\
Tit Barawtll P»opl»-8«ithitl. Barnwell. 8. C- Thunidav. Mar «. 1937 -
tu Garden Murder Case
by S.S. VAN DINE
Caerriefct S. a Vm Mm
WNUSarvlM
• •Hot DOW. No,” Vance returned.
"A little bromin gas a few minutes
ago; but the air will be clear in
a little while. No casualties. Every
ana doing well ... Did you want
la see met**
Garden looked round at the group
antht—odwilbn puzzled air. - ' *
“Awfully sorry to interrupt you,
Vance; but the fact Is, I came for
At doctor.” His eyes rested on Sie-
fart. and he smiled dryly. “It’s the
asaal thing, doc,*' he said. "The
aaa ter seems almost in a state of
tallspss she assured me that she
hadn't an ounce of strength left.”
A worried look came into Siefert’s
“I’ll come at once, of course,” he
•aid. He looked at the nurse and
then lifted his gaze to Vance. "Will
pou excuse me?”
Vance bowed. "Certainly, doc
tor. But 1 think Miss Beeton had
better remain - here in the air for
a while longer.”
Siefert left the roof reluctantly,
with Garden following him.
Vance watched them until they
tamed through the doOr of the pass
ageway; then he spoke to the nurse.
"Please sit here a few minutes,
Miss Beeton. I want to have a talk
with you. But first I’d like a minute
ar two with Mr. Hammle.”
The nurse nodded her assent and
oat down a little wearily on the set-
Vance beckoned curtly to
Hammle. “Suppose we go inside
tor a moment.”
Hammle rose with alacrity. "I
was wondering how much longer
you gentlemen were going to keep
■w here.”
Vance led the way into the study,
and Markham and I followed be
hind Hammle.
"What were you doing on the roof,
Mr. Hammle?” asked Vance. "I
Said you some time ago, after our
brief Interview, that you might go.”
Hammle fidgeted. He was pat
ently apprehensive and wary.
^There's no crime in going out
htto the garden for a while—
is there?” he asked with unimpres
sive truculence.
whatever,” Vance re-
casually. “I was wonderin’
why you preferred the gardens to
gaing home. Devilish things have
been happening in the garden
“Aa I told you. 1 wish 1 had
gone. How did I know-?”
“That’s hardly the point. Mr.
Hammle.** Vance cut him short.
"It doesn't answer my Question.”
"Well now. look here.” Hammle
explained fulaomeiy; “I had )uat
mi—d a train to Long Island, and
II waa more than an hour until the
next one When 1 went out of here
and suited to go downstairs, I sud
denly said to myself, it’d be pleas
anter waiting in the garden than in
the Pennsylvania station ‘ So I went
out on the root and hung around.
Vance regarded the man shrewd-
V and nodded his head.
“Yea. as you say. Here you are.
. Mart or iesa in evidence By the
hg, Mr. Hammle. what did you see
wtuls you were waiting in the gar
den for the nest train*"
“Not a thing — absolutely!"
Hammle s tene was aggressive. “I
walked along the boxwood hedges,
amoking. and was leaning over the
parapet by the gate, looking out at
tfcs city, when I heard you come
out carrying tha nurse.”
Vance narrowed his eyes: It was
obvious he was not satisfied with
Hammle's explanation.
"And you saw no one else either
In the garden or on the terrace?"
“Not a soul,” the man assured
him
"And you heard nothing?"
“Not until you gentlemen came
•ut.”
Vance stood regarding Hammle
tor several moments. Then he
turned and walked toward the gar
den window.
"That will be all for the mo
ment,” he said brusquely. “But we
shall probably want to see you to
morrow.”
"I’ll be at home all day. Glad
to be of any service.” Hammle shot
a covert look at Vance, made his
adieux quickly, and went out down
the passageway.
Vance returned at once to the
garden. Miss Beeton drew herself
up a little as he approached her.
