davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-08-26
CHAPTER XIV

wandered into the den, the door
Of which was ajar, and walked aim
lessly about the room, looking at
the various pictures and etchings.
Just then Vance entered. AS he
came in he threw the door open
wider. half pocketing me in the COR
ner behind it, where I was not inn
rnediately noticeable. I was about
to speak to him, when Zalia Graem
came in.
"Philo Vance" She called his
name in a low, tremulous voice.
He turned and looked at the girl
with quizzical froWn.
tive been waiting in the dining
room," she said. II wanted to see
you before you spoke to the 9th
ers."
realized Immediately, from the
tone Of her voice, that my presence
had not been noticed.
Vance continued to look squarely
at the girl, but did not speak. She
came very close to him now.
'Ten me why you have made me
suffer so much" she said.
II know 7 have hurt YOU" Vance
returned. "But the circumstances
made 1t imperative. Please believe
that / understand more Of this case
than you imagine do"
II am not sure that / under
stand" The girl spoke hesitantly.
"But want you to know that !
trust you" She looked UP at him,
and / could see that her eyes were
glistening. Slowly she bowed her
head. II have never been inter-
ested in any man." she went on
and there was quaver in her
voice. 'The men I have known
have all made me unhappy and
seemed always to lead me away
from the things I longed for !"
She caught her breath. "You are
the one man have ever known
whom ] could--care for"
White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-08-26
CHAPTER xIII-Continued

''I'm p1annin' to entice the muir
derer into making one more beta
losing bet Cheerio." And he
was gone.
It was 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 a 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, ring
ing for Currie, ordered our lunch.
IT we don't tarry too long at
table" he said, well be able to
hear the second half Of the Phil
harmonic programme. Melinof 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
us when we reached the apartment.
"Everything's set, sir" he said to
Vance; II got it here"
Vance smiled little sadly. 'Ex-
cellent, Sergeant Come into the
other room"
Heath picked up small package
wrapped in brown paper, which he
had evidently brought with him, and
followed Vance into the bedroom.
Ten minutes later they both came
back into the library.
$50 long, Mr.. Vance," Heath said,
shaking hands. "Good luck to you"
And he numbered out.
We arrived at the Garden apart
ment a few minutes before six
o'clock. Detectives Hennessey and
Burke were in the front hall
Vance nodded and started UP the
stairs.
"Wait down here for me, Van,"
he said over his shoulder. "I'u be
back Immediately"
White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-08-26
The Garden Murder Case
By s. s. Van Dine corssS v.p. wavarr~
WNu Service

his cousin, and then went down the
hall after him; but he must have
changed his mind, for he came back
into the drawing-room in short or
der"
"And you saw no one else in the
hall?"
"No. No one else"
Every good" Vance took deep
inhalation on his cigarette. "And
now let's go to the roof-garden, fg-
uratively speaking. You were in
the garden, waiting for train,
when the nurse was almost suffo-
Gated with bronnin gas in the
vault. The door into the passage
way was open, and if you had been
looking in the direction you could
easily have seen who passed up and
down the corridor" Vance looked
at the man significantly. "And /
have a feelin' you were looking
through that door, Mr.. Hammle.
Your reaction of establishment when
White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-08-26
She Gave Him a Searching Look.

