phDEN
3 MURDER
CASE
I S.S.yAN DINE
I COPYRIGHT V
S.S.VAN PINE
W.N.V. SERVICE
SYNOPSIS
Philo Vance, famous detective, and
John F. X. Markham, district attorney
for New York county, are dining in
Vance's apartment when Vance receives
an anonymous telephone message in
forming him of a "disturbing psycho
logical tension at Professor Ephriam
Garden's apartment" advising that he
read up on radio-active sodium, consult
a passage in the Aeneid and counseling
that "Equanimity is essential." Pro
fessor Garden is famous in chemical re
search. The message, decoded by
Vance, reminds him that Professor Gar
den's son Floyd and his puny cousin.
Woode Swift, are addicted to horse-rac
ing. Vance says that "Equanimity” is
a horse running next day in the River
mont handicap. Vance is convinced that
the message was sent by Dr. Siefert,
the Gardens' family physician. He ar
ranges to have lunch next day at the
Gardens' penthouse. Vance is greeted
by Floyd Garden and meets Lowe
Hammle, an elderly follower of horse
racing. Floyd expresses concern over
Swift's queer actions. Mrs. Garden,
supposedly ill, comes downstairs and
places a $100 bet on a horse.
CHAPTER II—Continued
—3—
When the two instruments and the
amplifier had been stationed and
tested, Sneed brought in four more
card-tables and placed them about
the drawing-room. At each table
he opened up two folding chairs.
Then, from a small drawer in the
stand he took out a long manila
envelope which had evidently come
through the mail, and, slitting the
top, drew forth a number of large
printed sheets approximately nine
by sixteen inches. There were 15
of these sheets—called “cards” in
racing parlance—and after sorting
them he spread out three on each
of the card-tables.
When the butler had gone Gar
den lifted the receiver from the hook
of the telephone and dialed a num
ber. After a pause he spoke into the
transmitter:
“Hello, Lex. B-2-9-8. Waiting for
the dope.” And, laying the receiver
down on the stand, he threw the
switch key forward.
A clear-cut, staccato voice came
through the amplifier: “O. K., B-2
9-8.” Then there was a click, fol
lowed by several minutes of silence.
Finally the same voice began speak
ing: “Everybody get ready. The ex
act time now is one-thirty and a
quarter.—Three tracks today. The
order will be Rivermont, Texas,
and Cold Springs. Just as you have
them on the cards. Here we go.
Rivermont: weather clear and track
fast. Clear and fast. First post, 2:30.
And now down the line—”
Garden leaned over and threw the
amplifier switch up, and there was
silence in the room. He turned to
his cousin. “Why don’t you take
Vance and Mr. Van Dine upstairs,
and show them around the garden?
. . . They might,” he added with
good-natured sarcasm, “be interest
ed in your lonely retreat on the roof,
where you listen in to your fate.
Sneed has probably got it arranged
for you.”
Swift rpse with alacrity.
“Damned glad of the chance,” he
returned surlily. “Your manner to
day rather annoys me, Floyd.” And
he led the way down the hall and
up the stairs to the roof-garden,
Vance and I following.
The stairway was narrow and
semicircular, and led upward from
the hallway near the front entrance.
In glancing back up the hall, to
ward the drawing-room, I noticed
that no section of that room was
visible from the stair end of the
hall. I made this mental note idly
at the time, but I mention it here
because the fact played a very defi
nite part in the tragic events which
were to follow.
At the head of this narrow stair
way we turned left into a corridor,
barely four feet wide, at the end of
which was a door leading into a
large room—the only room on the
roof. This spacious and beautiful
ly appointed study, with high win
dows, on all four sides, was used by
Professor Garden, Swift informed
us, as a library and private experi
mental laboratory. Near the door
to this room, on the left wall of
the corridor, was another door, of
calamine, which, I learned later, led
into a small storeroom built to hold
data.
Half-way down the corridor, on
the right, was another large cala
mine weather door which led out
to the roof. This door had been
propped open, for the sun was
bright and the day mild. Swift
preceded us into one of the loveliest
skyscraper gardens I have ever
seen.
We walked leisurely about the
garden, smoking. Swift was a dif
ficult man to talk to, and as the
minutes went by he became more
and more distrait. After a while he
glanced apprehensively at his wrist
watch.
