davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1935-08-31

prove the innocence Of this guilty
man! L"
The Judge raped.
"You are out Of order, Mr..
Turnbull," he Numbered. BE
seated, sir" Then turning to
Mantel, who had sat quietly
through this TRADE, he said:
"Mr. Mantel? Does the Court
understand that you wish to pro-
duce this body here, in court, as
evidence that will definitely es.
tablish the innocence of your
client Of the crime with which
he is charged?"
eyes, Your Honor. 7 wish to
produce, here and now, in this
court, the body Of 1sobel Vane.
In doing so I will prove conclu.
sively that Lawrence Vane did
not murder her"
Have you the body in court?"
asked the Judge.
A shudder ran through the
packed room, and people looked
askance at one another.
Lawrence Vane leaned forward
in his chair, a strange light in
his eyes, which never left the
face Of the poised little detec.
tive.
II have the body just outside.
I ask the Courts permission to
have it brought in as an exhibit,
and as important evidence?"
1.-THE Court grants permission. j"
The Judge leaned back, as puz.
led as anyone else in the court
room.
Cyrus K. spoke to the attend
ant.
Twill you ask the usher to tell
DR.. Lockhart to come in with the
body?"
In the brief interval that
elapsed between the opening and
closing Of the outer door, and its
reopening, the sound Of a pin
dropping in the room, would have
reverberated with the force of a
cannon shot.
Only Cyrus K. Mantel seemed
calm. He kept his eyes on the
door and watched alertly.
The door opened again, and two
men entered. One DR.. Lockhart,
and the other obviously a male
nurse. Between them they held
the shell Of a woman-a woman
who had once been Of amazing
beauty of face and form, but who
now was a pallid, hollow-eyed
creature-the only thing Of
beauty that remained to her out
Of the past being her flaming
heavy hair.
A Shock
The two men brought her for
ward, slowly, across the room, and
inside the enclosure in front Of
the Judges throne. There they
stepped away from her although
it was noticeable that they re-
manned watchful and close.
"ISobal!" The gasping word
came from Lawrence Vane.
The woman stood silently stiff,
her vacant eyes, like those Of a
sleep-walker.
1.-THE body Of Isobel Vane," said
Cyrus K. in quiet voice.
The D. A. leaped to his feet.
what travesty IS this?" he
The Washington times., 1935-08-31

shouted. "Does Mr.. Mantel in
tend to make a mock Of this
court?"
The Judge lifted his gavel to
rap, when his hand was palsied in
midair-for the woman had
ENTHUSIASTICALLY, abruptly, at the
loud voice Of Turnbull, she had
cringed back as though fearing
q blow.
"Don't, Roger!" she shrieked.
Don't hit me! swear I didn't
mean to bring the jewels! I just
couldn't be without them, Roger
and I love them so, and Lawrence
won't care.
She threw her head back and
laughed in q long blood-curding
shrek.
I'm the jewel he valued most"
she yelled. And haven't you
stolen me? So why hit me be.
cause I brought my jewels?"
Her voice dropped to o sly
wheedling tone.
Roger ?" she whispered.
Roger? Get me some cocaine,
darling. Go on, that's a dear.
You know I've got to have it
please, Roger-please!"
She turned and rain toward the
startled jury, and reached out q
white claW.like hand.
The Washington times., 1935-08-31

