Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-07-29

ment. And, above all, no one Is
to be permitted to 90 upstairs either
to the study or the garden I'm
staggerin' along now"
"I'n be phoning you by the time
you get home, Mr.. Vance"
Vance went to the front door, but
paused with his hand on the knob.
II think I'd better speak to Gar
den about the gathering before I 60.
Where is he, Sergeant?"
"He went into the den when he
came downstairs" Heath told him
with jerk of the head.
Vance walked up the hall and
opened the den door. was just
behind him. AS the door swung in
ward and Vance stepped over the
threshold, we were confronted by
an unexpected tableau. Miss Bee
ton and Garden were standing just
in front of the desk, outlined against
the background of the window. The
nurses hands were pressed to her
face, and she was leaning against
Garden, sobbing. His arms were
about her.
At the sound of Vance's entry
they drew away from each other
quickly. The girl turned her head
to us with a sudden motion, and I
could see that her eyes were red
and filed with tears. She caught
her breath and, turning with start,
half ran through the connecting
door into the adjoining bedroom.
"I'm frightfully sorry" Vance
murmured. Thought you were
alone"
ooh, that's all right" Garden re-
turned, although it was painfully
evident the man was embarrassed.
"But I do hope, Vance, you won't
misunderstood. Everything, you
know, is in an emotional upheaval
here. I imagine Miss Beeton had
all she could stand yesterday and
today, and when found her in
here she seemed to break down,
and-put her head on my shoulder"
Vance raised his hand in good
natured lnQlHerenCe.
ooh, quite, Garden. A harassed
lady always welcomes a strong
masculine shoulder to weep on.
Most of them leave powder on ones
lapel, dom y know; but Pm sure
Miss Beeton wouldn't be guilty of
that Dashed sorry to inter-
rupt you, but I wanted to tell you
before I went that have instructed
Sergeant Heath to have all your
guests of yesterday here by six
o'clock this afternoon. Of course,
We'll want you and your father here,
too. If you don't mind, you might
help the sergeant with the phone
numbers.
"I'n be glad to, Vance," Garden
returned. Anything special in
mind?"
Vance turned toward the door.
eyes. Oh, yes. Quite. I'm hop
in to clear this matter up later on.
Meanwhile I'm running along.
Cheerio." And he went out, closing
the door.
AS we walked down the outer hall
to the elevator, Vance said to Mark
ham somewhat sadly: II hope my
plan works out, don't particular
ly like it. But don't like injustice,
either -
We had been home but a very
short time when Sergeant Heath tel
ephoned as he had promised. Vance
went into the anteroom to answer
the call and closed the door after
him. A few minutes later he re-
joined us and, ringing for Currie,
ordered his hat and stick.
"I'm running away for a while,
old DEAR" he said to Markham. elm
fact, I'm joining the doughty SER
geant at the homicide bureau. But
I sha'n't be very long. In the
meantime, I've ordered lunch for us
here"
"For Heavens sake, Vance, what
are you planning?"
"I'm plannin' to entice the n1ur-
derer into making one more beta
losing bet Cheerio." And he
was gone.
1t was a little after half-past two
when Vance returned to the apart
ment.
Everything is in ORDER" he an
nounced as he came in. "There
are no horses running today, of
course, but nevertheless I'm looking
forward to big wager being laid
this evening. If the bet isn't placed,
we're in for it, Markham. Every.
one will be present, however. The
sergeant, with Gardens help, has
got in touch with all those who were
present yesterday, and they will
foregather again in the Gardens
drawing-room at six o'clock :"
He glanced at his watch and, ringing
for Currie, ordered our lunch.
eff we don't tarry too long at
table," he said, well be able to
hear the second half of the Phil
harmonic programme. Melinoff is
doing Grieg's piano concerto"
But Markham did not go with us
to the concert. He pleaded an ur.
gent political appointment at the
Stuyvesant club, but promised to
meet us at the Garden apartment
at six o'clock.
Sergeant Heath was waiting for