Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 123, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 August 1926 — Page 8

PAGE 8

“The VANITY CASE” A Tale of Mystery and Love By CAROLYN WELLS

.... BEGIN hkrb today BP '“’ lt ß h,s myptrri?h? n<l rll , Ra PDear nrxt door In IP? HEATH household one night, and morning JIARBOR GARDENS, o? n 6rvn 2 nc W'VHh t,ir murder uiiT HEATH and the disappearance of her husband. PERRY. t Awl! B i?vn^ ie " sl ?.t of the Heaths are INMAN and RUNNY E ‘ i Uiman niitTht have a motive he is heir to Myra s consider--,f>h‘ fortune she having eut Perry off. on ? 50 boints to go!den-haired, vivacious Bunnv. because of her refusal to answer questions at the inquest. Myra Heath was peculiar. She never used cosmetics, never wore colors. She had a mania for collecting - glass, and it was a rare old whisky bottle from her collection that the murderer used to kill , JJfJV * Candles were burning at her head ®B£ teet. and nearby was a eard marked. Ibe Work of Perry Heath.” Strangest 2* a j s, l°. WHS heavily made up and dressed with gav colors. The peculiar thing about Heath’s disappearance is the fact that all windows and doors had been looked on the inside £ l *ht before nad were found that "ay by the butler in the morning. Finf f *s t>rintg of Bunny Moore and Inman found on the bottl-* and physicians established that the rouge was applied to Myra Heath after death. At the Country -Club the murder is discussed by SAM ANDERSON. Heath s rival for the club presidency; AL CUNNINGHAM. who is trying to solve the crime, and others. Some believe Heath the murderer. Others, including And rson. disagree. Cunningham learns from Mrs. I rentiss of the mysterious lights. TODHUNTER BUCK, her nephew, suggests that Heath, also, may have been murdered. ‘ Runny and Inman dine alone in the Heath house and the butler announces three callers. NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY CHAPTER XIX The three callers were Mrs. Prentiss and her nephew, Todhunter Tluck; and with them was a young man, a stranger to Bunny, hut an acquaintance of Inman, Alexander Cunningham. “I’m out to find Perry Heath.” Cunningham said, after they were all seated. “I’m sure you understand, Mr. Inman, the Interest and anxiety felt by the Country Club members, and as they can’t do much as a body, they’ve, asked me to institute a search for Neath, and, also, to do what I can toward unraveling the mystery of Mrs. Heath's tragic death.” “Detective work?” asked Larry, in a noncommittal voice. “Yes. but not professional. Some men like Arthur Black, Sam Anderson, and others of that crowd, have. In a way, engaged me to do this, and I’m mighty glad to try. We are assuming that as the nearest kin of Mrs. Heath, you will sanction any and every effort to solve the mystery of the case.” “Well, —I’m not sure about that,” Inman said, slowly. "I want to know Who killed my cousin, of course, but your blanket proposition as to ‘any and every effort’ seems to me a hit —er —unlimited.” “You want to limit it?” asked Cunningham, his cool gray eyes fixed on Larry’s face. The latter looked up, quickly. "Perhaps not limit it, —but, rather, assist in its direction." “Oh, that's all right, we’re glad of any assistance. Now, while I'm not a professional detective. I am acting under authority. I am indorsed by the ylub, and so I trust I’m not exceeding my rights in asking for the freedom of the house for purposes of investigation.” “You mean unquestioned access to all rooms?” Inman started him. “I mean just that,” and Cunningham stared back. “I can imagine no possible objection. The examination of Mrs. Heath’s room is of utmost Importance, and I'm sure Miss Moore would say no word against my entering her room.” “Indeed I would!” and Bunny drew herself up angrily. “Why should you go into my room, Mr. Cunningham?” “It is an established custom/ Miss Moore, to inspect carefully and with an eye .to helpful evidence, all parts of the house and grounds in which a crime has been committed. I am sorry to say the police in this 'case have been lax in this respect. But I am told it is due to the absence of Mr. Heath. That, however, is really an additional reason for haste and care in the matter of search, for Mr. Heath’s disappearance is a puzzle in itself, and it is highly probable that the two mysteries, are interdependent." “Now, Mr. Cunningham,” Mrs. Prentiss broke in, -“you’re wasting good time, thrashing out foolish questions. Os course, Mr. Inman wants you to have full swing here, and likewise, of course, Miss Moore wants you to njake a full search. She’s new to this -business asid doesn’t understand. So you go right ahead, full steam, and I’ll bet a cookie, you unearth some clew that nobody else has noticed. Yqu go into that studio there—.that's where ihu awful thing happened—and you see what you can see!” Cunningham disappeared into the studio, with young Buck following, like a shadow at his heels. “All rubbed down and polished up!” cried Cunningham, disgustedly, as he saw the ijpick and span room. "I did think they'd have the place guarded from that sort of thing." “What are you out for, anyway? asked Toddy, who was eagerly waiting to see the detective work. “Oh, just hints —hut who could get any hints here? Body gone. Weapon removed—even the broken hits of glass up! No chance for footprints on this thick carpet. No finger prints on these carefully dusted knick-knacks and doo-dads, liven Heath’s pai.xing materials are all put away as heatly as a lady's work basket!" “But what good would finger prints do you? If they were those of the family party, they would mean nothing. And if strange ones, how would you know whose?” “Point pretty well taken. And, I'm not really keen for finger prints. I just want something—something indicative or suggestive. Well, here are some letters.” He ran over a handful he drew from a pigeonhole. "Nothing any good! They’re hills jor club notices, mostly. billets doux from adoring damsels or anything like that. My, he has -fT lot of pipe cleaning paraphernalia! Look at all these contraptions.” Toddy Buck gazed without Interest at the array of patent devices for cleaning pipes or cigarette holders. “Too many,” he said, contemptuously. “An old bit of wire does me. And ray. how tidy he keeps his naints. Look at these water-color boxes. All in perfect order. 'I thought artists were a messy\ lot.” “Heath isn’t. He loves thlngh orderly. His wife did, too. Look at all this glass of hers, ranged in raws tn these two cabinets. Not, a piece