"Do you feel equal to a few ques
tions?” he asked her.
"Oh, yes." She smiled with more
assurance now, and rose.
As we crossed the garden to the
balustrade, Miss Beeton took a deep
breath and shuddered slightly.
“You’d better have your coat,”
Vance suggested. He returned to
fee study and brought it out to her.
When he had helped her into it she
turned suddenly and looked et him
inquiringly.
"Why was my coat brought to the
study?” she asked.
Vance’s tone was reassuring. We
really owe you an explanation. You
aae, two revolvers figured in Swift’s
death. One of them we all saw on
the roof here—that waa the one
with which the chap waa killed. But
no one downstairs heard the shot
hoc â–  uas the poor fellow met his end
♦ 1 ■ '■■■ - ■
to know If the key was in its place.**
The girl nodded.
"The shot we an heard,” Vance
went on, "wee fired from another
revolver after Swift's body bad been
carried from the vault and placed
in the chair out here. We were
naturally anxious to find that other
weapon, end Sergeant Heath made
n search for it . . .”
"But—but—my coat?" Her hand
went out end aha clutched at
Vance's sleeve as a look of under
standing. cams into her frightened
"Yea," Vance said, "the Sergeant
found the revolver in the pocket of
your top-coat Someone had put it
there ea e temporary hiding-place."
She recoiled with e sudden intake
of breath.
"How dreadful I” Her words were
barely audible.
Vance put his hand on her shoul
der.
"But it’a too terrible I ... And
then this—this attempt on my life.
I can't understand. I'm frightened."
"Come, come," Vance exhorted
the girl. "It's over now, end we
need your help."
She gazed directly into his eyes
for several minutes. Then she gave
him e faint smile of confidence.
"I'm very sorry,’* she said sim
ply. "But this house—this family—
they’ve been doing queer things to
my nerves for the pest month. I
can’t explain it, but there’s some
thing frightfully wrong here ... I
was in charge of an operating room
in a Montreal hospital for six
months, attending as many as six
and eight operations a day; but
that never affected me the way this
household does. There, at least, I
could see whet was going on—I
could help end know that I was
“Vanes! Cbm Down From
There!”
helping But here everything goes
on In dark corners, end nothing I
do seems to be of any use. . . .
But please don’t think I am not
ready to help—to do anything f can
for you. You. too, always have to
work In the dark, don’t you?”
’’Don’t are ell have to work In the
dark?” Vance murmured, without
taking hie eyes from her. “Tell
mo who you think coukl have been
guilty of the terrible things that
have happened here.’*
All fear and doubt seemed to have
left the girl She moved toward
the balustrade and stood looking
over the river with an impressive
calm and self-control.
"Woode Swift's death wasn’t at
all the sort of thing I would expect
to happen here,” the nurse said.
"I wouldn't have been surprised at
some act of impulsive violence, but
this premeditated murder, so sub
tle and so carefully planned, seems
alien to the atmosphere here. Be
sides. it isn't a loving family, ex
cept on the surface. Floyd Garden
is saner than the others. His in
terests are narrow, to be sure, but,
on his own mental level. He’s de
pendable, too, 1 think.”
She paused and frowhed.
"As for Mrs. Garden, I feel that
by nature she is shallow and is
deliberately creating for herself a
deeper and more complex mode of
life, which she doesn’t in the least
understand. That, of course, makes
her unreasonable and dangerous. I
have never had a more unreason
able patient. She has no considera
tion whatever for others."
"And Professor Garden?”
"He’s a researcher and scientist,
of^petfrse, and, therefore, not alto
gether human, in the conventional
sense. I have thought sometimes
that he isn’t wholly rational."
"What is your impression of the
guests who were present today?"
Vance said.
"I don't feel competent to pass
Judgment on them," the girl re
plied seriously. "I can't entirely
understand them. But each one
strikes me aa dangerous in his own
way. They are all playing a gams
—and it seems to be a game with
out rules. To them the outcome
Justifies the methods they use."
