The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-07-06
thing just seems to contradict the
last fort MA found ont -

last fact we found out"
What fact have we found out?"
asked Cyrus K. innocently.
well, the Identification of the
body is a fact"
Lawrence Vane glanced up
quickly from his brooding silence,
as he noticed the odd phrasing
that Mantel had used.
"Ingles," he turned to the In
spector. II wonder If you could
leave me alone for a while with
Vane-I'm sure you have much to
attend to at headquarters-and I
have much to attend to here. I
will keep closely in touch with
you, and let you know any devel-
opment that I think you should
know. But" he smiled at Ingles
to soften his words. II think this
is the parting of the ways-this is
where you take the high road and
I'll take the low road You have
your duty to do to your oath. and
I have my duty to do to your
friend"
Ingles stood up and held out
his hand to Vane.
I'm sorry, Lawrence" he said.
"Sorry about it ALL know you're
guilty-but I hope to God that he
gets you out Of It," He turned to
Mantel and shook his hand in a
grip that would have made a
weakling vince. Good luck to
you" he said simply. IF there Is
anything I can do-anything I
can do-let me know. You know
III do it."
Painful Talk
"There goes a fine man." Cyrus
K. looked after him. I'm sorry
for him. It's a terrible thing to
be both a police officer-and a
good friend-sometimeS."
Lawrence Vane slumped in his
chai.:.
I'm in daze," he said, and
rubbed his hand across his eyes.
II don't know yet exactly what it
is all about"
That's what I'm here to try
and find out" said Mantel briskly.
He drew up a chair close to the
younger man. Nov Mr.. Vane, I
want to ask you few questions
and some of them are pretty
sure to hurt"
go ahead" said Vane. IT
don't think I can be hurt any
more-T think I've lost the power
to feel"
Had you heard-recently-any-
thing about your wife's manner of
life before she married your" Cy-
rus K. went straight to the point.
Eyes. /. L had. horrible things.
I tried not to believe them-Why.
Mr.. Mantel." he laid one hand on
Mantel's knee. IT couldn't believe
that anyone as beautiful as Isobel
could be. as rotten as they said
she was"
But did you com to believe it
at last?"
eyes" vane's head dropped.
"When?"
1.-THE night she disappeared.
"You mean the night she was
killed."
"All right. Have it that way If
you want to-"
when you finally came to be.
lieve these. . things. about her,
how did you feel2" Mantel tried
to be gentle.
II was sorry for her" said Vane
simply. II felt that she had been
more sinned against than SHINING
She was left alone when she was
so tiny-she never had a chance
in life. I felt that could pull
her out of all this wrong way Of
living that circumstances had
forced her into"
II see." Cyrus K. was quiet.
$50 you didn't hate her2"
Hate her?" Vane repeatedly
sadly. mo. loved her for the
woman she might nave been-the
woman she still might be. And
I pitied her"
did you still love her, Mr..
Vane?" Cyrus K. insisted quietly
Love her2" Vane spoke as
though weighing the little four
letter word. Love? That's hard
to say. Mr.. Mantel. I loved the
ideal Of womanhood I had always
loved. I had thought that she
represented it. I found out that
was not so. That was not her
fault-many a person has made
a mistake before, in placing the
garment Of an ideal upon a human
form; and many another has sui.
fered when discovering the idol
had feet Of clay. But that is not
the fault of the Idol. So I loved
her. yes but with a plying
love, a saving love, where before
there had been passion"
"Mr. V&ne," Cyrus K. spoke
gently. I'VE are alone here.
You must believe that I am your
friend-that I want to help you.
Tell me, do you still maintain
that the body found on your roof
is not thai of your wife. Isobel?"
II do" said Vane. THAT is
not the body Of my wife!"
Then whose body Is it?"
snapped Cyrus K.
II don't know" Vane was dog
ged:
"Mr. .Vane," Mantel's voice had
resumed its usutl easy tone. "You
are an artist. Tell me, is 1t pos
sible for a person. a layman. to
recognize q body-without the
head-unless that body has some
particular marks upon 1t that