“We’d better be going down,” he
said. “They'll be coming out for
the first race before long.”
Vance gave him an appraising
look and rose.
“What about that sanctum sanc
torum of yours which your cousin
mentioned?” he asked lightly.
“Oh. that ..." Swift forced
an embarrassed smile. “It’s that
red chair over there against the
wall, next to the small table . . .
But I don't see why Floyd should
spoof about it. The crowd down
stairs always rags me when I lose,
and it irritates me. I’d much rath
er be alone when I get the results.”
“Quite understandable,” nodded
Vance with sympathy.
“You see,” the man went on rath
er pathetically, “I frankly play the
ponies for the money—the others
downstairs can afford to take heavy
losses, but I happen to need the
cash just now.”
Vance had stepped over to the
little table on which stood a desk
telephone which had, instead of the
ordinary receiver, what is known as
a head receiver—that is, a flat disk
ear-phone attached to a curved met
al band to go over the head.
“Your retreat is well equipped,”
commented Vance.
“Oh, yes. This is an extension
of the news-service phone down
stairs; and there's also a plug-in
for a radio, and another for an
electric plate.”
He took the ear-phone from the
hook and, adjusting the band over
his head, listened for a moment.
“Nothing new yet at Rivermont,”
he mumbled. He removed the ear
phone with nervous impatience and
tossed it to the table. “Anyway
we’d better get down.” And he
walked toward the door by which
we had come out in the garden
When we reached the drawing
room we found two newcomers—a
man and a woman—seated at one
of the tables, poring over the rac
ing cards and making notations.
Vance and I were casually intro
duced to them by Garden.
The man was Cecil Kroon, about
thirty-five, immaculately attired
and sleek, with smooth, regular fea
tures and a very narrow waxed
mustache. He was quite blond, and
his eyes were a cold steely blue.
The woman, whose name was
Nadge Weatherby; was about the
same age as Kroon, tall and slen
der, and with a marked tendency
toward theatricalism in both her at
tire and her make up. Her cheeks
were heavily rouged and her lips
crimson. Her eyelids were shaded
with green, and her eyebrows had
-_ 1_1_3_1_1_1 _:iL. 13_
been plucked and replaced with fine
penciled lines.
Garden looked up and motioned
to us—he was holding the receiver
of the black telephone to his ear.
Kroon went to the small bar and
mixed two drinks which he took
back to his table, setting (5ne down
before Miss Weatherby.
“I say, Floyd,” he called out to
Garden, “Zalia coming today?”
“Absolutely,” Garden told him.
“She was all stirred up when she
phoned this morning. Full of sure
things.”
“Well, what about it?” came a
vivacious feminine voice from down
the hall; and the next moment a
swaggering, pretty girl was stand
ing in the archway, her hands on
her muscular boyish hips. “I’ve
concluded I can’t pick any winners
myself, so why not let the other
guy pick ’em for me? . . . Hello,
everybody,” she threw in parenthet
ically . . . “But Floyd, old thing,
I really have a humdinger in the
first at Rivermont today. This tip
didn’t come from a stable-boy, ei
ther. It came from the stew
ard—a friend of dad's. And am I
going to smear that hay-burner!”
“Right-o, Baby - face,” grinned
Garden. “Step into our parlor."
She started forward, and hesitat
ed momentarily as she caught sight
of Vance and Me.
“Oh, by the way, Zalia.”—Garden
put ihe receiver down and rose—
“let me present Mr. Vance and Mr.
Van Dine . . . Miss Graem.”
The girl staggered back dramat
ically and lifted her hands to her
head in mock panic.
“Oh, Heaven protect me!” she
exclaimed. “Philo Vance, the de
tective! Is this a raid?”
F Vance bowed graciously.
“Have no fear. Miss Graem.” he
smiled. “I’m merely a fellow crim
inal. And, as you see, I’m drag
ging Mr. Van Dine along the down
ward path with me.”
At this moment Garden pressed
forward the key on the switch box,
and in a moment the voice we had
heard earlier was again coming
through the amplifier.