set awry, and all shining and speckless.” “Yes, and there’s a row of old bottles like the one she was killed with.” f Toddy spoke In an awe-stricken tone. This business seemed a bit grewsome to him, though he was deeply interested. “Now, maybe, Mr. Cunningham," ,he went on, “maybe the murderer, whoever he was, touched up the lady’s face with these paints, instead of regular cosmetics.” A1 Cunningham looked up quickly. “It might be possible. I can’t visualize that scene, Buck. If Heath killed his wife, I can understand his* painting her face, for ho was always atJier to do It herself, and, too, he was an artist and forever dabbling with brushes. But I don’t think he killed her. For there’s no way he could get out. Whereas, if he went away, before she was killed, then clearly someone in the house is the criminal, and fried to turn suspicion to Health by setting up the card and all that.” “Who, for choice?” “Well, Inman in a good guess. He had motive, opportunity, and time. And he's clever enough to arrange matters to make it seem the work ot j Heath. I mean the cosmetics and all. as well as the card. And he's an artist, so if the facial applications were from Heath’s water-color box, why, Inman could do that all right, too.” “And you think Heath really couldn’t get away?” “After committing the crime? See these windows. Small diamond panes, narrow sashes, strong inside locks—” “But you've only tl.e servants’ word that these were all found locked this morning, as well as the rest of the house." “Yes, and it mostly rests on Herrick's worck But why shouldn’t he lie about It? Nobody suspects him; he was devoted to Mrs. Heath, and Perry, too. And he could never have put on that make-up so artistically, —so perfectly. No, it was the work of an aritst,—or, a woman.” “The mVlds?" queried Buck. "For of course, you can't mean Miss Moore!” “I mean anybody and nobody. There is no one above suspicion. I'm merely inquiring about everybody. Well, I'm going upstairs. Bedrooms often tell tales that living rooms know nothing of.” - Cunningham went upstairs, and at his nod of invitation, Toddy Buck followed. * I don'ie ght it.” Cunninghany mused, as they enterc bedroom. “Both Inman and the little princess seem all upset at my investigations. Are they shielding Perry? Or anybody else? For you know if this thing is the work of an outsider, those two must have let the outsider in and let him out again, and also they must have let Heath put.” “Unless he went off naturally, and unquestioned, before the tragedy occurred,” Toddy said. “Yes, that’s true talk. Now you see, Buck, we must get In our minds a picture of this room of Perry Heath's. Look at this place, now. Can’t you read Heath all over it? See the chiffonier, —all the brushes and toilet implements laid in a straight orderly row—” “THat’s the housemaid’s work.” “I know 14, but Perry kept them so. You can somehow see that. Look in his dresser drawer. I’ll bet his socks and handkerchiefs are in neat piles.” He opened one after another, and the clothing was as tidy as he had expected it to be. “And here’s an easy chair, drawn up to the window, with a smoking stand beside it. And a paper rack near by. He Is a bit of a Sybarite, is Perry, and yet a tidy sort, too. The two traits don't often go together." “Well, what you've found out about his neatness and his love of ease doesn’t get you along very far in solving the mystery, does it?’’ “Don't be impatient, son. All in good time. Now, I have this room photographed on my mind in detail; come on, we’ll tackle Mrs. Heath’s room.” “Oh, I don’t like to,” and Buck drew back with a natural instinct against invading the sanctity of the (lead woman’s apartments. “All right, you stay out, or go back downstairs.” But Toddy was naturally inquisitive, and, too, he was bound to be in on this detective business, so he followed the older man across room. CHAPTER XX The bedroom was beautiful, done up in pale gray and silver, quite in keeping with the exquisite taste and love of simplicity that had characterized Myra Heath in life. Carter sat by a window, doing a bit of mending, and she looked up inquiringly as the two came in. "Where is Mrs. Heath's vanity ease?” Cunningham asked, without preliminaries. “She has several,” the maid returned. - “Get them all out,” was the order, and from some cupboard and drawers, Carter produced three, all beautiful and costly, and all in such a state of newness that it was plain to he seen they had never been used. Scanning the three, carefully, and noting their newness, Cunningham said, looking about, “Where is the one she used? These have never been even opened.” “Mrs. Heath never used a vanity box, sir,” Carter told him., “She had this powder-puff box, here on the dresser, but she never used rouge or lip salve.” “Ah, yes. I see. Go and bring me one from Miss Moore’s The one she habitually uses.” Carter hesitated a moment, and then catching the austere glance of the man’s eye, she went on the errand, and returned with an elaborate gold affair, that had many dangling chains and accessories attached to the main box. “This is the one Miss Moore uses?” Cunningham asked. “It Is the only one I have seen her use since she has been here,” Carter returned. “I’ll keep it,” Cunningham said. When Cunningham and Toddy

