The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-01-31
THE K EN- N E 1
NJ UR DER G ASE
The wounded Scottie
BY s. s. VAN DINE


We'll, what's in the hall?o barked
MARKHAM. Vance,s reorganization had
produced an irritating effect on him.
A dog, sirl" Gamble announced.
Markham gave start of exaspera-
ton.
What Of it?'
A wounded dog, sir" the butler
explained.
Before Markham could answer
Vance had leaped to his feet
That's the thing I've been waiting
forl" There was suppressed note Of
excitement in his voice. "a wounded
dogl My word! He went swiftly
to the door. "Come along, Gamble, !"
he called, as he passed quickly down
the stairs.
We all followed in silent amaze
ment. aWhere is it?" Vance demand
ed when he had reached the lower
hallway.
Gamble stepped to the heavy por-
there's at the right of the entrance
door, and drew one of them aside.
Il heard strange sound just now"
he explained. Like whine, sir. It
J startled me terribly. When looked
back of this curtain, there saw the
dog"
docs it belong to anyone in the
house 2" Markham asked.
ooh, no, STRIP the man assured him.
&sThat's why I was so startled.
There's never been dog in this
house since I've been re-and that's
going on ten years"
AS he held back the portiere, we
could see the small, prone shape of a
slightly brindled Scottish terrier, ly-
ing on it's side with its four short
legs stretched out. Over the left eye
was clothed wound; and on the floor
was 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 ex-
preston of tragic appeal.
Vance took the dog tenderly in his
arms.
What streets this?" he asked of
no one in particular. Seventy first :?
Open that door, Gamble"
The butler, apparently as much
surprised as any of the rest of US,
hurried obey.
Vance stepped into the vestibule,
the dog held gently against his
breast.
"I'm going to Doctor Blamey," he
announced. "He's just up the street.
I'll be back presently" And he hur-
ried down the stone steps.
This new development left US all
even more puzzled than before.
Vance's animated response to Gam
ble's announcement regarding the dog,
and his cryptic remark as he hurried
downstairs, added another element of
almost outlandish mystery to a situa-
ton already incredibly comlicated.
Markham was staring at the front
door through which Vance had just
passed, chewing is cigar nervously.
Presently he fixed Gamble with an
angry look.
You never saw that dog before ~
No, sir" The butler had become
oily again. "Never, sir. It's most my
sterious. I can't imagine how it got
in the house."
Wrede and Grassi had come to the
drawing room door, and stood looking
out curiously into the hall.
Markham, seeing them, addressed
himself to Wrede.
do you, Mr.. Wrede;, know any
thing about small black shaggy dog
that might have found access to this
house?
Wrede looked puzzled.
"Why, no. he answered, after a
slight hesitation. "No one here cared
for dogs. happen to know that both
Archer and Brisbane detesed pets"
eWhat about Miss Lake?"
"She has no use for dogs. She likes
cats"
Markham frowned.
well, a dog has just been found
here in the ball back of those cur
.tains."
"That's most remarkable" Wrede
seemed genuinely astonished. Il can't