Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1937-06-05

Piper snapped his fingers. "Hilde
gardel Remember my telling you
knew who lives In the brownst0ne7 ]
happened 10 years or so ago, befor
! got on the Homicide Squad. Their
was 3 big lawsuit between Wurtz an
his nexs door neighbor."
That was the elder Mr.. Alison, nov
dead" said the doctor. 'Wurtz Is
stnf-necked old chap, and he got In
dlgnant about the damage dogs Wer,
doing to his two-foot square Of Lawn
here. So he put up an iron fence ant
charged 1t with electricity, Just enough
70 give the pups sharp shock wheI
they paused here and Alison caneC
him for it,"
Piper nodded. ''Wurtz won the suit
with damages Of six cents. But AlisoF
had TO pay the terrific costs, and ths
blow hastened his death"
DR.. French moved toward his neai
little roadster. If anything happen.
to Johan Wurtz I'm not going to sigr
8 death certificate until we know darr
well what killed himl"
He whirled away with roar Of
gears.
It was at precisely SEVENTEEN next
morning that Miss Emmy Marvin, the
/ Wurtz housekeeper, hurried to answer
ring at the front door. She was
| positive about the time, and not even
the crosS-examination which she was
destined to face in a certain court
room ever shook her certainty.
She opened the door, and the wor-
ried look left her fat face. Good morn
ing, doctorl I'm so glad you're here
not that the master isn't looking bet
ter this morning, but what say is,
you never know"
True, Miss Marvin" said the doc
tor. as he hurried down the hall to-
ward the stair.
Miss Marvin trotted after. NASTY
weather, isn't 1t, doctor? I see YOU
have a bit Of a cold yourself-your
voice Is all hoarSe. Wise you are to
wrap up in that muffler :"
Never mind showing me the way
up" said the hoarSe voice.
Miss Marvin started after him, with
q certain surprise. DR.. French was
wearing heels almost as high as q
woman's on the neat brown brogues
which we're disappearing up the stair
case.
VANITY" observed Miss Marvin to
herself. Imagine him wanting to be
took for a taller mani"
She went directly on with her labors,
which for the moment consisted of
using the vacuum on the hall carpet.
The doorbeu rang again, and the
hOuSekeeper put the vacuum aside and
hurried along the hall, wiping her fore
head. She flung open the door, and
gibbered like an idiot.
There on the step stood Dr.. Peter
French, glasses, plaid coat, and all.
Good morning, Marvin" he said,
cheerfully, before he saw the look on
her face. His voice was clear, and he
wore no muffler.
"Oh, Godl" cried Miss Emmy Mar
vim. 'T'n-Im crazy, I ami Doctor, I
tell you as God is my judge, Is minutes
ago I let you in through this door
and you amt gone out yeti"
The soft face Of DR.. Peter French
hardened suddenly, and his arm thrust
her rudely aside. He went up the stair
in four great strides, turned, and raced
up the second flight.
His feet pounded in the hall as he
headed for the door Of Johan Wurt2'
room. A door crashed open, and then
DR.. French stopped short.
John Wurtz lay in his narrow bed |
beside the two pied majolica horses.
pottery figures, for around his thin /
throat had been tied the cord Of his /
gown, so tightly that the /
silken rope was almost hidden in the |
flesh
DR.. French went out into the hall
20 meet the housekeeper, who was puff
ng up the stair. When she saw his
lace she screamed.
sTake hold of yourself" he snapped
It her. "Get down to the telephone and
all the pOhce-eau Inspector Piper at
leaduarters and tell him that it's hap
AS the fat woman turned and half
umbled down the stair. DR.. French
eaned against the balustrade and
nopped his forehead. After moment
le braced himself for an unpleasant
ask, and moved toward Maida's door.
mo. we've got nothing to hold you
or" Piper told DR.. French some time
alter. The doctor was pathetically re-
''In wait down In the library with
daida, we're engaged TO be married,
Sokay." said Piper. The house
warmed with detectives, but Miss
Tildegarde Withers moved quietly to
nd fro among them, on mysterious
rrands of her own.
She approached the Inspector. oscar,
hat do you make Of this? found
in the bathroom upstairs" She
bowed him hand towel, stained with
inkish-brown. TITS grease paint. Some
ne touched up his makeup in the
athroom after doing In the old mani"
aAnd he got In disguised as the
octorl" Piper plunged in. That &C
cunts for the high heels Miss Marvin
aw him wearing-and the hoarse
Miss Withers nodded slowly. oscar,
o YOU happen to know If Mr.. Alison
ext door happens to be an actor by 8
piper stared at her. 1--WE can find {
utlS
aBoys. get Sergeant Krim here right
way.S reared the inspector. I
Finally 8 broad-Shouldered young 9
fficer, wearing a very self-satisfied
nile, came into the dead mans bed s
,om, which happened to be the place '
iper had chosen for headquarters. {
mo fingerprints anywhere" said the
but I did find this ON the 9
sar staircase :"
He held out silver cigaret case. 1t /
ore monogram and the initials we're
Y-F-A. q
civilian r. Allison" said the In \
rector slowly. "Go get him, KriIn." g