we came out on the roof was a bit
overdone. And you couldn't have
seen much Of the city from where
you had been standing, don't y
know"
Hammle cleared his throat and
grinned.
"You have me there, Vance," he
admitted with familiar good-hurnor.
''Since I couldn't make my train, I
thought I'd satisfy my curiosity and
stick around for a while to see
what happened. I went out on the
roof and stood where T could look
through the door into the passage
way-I wanted to see who was 60
ing to get hell next, and what
would come Of it ALL"
''Thanks for your honesty."
Vance's face was coldly formal.
"Please tell us now exactly what
you saw through that doorway while
you were waiting, as you've con-
fessed, for something to happen"
Again Hamnale cleared his throat.
''Well, Vance, to tell you the
truth, it wasn't very much. Just
people coming and going. First I
saw Garden go up the passageway
toward the study; and almost inn
mediately he went back downstairs.
Then Zalia Graem passed the door
on her way to the study. Five or
ten minutes later the detective
Heath, think his name is-went
by the door, carrying coat over
his arm. A little later-two or
three minutes, I should say-Zalia
Graem and the nurse passed each
other in the passageway. Zalia 60
ing toward the stairs, and the nurse
toward the study. A. couple Of min
utes after Floyd Garden passed the
door on his way to the study
again"
"Just minute" Vance interrupt
ed. "You didn't see the nurse re-
turn downstairs after she passed
Miss Graem in the passageway?"
Hain1nle shook his head emphot-
ically. mo. Absolutely not"
Zone more thing, Mr.. Hammle:
White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-08-26
Copyright S. S. Van Dine

time to make my presence known,
and after Miss Graem finished
speaking remained where I was,
lest / cause her embarrassment.
Vance placed his hands on the
girls shoulders and held her away
from him.
my dear" he said, with curl
ously suppressed quality in his
voice, IT am the one man for whom
you should not care" There was no
mistaking the finality of his words.
Vance smiled wistfully at the girl
'Would you mind waiting in the
drawing-roonn little while? -
She gave him a searching look
and, without speaking, turned and
went from the den.
Vance stood for some time gaz-
ing at the floor with frown Of in
decision, as if loath to proceed with
whatever plans he had formulated.
took this opportunity to come
out from my corner, and just as I
did so Floyd Garden appeared at
the hall door.
"Oh, hello, Vance," he said. II
didn't know you had returned until
Zalia just told me you were in
here. Anything ] can do for your"
Vance swung around quickly.
81 was just going to send for you.
Everyone here?"
Garden nodded gravely. eyes,
and they're all frightened to death
all except Hammle. He takes the
whole thing as lark. IWish some
body had shot him instead Of
Woody"
"Will you send him in here"
Vance asked. IT want to talk to
him. I'll see the others presently"
Garden walked up the hall, and at
that moment heard Burke speak
ing to Markham at the front door.
Markham Immediately joined us in
the den.
"Hope I haven't kept you wait
ing" he greeted Vance.
''No. Oh, no." Vance leaned
against the desk. t*Just in time"
Markham had barely seated him
self when Hammle strutted into the
den with jovial air. Vance nod
ded to him brusquely.
"Mr. Hamnle," he said, "we're
wholly familiar with your philoso-
ply Of minding your own business
and keeping silent in order to avoid
all inducements. A defensible at
titude-but not in the present cir
curnstances. This is a criminal
case, and in the interest Of justice
to everyone concerned, we must
have the whole truth. Yesterday
afternoon you were the only one
in the drawing who had even
partial view down the hallway.
And we must know everything you
saw, no matter how trivial it may
seem to YOU"
Hamnn1e gave in.
''First of all, them" said Vance,
without relaxing his stern gaze,
when Miss Graem left the room,
ostensibly to answer a telephone
call, did you notice exactly where
she VENT"
mot exa city," Hammle returned;
''but she turned to the left, toward
the den. You understand, Of course,
that it was impossible for me to see
very far down the hall, even from
where I sat-"
"Quite." Vance nodded. "And
when she came back to the draw
ing-roon?"
81 saw her first opposite the den
door. She went to the hall closet
where the hats and wraps are kept,
and then came back to stand in the
archway until the race was over.
After that / didn't notice her either
coming or going"
'And what about Floyd Garden?"
asked Vance. "You remember he
followed Swift out of the room. Did
you notice which way they went, or
White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-08-26

