The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1935-06-27
THE KENNEL
MURDER CASE
By s. S. VAN DINE

same. I think I'll stagger back to
New York and have chat with Miss
Delafield's maid. Pm sure you won't
mind. What, by the by, is her name ?"
The major looked at bit startled.
| "Annie Cochrane," he said, and
then hurried on: "But I say, Mr..
Vance, this thing sounds rather seri-
Gus. Would you mind if I accompanied
you to the city? myself would like
to know why Annie didn't report to
me the absence of the dog"
| "I'd be delighted" Vance told him.
! We drove back to New York with
Major Higginbottom and went direct
to the Belle Maison.
Annie Cochrane was young dark
haired woman in her early thirties,
obviously of Irish descent, and when,
on opening the door to our ring, she
saw Major Higginbottom, she appear
ed frightened and flustered.
Listen here, ANNIE" the major be-
gan aggressively. "Why didn't you let
me know that Miss Delafield's dog
had disappeared"
| Annie explained stumblingly that
she had been afraid to say anything
about the dogs disappearance, as she
considered it her fault that the dog
was gone, and that she had hoped
from day to day that it would re-
turn. The woman was patiently fright
ened.
"Just when did the dog disappear,
Annie? ?" asked Vance in consoling
tone.
The woman looked up at him CRATE
fully.
81 missed her, sir" she said, "just
after Major Higginbottom and Miss
Doris went out Wednesday night, at
about nine o'clock, sir"
Vance turned to Higginbottom with
faint smile.
Didn't I understand you to say
that you went out at six o'clock,
Major?"
Before Higginbottom could answer,
the maid blurted: ooh, no; it wasn't
six o'clock 1t wasn't until nine
o'clock. I got dinner for them here a
little after eight"
The major looked down and strok-
ed his chin cogitatingly.
eyes, yes" He nodded. "That's
right. I'd thought it was six o'clock,
but now l remember. An excellent
dinner you prepared that night, An
ME-" He looked up at Vance with a
smile of nonchalant frankness. "Sorry
tohave misinformed you, Mr.. Vance
he-ah-incident rather slipped my
memory. I had intended to take
Miss Delafield out to dinner. But
when Iarrived Annie had prepared
everything for us, so we changed our
plans"
Vance appeared to accept his ex-
PLANTATION without question.
"And what time did you arrive here
that evening, Major?"
Higginbottom seemed to ponder the
question; but before he could speak
Annie supplied the information.
"You arrived about six o'clock, SIR >
,Lo sx,for,oooJ Lo;yo with n ,.ocpoo+f,1 m
naivete. "And Miss Doris came in at
half-past seven"
"Ah, yes. Quite, Annie" The major
pretended to be grateful for having
this moot point recalled to his mem
DRY. "Miss Delafield," he explained
blandly to Vance, "said she had been
shopping"
"Well, WE'LL" murmured Vance. ~
didn't know the shops were open so
late. :. Astonishin'."
The major squinted his small eyes
and glanced quickly in Vance's direc-
ton.
ooh, Pm quite sure," he supplied,
"that number of the smaller Madi-
son avenue shops are open late"
i Vance apparently did not hear this
, explanation. He had already turned
to the maid.
"By the by, Annie" he asked, "was
the dog here during dinner?"
ooh, yes, sir" the woman assured
him. "She always gets under my feet
when Pm serving"
"And how do you account for the
fact that she disappeared immediate
ly after Major Higginbottom and
Miss Delafield had gomez"
ct don't know, sir-honest I don't.
| looked for her everywhere. looked
out in the back yard and in the court,