“Coming out at Rivermont, and
here’s the new line: 20, 6. 4, 8 to 5
scratch twice, 3, 20, 15, 10, 15 . . .
Who was it wanted the run-down at
Texas—?”
Garden cut the amplifier.
He turned to his cousin. “And
you, Woody?”
Swift shook his head. "Not this
race.”
“Saving it all f >r Equanimity,
eh? Right-o.”
Despite the superficial buoyancy
of the gathering, I could detect an
undercurrent of extreme tension
and expectancy; and I made men
tal note of various little occurrences
during the first hour or so.
One incident connected with Swift
puzzled me greatly. I had noticed
that he and Zalia Graem had not
spoken to each other during the
entire time they had been in the
drawing - room. Once they had
brushed against each other near
Garden’s table, and each, as if in
stinctively, had drawn resentfully to
one side. Garden had cocked his
head at them irritably and said:
"Aren’t you two on speaking
terms yet—or is this feud to be per
manent? . . . Why don’t you kiss
and make up and let the gaiety
pf the party be unanimous?"
Miss Graem had proceeded as if
nothing had happened, and Swift
had merely given his cousin a
quick, indignant glance.
CHAPTER III
"The great moment approaches!"
‘Garden announced, and though he
spoke with sentenious gaiety, I could
detect signs of strain in his man
ner.
Kroon rose, finished the drink
which stood on the table before him,
and dabbing his mouth with a neat
ly folded handkerchief which he took
from his breast pocket, he moved
toward the archway.
"My mind was made up yester
day.” He spoke across the room,
as if including every one. "Put me
down in your fateful little book for
$100 on Hyjinx to win and $200 on
the same filly to place. And you
can add $200 on Head Start to show.
I Making it, all told, half a grand.
That’s my contribution to the after
noon’s festivities.”
"Not deserting us, are you Cecil?"
Garden called after him.
"Frightfully sorry,” Kroon an
swered, looking back. "I’d love to
stay for the race, but a legal con
ference at a maiden aunt’s is sched
uled for 4:50.” He waved his hand
and, with a "Cheerio,” continued
down the hall.
Madge Weatherby immediately
picked up her cards and moved to
The Two Women Began a Low,
Whispered Conversation.
Zalia Graem’s table, where the two
women began a low, whispered con
versation.
Garden’s inquiring glance moved
from one to another of the party.
At this moment a young woman
of unusual attractiveness appeared
in the archway and stood there hes
itantly, looking shyly at Garden.
She wore a nurse’s uniform of im
maculate white, with white shoes
and stockings, and a starched white
cap set at a grotesque angle on
the back of her head. She could not
have been over thirty; yet there was
a maturity in her calm, brown eyes,
and evidence of great capability in
the reserve of her expression and in
the Arm contour of her chin. She
wore no make-up, and her chestnut
hair was parted in the middle and
brushed back simply over her ears.
She presented a striking contrast
to the two other women in the room.
“Hello, Miss Beeton,” Garden
greeted her pleasantly. “I thought
you’d be having the afternoon off,
since the mater’s well enough to go
shopping . . . What can I do for
you? Care to join the madhouse and
hear the races.”
“Oh, no. I’ve too many things to
do.” She moved her head slightly
to indicate the rear of the house.
“But if you don’t mind, Mr. Gar
den,” she added timidly, “I would
like to bet two dollars on Azure
Star to win, and to come in second,
and to come in third.”
Every one smiled covertly, and
Garden chuckled.
I
Vance, who had been watching
the girl with more interest than he
usually showed in a woman, leaned
forward.
“I say. Garden, just a moment.”
He spoke incisively. “I think Miss
Beeton’s choice is an excellent one
—however she may have arrived
at it." Then he nodded to the nurse.
“Miss Beeton, I’ll be very happy to
see that your bet on Azure Star is
placed.” He turned again to Gar
den. “Will your book-maker take
$200 across the board on Azure
Star?”
“Will he? He’ll grab it with both
hands,” Garden replied. “But
why—?”
“Then it’s settled,” said Vance
quickly. “That’s my bet. And two
dollars of it in each position be
longs to Miss Beeton.”
“That’s perfect with me. Vance."
And Garden jotted down the wager
in his ledger.
