The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-15

in all the world can do it. Please,
Uncle Cyrus"
mol" he shot back at her with
all the force Of a bullet. mo"
isn't there anything I can do,
anything I can say that will make
you change your mind? Please,
Uncle Cyrus, pleased"
mol" he repeated. mol"
"Of course. it's a very difficult
case" she said slyly. II suppose
it is too much to ask. After all,
any detective might fail. even
you. 1 guess it's too much for
anyone to take a chance on such
a dreadfully hard case as this
one"
who said SOP" he shouted.
who said so? Think you're clever,
Miss. Well. get out Of here. I'm
busy. I'm busy as can be. I'm
on the Vane murder case"
At the TOmbs
The first thing Cyrus K. Mantel
did after shouting at his adored
niece to get out" was to remain
seated quietly in his great arm
chair until he heard her high
heels click across the polished sur.
face of the hardwood floor in the
hall below. He leaned forward
intently and listened for her voice
as she said good.by to the old
butler. His face crinkled into a
smile of pleasure as he noted the
gay laughter with which Betty
made some comment to the old
man. Cyrus K. was content. Bet
ty understood his supposed tan
trums as well as he understood
hers.
Suddenly he replaced them on
his nose. and picked up the tele-
phone at his elbow.
Hello! Give me police head
quarters. Hello! Headquarters?
Put me through to Inspector In
giles. Cyrus K. Mantel speaking"
A slight pause and 1ngles' voice
greeted MIN.
"Ingles?" Mantel went straight
to the point. Betty has just left
my home. Sorry you didn't come
in with her." He chuckled at the
surprise and discontinue he knew
the unseen man at the other end
of the wire was feeling. Can
you meet me right away at the
TombS?" he continued. "All
right. That's fine. Just as
soon as I can make it. Good
by!"
AS Police Inspector 1ngles and
Cyrus K. Mantel met in the CEN
trail office of the Tombs. the priS-
on bell struck the hour OF ten.
The warden in charge mechanical
ly went through the strict routine
Of checking them in. Then a
guard took them through a series
of heavy doors, carefully locking
each one after the little group. as
soon as they had passed through.
FastidiouSly, Cyrus K. stepped
aside from these dregS Of human
ity, and yet his brilliant black
eyes looked at them with kino'
ness and q depth Of understand
ing. To Ingles it all meant just
part of the days work.
Here v are!" said the guard,
and opened the door of cell.
It would have been difficult
for anyone to recognize in the
haggard man with the haunted
blood.shot eyes, the well.groomed,
gentle artist, Lawrence Vane. His
proximity, for one night and half
q morning, to the tragedy and
Suualor of the Tombs had deeply
affected his sensitive nature.
The guard closed the door on
them and locked them in with
the prisoner.
Ingles broke the silence.
Lawrence" he said in a
strained voice, i've brought you
a friend"
terly from the shelter of his
cupped hands Friend? I have
no friends" He raised his head
and looked 1ngles straight In the
eyes. II used to call you by that
name" he said quietly.
"All right, Lawrence" he said
steadily. II don't blame you for
feeling that way. But let that
pass. I have brought you o
friend, and one who can help
you"
IT do not know this gentle.
man." he said inSolently.
Mantel's Tact
Cyrus ks own particularly
lovable smile flashed over his
face. He bowed in stately old
world fashion.
"That has hAen nv VefV great