Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-05-06
replied. 'You may be as mysterl-
Gus as you wish"

I would have come up. I purpose
ly stayed here in the den because
thought you might be wanting me-"
II did ring, don't y know" Vance
told him.
"Twice, in fact. But as you didn't
come up, I came down."
'There was no signal here" Gar
den assured him. "And I've been
right here ever since came down.
stairs"
81 can vouch for that" put in
Miss Graem.
"I'm dashed grateful for the cor
roboration," Vance murmured.
care you sure you pressed the
button?" Garden asked Vance. 1T 8
damned funny. That system hasn't
failed in six years. Wait minute
Going to the door he called Sneed.
go upstairs to the study, Sneed,"
Garden ordered, land push the
buzzer button"
''The buzzer is out of order, sir"
| the butler told him imperturbably
GIVE already notified the telephone
company"
"When did you know about it,"
Garden demanded angrily.
The nurse, who had heard the con-
versation, left her chair and came
to the doorway.
| 81 discovered this afternoon that
the buzzer wasn't working" she
explained; $50 told Sneed about it
and suggested that he notify the
telephone company"
ooh, ! see. Thank you, Miss Bee
ton." Garden turned back to Vance.
''Shau we 60 upstairs now?"
Miss Graem, who had been look
ing on with cynical and somewhat
amused expression, started from
the room.
t'Why go upstairs?" she asked.
"I'l fade into the drawing room,
and you can talk to your hearts
content right here"
Vance studied the girl for a few
seconds, and then bowed slightly.
''Thank you," he said. "That will
be much BETTER" He stood aside
as she strolled leisurely into the hall
and closed the door after her.
Vance dropped his cigarette into
small ash tray on the tabouret
before the davenport and, moving
swiftly to the door, reopened it.
From where I stood in the den, I
could see that Miss Graem, instead
of going toward the drawing room,
was walking rapidly in the opposite
| direction.
"Just moment, Miss Graem!"
| Vance's voice was peremptory.
"Please wait in the drawing-room.
No one is to 60 upstairs just now"
She swung about. "And why not?"
Her face was flushed with anger,
and her jaw protruded with def
ance. IT have a right to 60 up"
she proclaimed spiritedly.
Vance said nothing but shook his
head in negation, his eyes holding
| hers.
She returned his look, but could
not resist the power of his scrutiny.
Slowly she came back toward him.
A sudden change seemed to have
come over her. Her eyes dimmed,
and tears sprang into them.
''But you don't understand" she
protested, in broken voice. "I'm
| to blame for this tragedy-it wasn't
the race. If it hadn't been for me
Woody would be alive now. II
feel terrible about it. And I wanted
| to go upstairs-to see him."
Vance put his hand on the girls
shoulder.
Really" he said softly, there's
nothing to indicate that you're to
blame"
Zalia Graem looked up at Vance
searchingly.
'tThen what Floyd has been try
ing to tell me is true-that Woody
didn't shoot himself?"
"Quite true" said Vance.
The girl drew a deep breath, and
her lips trembled. She took quick
impulsive step toward Vance, and
resting her head against his arm,
burst into tears.
Vance placed his hands on her
arms and held her away from him.
II say, stop this nonsense" he
admonished her stern}y. "And don't
try to be SO deuced clever. Run
along to the drawing ROOM"
Soon Mrs. Garden came through
the archway with look of resent
full determination, and strobe ag-
gressively down the hall.
"Zalia has just told me-" she
sad angrily, "that you forbade her
to 60 upstairs. It's an outrage! But
surely / may 60 up. This is my
house, remember. You have no
right whatever to prevent me from
spending these last minutes with
my nephew"
Vance turned to confront her.
There was a panied look on his
face, but his eyes were cold and
stern.
IT have every right, madam" he
said. "The situation is most seri-
GUS one, and if you will not accept
that fact, it will be necessity for
me to assume sufficient authority to
compel you to do So"
The woman raised her eyebrows,