The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-06-13


humor as we drove to the eastside
winter studio of Mrs. Marguerite
Kirmse Cole. But to no avail. Mrs.
Cole was positive the dog had not
been an entry under her judgeship.
1t was past four in the afternoon
when we arrived at Mr.. William Mac
Bain's Niehard kennels in Closter, N.
]. Mr.. AacBain showed an intense
interest IN the dog that Vance had
brought Z him, but was unable to
identify her, Vance had drawn anoth-
er blank in his investigation OF the
wounded dogs ownership.
He had succeeded in locating the
New York office of Mr.. Stinemetz,
but, on phoning, learned that he was
not in the city that day but could un-
doubtedly be found at his country
home.
"This is almost or last chance"
Vance observed dejectedly, unless
the dog has been shown in New Eng
land or the South. But if that were
the case, why is she here in New
York now?"
He was downcast; I realized for
the first time how much he had
counted on this stray Scottish terrier
to help him in the solution of the
crime which was perplexing him. But
it was just at the moment when
things seemed darkest that ray of
light was introduced into the situa-
ton. 1t was Mr.. Stinemetz-the last
of the judges we consulted-who gave
Vance the information he was seek
ing.
Vance showed him the little lost
bitch and asked him if he had ever
Judged her. Mr.. Stinemetz looked at
er closely for moment, took her in
his arms and stood her on the show
table in his main kennel.
EYES," he said slowly, after min
ute's inspection; 81 not only judged
her, but l put her up, three weeks
ago at Englewood. She won the pup
py bitch class, and l would have given
her a first instead of second in the
novice class, if she had shown prop
erly. But, as l remember, some young
woman with little or no experience
brought her into the ring. Naturally,
she could get no response from the
dog. 1 tried to help her out, but it
was hopeless; and I had to give the
blue to bitch that had the style and
the ring manners, but who wasn't
quite this ones equal in anatomy.
There was one slight fault in the
mouth, however"
Mr.. Stinemetz held back the dogs
lips, exposing her teeth.
"You see this upper incisor: it's
out of place. But it's not serious
fault. There's many a champion with
a much worse mouth"
Vance thanked him for his help and
added: "Do you happen to know what
bitch this is, or who owns herr"
Mr.. Stinemetz shook his head.
"No, l never saw her before-she
must be a newcomer. l didn't see a
catalogue of the show and there were
no postmortems at the judges table
after the show"
Vance left Mr.. Stinemetz's kennels
in a much happier frame of mind.
Tomorrow" he said, as we drove
home through the gathering dusk,
"we will know the owners name"
Immediately upon our arrival in
New York, Vance telephoned to
Markham at his home, and learned
that there had been no developments
in the case during the day. Grassie
had returned to the Coe house at
eleven o'clock that morning, evidently
very little the worse for his expert
onC6 OIL CIlc pICfAOAo AASh"' AAS AAS'S
wished to go to hotel, but Markham
had prevailed upon him to remain at
the Coe residence until some light
had filtered into the case, and Grassl
had reluctantly agreed to do so.
Wrede had remained indoors all
day and had telephoned to Markham
twice and offered to give whatever
assistance he could.
Hilda Lake had gone out about ten
o'clock in the morning, dressed in
sports cltohes. When Heath had ask
ed her where she was going, she had
told him nonchalantly that she was
going to take drive in the country.
The den window-silll had been
gone over carefully for fingerprints,
but without results. A general rou-