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BY 8.8. VA N DINE. SYNOPSIS. Philo Vance, with a hobby for solving mysteries, omes interested in the Greene murders when District Attorney Markham and Sgt. Heath are called in afte' the fatal shootin, of Julia Greene and the wounding of her younger sister, Ada. Old Tobias Greene's widow, to- ther with five children, Julia, Chester, bella, Rex and Ada, an adopted daugh- ter, live in the old Greene mansion. Police investigations reveal nothing; then Chester is found shot dead seated in a chair in his room. Again footsteps are found in the snow to and from the entrance of the mansion. and Ada, together with Dr. Van Blon, drive to a spot overlooking the Hudson. Sibella suggests it as a good place {'r a murder. Vance reviews the case. CHAPTER XVIL.--(Cont'd.) "Oh, those things!" Vance sent a ribbon of blue smoke upward. "Yes, they're clues of a kird. But I was referring more .pecifically to the con- ditions existing at the Greene man- gion--the organisms of the environ- ment there--the psychological ele- ments of the .ituation." "Don't get off again on your meta- physical theories and esoteric hypo- theses," Markham interjected tartly. "We've either got to find a practical modus operandi, or admit ourselves beaten." "But, Markham old man, you"e beaten on the face of it unless you can put your chaotic facts into some kind of order. And the only way you'll be able to do that is by a process of analysis." "You give me some facts that've ge some sense to em," challenged eath, "and I'll put 'em together soon envugh." "The Sergeant's right," was Mark- hin's comment. "You'll admit that as yet we haven't any significant facts to work with." "Oh, there'll be more." Inspector Moran =at up, and his eyes narrowed. "What do you mean by that, Mr. Vance?" It was obvious that the ve- mark. had struck som: chord of agree- nent in him. "The thing isn't over yet." Vance spoke with unwonted somberness. "The picture's unfinished. There's more tragedy to come before the mon- strous canvas is rounded out. And the hideous thing about it is that there's no way of stopping it. Nothing now can halt the horror that's at work. It's got to go on." "You feel that toc?" The inspec- tor's voice was off its normal pitch. "This is the first case I've ever had that frightened me." "Don't forget, sir," argued Heath, but without conviction, "that we got men watching the house day and night." "There's no security in that, Ser- geant," asserted Varce. "The killer is already in the house. He's part of the deadly atmosphere of the place. He's been there for years nourished by the toxins that seep from the very stones of the walls." Heath looked up. "A member of the family? said that once before." "Not necessarily. But some one who has been tainted by the pervert- ed situation that grew out of oid Tobias's patriarchal ideas." "We might manage to put someone in the house to keep an eye on things," suggested the inspector. "Or, there's a possibility of prevailing upon the members of the family to separate and move to other quarters." Vance shook his nead slowly. "A spy in the louse would be use- less. Isn't every one there a spy now, watching all the others, and watching t"em with fear and suspicion: And as for dispersin , the family: not only would you find old Mrs. Greene, who holds the purse strings, an adaman- tine obstacle, but you'd meet ail man- ner of legal complications as a resalt of Tobias' will. No one gets a dollar, ¥ understand, who doesn't remain in the mansion for a full quarter of a century. And even if you succeedad in scattering the remnants of the Greene line, and locked up 'he house, you wouldn't have stamped out the killer. And there'll be no end of this thing until a purifying stake has been driven through his heart." "Are you going in now for vampir- ism, Vance?" The case had .xacer- bated Markham's nerves. "Shall we draw an enchanted ring around the house and hang garlic on the door?' Markham's extravagant comment of harrassed discouragement seemed to express the hopeless state of mind of all of us, and there was a long silence. It was Heath who first came back to a practical consideration of the mat- ter in hand. "You spoke, Mr. Vance, about old man Greene's will. And I've been thinking that, if we knew all the terms of that will, we might find something to help us. There's mil- lions in the estate, of it left, I ; hear, to the old lady. 