6dIOSus OAu ally ouS COIAAS Out VA VAC
roof from the terrace gate?"
Absolutely not. didn't see any
body at all on the roof"
"And when Garden had returned
downstairs. what then?"
II saw you come to the window
and look out into the garden. !
was afraid ! might be seen, and the
minute you turned away went over
to the far corner Of the garden, by
the gate. The next thing knew,
you gentlemen were coming out on
the roof with the nurse"
'"Thank you, Mr.. Hammle.
You've told me exactly what want
ed to know. It may interest you
to learn that the nurse informed us
she was struck over the head in
the passageway, on leaving the
study, and forced into the vault
which was full of bromin fumes"
Zalia Graem was the first to en-
ter the den. She glanced at Vance
appealingly and seated herself with
out word. She was followed by
Miss Weatherby and Kroon, who sat
down uneasily beside her on the
davenport. Floyd Garden and his
father came in together. Miss Bee
ton was just behind them and
stopped hesitantly in the doorway,
looking uncertainty at Vance.
ibid you want me too?" she
asked difadently.
II think it might be best, Miss
Beeton," said Vance. 1--WE may
need your help"
At that moment the front door
bell rang, and Burke ushered Doc
tor Siefert into the den.
II just got your message, Mr..
Vance, and came right over" He
looked about the room questioning
~.
II thought you might care to be
present." Vance said, ''in case we
can reach some conclusion about
the situation here. ! know you are
personally interested. Otherwise /
wouldn't have telephoned YOU"
"I'm glad you did," said Siefert
blandly, and walked across to a
chair before the desk.
Vance lighted cigarette with
slow elaboration, his eyes moving
aimlessly about the room. There
was tension over the assembled
group.
The taut silence was broken by
Vance's voice. He spoke casually,
but with curious emphasis.
II have asked you all to come
here this afternoon in the hope that
we could clear up the very tragic
situation that exists"
He was interrupted by the
startling sound Of a shot oninously
like that Of the day before. Every
one in the room stood up quickly,
aghast at the sudden defamation.
Everyone except Vance. And be-
fore anyone could speak, his calm
authoritative voice was saying:
'"There is no need for alarm.
Please sit down. ! expressly ar
ranged that shot for all of you to
heart will have an important
bearing on the case :"
Burke appeared at the door.
"Was that all right, Mr.. Vance?"
"Quite all right" Vance told him.
"The same revolver and blanks?"
"Sure. Just like you told me.
And from where you said. Wasn't
it like you wanted it?"
eyes, precisely" nodded Vance.
Thanks, Burke"
The detective grinned broadly
and moved away down the hall
"That shot, I believe" resumed
Vance, sweeping his eyes lazily
over those present, twas similar to
the one we heard yesterday after
noon-the one that summoned us to
Swift's dead body. It may interest
wa, IN f>,,o1ry %to% &to shot i,,ef f3~o5
White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-08-26

S~AS SN~SS S~>S~ ~~-N"~~NV
cause we were psychologicany
keyed to the idea Of a shot from
the roof, it gave us all the inn
preston Of coming from the gar
dem"
ZaHa Graem turned quickly to
Vance.
''The shot yesterday didn't sound
to me as if it came from the garden.
When I came out of the den I won
dered why you were all hurrying
upstairs"
Vance returned her gaze square
ly.
mo, 1t must have sounded much
closer to you," he said. "But why
didn't you mention that important
fact yesterday when I talked with
you about the crime?"
Ct don't know" the girl stam-
mered. when saw Woody dead
up there, I naturally thought I'd
been mistaken"
'But you couldn't have been mis-
taken," returned Vance, halt under
his breath. "And after the revolver
had been fred yesterday from a
downstairs window, it was surrep-
tiously placed in the pocket Of
Miss Beeton's top-coat in the hall
closet. Had it been fred from up
stairs it could have been hidden to
far better advantage somewhere on
the roof or in the study" He turned
again to the girl. ''By the by, Miss
Graem, didn't you go to that closet
after answering your telephone call
here in the den?"
The girl gasped.
"How-how did you known"
"You were seen there" explained
Vance.
The girl turned back to Vance
with flashing eyes.
"I'n tell you why I went to the
hall closet. went to get hand
kerchief 7 had left in my handbag.
Does that make me murderer"
mo. Oh, no." Vance shook his
head and sighed. ''Thank you for
the explanation And will you
be so good as to tell me exactly
what you did last night when you
answered Mrs. Gardens sum-
rnons?"
Zalia Graem glared dehantly at
| Vance.
| IT 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. / 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 returned
to the drawing-roorn."
"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 calm, profess
siona1 tone.
II didn't notice. But ! know It
was bolted when I 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 Equanimi-
ty, where did you 60 with him?"
II led him into the dining-room."
The man was at once troubled and
aggressive. II argued with him for
while, and then he came out and
went down the hall to the stairs. I
watched him for a couple Of min
utes, wondering what else ! might
do about 1t, for, to tell you the
truth, didn't want him to listen
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-20
COM. LYNCH IN
 TWO SESSIONS
Continued From Page 1.)

