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


been in the garden observing every
one who came and went in the
passageway. And she was alone in
the corridor at the time of the sup
posed attack. Miss Graen, to be
sure, had just passed her and gone
downstairs; and the nurse counted
on that fact to make her story
sound plausible, hoping, Of course.
that it would produce the effect she
was striving for-that is, to make it
appear that Miss Graem had at
tackled her."
Vance smoked in silence for mo-
ment.
GAS for the radioactive sodium,
doctor, Miss Beeton had been adj
ministering It to Mrs. Garden, con-
tent with having her die slowly Of
it's cumulative effects. But Mrs.
Gardens threat to erase her sons
name from her will necessitated
immediate action, and the resource
full girl decided on an overdose of
the barbital last night. She fore
saw, Of course, that this death could
easily be construed as an accident
or as another suicide. AS it hap
pened, however, things were even
more propitious for her, for the
events Of last night merely cast
further suspicion on Miss Graem.
''From the first I realized how
difficult, if not impossible, it would
be to prove the case against Miss
Beeton; and during the entire in
vestigation I was seeking some
means Of trapping her. With that
end in view, I mounted the parapet
last night in her presence, hoping
that it might suggest to her shrewd
and cruel mind possible means Of
removing me from her path, If she
became convinced that ! had
guessed too much. My plan to trap
her was, after all, simple one.
asked you all to come here this
evening, not as suspects, but to fill
the necessity roles in my grim
drama"
Vance sighed deeply before con-
tinuing.
''I arranged with Sergeant Heath
to equip the post at the far end Of
the garden with strong steel wire
such as is used in theaters for fly
ing and 1evitation acts. This wire
was to be just long enough to reach
as far as the height of the balcony
on this floor. And to it was at
tached the usual spring catch which
fastens to the leather equipment
worn by the performer. This equip
ment consists Of a heavy cowhide
vest resembling in shape and cut
the old Ferris waist worn by young
girls in pre-Victorian days, and
even later. This afternoon Sergeant
Heath brought such leather vest
or what is technically known in
theatrical circles as a flying cor
set'-to my apa. tment, and put 1t
on before / came here You
might be interested in seeing it. !
took it off little while ago, for it's
frightfully uncomfortable ;"
He rose and went through the
door into the adjoining bedroom. A
few moments later he returned with
the leather corset" It was made
of very heavy brown leather. with
a soft velour firish, and was lined
with canvas. The sides, instead Of
being scanned, were held together
by strong leather thongs laced
through brass eyelets. The closing
down the middle was effected by a
row of inch-wide leather straps and
steel buckles by which the vest was
frightened to conform to the contour
of the person who wore it. There
were adjustable shoulder straps OF
leather, and thigh straps strongly
made and cushioned with thick rolls
Of rubber.
Vance held up this strange gar
ment.