Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-08-12
Copyright S. S. Van Dine
WNU Service
CHAPTER XIV-Continued

Vance.
'I asked Mrs. Garden what I
could do for her, and she requested
me to fill the water glass on the lit
tie table beside her bed. I went
into the bathroom and filed it;
then I arranged her pillows and
asked her if there was anything
else she wanted. She thanked me
and shook her head; and I returned
to the drawing-room."
"Thank you," murmured Vance,
nodding to Miss Graem and turn
ing to the nurse. ''Miss Beeton," he
asked, "when you returned last
night, was the bedroom window
which opens on the balcony
bolted?"
The nurse seemed surprised at
the question. But when she an
swered, it was in a calm, profess
sional tone.
II didn't notice. But I know it
was bolted when went out"
He turned leisurely to Floyd
Garden. II say, Garden when you
left the drawing-room yesterday aft
ernoon, to follow Swift on your err
rand of mercy, as it were, after he
had given you his bet on Equanini-
ty, where did you 60 with him?"
II led him into the dining-room."
The man was at once troubled and
aggressive. 81 argued with him for
while, and then he came out and
went down the hall to the stairs. !
watched him for a couple of min
utes, wondering what else I might
do about it, for, to tell you the
truth, didn't want him to listen
in on the race upstairs. I was
pretty damned sure Equanimity
wouldn't win, and he didn't know I
hadn't placed his bet. I was rather
worried about what he might do.
For minute I thought of follow
ing him upstairs, but changed my
mind"
Vance lowered his eyes to the
desk and was silent for several mo-
ments, smoking meditatively.
''I'm frightfully sorry, and all
that" he murmured at length, with
out looking up; 'but the fact is,
we don't seem to be getting any
forrader. There are plausible ex-
plantations for everything and every
body. Assuming-merely as a n.y.
pothesis-that anyone here could be
guilty of the murder of Swift, of
the apparent attempt to murder
Miss Beeton. and of the possible
murder of Mrs. Garden, there is
nothing tangible to substantiate an
Individual accusation. The per-
Torrance was too clever, too well
conceived, and the innocent persons
seem unconsciously and involuntar-
lily to have formed a conspiracy to
aid and abet the murderer"
Vance looked up and went on.
Moreover, nearly everyone has
acted in manner which conceiv-
ably would make him appear guilty.
There have been an amazing num-
Der of accusations. Mr.. Kroon was
the first victim of one of those I'M
substantiated accusations. Miss
Graem has been pointed out to me
as the culprit by several persons.
Mrs. Garden last night directly &C.
cused her son. In fact, there has
been general tendency to involve
various people in the criminal activ-
tiles here. From the human and
psychological point of view the is
sue has been both deliberately and
unconsciously clouded, until the con-
fusion was such that no clear-cut
outline remained. And this created
an atmosphere which perfectly
suited the murderer's Vaccinations,
for it made detection extremely diff
ficult and positive proof almost inn
possible And yet" Vance
added, "some one in this room is
guilty"
He rose dejectedly. I could not
understand his manner: it was SO
unlike the man as I had always
known him. All of his assurance
seemed gone. Then he swung round
quickly, and his eyes swept angrily
about the room, resting for a brief
moment on each one present.
Furthermore" he said with a
staccato stress on his words, IT
know who the guilty person is!''
There was an uneasy stir in the
room ana snort tense silence
which was broken by Doctor Sic
fert's cultured voice.
eff that is the case, Mr.. Vance
and do not doubt the sincerity of
your statement think it your duty
to name that person."
Vance regarded the doctor
thoughtfully for several moments
before answering. Then he said in
a low voice: II think you are right,
SIR" Again he paused and, lighting
a fresh cigarette, moved restlessly
up and down in front of the window.
"First, however," he said stopping
suddenly, "there's something up
stairs I wish to look at again-to
make sure You will all please
remain here for a few minutes"
And he moved swiftly toward the
door. At the threshold he hesitated
and turned to the nurse. "Please