'What I'd like ' You "Quite-quite!" Vance loved at Heatl: with undisguised admiration. "That's the most sensible suggestion that's been made thus far. I saluie you, Sergeant. Yes, old Tobias' money may have some bearing on the case. Not a direct bearing, perhaps; but the influence of that money--the sub- terranean power it exerts--is un- doubtedly tangled up in these crimes. How about it, Markham? How does one go about finding out about other people's wille?" . Markham pondered' the point. "I don't believe there'd be any great difficulty in the present instance. Tobias Greene's will is a matter of record, of course, though it might take some little time to look it up in the Surrogate files; and I happen to know old Buckway, the senior partner of Buckway & Aldine, the Greene solici- tors. I see him here at the club occa- sionally, and I've dcne one or two small favors for him. I think I could induce him to tell me confidentially the terms of Mrs. Greene's will. I'll gs what can be done tomorrow." Half an hoar later the conference broke up and we went home. "I fear those wills are not going to help much," Vance remarked, as he sipped his highball before the fire late that night. "Like everything else in this harrowin' case, they'l possess some significance that can't be grasp- ed until they're fitted into the final picture." He rosé and, going to the book- shelves, took down a small volume. "And now I think I'll erase tne Crcenes from my mind pro tempore, and dip into the 'Satyricon'." He settled himself and turned the pges of his book. But there was no concentration in his attitude, and his eyes wandered constantly from the text. Tw> days later--on Tuesday, Noy. 30--Markham telephoned Vance short- ly after 10 o'clock in the morning, and acked him to ~ome at once to the office. Vance was preparing to attend an exhibition of Negro sculpture at tke Modern Gallery, but this indul- gence was postponed in view of the District Attorn:y's urgent call; and in less than half an hour we were at the Criminal Courts Building. "Ada Greene called up this morning and asked to se> me without delay," explair ed Markham. "I offered to send Heath out and, if necessary, to come myself later on. But she seemed par- ticularly anxious that I shouldn't do that, and insisted on coming here: seid it was a matter she could speak of more freely away from the hcuse, She seemed somewhat upset, so 1 told Ler to come ahead. Then I phoned cu and notified Heath." Vance settled himself and lit a cigarette. "I don't woader she'd grasp at any chance to shake the atmosphere of her surroundings. And, Markhar, I've come to the conclusion that girl knows something that would be high- ly valuable to our inquiry. It's quite possible, don't y' know. that she's now reached a point where ghe'll tell us what's on her mind." As he spoke the sergeant was an- nounced, and Markizam briefly ex- rlained the situation to him. "It looks to me," said Heath gloom- ily, but with interest, "like it was our only chance of getting a lead. We haven't learned anything ourselves that's worth a damn, and unless some- body spills a few suggestions we're u against it." Ten minutes later Ada Greene was t~hered into the office. Though her pillor had gone and ier arm was no longer in a sling, she still gave one the impression of weakness. But there was none of the tremulousness or shrinking in her bearing that had heretofore characterized her. She sat down before Markham's desk, and for a while frowned up at the sunlight, as if debating how to begin. "It's about Rex, Mr. Markham," she said firally. "I really don't know whether I should have come here or not--it may be very disloyal of me. ." She gave him a look of appealing inde- cision. "Oh, tell me: if a person knows something--something bad and dangerous--about some one very close and very dear, should that person tell, when it might make terrible trouble?" "That all depends," Markham an- swered gravely. "In the present cir- cumstances, if you know anything that might be helpful to a solution of the murder of your brother and sister, it's your duty to speal." S "Ever if the .hing were told me in confidence?" she persisted. "And the person were a member of my family?" "Even under thos: conditions, J tlink." Markham spoke paternally. "Two terrible crimes have been com- 1 itted, and nothing should be held back that might bring the murderer to justice--whoever he may be." The girl averted her troubled face for a moment.. Then she lifted her Lead with sudden resolution, "I'll tell you... You know you 5 TALK v We talk of depression and failure, - And mourn over times that are bad, | And séldom we say ttat a far brighter) day 0 1s coming 'to make the world glad-- But we're used to the changeable weather, ; And, though it is not always bright, The very worst clime turns to sum- shine in time And darkness 1s vanquished by light. We talk of the wars that are coming, And make preparat.on for them, And good news of Love which came from above ~ We either neglect or condemn; ° We think that the wisdom of states men May cure, by and by, >/ery ill, the nod Till He sends in the teirible bill! We talk of the peoples around us As if they were seeking our blood, And mostly forget that we've iever tried yet A plan which is peaceful and good-- A Word coming down through the ages, A clear, simple message divine, To see in another a neighbour and brother, And share with the world what is mine, --A. B. Cooper. rr New Record All records were broken when mail from London was landed in Vancou- ver six days three hours, eclipsing previous plane to ship