The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-04-11
THE KENNE
MURDER CASE
By S. S. VAN DINE

/ else she followed him in. If she was
in the house and it was he who in
iured her, he was killed at almost
the same instant; for if he had been
able to, he, like Archer, would have
put the dog outside. Therefore, in
case the dog was there and Brisbane
injured her, then it follows that the
murderer didn't see her or left her
there with some definite purpose in
mind. AS for the dog having followed
Brisbane in, l think it highly unlike
ly. Dogs do not sneak in front doors
between strangers legs"
"But she followed some one in,
obviously" Markham argued, "-un-
less, of course, she was deliberately
brought there"
"That is true" Vance admitted,
"and that is point that puzzles me.
She might have followed some one
even a stranger-into the house, pro-
vided he had left the door open; but
the murderer would scarcely have left
the front door open-in fact, I ina
CINE he would have taken pains to
shut it securely. And the vicious in
jury given the dog seems to indicate
that her presence in the house was
not deliberate-that, in fact, the per-
son who found her was surprised
and,~ perahps, frightened. Being
afraid he would be seen if he turned
her out, he acted impulsively and
sought to kill her lest she should
start barking and attract attention.
My conclusion is that the dogs
presence was not discovered until
after the murder"
"Your reasoning is clear enough"
Markham told him, :"sbut I don't see in
what way it is helpful to us.'
at eliminates certain possibilities;
it narrows down certain movements
of the murderer; and it leads to
specific Interpretation of the two
crimes-the murder Of Archer and
the murder of Brisbane"
Forgive me if 1 cannot follow
your esoteric rationcinations."
"Perpend, Markham" Vance was
genially patient. at is highly unlike
ly-not to say impossible-that the
dog could have followed any one in
the front door without being seen.
If she had been deliberately admitted,
she would probably have not been in
jured and left behind the portieres.
Therefore, in view of the various fac
tors of the situation, believe the dog
entered the house through an open
door, And as the murderer would not
have left the front door open, we
may, as hypothesis, assume that he
entered by the rear door. And this
would be in keeping with the nature
of the crime. Furthermore, it is not
at all unlikely that he would have
left both the gate and the rear door
open so that he could make his escape
without unnecessary noise. In that
case the dog could easily have follow
ed him in through the open gate and
door, without being seen or heard.
And the place where the dog was
found-just outside the library door
was logical spot, for the dog
would have come in through the kit
chen and dining room and into the
library"
Markham NODDED SLOWLY.
eyes. All that is quite reasonable.
But, after all, anyone could have
come in the rear door,"
provided he knew the lie of the
land, was familiar with all the domes-
tic arrangements-and could have OBJ
tined key. Also, provided he knew
that all the servants would be away
that night"
Vance looked up thoughtfully.
"Yes, Markham, already that little
Scottie has narrowed down our inves-
tigtion. Unwittingly she has pointed
out several valuable clews to us. She
has helped us, no end. And l have a
feelin' she going to tell us lot
more"
1t was about half-past three when
we returned to the Coe house. The
sergeant was busting about, giving
orders.
"I've got something for you, sir"
He staggered little as he led us
into the library and pointed to the
large center table. "There's the poker