"Great Day In de mawnin'!" he
heard her murmer to herself. And
then she doubled up and rocked
in silent laughter. "zallelujah,
Lawd!"
The crowd still milled about out
side tho court room, discussing
the various phases Of the case.
Betty was just about to leave
with Cyrus K. and the still dazed
Vane when q note was handed to
her by a boy from her office.
Every rag in town has story
Insane 1Sobel Vane. You get first
interview with free Vane or don't
come back"
She read it, glanced up at him
where he stood beside her, then
with glad mischief in her eyes,
silently handed him the note.
He resd 1t, folded it and tore 1t
across. Then, in answer to her
gesture and questioning look, he
said steadily:
"Betty, I can hardly think
straight yet, but I can think
straight in one thing at least, be-
cause it isn't new to me. I think
it's always been with me, and I
know it always will be. But your
editor is wrong. I'm not free
at least not so free as I must be
before can tell you Of this thing
that I've always known"
She flushed and her eyes
wavered beneath his ardent gaze,
but did not drop.
"YeS?" she murmured softly.
Both seemed to have forgotten
the presence Of Cyrus K. who
watched them with kindly,
humorous eyes.
Betty" Vane said. "1'll give
you q scoop, on one condition."
"Well, don't be 50 tantaliEing, :"
she chided. "Go on, tell me the
scoop. and the condition. I'll agree
to it If I can"
"1'll give you the scoop If you'll
agree to publish the second scoop
the very moment I can give it to
you. VIII your"
Her flush deepened, but the
dimpleS at the corner Of her
mouth were riotouS.
II PROMISE" she said. whats
the SCOOP"
He took her note book and pen.
ell and wrote.
Lawrence Vane takes steps to
make his freedom absolute. Seeks
annulment from insane ISobel on
grounds her being drug addict
and desertion. Vane makes ar
rangementS for her permanent
care in private insane asylum"
Two Scoops
He handed her the note book
and still held the pencil, looking
at her as though in doubt.
"And what's the second scoop
I'm to print?" she leased to hide
her quivering lips.
II think Cyrus K. Mantel can
tell you that" Vane said slyly, his
eyes alight with some happy
thought Of his own.
"Uncle Cyrus?" she turned to
that gentleman. docs he know?
Have you two been conspiring?'
IT don't exactly know, Bet,
said Cyrus K. But I can make a
very good guess. yes, a very good
one"
He looked from one radiant
young face to the other and
reaching out, took the book from
The Washington times., 1935-08-31
CHAPTER XIII

Cyrus K. Mantel, still chuckline
like o benevolent gnome, walked
swiftly to his waiting car and was
driven home.
He went Immediately to his
library and, sitting ct the big desk
drew the leather bound book, with
out title or any sort Of mark
toward him.
He unlocked it and laid it open
before him, at the page marked
Solution" and wrote:
1.-THE chip Of brick and mortar
broken from the wall Of Vane's
penthouse, beyond reach, sug
gested to me that the body could
have been Slung onto the root
from the building in process OF
erection.
Assuming that the body was
not that Of ISobel Vane, it was
reasonable to suppose that Isobel
herself had left the apartment by
the fire escape.
The fact that her jewels were
gone, but that there were no signs
Of burglary, and that her bed was
undisturbed, further strengthened
my theory Of volNatary flight.
The finger prints on veronal
bottle not checking with Vane's
or those Of the body, might easily,
therefore, be those Of the missing
wife.
I discovered that among Isobel's
many lovers was Roger Thornley,
I also discovered that he was
the contractor on the building
next door, having access to it at
any time.
I went through this building
and found q derrick operating
within reach Of the Vane terrace.
Having noticed the birthmark
on the dead body which caused
the mother to identify it, caused
me to think that no woman who
lived by the beauty of her body
would have permitted this blemish
to remain long on hers. I there
fore found the plastic surgeon and
discovered that my deductions
were correct and that he had in
deed removed such a blemish
from the body Of Isobel Vane,
and therefore, it was certain that
the body was that Of an un-
known woman.
Who, wishing to elope with the
notorious 1sobel would be pre-
vented from so doing by the tie Of
another woman?
Solving Puzzle
The only one was Roger Thorn.
ley. Upon investigation he was
shown to have left by motor with
his wife Mile for the West Coast
two days before the murder.
Old Suky, starting voodoo
magic against some unknown
man, was we'll worth watching
It was easy to deduce that the
man she hated was Roger Thorn.
ley because of his abuse Of Mile
whom the old woman loved.
The chemist in Greenwich Vii
lage could not identify Vane, but
only knew that the man who pur-
chased the veronal said he was
Vane.
In the same way, a mans voice
announcing the murder had said
he was Renton, but there was no
proof that it was Renton, and
later plenty of proof that it was
not. This would argue that some
one had plotted the elopement
and the murder with care.
There were two women missing
in whom 7 was interested. One
Of them was dead.
They were 1sobel Vane and
Mile Thornley,.
The post cards that kept arriv
ing from Mile Thornley, were diff
ficult to account for.
The murder Of Donetta Dane
its similarity to the first murder
saving for the presence OF the
head, and the presence Of Roger
Thornley,, with his inimical atti
tude toward Vane, strengthened
my suspicion Of him.
Betty's report Of the whispered
conversations overheard in the
hall, and Thornley's threat be
cause Of Donetta's knowledge Of
The Washington times., 1935-08-31

