Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-06-24
ne 00I0VIDl
bv s, s, VAN DINE
Copyright S. 8. Van Dine
WNU Service
CHAPTER IX-COntinued

risk. 1t wasn't nell OF a loI. Whds
did the old oat-muncher pay, any
way?-less than two to one. A dol
lar and eighty cents to the dollar,
to be exact. I would have been out
$4,000. But there wasn't chance
of Equanimity's coming in-1 was
quite certain Of that. I took the
chance for Woody's sake"
Vance looked at the man thought
fully.
''Thanks for the affectin' confess
sion," he murnured at length. II
think that will be all for the mo-
ment."
AS he spoke, two men with long
coffin-like wicker basket hustled IN
to the passageway. Heath was at
the door in two strides.
"The public welfare boys after
the body" he announced over his
shoulder.
Vance stood up.
II say, Sergeant, have them go
down the outside stairway. No use
returning through the apartment"
He addressed Garden again.
"Would you mind showing them the
way?"
Garden nodded morosely and
went out on the roof.
Markham regarded Vance with
dismal concern.
whats the meaning of Gardens
not placing that bet?"
Vance sighed.
"What's the meaning OF any
thing? Yet, it's from just such curl
Gus facts as this that some pro-
visional hypothesis may evolve"
81 certainly can't figure out what
bearing Gardens conduct has on
the case, unless"
Vance interrupted him quickly.
"No. Puzzlin' situation. But ev-
erything we have learned so far
might mean something. Provided,
of course, we could read the mean
in. Emotion may be the key"
"Don't be so damned occult,
snapped Markham. whats on
your mind?"
"My dear Markham! You're too
fatterin'. Nothing whatever. I'm
seekin' for something tangible. The
other gun, for instance. The one
that went off somewhere when the
chappie was already dead. 1t should
be here or hereabouts :" He
turned to Heath. IT say, Sergeant,
could you and Snitkin take look for
it? Suggested itner'ry: the roof
garden and the fowerbeds, the ter
race, the public stairs, the lower
hallway. Then the apartment prop
er."
Heath grinned.
"And, Sergeant, before you start
reconnoiterin', will you fe C n
Hammle. You'll probably find him
at the bar downstairs"
Hammle strutted pompously into
the study and was cursorily pre-
scented to Markham.
The interview was brief and, as it
turned out, of peculiar significance.
cit is not our desire to keep you
here any longer than necessity, Mr..
Hammle, "-Vance began the inter-
view with marked distaste-"but
it occurred to me to ask you if you
have any ideas that might be helpful
to us in solving Swift's murder"
Hammle coughed impressively
and appeared to give the matter
considerable thought.
mo, I have none," he at length
admitted. "None whatever. But Of
course one can never tell about
these things"
"Of course" Vance agreed. "Bu
l thought there might be something
in the relationships of the variou:
people here this afternoon"
'All can say" returned Hammle
carefully weighing his words, 81:
that there were many warning ele
ments in the gathering that is tt
say, many peculiar combinations
There was combination of thi:
and that, which might lead to-
we'll, to anything"
''To murder, for instance?"
Hammle frowned. "Now, murde
is a very, very serious business
But, Mr.. Vance, you can take
from me, in all solemnity,
wouldn't put even murder past an
one of those present today. Nc
by Gad!"
"Thats an amazin' indictment,
muttered Vance; but I'm glad t
have your opinion and we'll consio
er it BY the by, didn't you nc
tice anything irregular in Garden
placing Swift's large bet on Equs
nimity at the last minute?"
Hammle's countenance wen
quickly blank. Then, unable to will
stand the direct scrutiny of Vance
cold gaze, he puckered up his mout
into a shrewd smile.
"Why deny it?" he chucklee
"The laying of that bet was ne
only irregular-it was damned nea
impossible. don't know bool
maker in New York who would tax
such an amount when there was M
even enough time to throw som
comeback money into the totaliz;
tor"
Vance leaned forward.
"That might easily have ha
some bearing on the situation her
this afternoon, and I'd like yer