just up the street.
In be back presently" And be
hurried down the stone steps.
This new Development left us
all even more puzzled than before.
Vauce.s animated response 20 Gam.
bic's announcement regarding the
dog and his cryptic remark as he
hurried downstairs added another
element % almost outlaudlsh mys
terry to n situation already incred-
ibly complicated.
Markham Gxed Gamble with an
angry look
You never saw that dog before -
No. sir" The butler had become
oily agnln. Never. sir It's most
mysterious I cant imagine how
II got 10 the house"
Wrede and Crassi had come to
the drawing room door. and stood
looking out curiously into the hall
Markham. seeing them, addressed
himself 10 Wrede
do you. Mr. wrede. know any.
thing about a small black shaggy
dog tha, might have found access
10 this house,"
Wrede looked puzzled.
"why. no." be answered. after a
slight hesitation. "No one here
cared for dogs | happen 10 know
that both Archer aud Brisbane De
tested pets"
Markham frowned
"well. a dog has just been found
here In the halI-back OF those cur.
talns"
That's most remarkable wreda
seemed genuinely astonished. Il
can't imagine where II came from
II must have followed some one In.
without being seen"
Markham did not answer. and
Heath. taking his cigar from his
mouth, stepped forward belligerent-
ly. and thrust out bis jaw.
But you Ike dogs. don't your
he shot forth. In bis best thlrd-de-
gree manner.
wrede was taken aback by the
sergeant's sudden aggressiveness.
why. yes" be said I'm very
fond OF them. I've always kept
one Till | moved Into the apart
ment next door.
what kind OF dogT demanded
Heath, without relaxing his belll-
cose manner.
"A Doberman Pinscher." Wrede
told him. and turned 20 Markham
II don't exactly understand this
mans questions"
Were all a little on edge" Mark
ham apologlzed. "Some very pecu-
, liar things went on In this house
last night. Coe did not commit sui
cide-he was murdered.
wrede did not appear surprised.
"Ahi" he murmured. II was
afraid OF that"
Grassl now gave cultural eI-
clamatlon and stepped into the hall
"Murderedf" he repeated. "Mr
-, ,,.,, ,,,,,rdaradS undarstood h.