OUT OUR WAY—By WILLIAMS

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Buck came downstairs, they learned that Bunny had concluded to go home with Mrs. Prentiss and stay for a tinne. The combined persuasions of that insistent lady and Larry Inman had resulted in Bunny’s acquiescence, and she was about to go up for a suitcase and some necessary belongings. “I needn't take much,” she said, pausing at the foot of the stars, ‘‘for I can run back and forth for whatever I need.” She ran along up, and Cunningham, after a few words of farewell, took his departure. A few moments later, Bunny came down from upstairs, followed by Carter, with a small suitcase. “I’m ready,” she said, slowly, to Mrs. Prentiss, “but I can’t find my vanity box. It's the queerest thing —I had it in my room just before dinner. I usually have it about with me, but—l left it upstairs, and now I can't find it.” j Toddy Buck hesitated. He knew Cunningham had taken it away, but he was uncertain whether to tell that or not. He concluded to keep silent on the matter, for he had told Cunningham he would not Interfere with his detective work, and he felt ITh was not at liberty to divulge the directive's secrets. Bunny said no more about it. though it was plain to be seen it worried her. With a quietness unusual for her gay little self, she said good night to Inpian and went with Mrs. Prentiss across the lawn to the house next door. ✓ i

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

It was also unusual for Bunny to pay so little attention to a presentable and attractive young man, as she showed toward Todhunter Buck. But Bunny was not herself. Small wonder, considering the shock she had sustained. Once in Mrs. Prentiss’ cheery if old-fashioned living room. Bunny stood, irresolutely, by a table and faced the other two. Her big blue eyes were appealing. She looked baby-like and helpless. But Bunny Moore was not helpless. If she looked so, It was nature's fault, not her own. A more wise, canny, sophisticated little piece than Bunny could scarcely be imagined. But she was troubled. And, if truth were known, she had reason to be. “Mr. Buck," she said, speaking almost for thfe first time directly to Toddy, “I know perfectly well, you and Mr. Cunningham are shadowing me. I think that is the term the detectives ues.” “Why—why. Miss Moore—” Toddy was dumfounded at this, "why you must know if I could do anything to help you—” “You would do just the opposite! Yes, of course I know that!” Bunny’s eyes blazed now, and her voice quivered. The poor child was all wrought up, her nerves were on edge and she felt she must take it out of somebody. But she looked so lovely, so like a bruised blossom or a broken butter-

