The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-06-06

Vance rose early that morning. I
myself was around at nine o'clock and
was surprised to find him in street
clothes and on the point of leaving
the house.
"I'll be back in half an hour, Van,"
hesaid, as he went out, but gave no
further explanation
Fifteen minutes later Markham ar
rived, and he had waited but ten min
utas'when Val came in. He was
carrying the Scotch terrier bitch in
his arms. There was a dressing on
her head held in place by adhesive
tape, but otherwise she seemed alert
and we'll.
Morning, Markham" Vance greet
ed the district attorney. REALLY, v
know, l didn't expect you so early.
I've just toddled over to Doctor
Blamey's to see how the little Scotch
lassie was getting along-and here
she is"
Markham looked at him skeptical-
ly.
"You still think you can trace the
person we want through that dog p"
cts our only hope" Vance told
him seriously. "The case is far too
complicated as it stands-there are
too many contradictions. am sure
that you, as a prosecuting attorney,
could pin the various crimes on any
one of three or four people. But until
have traced the ownership and
peregrinations of this Scottie, I
shan't be satisfied"
Markham frowned. Gust how do
you intend to go about it,"
GAS I told you, Markham, this little
bitch is in perfect show condition.
She's been trimmed and conditioned
by an expert, and it seems pretty
certain that she's been entered in
some show recently. My guess is,
from her condition, that she's been
shown within the last month. And it's
simple enough to find what shows
have been held within a reasonable
radius of New York during that
period"
He went into the library and re-
turned with his file of Popular Dogs.
Sitting down in his easy chair he
began running his finger down the
calendar of official dog shows.
"Now, let's see," he murmured.
During the past month there has
been held around New York the show
: at Syracuse-make a note of these,
will you, Van? Then came the Corn
wall show; and after that, Tuxedo.
And>>a week later was the Camden
show, which was followed by West
bury, and also the Englewood show.
That brings US pretty we'll up to date,
and they are Ill possibilities. This
dog is too young to have won any
important blue ribbons, and therefore
my guess would be that her entries
would have been in the puppy and
novice classes. It's not an inn
portant matter, although it limits and
facilitate my investigation some
what"
"It sounds like shooting into the
dark" Markham was far from con-
WINGED.
you're right, to a certain extent"
Vance agreed. "But there's a simpler
way of determining the dogs owner
ship-and I shall try that first"
Vance stood looking down at the
bandaged Scottie.
"The more l see of her, Markham,
the more Pm convinced that there are
only about five men in this part Of
the country who could have done such
a perfect job of trimming. William
Prentice could have done it; and
/ George Wimberly, and Jimmy McNab,
and Ellery Burke, and Steve Parton"
Vance walked round the dog sew
eral times, studying her.
"Wimberly is in Boston, so we may
eliminate him on the grounds Of dis
lance. McNab is working in private
capacity for kennel on Long Island,
and / hardly think he would qualify.
Both Burke and Parton are fairly dis
tant from New York, although they
are certainly possibilities"
He knelt down and ran his hand
over the contour of the dogs neck
and lifted the hair along the spine.
Then he stood up.
william Prenticei That's the chap.
That outline of the neck and the back
has been achieved hv q master hand.