The Coolidge examiner., 1935-03-29

/ '"@t ~''t you any NtpltS OF snhSif I
regarding Grassi's callT"
Nothing. sir. Except that the
Italian was called up on the % )ns
during dinner"
When the detective had gone
Vance went 90 the telephone and
called Doctor Montrose at his home
After a few minutes conversation
be hung up the receiver and paced
up md down.
That phone call 10 Grassl.' he
murmured very strange. Doctor
Montrose says It upset Grassl ter.
ribly. Hardly finished his dinner,
and seemed In n hurry 10 get away.
The phone was In the hall Just out.
side the dining room door and Mont
rose couldn't help hearing some
OF Grass!s end Of the conversation
Aonirose says he protested bitterly
against the message he received
called II an outrage and intimated
strongly that he would take steps.
Steps-now what could that
mean? and who could have called
him and upset hlm7 Who knew he
was going to Monirose's for din
ner? Perhaps Brisbane
or Archer. ="
Vance sat down and inhaled deep
ly OF his cigarette.
"Archer-yes. IL could have been.
Sergeant, suppose you fetch
the slgnor."
Heath went from the room. and
Vance said to Markham:
Ceramics, | opIne Nothing would
be so likely 10 stir up Grassl as
a disappointment along that line.
The italian was usheree In by
the sergeant: and Vanre went
straight to the point
who telephoned 10 you. Mr..
Grassi. at Doctor Moutrose's yester-
day during dInnert'
GrasSl gave n slight start; then
looked dehantly at Vance.
1t was a personal matter-my
own affair"
1t was SIR. Archer Coe who
phoned you. was Il not. Slr. Grassl7"
came yance's hai and unconditional
voice.
Grassl neither moved nor spoke.
Perhaps he regretted the bar.
gain he had made with you" Vance
continued. Perhaps he decided TO
call the deal OF. after thinking Il
over alone with his treasures. d.
Perhaps be thought Il best to IN
form you Immediately of his deci.
sion so you would not talk Of the
transaction TO Doctor Montrose. :"
sun Grassl did not move. but the
inevitable impression he gave was
that Vance had guessed the import
% the telephone call he had re-
celyed az the curator's home the
night before.
Il can well imagine how you felt.
Sir. Grassl." Vance went on. with.
out alteration % tone. "But really.
> know. you shouldn't have threat.
ened him"
Suddenly the Italians pent-up
emotions broke forth
Il had every right TO threaten
him J" he burst forth. the blood rush.
Ing back to his face. For a week
| have been negoilating-m hls
constantly Increasing prices Finally.
yesterday. we reached an under.
standing. He puts II In writing. and
cable 10 Italy announcing my sue.
cess Then be rejects the agree.
ment: he tells me he viii not SELL
that he has changed his mind. He
Insults me over the telephone: he
says have swlndled him. He said
be would break every vase he owned
before he would let me have them. 4"
Vance gave a mirthless smile.
No wonder you were a bit dIscon.
certed al the sight OF those Ting yao
fragments! But, Mr.. Coe didn't
smash the vase, Mr.. Grassi. That
desecratlon was chieyed-inadver
tently-by the person who killed
him. Most unfortunate, what?"
Vance got 10 his feet wearily.
THAT Will be all for the present."
he said
Grassi made a low bow and left
the room.
Markham addressed Vance as
soon as Grassl was out OF hearing.
"A curious and ominous situation.
Grassi is refused the collection, on
which he has obviously set his heart
and staked his honor; and he
threatens Coe. Then he disappears
for three hours. saying he took the
wrong train; and this morning Coe
Is found dead. with all the super
fetal indications OF a suicide"
"But why should he also stab
BrlsbaneT" Vance asked dlsplrltedly
And why the revolverl And VIII,
the bolted door? And especially
why the Scottlei"
"You were counting a great deal
on the dog this morning." Markham
observed.
Yes. yes-the dog" Vance lapsed
into silence for a while, his eyes
gazing out OF the east window.
And no one here liked dogs-no
one but Wrede. Funny he should
l. f-