"Yes, quits. You have dear vi
sion.” Vance scrutinized the girl
beside him. “And you took up
t afraid af
i are able to
You are dm
The girt looked embarrassed. v
"You’re making too much of my
profession. After all, I had to earn
my living, and nursing appealed te
me."
"Yes, of course. It would.” Vance
nodded. "But tell me, wouldn't you
rather not have to work for your
living?”
She looKed up.
"Perhaps. Bttt isn't it* natural
for every woman to prefer luxury
nnd security to drudgery and un
certainty?”
"No doubt,” aaid Vance. "And
•paakin' of nursing, Just what da
you think af Mrs. Garden'# condi
tion?"
•|ljDaa Bonton hesitated before aha
"Really, 1 don't know what to say.
I can't understand it. And I rather
suspect that Doctor Siefert himself
is puzzled by it Mrs. Garden la
obviously a aiok woman. Sbajshows
many of tha symptoms of that nerv
ous, erratic temperament exhibited
by people suffering from cancer.
Though she’s much better some
days than others, I know that aha
suffers a great deal. Doctor Siefert
tells me she is really a neurologi
cal case; but I get the feeling, at
times, that it goes much deeper—
that an obscure physiological condi
tion is producing the neurological
symptoms she shows.”
"That's most interestin'. Doctor
Siefert mentioned something of the
kind to me only a few days ago.”
Vance moved nearer to the girt.
"Would you mind telling me some
thing of your contacts with the
members of the household?"
"There’s very little to tell. Pro
fessor Garden practically ignores
me—half the time 1 doubt if he
even knows I am there. Mrs. Gar
den alternates between periods of
irritable admonition and intimate
confidence. Floyd Garden has al
ways been pleasant and consider
ate. I’ve rather liked him for his
attitude."
"And what of Swift—did you see
much of him?"
The girl seemed reluctant to an
swer.
“The truth la. Mr. Swift asked
me several times to go to dinner
and the theater with him. I got the
impression that he was one of those
unhappy men who feel their Inferi
ority and seek to bolster themselves
up with the affections of women. I
think that he was really concerned
with Mias Graem, and merely
turned to me through pique."
Vance smoked for a few momenta
in silence. Then he said:
“What of the big race today? Had
there been much discussion about
It?"
“Oh, yea. . For over a week Fve
heard little else here. A curious
tension has been growing In the
house. 1 heard Mr. Swift remark
to Floyd Garden one evening that
the Hi Vermont Handicap waa hia
one remaining hope, and that he
thought Equanimity would aria.”
“Was It generally known to the
other members of the afternoon
gatherings how Swift felt about this
race and Equanimity?”
"Yea, the matter waa freely dis
cussed for days.”
“By the by.” asked Vance, "how
did you come to bet on Azure Star?”
“Frankly." the girl confessed shy
ly, ’Tvs been mildly interested in
the horse • betting parties here,
though I*ve never had any desire
to make a wager myself. But I
overheard you tell Mr. Garden that
you had picked Azure Star, and
the name was so appealing that I
asked Mr. Garden to piece that bet
for me. It waa the first time I
ever bet on a horse.
"And Azure Star came in.” Vance
sighed. "Too had. Actually you
bet against Equanimity, you know—
he was the favorite. A big gamble.
Moot unfortunate that you woo. Be
ginner’s hick, d* ye see. Is always
faUL"
The girl’s face became suddenly
sombre, and she looked steadily at
Vance for several moments before
she spoke again.
"Do you really think it trill prove
fatal?"
"Yes. Oh, yes. Inevitabla. You
won't be able to resist making oth
er wagers. One doesn’t stop with
the first bet if one wins. And, in
variably, one loses in the end."
Again the girl gave Vance a long
and troubled look; then her gaze
drifted to the darkening sky over
head.
