The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-08-03

across the room to the telephone.
Hello" he said. "Give me the
police at Mineola, please. Hello!
Police? This is Cyrus K. Mantel
speaking-I've been brought down
here quite suddenly on a case. ]
think you'd better get UP here as
quickly as you can. "A murder at
Millbank Manor. Yes. I'll be
here-everybody will be here. .
Yes, the doctor Is here now, Mr..
Millbanks' family doctor"
"Sands?" he said to the butler.
whats that small room I see,
right next to this one?"
That's old Mr.. Millbanks'
study, sir" Sands told him. HE
always used it when he wanted
to be quiet or undiSturbed."
Cyrus K. walked toward it.
"Will you switch on the light
for me, SandS?" he said. Then
turning to the waiting group he
added, please be seated, all of
you. I shall ask Sands to call one
Of you at a time, each one Of you,
so that can ask you a few queS-
lions that may be Of assistance to
the authoritieS-and to me-n
this tragic affair"
Quietly he went into the other
room and closed the door behind
him.
Sands came out in a second and
said, his old voice quavering:
"Mr. MillbankS."
The things of interest that
Cyrus K. obtained from his gentle
questioning was the fact Of the
young mans love for his bride,
and his reason for asking Law
renee Vane to the house party,
namely, the painting Of his wife's
portrait; the fact that he had been
with Roger Thornley, when he met
Donetta; that she had had a very
dear friend, Gerry Gordon, a part
of her sister act; that she had re
ceived a wire the evening before
from Gerry saying that she had
sailed for the Orient; that he had
known Vane longer than he had
Thornley,, but that he had never
known either of them intimately
that he knew of no enemy his wife
could have had; that he knew
nothing Of her past, excepting
that she had been a dancer when
he married her. To ManterS queS
ton: did you wife ever model tor
any artist?" he had answered:
"Good Lord. no! She would have
told me had that been So-she was
the soul of honor and frankness.
He told Cyrus K. that he hac
left her settling down to sleep II
her own room, and that he mac
slipped out to go to the kennels u
see to the comfort Of Lass O. Mill
bank who was having her first
pups that night; that he had re
turned after a short time, ana go
ing softly into his wife'S room, Il
see that she was well and SAT-
and really there-his wife
sIumbering beneath their mu
tual roof-he had found thai
she was gone. A cold draugh,
from the door on to the terrace
had appraised him Of the fac
that it was open, and ne hat
gone QUITO find her body
stripped of all clothing-ly1n(
dead-before the dark door o.
the bedroom occupied by Vane.
Cyrus K. had said:
"Mr. Millbanks? When yo'
last saw your wife alive, wha
was she wearing?"
MillbankS flushed, then paleE
in agony.
satin pajamas," he said. "Par
of her trousseau, and she hao
carelessly placed all Of he
jewelry on the bed table beside
her."
CHAPTER xxx
"Was that jewelry still Their
when you went in to see he
and found her gomez" Mantle
was as gentle as he could be
although asking questions tina
he knew must tear the very hear
out of the young man befor'
him.
Eyes. It was still there. I fel
for her in the bed first" Schuy
Ter said. "And when I neV
that she was not there.
switched on her bed light, ant
the Jewels caught the light Will
their glitter"