The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-01-31

Heath, without relaxing his bellicoses
manner.
"A Doberman Pinscher," Wrede'
told him, and turned to Markham. =
don't exactly understand this mans
questions"
Were all little on edge" Mark
ham apologized. "Some very peculiar
things went on in this house last
night. Coe did not commit suicide
he was murdered"
Wrede did not appear snrrised.
"Ah!" he murmured. 81 was afraid
of that
Grassi now gave a cultural excla-
nation, and stepped into the hall.
Murdered ?" he repeated. "Mr. Coe
was murdered? understood he had
taken his own life with a revolver"
aHe was stabbed in the back"
Markham informed him. 1.-THE bullet
did not enter his head till after
death"
Again the Italian gave curious.
cultural exclamation and leaned heav-
lily against the casing of the drawing
room door. Heath was watching him
like a tiger, and at this point he NOV
ed deliberately forward until his face
was within six inches Of Grassi's.
STABBED with daggerl" he spat
out. "In the back. Wop stuff. What
dye know about it
AS quickly as he had gone pale,
the Italian drew himself together,
and stood erect with great dignity,
looking Heath steadily in the eyes.
II know nothing about it, sir" he
said with quiet suavity. 81 am not of
the police. Perhaps you know a great
deal about it, His tone, though on
the surface polite, was an insult.
Heath was piqued.
eve know plenty" he boosted true
ulently "And when we get going, it
won't be so d-n pleasant for you."
Markham stepped forward. "You
gentlemen will have to wait in the
drawing room for a while," he said
to Grassi and Wrede. "And please be
so good as to keep the door closed
until we want you."
Heath waved the two men back in
to the drawing room and drew the
sliding doors shut.
"Come, Sergeant" Markham said.
tsWe'd better make a once-over of
Goes room before the boys get here"
Heath sullenly led the way up
stairs.
During the next five minutes or so,
Markham and the sergeant walked
about Goes quarters giving them a
cursory inspection. Heath went to
each window and raised the shades.
When he had completed his rounds
he went upto Markham.
Here's a funny one, sir. The VIM
dows are all shut tight-but that
amt all. Every one of 'em is locked.
And this room is on the second story,
so that no one could get in from the
outside. Why all the precaution ?"
"Archer Coe was peculiar man,
Sergeant Markham replied. "He
was always afraid burglars would
break in and steal his treasures"
Who'd want this junk ?" Heath
grumbled specifically, and moved to
the desk.
Markham, after casually inspecting
the closet, walked across the room to
the teakwood chest beneath one of
the east windows. then remembered
that Vance had regarded this chest
curiously during his conversation
with Doctor Doremus about Goes
broken rib.
s'I've seen nothing Of the weapon
that killed Coe," Markham remarked.
cts not here" Heath asserted dog
matically. cit was withdrawn from
Goes body, and Til bet the guy each
ed it where it wouldn't be found"
A few minutes later Vance return
ed to the house. As he entered the
room his face was troubled, the anger
smoldered in his gray eyes.
There's good chance she'll live
he reported; "but that was a vicious
blow some one dealt her. "A blunt IN
strument Of some kind Il had rarely
seen Vance SO upset.)