Passage of the bill will mean that the court will hold a session out side of Waterbury for the first time since establishment.
 TOrrington Profits
 Torrington also profited today when 1t was granted sessions of both the superior and common pleas courts. Further than that naturali- zation sessions may also be con- ducted in Torrington in the future. In the past Torrington residents desiring naturalization had to come to Waterbury before the common pleas court.
 The senate passed a bill today providing that the superior court of Litchfield county hold sessions in Torrington. It now holds them in Litchfield, the county seat, New Milford, and Winsted. Torrington is the largest community in the county and has been endeavoring for some time to procure court SeS- sions there.
 Also in the house toda'' favorable action was due on the b-lls calling for sessions of the common pleas court of Litchfield county, criminal and civil sides, now held in the three towns where the superior court is in session, in the city of Tprrington. This will enable the naturalization of aliens to take place in Torrington.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-20
EXECUTIVE BILL
 PASSED IN HOUSE

(Continued from Page D of misconduct without a hearing held within ten days after charges were filed, was defeated. It was offered by Rep. Harold E. Limsky, democrat, Stamford.
 Major Proposal
 The executive offices bill was one of the major proposals of the re- organization commission, appointed during the 1885 session to stream lif10 the state government and cut down inefficiency and waste.
 The house rejected two bills which would have repealed the semi-an- nual inspections of automobiles, and another exempting cars less than ono year old from the inspections.
 It also disapproved of bill au- thorizing the motor vehicles com missioner to collect town taxes on automobiles, retain 10 per cent for his department, and aportion the balance among municipalities.
 Received on a favorable report and tabled was a measure to in- crease the fee for public service op- orators from $5 to $6.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-20
l DckL PLANT IN
 GOVT. CHARGES
Thirteen Manufacturers of Rivets Accused of Creat-
 ing a Monopoly

Washington, April 20-CUP)-The federal trade commission today charged 13 manufacturers of indus trial rtvets and their trade associa- ton with entering into an unlaW- ful agreement to suppress competi- ton and to create a monopoly"
 The complaint said the respon- dent companies, situated in the east and middle west, constitute "sub- stantial majority of all maiu- facturers of industrial rivets in the United States" with the exception cf concerns producing the type of rivets used in heavy construction work.
 The Trade association, formed in 1883, is the institute of tubular split and outside pronged rivet manufacturers of Waupun, Wis, which with it's President, William Fleming, ST., is listed among the respondents. The commission charg- ed that the companies fixed "uni- form delivered prices" and employed 'intimidation and persuasion" to maintain the price schedules.
 Shelton Tubular Rivet Go. and Conn; Tubular Rivet & Machine Shelton Tack O., both of Shelton, Go, Boston; Judson L. Thompson Mfg. Go, Waltham, Mass; Milford Rivet and Machine O., Milford, Conn; Chicago Rivet & Machine O., Chicago: Manufacturers Belt Hook Co, Chicago; National Rivet { Mfg. Co, Waupun, Wis; Scovill Mfg. O., Waterbury, Conn.,; Penn Rivet Corp, Philadelphia; Town send O., New Brighton, Pa; John Hassa1l, Inc. Brooklyn, N. r., and J. w. Coombs Mfg. O., Inc, Fort Washington, Pa. The respondents were allowed 20 days from service of the complaint to answer the al- legations.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-20

