White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-07-22
THE GARDEN ;.
MURDER CASE S. s. Van Dine
Van WNU
CHAPTER vIII-Continued
Copyright S. S. Van Dine


den, and when we heard the shot,
Miss Graem was in the den. In
cidentally, the shot we all heard
was not the shot that killed Swift.
The fatal shot had been fired at
least five minutes before that. Swift
never even knew whether he had
won or lost his bet"
Gardens gaze was focused on
Vance with wide-eyed awe.
Good God, mani" He shook his
head despondently. ''This thing is
getting hellish."
'By the by" said Vance, miss
Weatherby tried to convince us that
Miss Graem shot Swift
"Has she any grounds for such an
accusation?"
"Only that Miss Graen had
grudge Of some kind against Swift
and detested him thoroughly, and
that, at the supposed time of his de-
mise, Miss Graem was absent from
the draWing-room. Doubts that she
was in the den phoning all the
time. Thinks she was up here,
busily engaged in murder
Garden drew rapidly on his pipe
and seemed to be thinking.
do you yourself regard Miss
Graem as capable Of cold FLOODED,
skillfully planned murder?"
Garden pursed his lips and
frowned.
damn it, Vance! I can't answer
that question. Frankly, don't know
who is and who isn't capable of
murder. The younger set today are
all bored to death, intolerant Of ev-
cry restraint, living beyond their
means, digging up scandal, seeking
sensations Of every type. Zalia is
little different from the rest, as far
as I can see. She always seems to
be stepping on the gas and exceed
ing the speed limits. How far she
would actually go, I'm not prepared
to say. Who is, for that matter? It
may be merely big circus parade
with her, or it may be fundamental
"a violent reaction from respecta-
bility."
IA vivid, though not sweet,
character sketch" murmured
Vance. Zone might say offhand
that you are rather fond of h er
but don't approve"
Garden laughed awkwardly.
81 can't say that I dislike Zalia.
Most men do like her though I
don't think any Of them understand
her. / know don't. There's some
impenetrable wall around her. She's
either damned superficial or deep
as HE'LL can't make up my mind
which. AS to her status in this
present Situation well, ] don't
know. It wouldn't surprise me in
the least if Madge was right about
her. Zalia has staggered me
couple of times cant exactly ex-
plain it. You remember, when you
asked me about fathers revolver,
I told you Zalia had discovered it
in that desk and staged a scene
with it in this very room. Well,
Vance, my blood went cold at the
time. There was something in the
way she did it, and in the tone Of
her voice, that made me actually
fear that she was fully capable Of
shooting up the party. I was re-
ieved when she put the gun back
and shut the drawer All can
say" he added, sis that I don't
wholly understand her."
"No. Of course not. No one can
wholly understand another person.
If anyone could he'd understand ev-
erything. Not confortin' thought
Thanks awfully for the recital
Of your fears and impressions.
Garden seemed to breathe more
freely on being dismissed, and, with
nunbled acquiescence, moved to-
ward the door.
ooh, by the by" Vance called
otter him Gone other little point