Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-08-05
CHAPTER XIV

came in he threw the door opeI
wider, half pocketing me in the cor
ner behind it, where I was not i'm
mediately noticeable. I was abou
to speak to him, when Zalia Graen
came in.
'Philo Vance," She called his
name in a low, tremulous voice.
He turned and looked at the CIR
with quizzical frown.
Tive been waiting in the dining,
room," she said. IT wanted to see
you before you spoke to the 9th.
ers."
I 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.
'"Tell me why you have made me
suffer so much," she said.
II know have hurt you," Vance
returned. ''But the circumstances
made it imperative. Please believe
that understand more of this case
than you imagine do"
II am not sure that I under
stand" The girl spoke hesitantly.
But I want you to know that
trust you" She looked up at him,
and I 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 a 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 I could-care for"
So suddenly had this startling con-
fession come, that I did not have
time to make my presence known,
and after Miss Graem finished
speaking I remained where I was,
lest I cause her embarrassment
Vance placed his hands on the
girls shoulders and held her away
from him.
my DEAR" he said, with a curl
ously suppressed quality in his
voice, II am the one man for whom
you should not care" There was no
mistaking the fnality of his words.
Vance smiled wistfully at the girl.
"Would you mind waiting in the
drawing-room 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 a 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.
ooh, hello, Vance," he said. IT
didn't know you had returned until
Zalia just told me you were in
here. Anything I can do for your"
Vance swung around quickly.
IT 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. I wish 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 I heard Burke speak,
ing to Markham at the front door.
Markham Immediately joined us in
the den.
"Hope haven't kept you wait
Ing" he greeted Vance.
"No. Oh, no." Vance leaned
against the desk. "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. Hammle," he said, "we're
wholly familiar with your philoso-
ply of minding your own business
and keeping silent in ordez, to avoid
all inducements. A defensible at
titude-but not in the present cir
cumStances. This is 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-room who had even
partial view down the hallway.
And we must know everything you
saw, no matter how trivial it may
seem to you.''
Hammle 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"
"Not exactly" 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-room?"
II saw her first opposite the den
door. She went to the hall closet