face of the dead girl was exposed tO the mourners.
 Services At Grave
 At 2 o'clock Rabbi Benjamin J. Miller officiated at the service at the grave. A police detail also was assigned to accompany the process sion to the cemetery.
 The father of the preety 25-year- old musician, victim of hammer slayer in 8 New York rehearsal studio Sunday, was prostrated with grief and near collapse. He accom- panied the body from New York last night and denied himself to visitors. Two other married daughters stayed at the home to console him.
 Among those who visited the fu- neral home today were former school friends of Julia who, since her graduation from high school ten years ago, spent most of her time away from home. studying and travelling in vaudeville. She had been regarded as a talented violinist and was frequent soloist at Had- asSah society meetings.
 First Degree Murder
 New York, April 20. - (UP) - The state seeks a first degree mur- der indictment today against Mis- cha Ross, 31, musician, accused of the hammer staying of beautiful Tania Leelova, talented violinist.
 Police announced that Ross, who was Miss Leelova's booking agent, and married srlitor, had made vague confession" in which he declared that he must have struck" the 24-year-old brunette with something" after an argument in rehearsal studio near Times Square on Sunday morning.
 But the prisoner did not remem- Der striking her, nor whether 1t was he who dragged her across the floor and placed her form behind the gray drapes that lined the walls. His poor memory, he said, was due to drunkenness.
 ROsenbaum Is His Name
 Ross, whose real name is Rosen- baum, was arrested early yesterday at the Mountaindale, N. Y, home of ! his father -in-law, Nathan Nessel- ovitz, while his estranged wife, 20, and their 3-year-old daughter, slept | in an adjacent room.
 He appears in police lineup and n homicide court for arraignment |
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-20
OSHAWA STRIKE
 IS CONTINUING
(Continued from Page l)

Motors United States plants.
 Such strikes had been demanded by Oshawa union officials who can- tended that they had not been re- ceiving the full support of United States units.
 Glad of Rejection
 Although Thompson had .ex- plained the settlement proposal and had urged its adoption, he said he was glad" it had been rejected. But Mayor Hall was severe in his criticism of the strikers and of Homer Martin, president of the union, who had assisted in drafting the plan.
 Rejection of the proposed settle ment came as Q surprise to out. siderS, who had been assured by Hall and Thompson that the work CTS would accept it.
 The plan proposed that the strik- CTS return to work under 44-hour week, with pay increases of seven cents an hour for all employees earning less than 55 cents an hour, and five cents an hour increases for those earning more than 55 cents hourly. Conferences on the c. I. o. recognition issue will be con- tinued.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-20
Body or Tania
 Leel0ud Is Home
Continued from Page 1)

today, while IS witnesses go before the grand jury. Among them will be Paul Klein, an elevator operator, who identified Ross as the man he saw enter the studio Sunday at about 9:45 a. m. and leave about 10:15, between which times the vic- tim, violin under her arm, arrived.
 Prisoners Story
 Inspector Michael F. McDermott, division chief of detectives, quoted the prisoners story:
 q had been drinking heavily. l remember going up in the elevator at the building and talking with the elevator operator. I remember going into the room and seeking Tania there.
 After that my memory is hay. We had been arguing for days be- cause I wanted to go back to my wife and she didn't want me to. l guess we started arguing again. She was quite excited. She grabbed something and hit me with it. I don't know what it was. must have grabbed it and hit her, but l don't remember"
 Asked About Girl
 It was not until after his state ment to the police that Ross asked about the condition of the girl who had been his protege.
 "She is dead" said Inspector McDermott.
 The prisoners face twitched. He burst into tears and moaned:
 "Oh, my God, not that! I'd never do anything like that to Tania. She was always so good to me, so kind and gentle"