I noticed that during the brief
moments that Vance was speaking
to the nurse and placing his wager
on Azure Star. Swift was glowering
at him through half-closed eyes. It
was not until later that I under*
stood the significance of that look.
The nurse cast a quick glance at
Swift, and then spoke with sim*
pie directness.
“You are very kind, Mr. Vance."
Then she added: “I will not pretend
I don't know who you are, even If
Mr. Garden had not called you by
name.” She stood looking straight
at Vance with calm appraisal;
then she turned and went back down
the hall.
Swift stood up and walked to the
cabinet with its array of bottles. He
filled a whiskey glass with Bourbon
and drank it down. Then he walked
slowly to the table where his cousin
sat. Garden had just finished the
call to Hannix.
"I’ll give you my bet now, Floyd,”
Swift said hoarsely. He pressed one
finger on the table, as if for empha
sis. “I want $10,000 on Equanimity
to win.”
Garden’s eyes moved anxiously
to the other.
“I was afraid of that, Woody,”
he said in a troubled tone. "But
if I were you—”
"I’m not asking you for advice.”
Swift interrupted in a cold steady
voice; “I’m asking you to place a
bet.”
Garden did r.ot take his eyes from
the man's face. He said merely:
"I think you’re a damned fool.”
"Your opinion of me doesn’t in
terest me either." Swift’s eyelids
drooped menacingly, and a hard
look came into his set face.
Garden capitulated.
"It’s your funeral,” he said, and
turning his back on his cousin, he
t*ok up the gray hand set again
and spun the dial with determina
tion.
Swift walked back to the bar and
poured himself another generous
drink of Bourbon.
"Hello, Hannix," Garden said into
the transmitter. "I’m back again,
with an additional bet. Hold on to
your chair or you’ll lose your bal
ance. I want ten grand on Equanim
ity to win . . . Yes, that’s what I
said: ten G-strings—ten thousand
iron men. Can you handle it? Odds
probably won't be over two to one
. . . Right-o.”
He replaced the receiver and tilt
ed back in his chair just as Swift,
headed for the hall, was passing
him.
Garden, apparently deeply per
turbed, kept his eyes on the re
treating figure. Then, as if on sud
den impulse, he stood up quickly
and called out: “Just a minute,
Woody. I want to say a word to
you." And he stepped after him.
I saw Garden put his arm around
Swift’s shoulder as the two dis
appeared down the hall.
When Garden returned to the
room his face was a trifle pale, and
his eyes were downcast. As he ap
proached our table he shook his
head dejectedly.
“I tried to argue with him,” he
remarked to Vance. "But it was
no use; he wouldn’t listen to reason.
He turned nasty . . . Poor devill
If Equanimity doesn’t come in he’s
done for.” He looked directly at
Vance. “I wonder if I did the right
thing in placing that bet for him.
But, after all, he’s of age.”
A bell rang somewhere in the
apartment, and a few moments lat
er Sneed appeared in the archway.
"Pardon me, sir,” he said to Gar
den, "but Miss Graem is wanted on
the other telephone.”
Zalia Graem stood up quickly and
raised one hand to her forehead in
a gesture of dismay.
"Who on earth or in the waters
under the earth can that be?” Her
face cleared. "Oh, I know.” Then
she stepped up to Sneed. “I’ll take
the call in the den.” And she hur
ried from the room.
Garden a few moments later
turned in his chair and announced:
“They’re coming out at River
mont. Say your prayers, children
f »
(TO RE CONTINUED)
Black Cat Superstitions
Found in Many Sections
Tales of black cats are not con
fined to European countries; there
are plenty found all through the
states. Most of us are familiar with
, the black cat crossing the path,
etc., notes a writer in the Los An
geles Times, but in the Middle West
there is an old saying that “the
skin of a black cat worn in the
clothing will cure rheumatism.” An
other belief is that the blood of a
black cat is a sure cure for shin
gles, and the same treatment is a
remedy for hives. In the South the
negro’s superstitions include the
black cat as a cure for consump
tion. Three hairs from a black cat’s
tail are sufficient to relieve a boil
and a sty may be treated by brush
ing it nine times with a black cat's
tail.
