The Coolidge examiner., 1935-01-25
CHAPTER TT-Continued

;
She turned and contemplated the
inert figure IN the armchair.
well. what DO yon think has
happenedf" she put the question
in a hard. even tone
There Is every appearance OF
suicide.
~sulcldeT She turned back 20
Markham coldly. Il wouldn't call
it that
Vance. who had been standing nt
the rear % the room Gear the bed
came forward.
Neither would /. Mss Lake. he
said.
She moved her head slightly and
nfted her eyebrows
~Ah! Good morning. Mr.. Vance.
In the excitement OF The moment
didn't see you. You are quite
RIGHTS rot suicide" Her eyes
narrowed.
why DO you repudiaie the sui.
eide theoryI" Vance asked with pro
nounccd courtesy.
VERY simple she replied. "Unele
vas too great an egoilst 20 deprive
the world of his presence"
but eEotism." Vance submitted.
is often the cause ot suicide. Bore.
dom. don't = know-the inability
% nnd a responsive appreciation.
Suicide gives the eEous, his one
supreme moment OF triumph" vance
spoke With academic nioofness.
"tnrie Archer needed no SD
prcme moueuus." Hiida Lake re-
turned coutemptuously ~He had
such moments every time be ac-
CURED a Chinese knicknack. An ut
tcTly worthless piece of soft Chun
porcelain IN a six nest. which was
% 10 use 20 any human being. gave
him a greater thrill than would
gct out OF beating Bobby Jones /
cou't think uncle Killed himself"
Forgive me- Vance bowed.
"lou are unquesilonably right
But neither Mr Markham nor Ser.
Ceani Heath agrees with Us They
are quite ready 10 dismiss the case
as suicide"
She looked from Markham TO
Heath with a hard. cold smile.
And why notT' she asked. at
would be 50 easy-and would save
a lot of bally scandal"
Markham was piqued by the
woman's attitude.
~who. Miss Lake" he asked In
his typical courtroom manner.
would have any reason for de-
string your uncle's deathf-
Il for one" she answered
unhesi,atlngly. looking Markham
straight in the eye. "He Irritnted
me beyond words He stood In
the way OF everything I wanted to
do: and be was able 10 make life
pretty miserable for me because he
held the purse-s;rings. A nice
cold arctic day Il was for me when
&c was appointed my guardian and
was dependent on him. His death
AZ ans :.me these past ten years
would have been a godsend 10 me.
Now that he's out OF the way I'll
get my patrimony and be able 10
do what ] want to do without In
reference"
Markham and Heath regarded
her In amazed Indignation. There
was something Ielly venomous in
her manner calculating hatred
more potent and devastating even
than her words. II was yance's
languld and Indifferent voice that
broke the monotony tha, followed
her TRADE.
My word Really. y know. Miss
Lake. you're dashed refreshin' In
your frankneSS. Are we 20 /
accept your comments as a confes- |
sion OF murder?'
Not az present" was the even
reply. But II the authorities are
set on calling II suicide, may come |
Forward later and claim the credit |
Tor his demise-hy the way OF up
holding the honor OF the family. |
iou see. regard a good healthy |
Justihable murder in higher es-
TEEN than a paltry suicide"
The blood was mounting TO
Aarkham's cheeks; he was becom- |
Ing angry at Hilda Lakes apparent |
nippancy.
who besides yourself" he asked |
trying 70 control his feelings. |
would have had reason to murder /
your uncle?"
The woman looked up at the cell
ing with meditative shrewdness
and sat down Oh the edge OF the
desk.
ANY number OF persons" She |