The Coolidge examiner., 1935-04-05
ness for a moment. Y probably

When regulned consciousness
felt warm. sticky wetness under
my left side. and the pain In ms
arm had increased and was throb
bling
Grassi looked at Markham appeal
!ngly. Then his eyes moved TO Heath
and finally 70 Vance. Vance wa.
placldly smoking. Rs II the man,
recital had little or no interest for
him. But knew him we'll enough
TO realize that he was nj this mo
ment intensely absorbed ln the re-
cital
"wha, dId you do thenY vance
asked
Grassi took a deep breath and
again closed his eyes
Il called out several times and
waited; but as no one answered.
arose and pressed the electric
switch by the door
"on which side OF the bed did you
arisei" Vance interrupted.
"Oa the side on which you are
sitting" Grassi Informed him. And
as soon as had turned on the
lights. | opened the door"
Nances eyebrows went up.
"Ah. the door was closedf"
Not quite. II was. as you say.
unlaiched. Then I called again
into the hall: and the hutler-up-
siairs-answered me. sat down on
the edge of the bed and waited until
be arrived.
did anyone else answer your
summons
No. The butler went immediate
" 10 the telephone in the hall,
downstairs. and I could hear him
summoning medical assistance"
Vance rose slowly and walked 10
beautiful ola Boule csbipet be-
tween the two east windows. and
ran his fingers over the inlay.
Il say. Mr. Grassi"--hc spoke
without turning round--"what about
tha, blood stained bath towel in
the hamper?"
Grassi glanced UP with more
alertness than he had shown at any
time during the conversation.
There was n bath towel on this
little stand beside the bed" be ex-
plalned. You see. I have no private
bath and the butler always leaves
me my bath towel nj night. When /
arose | wrapped II around my
arm"
"Ah. yes--quiie so" Vance
turned from the Boule cabinet and
walked toward the door. THAT ac-
counts for the fact tha, there are
no bloodstaIns on the floor"
Vance was now inspecting the
lock on the door.
How did Il happen. Mr Grassi. ="
ae asked IN an oThand manner.
that sou didn't lock your door be-
'ore you said your prayers and west
90 bed las, nlghtt~
The lock does not work" Grassi
returned In tone or injured
defiance
~ this moment siren was
heard tn the street. and Vance went
to the from, wlndow and looked out
THE ambulance is here.- he an
bounced we hope Mr GrAssi. that
you have q quiet night. and that
we viii see you tomorrow feeling
quite yourself again"
Doctor Lobsenr appeared at the
door with Gamble.
Through with nay patient1" he
asked. III so III get some clothes
on him and take him along"
Vance nodded
Thank YOU. Doctor. and good
luck. And now. Markham. sup
pose we 40 downstairs 10 the II
brary and do BIT OF thinking
although lt's beastly hour for men.
lari0n.
After Grass. accompanied by
Doctor Lobsenx. had departed.
Vance closed tie library doors and
walked 10 the large center table.
There Il Is. Markham. old dear. :"
be said wlth grim smile. pointing
TO the Chinese dagger before him
The dagger lay on the library
table IN almost exactly the same
spot where we had left II the after
noon before: but now there was un-
dried blood upon II and It's condl
ton told us. only too plainly. that
IL was the weapon which had been
used to strike through GrassI's arm
"You think" asked Markham
that the same person who stabbed
the Goes attempted Grassfs life
alsor"
why leap at conclusions?' sighed
Vance. There are SO many other
things to be ascertalned before We
can reach any intelligent conclu-
sion"
For instanceT'
Vance arranged himself comfort
ably In a large chair.
We'll" he said. inhaling deeply
on his cigarette. could endure 10
hear the various persons inside and
outside the house chant their runes
as 10 what they know OF tonlght's
happenings. And also what hath
yon Cerberus on the front stone
steps TO say about those who may