) Vane stepped forward, MS eyes
deep with pity.
"Isobel," he murmured, softly
'Isobel."
Slowly she drew her arms away
from their defensive position over
her head. She looked at him for
q long, tense moment, walked for
ward and touched him softly with
one finger-then she laughed,
softly.
Roger" she said. "You can be
nice when you want to, Roger
but most Of the time you're q
beast. Get out! You're drunk,
RogerI I wish to God I hadn't
come away with you, Roger!
You're no good! Just plain rot.
ten!"
Vane turned away, and the
Judge motioned Turnout to step
near her. The D. A. did 50 with
distaSte.
Pitiful Scene
She stared at him, then said
"Well, Roger? why don't you
say something? I suppose you've
got another woman, now-is that
it? And will you kill me as you
did poor Millie?"
Her voice rose again in agony,
and she turned and stumbled
from one man to another in the
fenced-in Enclosure.
ooh! Roger!" she shrieked.
"For Gods sake, don't kill me! I
won't tell anyone about Mile, ]
swear I won't Don't kill mel"
She covered beneath the jury
box, arms uplifted in the pitiful
gesture of self-protection.
"Don't hit me again with that,
Roger" she begged. "Oh, don't!"
The Judge signaled the two at
tendants who had come in with
the poor mad woman to take her
up and care for her. Then he
said:
Can anyone else in this court
room identify this woman?"
Betty Potter rose-also Wilbur
Renton, the wide-eyed Bobbie
Nichols, Cyrus K. Mantel, DR..
Otto Lippenbach, Lawrence Vane,
the queer old mother, who had
made the mistake in her almost
unknown daughters body, Suky,
and Gerry Gordon.
The Judge raped, and in all
the formality Of the law dismissed
the case against Lawrence Vane.
Roger Thornley, he remanded
to the Tombs for contempt Of
court, carrying concealed weapons,
and for investigation on other un.
named counts.
AS they led Thornley, out, q
small hard object dropped to the
floor, and fell at the feet Of some
Of the gaping watchers. It rolled
q little way, and came to a stop
The man near whose foot 1t
stopped. stopped and picked it up
He held it in his hand and stared
at 1t in p0zzlenent.
It was the head Of q man doll
carved out Of some soft yet solid
substance. The neck had been
severed clearly from the body
with q silken cord, which still ad'
hered to the head. AS he studied
it, he looked up, and his eyes met
the hooded ones Of the old black
woman, who had laughed the day
before.
Her whole face was alight, and
she had her hands raised in juhi
liant attitude, high above hel
head.
The Washington times., 1935-08-31

He abruptly refused to see Betty
when she called at his house, and
gave her no excuse for this I'M
precedented action on his part.
The old butler seemed worried
and distraught when she talked
to him.
To add to Betty's distress, suky
seemed to be losing her mind. She
walked about the apartment occu-
pied with her duties, muttering to
herself, ard every now and then
her thin body would double up in
silent laughter.
When Betty sharply asked the
cause of this unseemliness, Suky
would grin and say:
"Sho now, Miss Betty, you all
will know soon enough. Yoh jes'
wait. Yoh know down home them
blue gum swamp darkies has a
sayin' field mouse go through
flamin' field so fast he think fire
on he tail a cool breeze"
Whats that got to do with it,
you old idiot?"
Il knows someone else will be
runnin' jeS that fast soon-only
they won't be able to git far!"
Again she doubled UP and rocked
and Rugged herself with her silent
laughter.
Finally the long night was over,
and Betty and Suky again on
their way to court.
Betty stopped off at her office
for a moment. and was compli-
mented on her scoop of the day
before. 1t made her furious that
they thought she must know what
her uncle had up his sleeve in the
way Of surprise for this day, and
to have to acknowledge that she
knew no more than they.
The editor told her he wanted
her to see to it that she was the
first one to interview Lawrence
Vane after the trial was over.
MantePS Promise
The court room was even more
crowded than on the previous
day. Many of the spectators
must have been waiting at dawn,
to make sure Of a place.
The usual routine over, Mantel
was recalled to the witness stand,
and the trial taken up where it
had been left off at adjournment
the evening before.
Mr.. Mantel? I ask you to re-
peat the last statement made to
this Court by YOU yesterday re-
garding the evidence which you
wished to present." said the de-
tense.
II stated that would produce
evidence that will prove abso.
lutely that Mr.. Lawrence Vane
did not kill his wife 1Sobel," said
Cyrus K. quietly.
And what is the nature of
that evidence?"
1.-THE corpus deficit" Again
Cyrus K. uttered the amazing
words quite casually.
II object!" he shouted. "sure-
1y, Your Honor, there is no need
to turn this court into a morgue
to satisfy the ghouliSh tendencies
of a detective. OF what value can
it possibly be, to produce the
body of this poor woman-in the
condition it is in-without a
head? It can do nothing to
The Washington times., 1935-08-31
NOW READ ON
CHAPTER XII

