The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-29
WHOSE WIFE?-SOCIETY NIGHT LIFE SECRETS Barred
Who Holds Key to Riddle
Of the Disappearance
OF IsObel Vane?

very ulISASSGA41S' IcpedIeQ W
rus K. softly.
The two men turned to go when
Mantel quickly stopped and picked
up something from the floor OF
the terrace.
! Anything Interestingly" asked
Ingles.
"Well," Mantel studied the oh
ject in his hand. THAT depends
1t is a piece of mortar Clipped
from a wall. Odd. Very odd. Can
I keep this, Ingles?"
Ingles laughed. II don't see why
not. cannot see that it has any
bearing on the crime"
Thank you," said Mantel. 1T
you want it later I will let you
have it, of course. What crime Is
it you refer to-"
"Why, the murder Of ISobel
Vane by her husband"
IT do not think" replied Man
tel very slowly, that this has any
thing to do with that particular
crime"
Before Tngles could formulate
a proper retort, he was startled
to see Lawrence Vane come to-
ward them across the wide ex'
panse Of the terrace.
II asked Vane to come here,
Cyrus K. told him swiftly. "be'
cause I wanted to look at some OF
his sketches of his models-in the
nude-and I want him here-and
you-when I do it,"
CHAPTER XIV
Hello, Mr.. Mantel. Hello, In
gles," Vane greeted them quietly.
Cyrus K. took note, even as he
returned the greeting of the
young artist, that Lawrence Vane
seemed to have no horror of the
terrace across which he was walk
ing. He also noticed, and was
pleased with his observation, that
Vane stepped forward firmly
with his head erect, and his blue
eyes clear and straight ahead.
Quite a different person from the
surren, morose prisoner Of the
Tombs.
1ngles said gruffly, "Hello.
Vane. Glad you're out. But I
hate to have to see you here
under these circumstances"
you don't hate to see me here
this way any more than I hate
to be here" Vane returned with
spirit. Then he turned to Mantel.
Have you found out anything,
Sir?" he asked.
1--WE just been looking about
little" Mantel evaded. Let's
get straight onto these sketch
books Of yours"
Seems a queer sort of time to
choose to take look at sketches
Of NINE" said Vane.
Ingles threw him a piercing
glance, then said, Lawrence,
what would you commence with
on this case?"
Il would try to get you police
started on finding my wife"
Vane answered quietly.
"Humph," Ingles grunted.
That's why I want to see
those sketches, Mr.. Vane," said
Cyrus K. gently.
Lawrence Vane turned on his
heel and preceded the two older
men back into the studio of the
apartment where he had known
happiness for such a short time.
All right" he said. I'll get
them out"
Mantel walked over deliber-
ately and stood beneath the man.
tel OF the wide. log-burning fire
place. Above the mantel shelf.
Sconsced on either side by old
world candleSticks, was a painting
arreSting in it's heauty-a nude
woman. the flesh tints entranc-
lngly lovely, standing poised and
startled in a listening attitude,
IN a Verdant wood, dappled with
warm sunlight. Rich auburn hair
rlppled down her body, partly
yelling her beauty; her face was
vague. but beautiful in the
shadows.
lis that a picture of. your
WE" ne asked, turning to
Vane where he shuffled large
portfolios about, in search of the
needed SketchbookS.
Composite
That" he stammered. mo
that's not my wife. that's a sort
OF composite picture Won
know" he explained eagerly, "a
mixture of many models. and
perhaps. the dream or ideal of
the artist. a picture like that is
rarely, if ever, true portrait of
any one woman. =" he laughed
nervously. If it were, ones wife
wouldn't let one have it about"
"lt'S very beautiful body, and
very beautifully painted" Cyrus
K. adjusted his pince-nez as he
spoke and studied the picture in
tently.
DO you mean" 1ngles said
slowly, that an artist often puts
the beauties of many different
models into one painting?"
Yes" said Vane briefly.
The head Of one upon the body
OF another" 1ngles persisted.
why certainly" Cyrus K. put
IN cheerfuuy, land the hair of
still another"
Its a funny thing about the
human body" said Cyrus K.
Everyone sees 1t differently. To
the layman it is something to feed
and to clothe: to the youngster OF
this age it is something to test
new sensations with To thu ranr-