The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-07-04


Vance reproved him. Gar too much
haste. These are various little things
to be done-little knots to be tied
before the arm of the law can pounce
upon the culprit- arms don't
pounce, do they?"
"In that case, perhaps you could
bring yourself to confide in me-"
Markham still spoke ironically. 81
assume that you know how the crimes
were committed"
"Alas, mop Vance shook his head
lugubriously. "That's the chief rea-
son why l shall hoard my theory as
to who perpetrated them. could
make out an excellent case against
the murderer for the doing-in of
Archer. My great difficulty, however,
would be that there was no point
whatever in the murderer's killing
Brisbane. Motive is lacking-in fact,
that particular murder is meaning
less from a logical point of view. But
I'm sure the murderer most passion
ately desired the death of Archer.
And yet, it would be utterly unreal
sonable to accuse him of killing
Archer-he apparently couldn't posi-
bly, have done it. And there you
are Do you not sympathize with me
in my predicament
"I'm on the point of bursting into
tears" returned Markham. "But just
what do you propose doing to extri-
cate yourself from yor embarrassing
situation
Vance drew himself together and
stood up. He was now alert and seri-
Gus.
"I propose to go to the Coe house
and ask many questions of it's in
mates. Will you accompany me?"
Markham glanced at the clock on
the wall and rang for Swacker.
"I'm leaving for the day." he told
his secretary. And, taking his hat and
coat from the stand in the corner, he
went toward the private entrance
door. "I'm interested" he said, Gin
mild way. But what about
Heath"
ooh, the sergeant, by all MEANS"
Vance replied. "He's definitely indi-
Gated"
Markham returned to his desk and
phoned the homicide bureau. When
he had replaced the receiver he walk
ed back to the door.
Heath will be waiting for US in
front of police headquarters"
We got into Vance's car, picked up
the sergeant, who seemed unusually
surly, and drove uptown. At Fifty
ninth street and Fifth avenue we en-
tered Central park. I noticed IA
miliar figure seated on one of the
benches just beyond the cut privet
hedge, little distance from the road
way, and at that moment Vance lean
ed over and gave an order to the
chauffeur to halt the car.
"Wrede is communing with his soul
on yon BENCH" he said. "And he was
one of the persons with whom | wish
ed to have parley. think I'll toddle
over and put few questions to him."
He opened the door of the car. We
followed him into the roadway and
turned east toward small opening in
the hedge.
Wrede was sitting with his back to
US, perhaps hundred feet away, gaz-
ing over. the lake. Just as we came
opposite him along the hedge, / no.
ticed the rotund figure of Enright
walking down the path toward the
bench on which Wrede sat. He had
the Doberman Pinscher on a leash.
"Well, WE'LL" Vance remarked; "the
talkative Mr.. Enright is invading new
territory. Perhaps Ruprecht tired Of
the vista over the reservoir. ="
Just then an amazing thing hap
pened. The Doberman suddenly halted
in his tracks, drew back a foot or
two, and crouched down as if in ter
ror. Then, with curious whine, he
bounded forward, dragging his leash
from the astonished Enright's hand.
He leapt straight toward Wrede.
Wrede turned his head toward the
dog, drew back, and started to rise.
But he was too late. The Doberman
sprang at him with unerring aim and
fastened his powerful fangs in the
mans neck. Wrede was bowled over
backwards, with the dog omet top of
him growing throatily. 1t was a ter
rible sight.