UHAPTEk
The evening and night that passed between the court ad
ournment and the next morning perhaps the longest
that either Betty Potter vane had passed.
The suspense almost unbearabe and Cyrus K. did
nothing at all to alleviate it, or their minds
He very busy matters Of his sending and
receiving innumerabe kilograms to certain locality in the
Far West,
The Washington times., 1935-08-31
Finding of Head1ess Body
OF Beautiful Woman
Stirs Smart Set
WHAT HAS HAPPFkFO
WHAT HAS HAPPENED

Laurence VGne noted portrait painter is held mate
rial sOitnsss in connection sh the murder of his bride of
three months following the discovery of headless nude
body upon the terrace of his penthouse apartment.
Cyrus X MGnteI, famous detective, learns from Kate
DOYLE night club operator, that Isobel had ViUd past
On tour Kate Doyle and her gang meet Roger Thornley,
In San Francisco. He introduces Hates feature dancer
DonetG Dane, to Schuyler Mlbanks society sportsman
and they marry after short courtshp On their return to
the Mb0nEs Long Island home, many friends gather there
for party.
DoMettG is mysterioMsly murdered Christmas Eve
M0ntel dves at the house before the police and carefully
questions all present.
Mante adds Thorleys to his list Of suspects Man.
tel elevo to broadcast picture and description of
Isobel VGne. Thornley, claims that MIie, his 0ie, made
q trip to the ORIENT
In the of Vane's trial Gery Gordon, Donettas
dance partner testes that Thornley, paid her to travel to
the Orient done his 9Ufe ManteI the tness stand
promises and unexpected Developments.
The Washington times., 1935-08-31

"Great Day in de nawnin'!" he
heard her murmer to herself. And
then she doubled up and rocked
in silent laughter. "Hallelujah,
LaWd!"
, 1935-09-05

financial aide, Under Secretary
Thomas Jefferson Coolidge.
MI. Morgenthau has pleaded for
q curtailment OF expenditures be-
hind the scenes OF every cabinet and
council meeting. Mr.. Coolidge, a con-
servative Bostonian. has reinforced
these arguments nc daily staff meet
ings at the treasury. Although loyal
RooSeveltians. both have been ap-
palled at the mounting deficits and
the increase in the national debt.
Nobody puts much stock in pre-
dictions that the budget will be bal
anced In any specific year. Insiders
expect that II will be the middle
forties before revenue Wall match
total outgo. no matter who becomes
president In 1885 or 1910. But Messrs.
Morgenthau and Coolidge rile many
New Dealers with their demand that
they make a start now.
~Notes-Washington social life Is
huShed by the tragedies that took the
lives OF Queen Astrid and Mrs. Har-
old l.. Ickes . Stresses and strains
appear In the Diplomatic Corps on
account of the impending war ...
Nobody expects Soviet Russia 10 take
mortal offense at Secretary Hulls
statement-it's advantageous to have
a Soviet embassy in washington 80.
Lots CT cabling between washington
and Tokyo. And the whole statement
was cabled to Marking.
, 1935-09-05
Thursday, September 5, 1885
What Others Think About Citrus
Advertising