There are any number of supersti
tions regarding the v’eather. If a
cat washes its face before breakfast
it may mean rain, if it sits with
its back toward the fire it may
mean frost, if the fur is shiny the
weather will be good. Another
amusing story is that a cat sneezing
on the wedding day is a good omen
for the bride; if a kitten comes to
the home in the forenoon it will
bring good luck with it. In Scotland,
if a black cat walks into the house
.ie brings the best with him. If
one should kill the animal he will
suffer reverses of fortune for a
period of niue years.
Lace Is in Every Phase of Fashion
By CHERIE NICHOLAS
r I' HE story of lace continues to
* unfold enchantment to an ad
miring world. It is not only that
than lace there is nothing lov
lier with which ti> adorn as an ex
pression of the "eternal feminine"
but the significant thing we are com
ing to learn about lace is that in
many of its modernized types it is
absolutely practical for general
wear. Through convincing demon
stration in present-day fashions the
theory has been utterly done away
with that lace is a luxury to be re
served for "occasions” only.
The following might seem mere
ly a pretty fairy tale to entertain.
It is, however, a really and truly
true story which has to do with the
recent arrival from Paris of a
prominent American who brought
with her a perfectly exquisite and
thoroughly practical wardrobe fash
ioned all of lace. Of course this
collection embraced laces of versa
tile type for the lingerie as well as
sports and evening clothes are each
and every one of lace. The thrill
uttermost and the argument con
clusive as to the practicality of lace
is a raincoat of handsome close
woven waterproofed lace. We has
ten to assure that the raincoat has
been put to the test time and time
again, proving to bo water repel
lent, and a sure protection.
To be sure, every worthy tale
must have a moral or deliver a
message and here it is—the happy
possessor of this most charming
and replete lace wardrobe is telling
her friends that for travel lace
clothes are eminently practical and
satisfactory. Not only does lace
prove flattering at all times but a
vitally important thing about lace
clothes is that pack them as hur
riedly as you may they come out
unwrinkled, maintaining a well
groomed appearance without the
necessity of pressing.
There is no end to the types of
lace now available. You will find
a lace tuned to your every need
and to every mood of fashion. In
the lace story for winter, it is the
daytime dress made of wool lace
that is making the headlines. A
stunning model is pictured in the
foreground of the illustration. It
is of suede-flnished brown wool lace
in a heavy fabric type which makes
the Derfcct thing for daytime street
wear. To trim this handsome frock,
Piguet uses a stitched sheer fabric
woven of wool the same as made
the lace, bordering the square neck,
for the sash belt and to finish the
side seams. We venture to predict
you’ll be deciding on a wool lace
frock for your "fashion-first” this
winter.
You can see from the beguiling
dance frock shown to the right that
designers are doing delightfully
original things with lace. Chanel’s
evening and dinner dresses in ankle
length were a feature of her recent
showings in Paris. She has a par
ticularly charming dress as pic
tured with a dipping hemline start
ing from the ankles in front, done
in Chantilly lace in pink and in
black. The tiers of the skirt are
matched by the cap sleeves in al
ternating ruffles of pink and black.
The dress illustrated to the left
was one of the hits in the Lelong
collection, and considered by him
one of the best of his creations.
He did it in several fabrics, includ
ing lace. For the lovely gown here
shown he used one of the lovely
filmy laces now so modish in an
interesting delicate patterning. The
feature of the pleated sleeves is also
carried out in the little back peplum
which stands out in quaint bustle
effect. The girdle is matching
suede.
© Western Newspaper Union.
REVERSIBLE CAPE
By CIIKKIE NICHOI.AH
Complete tweed ensembles are
excellent style. The model pictured
is a Creed masterpiece done in
terms of select wool weave such as
declares its style supremacy. The
cape is made reversible, which is a
feature to be commended as it adds
to the adaptability of the ensemble
to occasion. Tailored outfits of this
type, with jacket suit and top cape,
are a whole wardrobe in one.
RED IS IN FAVOR
FOR EVENING WEAR
By CHERIE NICHOLAS
The fashionable set literally "saw
red" at the brilliant first night func
tions of the winter s ason. Red vel
vet wraps, gowns of red taffeta
and slipper satin, the gleam of red
in nails and lips—the shades varie^
all the way from the subtle smoky]
reds to the brighter tones of ruby,
coronation and mountie, or orange
red.
