Montana oil and mining journal., 1939-05-27
BY STUART PAINE
BY STUART PALMER
copyriEht 1899; BY News Syndicate Co. Inc.
IN TWO PARTS-PART ONE
A HILDEGARDE WITHERS
MYSTERY

MYSTERY
"Who's there?" Old Peter
VoOrhis almost jumped out of his
skin, although the sound which
had sent him trembling was only
the quiet voice of his secretary,
announcing, "The afternoon mail
is here
Damn it. Mimsl Must you creep
/ up on me like that? Why can't you
make a noise when you come in2"
! Ada Minis let a patient smile crack
the stolidity of her plainish face, and
said. ITS this thick rug" She put
down the letters.
He subsidized, grumbling. Anything
She smiled. Nothing from Florida.
If that's what you mean"
you know very well that's what I
mean. Minis, do you-well do you
think that the telegram we sent was
too harsh? Speak up"
I'm not the one to answer thai"
Minis said.
She waited, staring past the old man
at the farther wall, at the chill fire
place, the quaint collection Of 18th
century daggers In their cabinet, the
exceptionally curious way in which
that wall had been papered. Then she
relented a little, as one might to a
worried child.
IT suppose your daughter will realize
you didn't mean It," she said
well, she might have answered"
Voorhis snapped. He was ruffling
through the letters. Last Of all was
the postcard. He took it up, turned
it over. Then he dropped It hastily,
as though the thing had burned his
Good Godl" breathed Peter voor-
his. Good God in Heaven!"
"The inspectors busy" cried the
young lieutenant, who stood guard In
the outer office, Of Centre street, homi-
eide division, but he spoke only 70
the disappearing back of Miss Hide
garde Withers. Inside, the school teach
er approached Oscar Piper belligerent-
ly, her spinsterly visage stern.
Beethoven will have TO wait" the
inspector apologized.
standing me up. eh? Is this Just
an excuse to cut the corner?" Then
Miss WitherS noticed the stocSy figure
of a woman perched on the edge Of
a chair. "Or is it?"
He grinned. "Relax, Hildegarde-it's !
not a murder case. Just postcard. |
If Miss Ada Minis here doesn't mind, |
I'll see what you think of It," He |
handed 1t over without waiting for |
an answer.
On its face it seemed to be a usual
postcard of the type supplied in bulk
by postoffices everywhere. The post
mark was Grand Central, N. Y c."
the date today, and the address, Peter
Voorhis, Esq, Administer Apartments,
345 Park Avenue, City" But on the
reverse, the card bore, in typed purple
capitals these four disturbing words.
purple Death Is Comingl"
She handed 1t back with sniff. 1T
suggests one of the pulp magazines
that my pupils try to sneak behind
their biographies. OF course, no one
lakes 1t seriously?"
''Voorhis does" the inspector IN
formed her. TT seems to have scared
lim plenty. He telephoned me to come
lp there, and when I wouldn't do that,
1e sent the card down by his conf
lential secretary"
"Yes," Minis chimed in, "he takes 1t
10 seriously that right this minute
le sits inside his apartment with every
loor locked and a loaded revolver in
md he isn't taking any chances until
get back with the officers"
"Officers?" demanded Piper. What (
,fficersP"
THE ones you're sending to guard
NOW listen" began the inspector.
BUT Miss Withers interrupted.
peter Voornis," she unused. ''The (
lame is vaguely familiar"
"It was in all the newspapers last
ear" Ada Minis announced, not with I
ut pride. "His daughter, Marcia, be-
anne the Princess Artescu"
Eccentric Millionaire Buys Daugh- {
er Balkan Prince for Xmas" Piper ]
uoted
Miss withers nodded slowly. Nov 5
ust who would be likely to have
rudge against your employer" I
g." The faithful Minis hesitated
''I was instructed TO speak
My to you, inspector"
Huh? Oh, sure. DO you mind, Hill !
egarde2" He indicated the door. Hill ;
egarde minded, but she had no choice.
With an audible sniff, she swept out :
( the office. When the door was
Irmly closed behind her, Piper re-
GIFTED his cigar and said, "Well2"
at is very difficult" Ada Minis be- e
an "Any wealthy man IN these times Y
as enemies. These terrible radi- ?
ais :" t
The inspector looked dubious. "Try p
oSer home" he suggested.
BEG pardon2 Oh, yes Well, "
lere Is certain situation In the fam
81
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