The Coolidge examiner., 1935-01-18
CHAPTER I-Coutinned


?
Ell looks as n our suspicious we're
unfounHesl." be said In a low voice.
~Coe IS sitting ia bis chair. a black
hole ln bis rlrh; temple. and his
band IS sull clutchiug a revolver.
The electric lights are on. d.
Iaok. vance
Vance was gazing ct an etching
en- the wail az the head of the stairs
~ru take your word Tor II. Mark.
han." be druwled Really. y
know. d doesn't sound Ike a pret-
- sight And I'll see II infinitely
better When we've forced an entry"
AT this momcut the front door
bell rang violently. and Gamble has
tened down the stairs. As he drew
the door back. Sergeant Ernest
Heath and Detective Hennessey
burst into the lower hallway.
This way. Sergeant Markham
called
HEATH and Hcunessry came nois-
ny up The stairs
Good morning. sir The ser
geauf waved a frieudly hand 10
Markham Then he cooked an ere
81 Vance. = mlghta known you'd
- here. The worlds champeen
troubieshooter lie grluned good
NMturrAly. and there was genuine
ETection In bis tone.
Come. Sergeant. Markham or
dered. There's a dead man In this
room. and the doors bolted on the
Inside. Break 10 open.
Heath. without a word. hurled
himself against the crosspleec OF
the door Just above the knob. but
withou, result A second time his
shoulder crashed against the cross
piece.
Give me n hand. Hennessey." " be
eaid That's a bolt-no foolin'.
Hard wood"
The two men threw their con-
blned weight against the door. and
now there vas a sound Of tearing
wood as the bolts screws were
loosened.
During the process Of hatterlng
II the door. Wrede and Grassi mount
e1 the stairs. followed by Gamble.
and stood directly behind Markham
and Ks~ce.
Two more terrific thrusts by
Heath and Hennessey. and the
heavy door swung inward, reveal
ing the death chamber.
The room. which was az the ex.
freme rear of the house. was long
and narrow. with windows on two
sides. There was bay window op-
poslte the door. and a wide double
window al the left facing east
The dark green shades we're all
drawn. excluding the daylight. But
the room was brilliantly lighted by
an enormous crystal chandelier In
the center of the ceiling.
At the rear Of the room stood an
enormous eanopled bed, which.
noticed. had not been slept In. on
the right was a large embayed
bookcase filed with octave and
quarto volumes. aud. facing the
door was a mahogany kidney
shaped desk covered with books.
pamphlets and papers-the desk
OF a man who spends many hours
AZ literary labor. To the left OF
this desk. in the east wall. was a
large fireplace. Gas logs were in
the CRATE. Aesut the wallis hung at
least a doEaa Chinese scroll paint
ingS Had there not been a bed and
a dressing table In the room, one
would have taken lt for a coIlec-
tors sanctum.
These details OF the room, how
ever, protruded themselves upon Us
later. What hrst focused our at
tention was the inert body OF Archer
Coe. with Its quiet pallid face and
the black grlsly spot on the right
temple. The body was slumped down
In a velour upholstered armchair
beside the desk.
There was an expression OF peace
on the thin aquillne features OF the
dead man: and his eyes were closed
as though In sleep. His right hand
the one nearest the fireplace
lay on the end OF the desk clutch
Ing a carved ivory-lnlaid revolver
OF fairly large callber. His left
hand hung at his side over the tuft-
ed arm OF the chair.
There was a straight windsor
chair behind the desk, and I could
rot help wondering why Coe had Sc
lected the armchair at the side OF
the desk. facing the door. Was II
because he had considered II more
comfortable for his last resting
place In nfe7 The answer to this
passing speculation OF mine did
not come for many hours; and when
II did come. as q result OF Vance,
deductions. Il constituted one OF the
Vital links In the eyIdential chain
Of this strange and perplexing case.
Goes BODY was clothed In m