White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-09-02
CHAPTER xIv-Continued


the apparent attempt to murder
Miss Beeton, and Of the possible
murder Of Mrs. Garden, there is
nothing tangible to substantiate an
Individual accusation.
Vance looked up and went on.
Moreover, nearly everyone has
acted in a 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 cu1prit by several persons.
Mrs. Garden last night directly ac-
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 achinations,
for it made detection extremely diff
acult and positive proof almost i'm
possible And yet" Vance
added, 'some one in this room is
guilty"
He rose dejectedly. ! 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, II
know who the guilty person is!'
There was an uneasy stir in the
room and q short tense silence
which was broken by Doctor Sic
fert's cultured voice.
IF 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 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
come with me, Miss Beeton, I think
you can help me-"
The nurse rose and followed
Vance into the hall. A moment
later we could hear them mounting
the stairs.
Fully five minutes passed, and
then the tense silence Of the room
was split by woman's frenzied
and terrifying cry for help, from
somewhere upstairs. AS we reached
the hallway the nurse came Stun
bling down the stairs, holding with
both hands to the bronze railing.
Her face was CHASTITY pale.
"Mr. Markham! Mr.. Markham!"
she called Historically. "Oh, my
God! The most terrible thing has
happened!"
She had just reached the foot of
the stairs when Markham came up
to her. She stood clutching the
railing for support.
''It's Mr.. Vance!" she painted ex-
citedly. "He's-gone!"
A chill of horror passed over me,
and everyone in the hall seemed
stunned.
In broken phrases, interspersed
with gasping sobs, the nurse was
explaining to Markham.
Gle went over-Oh, God, it was
terriblel He said he wanted to ask