The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-06-20
THE KENN MEL
MURDER CASE
BY S. S. VAN DINE

At nine o'clock the following morn
ing Vance called at the offices of the
American Kennel club, and explained
to the secretary, Mr.. Perry B. Rice,
the nature of the information he
sought. Mr. Rice introduced us to
Mrs. Del Campo, the head of the show
department. Mrs. Del Campo, when
Mr.. Rice explained to her what
Vance wanted, found the marked
Englewood catalogue. Turning to the
Scottish terrihr section, she ran her
finger down the list of Puppy Bitch
entries until she came to the winner
Of the class. The owners name was
given as Julius Higginbottom, and
the name Of the dog itself as Miss
MacTavish. Then followed the A. K. C.
Stud Book number and the date of
birth-November 20 of the preceding
year. The sire of the bitch was given
as Champion Ornsay Autocrat, and
the dam as Laurieston Lovelace. The
breeder was Henry D. Bixby.
Vance made a note Of these data,
and expressed his admiration for the
A. K. c: system.
When we arrived at the district at
torney's office on the fourth floor of
the Criminal Courts building, Mark
ham was in conference with Sergeant
Heath. Swacker, the district attorn-
ey's secretary, ushered us immediate
" into Markham's private office.
"Things are moving" Vance sat
down and took out his cigarette case.
81 have just come from the American
Kennel club and have discovered a
bit of most interestin' information
The wounded Scottie, Markham, be-
longs to none other than Julius Hig-
ginbottom.
"And who might he be, Vance
And why does the fact interest you!'
81 have met Higginbottom. He's a
member of the Crestview Country
club, and he has alarge country es'
tate at Mount Vernon, where he
spends his entire time living what he
imagines to be the life of a country
gentleman"
Heath sat forward in his chair.
"It was the Crestview Country
club at Mount Vernon" he interJect
ed, "where Miss Lake and Grassi
went to a dance Wednesday night"
"And that's not all, Sergeant. "
Vance sprawled luxuriously in his
chair and took a deep inhalation.
"Higginbottom knew Archer Coe
pretty we'll. Several years ago Hig-
,ginbottom inherited, from an aunt, a
very fine collection of early Chinese
paintings, many of which Coe bought
from him at a preposterously low
price. Higginbototm is something OF
a gay bird-the sporting type OF man
and knew nothing of the value OF
the paintings. After he had sold them
to Coe he learned from dealer that
thew were very valuable, and there
was consequent talk, in certain New
York art circles, to the effect that
Coe had put over shrewd and some
what unethical deal on Higginbot-
tom. Higginbottom, as 1 know, took
the matter up with Coe, but without
any success, and there has been a
certain amount of bad blood between
them ever since. Higginbottom was
major in the World war and is hot
headed sort of chap"
Markham beat nervous tattoo on
the desk.
"Well, where does that get US ?" ne
asked. care you implying that Hig-
ginbottom came down from Mount
Vernon with his dog and murdered
Coe?"
"God Lord, mol" Vince made a
slight gesture of annoyance. I'm
not implyin' anything. I am merely
reportin' my findings. But l must
confess that l find the relationship
between the Scottie and Major Hig-
ginbottom and Archer Coe a bit sat-
isfyin'. am motoring Immediately to
Mount Vernon, where I hope to have
polite and serious-and, I trust illu-
minatin'-intercourse with the major
concerning Miss MacTavish. {.
Would YOU care to hear the result of
my social endeavors 2"
"Ill be here all afternoon" Mark
ham answered glumly.
1t was a pleasant drive to Mount
Vernon, in the brisk October air. We
had little difficulty in finding the
Higginbottom estate, and we were