"But Azure Star is a beautiful
name, isn’t it?" She pointed up
ward. "There’* one now.”
We all looked up. High above we
saw a single bright star shining
with blue luminosity in the cloud
less sky. After a moment Vance
moved toward the parapet and
looked out over the waters of the
river to the purpling hills and the
still glowing sunset colors in the
west.
"No city in the world," Vance
said, "is as beautiful as New York
seen from a vantage point like this
in the early twilight.” (I wondered
at his sudden change of mood.)
He stepped up on the parapet and
looked down into the great abyss of
deep shadows and flickering lights
far below. A curious chill of fear
ran over me—the tort of fear I
have always felt when I have seen
acrobatic performers perilously bal
anced high above e circus arena.
Mias Beeton wee standing dose
to Markham, and she, too, must
have experienced something of the
sensation 1 felt, for I sew her face
go suddenly pale. Her eyas were
fixed on Vance with e look of ap
prehensive horror.
"Vance!” It waa Markham’s
â– urn voice that broke the ailenc*
“Come down from there!”
(TO tC OOffTtMLUfJ
IMPROVED
UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL
CUNDAYI
Ochool Lesson
• W(
n- Vi
Lesson For May 9
ABRAHAM A MAN OF PRATER
LXSSOM TEXT U llilT-M.
GOLDEN TEXT—The effectual feme*
prayer et a rtgkUiaa aua avaUeth bumB.
Jamee 1:11.
JUNXOX TONIC—A Great Maa’f Prayer.
INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR TOPIC-
Praying flar Others.
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOPIC—
The Ministry et Intercession.
Prayer—how many are the books
that have been written on that sub-
jact and tha sermons preached, and
yet how little it is actually prac
ticed. One can attract an audience
to hear it discussed, but only a
handful will come to pray. We ea
Christiana agree that it is God's ap
pointed way of blessing. We put up
mottos* such as "Prayer changes
things," or "More things are
wrought by prayer than this world
dreams of," and then (may God
forgive us!) we try to change
things ourselves. We struggle with
problems when we ought to pray.
The lesson of today, from the life
of that great hero of faith, Abra
ham, stresses the importance of in
tercessory prayer, that is, the giv
ing of ourselves to pray for the
temporal and spiritual welfare of
others. In an age characterized
by a grasping spirit of acquisition
for personal advantage it is like
a breath from heaven to read of
this man’s prayer for others.
L The Nature of Intercessory
Prayer.
1. It is a Privilege. Abraham
had been honored by a visit from
God. The covenant had been re
newed, a son had been promised.
The three visitors looked out toward
Sodom. God who had thus appeared
to Abraham in visible form and had
shared the hospitality of his home
now extends to him the privilege of
sharing in God's purpose. How
glorious to be on such terms of con
fidence with God, to know him and
to know hia will and purpose!
3. It is a Responsibility. "Abra
ham stood yet before the Lord”—
why? To pray for Sodom and
Gomorrah. Privilege and responsi
bility go together. Those who have
audience with the King of kings
ar* there to carry the blessed bur
den of prayer for others. Are w*
praying for our children, our fami
lies, our church, our nation? If
not, who will prny?
S. It is Objective, not Subjective.
Some modern "religious” leaders
would devitalize prayer by making
it a sort of spiritual exercise which
has only the value of developing
our own aouL The prayer room la
to them a sort of spiritual gym
nasium where the eoul develop* Its
strength and a spiritual sense of
' well-being floods the eoul.
Undoubtedly the very fellowship
with God which la inherent In prayer
I Is spiritually beneficial, but prayer
i actually deals with such things aa
cities, men. sin. sorrow. It con
cerns men’s physical well-being,
their material prosperity, as well
aa their spiritual welfare. It Is tha
means designated by God for the
release of hie power on behalf
•f the object for which we pray.
Prayer.
1. U nee Utah Abraham already
had hia promise and his blessing.