SALESMAN SAM—By SWAN

BOOTS AND HER BUDDIES—By MARTIN

FRECKLES AND niS FRIENDS— By BLOSSER

fly that Toddy Buck forgot all about Cunningham and detective work, and wanted only to enlist in the service of Bunny Moore for the rest of his mortal career. / “Now, you just wait!” he exclaimed eagerly, “I’m for you—all for you! And I’ll put all my (jards on the table. A1 Cunningham did take your vanity case, or whatever you call it. And I’m expecting you to tell me why he took it, and why you care so much that he did take it.” Buck looked at her straightforwardly, and to his delight, Bunny returned the glance with equal calmness. But Mrs. Prentiss, as she herself would have expressed it, could see through a ladder with a hole in it, and she realized that Miss Bunny, whether naive or sly, could .wind Mr. Todhunter Buck round her adorable pfhk little finger, and that she was quite ready to proceed with and enjoy the process. Also, Mr. Prentiss had the somewhat unusual quality of a fine sense of relative values. And she sized up accurately and truly, Bunny’s sudden little spurt of defiance and she knew that there was something back of It, more than a missing vanity case. She knew* that Bunny had something to conceal, and that In her present mood, she would either blurt it out, or would tell some egregious lies. And good Mrs. Prentiss wanted to save the pretty child from either contingency.

So she said, quite casually, "You clear out, Tod. Go to bed, or go down town to the movies, op do whatever you like. Miss Moore and l are quite ready to excuse you.” Toddy, catching the gleam of his aunt’s commanding eye, immediately said his simple good nights and left the room. “Now, my dear Mrs. Prentiss said, after a moment of tactful silence, “you may go right to bed, or—if you choose, you may talk things over a bit first.” " Bunny looked at hei* with the glance a wise owl might give a country sparrow, and said, courteously: “Please, Mrs. Prentiss, I think I’ll go to my room. You are so good to me—and I do appreciate it—but it has been a hard day, and—oh, I’m sure you understand! I want to be alone!” "Os course, you do, you poor dear. Now, you come right along with me.” for the next half hour, Mrs. Prentiss was more like a matron of an orphan asylum or head nurse in a' charity ward than anything else. And little Bunny, exhausted by the unaccustomed strain on her nerves and emotions, tucked herself between the nice percale sheets, which Mrs. Prentiss “preferred .to linen,’" and, after her kind hostess had departed, thought things over. Meanwhile, though Buck had fallen under the spell of Bunny’s charm, ly had not entirely taken leave of his sense, a’nd he went out for a walk, thoughfully turning his atepa toward the funeral parlors.

OUR BOARDING HOUSE—By AHERN

where now reposed all that was mortal of lovely Myra Heath. Buck was a methodical sort. He arranged his emotions and predilections in order, as another man might his business affairs. Toddy saw at one—he was nobody’s fool —that he was either in love or about to fall in it, with Bunny Moor^. He knew, too, that Detective Mott, as well as the amateur Cunningham strongly believed that the exquisite chilli knew more than she had told about the fearful tragedy at the Heath bungalow. This, to Buck’s mind, did nOf. make the girl any less desirable or attractive as an inamorata. That was one strong differentiation between Mrs. Prentiss and her nephew. Mrs. Prentiss, with her almost uncannuy intuition, knew things. Toddy Buck, in his blunderinug, but pig-headed way, believed things, and —had to find out. So, to the rooms of the Cooperative Casket Company he went, feeling sure that beyond the great palms and Oriental vases of their entresol, he would find the man he was looking for. Nor was he disappointed. In a CORNS fTI Quickrelieffrompainful JJ/ 1 corns, tender toes and pressure of tight shoes. 8 Dz Scholl's

AUG. 28, 1926

private room, of which there werd several, he found ni.*£ham and Detective Mott lq earnest consultation. (To Be Continued.) Asthma Disappeared, Had It 15 Years Mrs. Woodward, 65 Years Old, Bayd Cough, Wheezing and Asthma Gono Elderly people who suffer with asthma and bronchial coughs will find particular Interest in a letter written by Mrs. Elizabeth Woodward, 65 years old, who lives at 3460 West Michigan St., Indianapolis. She write^: “I had asthma in severe form for 15 years. I coughed hard, was very short of breath, and in addition my stomach caused me a lot of trouble, For one year I had been unable to do any work, not even to washing the dishes. On Feb. 7, 19Z5, I started taking Nneor. The wheezing and cough have left entirely, and I do not have the slightest sign of asthma now. My stomach condition has improved. lam feeling fine, able to wash and iron and do the housework, and am gaining steadily in every way.” if you suffer from asthma, bronchitis or severe chronic cough, yon should read the vital information about these diseases, in a booklet which will , be sent free by N'acor Medicine Cos., 413 I State I.lfe Bldg.. Indianapolis, Ind. They will nlso send you the of people whose trouble disappeared years ago and never returned. No matter how serious your case seems, call or. write for this free information It has led thousands back to health and strength,—Advertisement.