Particularly effective it, a red vel
vet gown, ermine-trimmed and
worn with a white ermine wrap,
and an artful Juliet cap 01 red over
sleek blonde hair. The sleeves were
long and bound with ermine at the
wrists. An ankle-length wrap o$
faille taffeta in mountie red, very
slim of waist and br ad of shoul
der was worn by a striking bru
nette.
Muffs are worn demurelj small
or large and debonair. A girl in
bouffant black net under a slim
black velvet wrap carried a large
muff of white ermine tails, decorat
ed with a spray of gardenias.
All-black splashed with color is
again repeated and is second in fav
or to the predominating red.
Lamb-Trimmed Tunics
Three importantly dressed women
recently observed at Longchamps
wore tunic wool costumes, with the
silhouette marked by Persian lamb
borders. One coat by Jodelle used
also a wide border of the lamb for
a bib-like front collar.
High Hats
New highs are marked by many
new hats. A youthful mode by
Agnes is of black antelope, draped
and twisted to a high - point cone
held by three long royal blue coq
feathers.
Woes Scored
Mother (to small daughter who
has returned from tea with
friends)—I hope you said “No,
thank you,” oftener than “Yes,
thank you.”
Little Mary—Yes, I did. I
hadn’t been eating more than half
an hour before they began saying,
“Don’t you think you’ve eaten
enough?” And I said “No, thank
you,” every time.
Proof
Father was sitting in the arm
chair when his little son came in
and showed him a new penknife
which he said he had found in the
street.
“Are you sure it was lost?” in
quired his father.
“Of course it was lost. I saw
the man looking for it!” replied
the youngster.
HARD ON HIM
“Sad about Brown—an embez
zler, and in broken health, too."
"Doctor’s fault; gave him iron
for his blood and it made him
steal.”
’Twas Her Treat
“Angus, ma son, hae ye been
oot wi’ that lassie again?"
“Aye, father, but why are ye
worried?"
“Ah wis wonderin’ hoo much it
cost ye.”
“Juist twa shillings an’ four-r-p
pence.”
“Ah, that wis no sae bad l"
“It wis a’ she had, father."
Need of the Masses
Park Orator: “My friends, if we
were to turn and look ourselves
squarely in the face, what should
we find we needed most?”
Voice from the crowd: “A rub
ber neck.”
Worm’s-Eye View
Editor—What Jo you mean when
you write “The statement is semi
official”?
Reporter—Mrs. Gibson wouldn't
talk, so I» got the story from her
husband!—Philadelphia Bulletin.
JCet LUDEN’S
Menthol Cough Drops j
1. Clear your head
2. Soothe your throat
3. Help build up
YOUR ALKALINE
RESERVE 5?
Speech and Hearing
Nature, which has given us one
organ for speaking, has given us
two for hearing, that we may learn
that it is better to hear than to
speak.—Nabia Effendi.
MANGE,
Mange in dogs is a ser
ious skin disease and
calls for prompt use of
GLOVER'S MANGE
MEDICINE
It relieves itching and
irritation; kills the
miiiinf Sir
^SCABS
BARE
'PATCHES
i RED
V/SPOTS
ilr SORES
mange nines causing oaiioptu. puiigc, uir.m
spread of the disease; stimulates hair growth
on bare patches, destroys ticks and chiggers.
Insist on GLOVER'S. At all druggists.
GLOVER'S WORM MEDICINES are safe. sure. In
capsules and liquid lorm for Roundworms;
capsules for Tapeworms and Hookworms.
FREE VETERINARY ADVICE on any animal probe
lem. Please mention animal's age, breed and sex.
FREE GUIDE—Write for it today. Address
Dept D47, 462 Fourth Avenue, New York City
EATING HEAVY FOODS
brings on highly acid stomach condition
—“morning after” distress. Milnesia,
original milk of magnesia in wafer form,
quickly relieves distress. Each wafer
equals 4 teaspoonfuls milk of magnesia.
Crunchy, delicious flavor. 20c, 35c & 60c
at druggists.
BYERS BROS & CO.
A Real Live Stock Com. Firm
At the Omaha Market