The cities of the plain were wicked,
yet he prayed for them. Those
who know the spirit of God are not
selfish in prayer.
1. Courageous. Note the rever
ent boldneaa with which Abraham
pleaded the cause of the condemned
cities. The Bible reveals that God
honored men who had a holy cour
age. History tells the same story.
Wa celebrate this year the centen
ary of one who prayed boldly—and
believed, and labored—Dwight L.
Moody.
3. Persistent. No one likes a "quit
ter." Christ spoke of a man who
waa heard for hia importunity
(Luke 11:8). See also Luke 18:1-*.
Saipe on* has said that when we
pray we are all too often like the
mischievous boy who rings the door
bell and runs away without waiting
for an answer.
m. Results of Intercessory
Prayer.
The cities were destroyed, but the
righteous were saved. God hears
and answers prayer. This is the
testimony of His Word, of count
less Christian men and women of
all ages, yes, of the men and women
of our day. We know by experience
that it ia true—"I cried; he an
swered." He says to you and to
me, "Call unto Me and I will an
swer thee and show thee great and
mighty things, which thou knowest
not” (Jer. 33:3).
No Reason for Anxiety
Anxiety is the poison of life; fee
parent of many sins and of more
miseries. Why, then, allow it, when
we know that all the future ia guid
ed by a Father’s hand!—Blair.
A Leeg Life
He lives long that lives well, and
time misspent ia not lived, but lost
—Fuller.
Talk About Smart Frocks
*« A UNT ALMA, there’s just one
thing I don’t like about my
new dress—it’s so attractive I’m
afraid Sis over there will appro
priate it when I’m not looking.
Outside of that I’m crazy about it,
and I think you’re swell to make
it for me. Why—”
"What's this, what’s this? If
that isn’t a laugh. Aunt Alma!
Imagine me wanting anybody’s
dress. Why since you’ve taught
me to sew-my-own I never want
anything. I just make it and that's
that. This sport dress, for in
stance, took me only one after
noon.”
Praise From Auntie.
"I think you do wonderfully well
with your sewing, my dear. You’ll
be making my clothes the first
thing I know. I feel especially
pleased with my new spring dress
ai.d I have both of you to thank
for suggesting this style. It does
right well by my hips, and it's so
comfortable through the shoul
ders. I guess I should diet but in
this dress I feel nice and slender.
Don’t you see, girls, how impor
tant ft is to choose a style that's
particularly becoming? It's abid
ing by this theory that gives some
women such enviable chic.”
The Patterns.
Pattern 1280 is designed ir. sizes
12-30 (30 to 40). Size 14 requires
3^i yards of 30 inch material.
Pattern 1233 is designed in sizes
34-32. Size 36 requires S4fc yards
of 39 inch material. The collar
in contrast requires five-eighths of
a yard.
Pattern 1284 is designed in sizes
14-20 (32 to 44). Sue 16 requires 3H
yards of 33 inch material.
New Pattern Book.
Send for the Barbara Bell
Spring and Summer Pattern Book.
Make yourself attractive, practi
cal and becoming clothes, select-
l/ncla
So WHh Al of ’Em
Running a farm and running a
newspaper consist in infinite at
tention to details. But isn’t run
ning any business that?
Somebody always discovers how
to be chummy with the un
approachable man; and it is
pretty sure to be one who isn’t
afraid of him.
Indignation is only another form
of anger, and a great deal of an
ger isn’t good for anybody.
Silence ia an excellent pose, but
you have to think about it all the
time or you will forget.
Peculiarities may indicate indi
viduality, but they can be irritat
ing.
The Country's Mainstay
There are old-fashioned people
who feel that a debt is a kind of
financial excrescence to be got
rid of.
How many people do you know
who, you know, will be glad 4o
see you? Isn’t it a restful feeling!
v A too busy man and a too busy
woman are likely to be exasperat
ing.