record of six days seven hours, --- MEALS AND MUDDLE An Englishman on holiday in Spam found himself in a restaurant in Ma. drid. Having a strong liking for jug- ged hare, he tried to order that dish from the waiter, but without success. At last he drew on a menu card his idea of a hare, and beside it he sketch- ed a jug. This he showed to the wait- er, who beamed and said, "Si, senor, si? In due course the dish arrived, and on tasting it the Englishman thought the flavor rather peculiar, so he called the waiter, and asked: "Esti maiow- maiow ?" To which the servitor "Non, senor, bow-wow." replied: IMPOSSIBLE The shop assistant's temper was plainly suffering from the effects of the heat. Sellin footwear is a trying occupation when the mercury is at- tempting to gush out of the top of the thermometer. The portly woman who entered the shop was in the throes of a violent at- tack of hay fever. Her distress was acute. "I want--ash-00," she began, "1 want--ash-oo--I--er--ash-oo!" The assistant drummed his fingers on the counter impatiently. "I want--ash-00" The assistant's short stock of tem- per was exhausted, "Can't be dome, madam, can't be done!" he said brusquely. "We only sell them in pairs." First Country Boarder -- "Were you here last summer?" Second Country Boarder -- "No, and that's why I'm heré this sum- mer." ie fm A Danish fort, no longer needed for military purposes, is to be turned into a Huge outdoor swimming pool, which seems to be rather a pleasant way of But the wisdom of God ig just given | SEDL Dogs m-- 3 SRS Edith Lochridge Reid "Excuse me, I'll have to wake Bob- ble," Mrs. Allen told her neighbor, as she rose from the cozy front porch where the two had been visiting, "Don't you let him sleep as long as he will?" 'inquired the neighbor with "Not any more," replied Mrs, Allen. some surprise. to start to school. He used to sleep two hours in the afternoon. Then in July 1 began to speak to him ing an afternoon nap at all, but will go to bed early after a light supper." "That's a good idea," agreed the neighbor. "I've heard the teachers say that little children do get sleepy after lunch when they first start to school." yi Mrs. Allen laughed. "Yes, I know they get sleepy, for I was a teacher myself. I made up my mind that 1 would not have either Bobbie or his teacher troubled by trying to keep him awake when I could co-operate in this way." "I'm glad you mentioned that, for my little Ellen will start next year, and I really do want to provide every advantage possible in her school con- tacts. If we only had a good kinder garten here! That would provide the very best kind of preparation, wouldn't i?" "Yes, 1 wish we had. Bobbie's cousin goes to kindergarten, but as my boy must begin his school career with- out this help I am trying to get him ready for the formality of our grade school. "I begun to put him on a 'clock schedule' three months ago, allowng him a certain time to dress himself in the morning, including teeth-brushing and folding his pajamas. He was en- couraged to be at breakfast promptly, and after breakfast I always sent him on some sort of errand which re quired him to get back by nine o'clock. In this way I fixed the hour of school in his mind. Then, too, at nine o'clock I had something interesting for him to do." "Wonderful idea!" the neghbor ex- claimed, "and I'm going to give Ellen training in finding her own things when they get lost. She always calls me to help her, and 1 can imagine how she might get in a flurry hunting her hat or handkerchief at the last min- ute." Mrs, Allen smiled at the keen en- thusiasm which Ellen's mother was showing in this preparation for school, s0 she continued to make further sug- gestions. "I have taught Bobbie to sit quietly at some special task for half an hour in the morning and the same period in the afternoon. He must draw or paint or cut out pictures neatly or work with his number board. During that time he does not speak aloud nor do I speak to him, At other times I read him a story and he tells it to me when I have finished." "I'm so glad we got started on this subject," replied Ellen's mother, "for 1 now have a whole year to encourage Ellen to develop habits that will help both Ellen and her teacher." "Such habits make life at home more pleasant and interesting, too," responded Mrs, Allen, "and they can- not be acquired in the two or three weeks before school opens."