Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-06-17
CHAPTER VIII-Continued
-12o

by George! I did hear some
thing, now that you put it that way.
I thought nothing of it at the time,
since Woody was already dead. But
just as I re-entered the stairway
there was an explosion of some kind
outside. I thought it was a car
back-fring down in the street, and
paid no attention to it,"
"That's very interestin' :"
vance's eyes drifted off into space.
II wonder . But to continue
your tale. You say you left the roof
Immediately and came downstairs.
But there were at least ten min
utes from the time you left the gar
den to the time I encountered you
entering the apartment at the front
door. How and where did you spend
these ten intervening minutes?"
II stayed on the landing OF the
stairs and smoked a couple of ciga-
rettes. I was trying to pull myself
together"
Heath stood up quickly, one hand
in his outside coat pocket, and
thrust out his jaw belligerently to-
ward the agitated Kroon.
"What kind of cigarettes do you
smoker" he barked.
The man looked at the Sergeant in
bewilderment, and then said: Il
smoke gold : tipped Turkish ciga-
rettes. What about it?"
Heath drew his hand from his
pocket and looked at something
which he held on his palm.
"All right" he muttered. Then he
addressed Vance. 81 got the stubs
here. Picked 'em up On the land
ing when I came up from the
DANES apartment"
"Well WE'LL" sneered Kroon. $50
the police actually found something!
What more do you want?" he
demanded of Vance.
Nothing for the moment, thank
you," Vance returned with exagger-
ated courtesy. ""You have done very
well by yourself this afternoon, Mr..
Kroon. We won't need you any
more"
Kroon went to the door without a
word.
ga good story" Markham COM
mented dryly when Kroon had gone.
eyes, yes. Good. But reluc-
tant." Vance. appeared disturbed.
"Do you believe it?"
"My dear Markham, I keep an
open mind, neither believin' o dis
believin' Prayin' for facts. But
no facts yet. Drama everywhere,
but no substance" .
There was a rustic in the passage
way, and Madge Weatherby came
rushing into the study, with Heath
following and protesting vigorously.
It was obvious that Miss Weatherby
had dashed up the stairs before any
one could interfere with her.
"What's the meaning of this?'
she demanded imperiously. "You're
letting Cecil Kroon 60, after what
I've told you? And I'-she ~indicat:
ed herself with a dramatic :ges.
ture-"I am being held here, a pris-
oner." -,
"The fact is, Miss Weatherby,'
said Vance, returning to his chair
"Mr. Kroon explained his brief alb
sence this afternoon lucidly anc
with impellin' logic. It seems thai
he was doing nothing more repre-
hensible than comforting with Miss
Stella Fruemon and a brace of at
torneys."
"Ah!" The woman's eyes glaree
with venom
"Quite so. He was breaking of
with the lady for ever and ever"
els that the TRUTH" Miss Wealth
erby Strengthened in her chair.
eyes, yes. No %subterfuge. Kroo1
said you were jealous of Stella
Thought I'd relieve your mind"
"Why didn't he tell me, then?'
There's always the possibilit.
you didn't give him a chance"
The oma nodded vigorously.
eyes, that's right. I wouldn'
speak to him when he returne'
here this afternoon"
"Care to revamp your origins
theory?" asked Vance. Cor do yor
still think that Kroon is tn
culprit?"
Ell really don't know now," tn
woman answered ~hesitantly. "Whe
I last spoke to you I was terribl
upset. . Maybe it was all m
imagination"
Vance looked at the woman quizz
cally. "Since you're not SO sur
that Kroon did the deed, have 20
nnu othnr S11opeStians2O