In the old Indian scalping days,
how exasperated an Indian must
have been to come across a vic
tim who waa bald.
Getting a Child's Confidence
You don't need to "teach” a
child a great deal, if you admit
him into your conversation on the
plane of equclity.
If you want to flatter a man tell
him he ia working too hard.
Ne matter hew persistently yen
say, "I told yaa aa,” nahady re
members feat yen did.
When you’re frightened, keep
stilL You may pass muster aa e
brave man.
If you iik* a man’s dog. fee man
will probably Uka yen.
ing designs from the Barbara Bell
well-planned, easy-to-make pat
terns. Interesting and exclusive
fashions for little children and the
difficult junior age; slenderizing,
well-cut patterns for the mature
figure; afternoon dresses for the
most particular young women and
matrons and other patterns for
special occasions are all to be
found in the Barbara Bell Pattern
Book. Send 15 cents today for your
copy.
Send your order to The Sewing
Circle Pattern Dept., Room 1020,
211 W. Wacker Dr., Chicago, I1L
Price of patterns, IS cents (uv
coins) each.
• B*U Syndicate.—WNU Service.
Gas. Gas AH
theTlme,Can 9 t
tat or Sleep
“The gas •<• my stemsch waa aa Bad
I ceuld net aat ar eieep. Bvao my
heart teemed te hurt. A friend awe-
•eated Adierika. The Brat deae I teak
t owgnt me relief. Neve I eat aa I
with, eieep fine and never felt Better."
—Mr*. Jaa. Biller.
Adterika eeta an BOTH wa*ar and
I*war Bawal* while ardinary la>athree
act en the lawer Bewtl enly. Ad lari ha
givaa y#wr system a tharewfh cleane-
"t*. bringing aat aid. aaisanawa matter
that yea would net believe waa In year
syatam and that hae Been causing gaa
aaine. aaur etemach, nervaaeneas and
headaches far months.
BV. M. i~ Skmmk. New TerB, reports.
"As eddlslea Se leseselael rfoaMled. iffl Uj
yoalfr hAims »aslerle aad aetaa baffBE*
Qlv* year Bawal* a RKAL cleansing
with Adierika and aa* haw gaad yea
feel. Jaet an# agaanful relieve* OAt
and aanetlgatlan. At all Leading
Oragglats.
Step at Impcrtineade
A wise man is not inquisitive
about things impertinent. —
Broom*.
How CARDUI
Help* Women
Cardol la a portly Tecotable medl-
tine, found by many women to mm
functional pains of menstruation. It
also helps to strengthen women, who
have been weakened by poor nour
ishment, by Increnslng tbelr appetite
and Improving tbelr digestion. Many
have reported lasting benefit from
the wholesome nutritional assist
ance obtained by taking CardoL If
you have never taken Cardol. got a
bottle of Cardol at the nearest drag
store, read the direction and try It
Unwanted Things
What you do not want is dear at
a farthing.—Cato.
Watch Your
Kidneys/
Help Them Clcanoo the Blood
of Harmful Body Waste
Year
Udnara
alter fro
from the bleed atraan. 1
Uy SUeriae
stream. But
waste matter
kidneys aometlmee lac la their work—da
net act aa Nature Is tended—(all to re
move Impurities that. If retained, may
e aa the syatam gad upset the whole
y machinery.
Symptoms may b* nanlng backache
persistent headache, attacks of disainsaa.
getting up nights, swelling, pufflnam
under the tysa a feeling of narvooa
anxiety aad lorn of pep and strength.
Other signs pf kidney or bladder die.
order may ha burning, scanty or tea
at urination.
frequent
There
treatment Is . â– 
Dees's PiU$. Doss’s have baen winaiag
new fries de far mare than forty yea
They have a nation-wide reputatli
Ar* roeanuaandad by grateful people t
eooatry aver. Ask gear nefgklarl
Doans Pills
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