--Issued by the National Kindergarten As: sociation, 8 West 40th Street, New York City: These articles are appear: ing weekly in our columns. tb een GOOD EVIDENCE "Is this train all right for Birming- ham, my man?' asked the kind old lady. "Yes, ma'am, that's right," replied the ancient porter. "But are you sure it goes to Birm- ingham " she persisted. * He scratched his head and pond- ered. ; "Well, ma'am," he informed her after a while, "the driver, the fire man, the stationmaster, the guard, and the dining-car attendant all say it's going to Birmingham, and I'm liquidating a doubtful security. banking on them to know." "You see, I am getting him broken in| when he | had slept an hour. -Now I have hig} nap reduced to half an hour, and by' the last of August he will not be tak-| If You Want a Gorgebiis It won't be long now--until it's time to set out that tulip bed you've been planning since you saw your neigh- bor's burst into a brilliant color scheme last spring. Fall is the ideal time to set out tulip bulbs, planters have found, There is just enough cool weather before freezes set in to allow them to start rooting and get all ready to burst into bloom when next spring's sun pays them an early visit. "Tulips are one of the most popular and widely planted flowers in the country, But they are by no means native. In fact, it is a matter of con- jesture as to which country gave the tulip to the world. It is thought how: ever, that it is an Oriental flower, for it has been found in a wild state In Persia and Asia Minor. Favorite Turkish Flower The flower was a favorite with the Saracens for generations, and it was in the Constantinople gardens that the tulip. was first seen by De Busbequius, ambassador of Emperor Ferdinand IL at the court of the sultan in 1654, and sent back to the gardens of Spain, Hol land, England and Germany. Holland was the country first to realize the worth of these flowers. Dutch traders began to carry on a heavy traffic in the bulbs, growers in Holland commencer a painstaking sys- tem of raising them, crossing them to make nhmerous strains. During the first part of the 17th cen- tury the bulb was at its highest value. Some of them were sold by weight, like jewels, and one of "Vic Rol" was known to sell for $1,700, while one of the "Admiral Van Enckhuysen" strain brought more than $2,200. Even On Stock Market By 1634 the Dutch were so obsessed Riot of Color Next Spring, Hegin to Plan and Plant Later with tulip speculation, according to an account, "that the regular industries were ignored for the most part, and by 1636 the demand for rare species became so great that they were dealt with on the stock exchanges. 3 "The manipulation - of the market and frenzied gambling took place. Peo ple sold their houses and lands, jewels and other valuables at any price they would bring to buy tulips. When the crash finally came thousands were left homeless." With all this early craze over a single type of flower, it is only natural that a measure of its attractiveness should still linger. You can find the flower in any part of the coantry and, because it lends itselt to beds and bor- ders, they generally are seen in a mass, Plan Now--Plant Later Planning a tulip bed for next year is a job for the gardener at this time. Perhaps a border or bed is required to touch up some bald spot in the yard; perhaps the gardener wants to plant both late and early varietizs in the same bed to secure a succession of blossoms, All this can be done on paper before the bulbs are set in. In selecting the bulbs, if you haven't a supply pulled up for transplanting from this year's bed, make sure you get them from a reliable dealer. There are many varieties to choose from. Among them are Darwin, Breeder, Rembrant, Lily-flowered, Bi-bloom, Botanical and the new rock garden types. : 8 The bulbs can be set in the ground from the latter part of September up to. freezing weather in November. They should be set about four inches deep. After setting, which should be in a sunny place, the bulbs should be covered with a layer of fertilizer, Considering Insects "A package of insects, please," many a gardener may soon be add- ing to his usual order for garden supplies. The time has gone when insects are to be destroyed on sight, without due consideration being given to their family and occupa. tion. Even the insects are coming into their rights. The United States Department of Agriculture has found .hat there are insects and insects, The pests that sometimes infest large aréas and de- stroy valuable crops can be definite- ly held in check by introducing into the neighborhood certain insect parasites which are now being bred and shpiped in quantities. But--to rear and ship these success- fully, due allowance must be made for the whims and peculiarities of the tiny animals. At Moorestown N.J., where a Department experiment station is located an elaborately ar- ranged refrigerated traveling com- partment has been invented that the insects may travel in luxurious com- fort and arrive at their orchard des- tinations prepared to carry on a suc- cessful war against battalions of Oriental fruit moths. Now that certain insects have been raised to tife dignity of work- ers for national prosperity and have received recognitior in the way of 'transportation comfort, perhaps still further consideration may be given the daily transportation of mil. lion of human toilers. Ancient Custom Observed TE Gea : narental pride. "Why did you propose to her?" "Wanted to get points on how to refuse an offer and yet be sure of having it offered again." nisl mrs King Opens Bear Park The open-air