The Coolidge examiner., 1935-01-11

Then re kneli Down and Looked
Through the keyholc.
subseryienee ITS very terrible.
sir. Aud ! really didn't know Just
what ! should do"
Two men came forward to greet
US The one in advance / recog
nlzed Immediately as Raymond
Wrede lie. knew. was n close
friend Of the Coe family. and par
tcularly OF Hilda Lake. Archer
Goes niece. lie was a studlous man
in his late thirties. slightly gray.
with an asceilc. calm face OF the
chevaline type. lie was mildly IN.
teresied In Oriental ceramIcs-prob-
ably as a result Of his long associa
ilon with Coe-though his particu.
lar fancy was ancient oil lamps
and be owned a collection Of rare
specimens,
lie bowed formally to Markham.
whom he knew slightly nodded
perfunctorily 20 me: and extended
his hand TO Vance. Then. as II sud
denly remembering something. be
turned toward the man behind him.
and made brief presentation,
which In reality was an explana-
ton.
"Slgnor GrassI Mr. Grassl
has been a house guest Of Mr. Goes
for several days lie represents an
italian museum Of Oriental antlqui.
ties at Milan"
Grassi bowed very low. bat said
nothing. He was considerably
shorter than wrede, slim. immacu.
lately dressed. with shiny black
hair brushed straight back from his
forehead. and a complexion whose
unusual pallor was accentuated by
large luminous eyes. His features
we're regular. and his lips full and
shapely. His manicured hands
moved with an almost feline grace.
Markham wasted no time on
ceremony. He turned abruptly 10
Gamble.
~Jusi what is the sItuationf A
police sergeant and the medical ex-
aminer viii be here any moment {"
only what | told you on the
telephone, sir" The man, beneath
his obsequIous manner. was patent
ly frightened. when I saw the
master through the keyhole / knew
he was dead-it was quite unnerv-
ing, strand my FIRST impulse was
10 break In the door. But / thought
II best 10 seek advice before taking
such a responsibility. And. as Mr.
Brisbane Coe was ia Chicago,
phoned to Mr.. wrede and begged
him 10 come over Immediately. Mr.
Wrede was good enough 10 come.
and after looking at the master he
suggested that ! call you. sir. be
fore doing anything else
1T was obvious"-Wrede took up
the story-"that poor Coe was dead.
and l thought Il best TO leave
everything intact for the authorl-
ties. l didn't want to insist on hav.
ing the door broken in."
Vance was watching the man
closely.
But what harm could that have
doneY' he asked mildly. "Slnce the
door was bolted on the inside.
suicide was rather plainly indIcat-
ed-eh. whatT"
Perhaps you are right. Mr.
Vance" wrede appeared I'll at ease.
"But-somehow-my instinct told
me that 1t might be best"
"Quite-quIte." Vance took out
his cigarette case. You, too. were
sceptical-desplte the appearances"
Wrede gave start. and stared
fixedly at Vance
"Coe," Vance continued, wasn't
exactly the suicidal type-was heT"
Moo" Wrede's eyes did not
shift.
Vance lighted cigarette.
MY own feeling is you acted
quite wisely"
Come 7" Markham turned to
ward the stairs and made a peremp-
tory gesture to Gamble. Lead the
way"
The butler turned and mounted
the stairs Markham. Vance and ]
followed. but Wrede and Grassi re
mained below. Gamble. without q
word, indicated the door.
Markham came forward, tried the
knob. and shook It. Then he knelt
down and looked through the key
hole. When he rose his face was
grim.
(TO BE CONTIHUED1