The Washington times., 1935-08-10

Inc local ponce are mere, SIT
What shall I do?"
THE police?" repeated Cyrus K
"Ah! Yes, to be sure, the police
Show the gentlemen into the Ii
brary, Sands. I will be right in"
AS the old man left the room
Mantel turned to Thornley,.
"Then I take it that you would
not really do anything to help
Lawrence Vane out of this predica
ment he finds himself in?" he
asked.
what makes you say that?"
Roger was guarded, as sometimes
the very drunk can be. why
there isn't anything wouldn't do
for my friend Vane-not any
thing" He slumped forward in
his chair, the liquor finally the
victor. mot anything" he NUT.
tered with a drowsy oath.
Cyrus K. stood for a minute
looking at the sodden man.
slumped in the chair before him
Then he rose and walked to the
door, opened it, and entered the
library.
The first cold light Of Christmas
morning showed up the faces of
the people gathered there in all
their weary lines and shadows.
Cyrus K. looked at the police
officer, who stood there, brave
in his blue and gold.
GOOD morning, Officer" he
said. IT ask you to arrest this man,
Lawrence Vane!"
Good Advice
The day after Christmas found
Cyrus K. Mantel sitting alone in
his library in his own home in
New York.
AS he looked back over the hap
penings Of the last "a hours, he
shook his head often, smiled at
times, and more than once stroked
his shaggy brow with his glasses.
His mobile face darkened as he
recalled the reaction of four of tho
others present at the time of his
announcement.
Wilbur Renton had made a
strange exclamation and started
toward Betty as though he thought
she might need his support.
Lawrence Vane had looked at
him with an expression in his nice
eyes that even now made Cyrus
K. cringe.
Old Suky had smiled a wide and
cheerful smile and with the fanili-
arity Of long association had pat
ted his arm with one black hand.
"Dey CANT fool Mistah Cyrus" she
had murmured, beneath her
breath, and had patted his arm,
approvingly, again.
But Betty, his belo~ed Betty,
she had glared at him with a long
look that would have made any
watcher believe her capable Of
murder herself.
"A fine champion you are" she
Kissed in his ear. II wish really
I had never got you down here
and I'll never call on you for help
again as long as I live!" Then she
had walked swiftly across the room
to Vane, and held out her hand
in friendly, frank fashion.
Things are sure to work out
all right, Lawrence" she had said
bravely, Gin spite Of the way they
look now" And she had thrown
another dagger look at Cyrus K.
CHAPTER XXI
Quickly then the usual routine
had taken place-the body had
been removed to an undertaking
establishment in the village to
await official autopsy and inveSti.
cation. Then the police detective
and Cyrus K. had gone over the
house, once again questioning all
guests.
In the bedroom that bad been
assigned to Vane it was discovered
that his bed was undistVnAd. A
bottle of chloroform, partially
empty, was found in the snow OF
the grounds as if it had been
tossed there from the terrace
There were no marks on this
bottle as the wet snow had washed
them off.
Cyrus K. had walked all the way
around the big, arched terrace
twice, and had taken careful note