museum at Skansen has modernized its zoological section. Bears now occupy a large tract of land surrounded by a wide moat, where they can roam freely among the trees, rocks and in the numerous ponds. The King officially opened this model bear park, which is said to be the most up- to-date and largest in the world. Skan- sen is continually enla.ging and add- ing to its already rich and valuable collections. A section. called "Old Stockholm" is being constructed; some of the best examples from vari- ous periods of architecture and cul- ture and many fine old houses, which it has been found necessary to re- move, have been saved and are being taken down to be erected again at Skansen. The latest addition is an old Burgher-home dating from the middle of the eighteenth century. ll MacDonald's Daughters ~ Win Scholastic Honors Ramsay MacDonald, Prime Minister of Great Britain, is swelling with Joan, his second daughter, has just won an MD. with high honors at Edinburgh University, famed for the difficulty of its medical examin- Sheila, his youngest, has captured | second honors at Oxtord University in philosophy, politics and economics. main stream was a broad expanse of glittering water, alive with mahseer. On the near side the bank curved round, jutting out into promontories 'and cutting the river into long nar- row arms of deep, intensely green water. Thick forest came right to the edge fin a nificent riot of color, the tender yellowy green and coppery red of new leaves side by side with the deep glossy green of mature foliage or the bare branches of still leafless trees. Only in one spot on the opposite bank, the 'orest broke and gave place to a little vil- lage of yellow thatched bamboo huts, with three slender white pagodas 'half in ruins. To and fro on the river went the native dugouts, long narrow boats 'with tapering prow and stern, pad- dled by the curious-lookiug hill men, paked to the waist and wearing the huge "kamauks" or bamboo hats. Toward evening a whole fleet of these craft set out for a night's fishing, carrying baskets and bait, and a sup- ply of cotton seed -and crude oil to provide the bright flares which at- tract the fish. As the shadows lengthened, the glitter on the water gave place to deep colors reflected from the wooded banks; and above these the wooded hills rose one above the other a rich and perfect setting for the grandeur of the river. Darkness came suddenly, as It does in the hills, like the drawing of a somber curtain over a scene which throbbed with color and light. When 1 woke next morning in' the little rest house on the bank; I vas amazed at the change. Every out- line, so clear the day before, was blurred, and the river was covered in thick swaths of mist, the great trees on the banks and the islands just' emerging like shadowy wraiths from its steamy whiteness. Later on in that same day I saw it in yet another mood, which once more changed its entire aspect. The wide main stream was' whipped to ruffled paleness by a coming storm; but the narrow "arms" were a deep- er green than ever, save Where a sudden gleam of passing sunshine lighted patches here and there to & pure sparkling - emerald. Suddenly the wind dropped, and the whole river surface flattened under the pelting pressure of torrential rain, The water was now a strange cloudy jade, very pale, and it shivered into a million silvery splinters as the huge drops hit it and splashed up again. f In five short minutes the storm had swept away to the south and a' wave of sunlight passed swiftly over the water, deepening its color to an exquisite opalescent green, shot 7ith the wandering shadows of rock and weed and currents. Along the bank the great trees, yellowy green and, copper, shone clear-washed and bril- liant in the sudden sunshine, while the clouds behind, blocking out the hills, were almost black where the storm had passed. And the rain and sun compassed their age-old miracle. Imperceptibly the lovely colors came into being and shimmered on, the air, and a perfect rainbow, vith a pale echo of itself above it, spanned the sulky sky with its delicate arc of beauty. mr Cheapest Place to Live The Echo de Paris in the course of its symposium answering the ques- tion: "Where may one live cheap- est?" has gradually drifted from ex. ploiting Paris as one of the cheap- est to one of the most expensive places in which to abide--even if one knows the ropes. i So far the cheapest place recorded is the island of Iviza, off the Spanish Coast, where any one, a correspon- dent writes, can be "beautifully lodg- Jed in a fragrant room and bed with fine linen sheets and served with delicious food for 15 French francs (a little over 75 cents) a day." h "Contrast this with the prices in Paris " exclaims a Parisian in sub- sequent comment. = "A few days ago, in a suburban hotel, I had to pay 13 francs for a 'peti dejeuner,' which normally consists of nothing more than coffee, rolls and butter. Nowhere else in the world, unless in Moscow, would one have to pay that. r