Mention has been made from time to time in the
columns OF The Brownsville Herald Of the proposed
Florida citrus advertising campaign. The plan Of q
state fund. proposed by the governor Of the state,
has met with a universal acceptance over all Florida
citrus sections. and II carried out, as it appears It will
be. presents still another obstacle to the successful
marketing Of Valley grapefruit and oranges.
Just how effective a citrus advertising campaign
promises TO be Is well set out In an editorial In the
Atlanta Constitution. q portion Of which follows:
Florida should have taken this step long ago in
order to counterfeit the intensive advertising cam
paign that has been waged by the citrus fruit pro-
ducers Of California, and which has resulted in seri-
GUS inroads by the western fruits into the eastern
markets that should be dominated by the southern
products.
California producers have used newspapers. maya
zines. billboards and every other type Of advertising
70 implant in the public mind the thought that the
citrus fruits Of that state are superior to those pro-
duced anywhere else in the world.
"As q matter Of fact. neither the California orange
nor grapefruit is comparable in flavor and luscious
quality to those grown in Florida. Notwithstanding
the western growers have. as the result Of their In
tensive and sustained campaign OF advertising, been
able to reach into the markets east OF the Mississippi
10 an extent that has taken millions Of dollars away
from the Florida producers.
The California industry has been alert. wide
awake and enterprising and has run rings around the
large unorganized Florida citrus industry. especially
in regard to cooperation and systematic publicity.
That Is why California Is enabled to invade Floridas
natural marketing territory, despite the fact that the
California fruits have TO be shipped 5000 miles TO
reach these markets
=. II the fund is wisely administered It win
mean millions Of dollars in increased outside revenues
for the state.
There is no threat TO the existence Of the Florida
citrus fruit industry, for its manifold advantages as
sure its continuance. but II Florida will give its cit
rus fruits the same backing as has been given to those
Of California, not only will further encroachmeut
into their eastern markets be stopped, but q tremend-
win result"
, 1935-09-05

lnoction there was between Jane
Emerson and Elaine's family. How
did that old story GOT Had Jane
been An love with Elaine's father
I'm her YOUTH Well. no matter
now ...
ID UTH w0ODSoN became con
~ scious that the old woman was
feeding her with Q spoon. Feeding
her something hot and savory. As
each spoonful reached her mouth
she swallowed like q hungry bird
and waited for more. Its good!-
she managed 10 say. It's chicken
BROTH
The old woman spoke 20 some
one standing IN the door, out Of
range OF Ruth's vision. she's all
right now, Mr.. John You ear &c
home. It's mn you said She's
hungry. Her mother used DO do
them diet stunts tooi-
II you need me tonight ht
said. -caT1. My rooms still on this
side or the house. He ran down
the stairs. making a cheerful elat
ter as he went. Ruth's thoughts
went after him. seeking she knew
not what His name IN John" she
thought simply.
Presently she said. I'm stronger
than you think. Let me SIT up and
feed myself"
The old woman humored her
propping her with two pillowA She
drew q small table close TO the BED
and placed the tray on II. Here
milk-toast.- she said. land two cod
died eggs. And here's hot ten IN
the teapot I hope you don't 90
jet to the candle-light. Miss Elaine
Candles are NIL I've had here f0l
four cr Eve years now
II like candles answered Ruth
Even An her bewilderment she saw
clearly that she was being mis-
taken for someone else For sons
one named Elaine. Nevertheless
she ate the meal. happily ant
ravenously. Fate was being kline
TO her tonight. and when Fate 4
kind one must accept with thank
full heart and not question.
The old woman said. i hate d
worry you By telling you this. Mis-
Elaine. but you must have LEI
your bags on the train
I came OF without any bag
gage" replied Ruth Il had 70 bu!
q change OF clothes on the way
They're IN those parcels l was ear
rying-.- She was seized with
ft Of sneezing. and the old womal
left on. clicking her tongue to lool
worried.
u no baGBt- shs s=slaimed -An'
, 1935-09-05

not much need OF branding. Special
branding paint should be used
instead OK just any kind or tar or
barn paint SO as to reduce TO n
minimum the trouble OF securing
the wool. Manufacturers prefer that
the brand be placed on sheep where
the wool Is OF the least value, such
as on top OF the rump.
q. What preservation A. used for
railroad ties? u. H..
A. In 1884, SO per cent OF all cross
ties were treated with creoSote; 81
per cent with crecsots-petroleum
mixture; 5 per cent with zinc chlo-
ride and ] per cent with miscella-
neous preservativeS.
q. What does n Roland for nm
Oliver mean? J. Il. r.
A. It means q blow for n blow. or
&c for tat. The reference "A 10 Roll
and and Oliver. paladinS OF Charlie
magne, who exploits we're 80 sAni-
Lar that ~ was difficult 10 distin-
guish between them. At length the
two met In single combat and
fought for five days without either
gaining the least advantage.
, 1935-09-05

Mayor George Scanlan carries with him the best
wishes Of the Valley as he presents the application
OF the city Of Port Isabel to the Public Works ad-
ninistration for funds With which to build . cause
way from his city to Padre Island.
This project has been much before the public eye
IN the course Of the past few years. and no proposal
advanced has been received with greater public favor
than this one which would link the Valley mainland
with the fascinating shores OF Padre Island.
Such Is the desire Of the average Valley resident to
at one time or another visit this island, that there