Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 125, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 August 1926 — Page 8

PAGE 8

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

MRS. PRENTISS •sera lights mysterioiisly appear and disappear in the HEATH household next door ono night, and the next day Harbor Gardens. Long Island is agog with the murder of MYRA HEATH and the disappearance o£ her husband. PERRY. House guests of the Heaths are LAWRENCE INMAN, heir to Myra's fortune, and BUNNY MOORE, vivacious, goldenhaired. to whom suspicion points because of her refusal to answer questions. Myra Heatli was peculiar. She never used cosmetics, never wore colors. She had a mania for collect! is glass, and it was a rare old whisky bottle from her collection that the murderer used to kill her. Candles were burning at her head and feet and near by was a card marked. "The Work of Perry Heath.” Strangest of all. she was heavily made up and garbed in gay colors. The peculiar thing about Heath's disappearance is that all the windows and doors had been locked on the inside the night before and were found that way in the morning. Finger prints of Bunny Moore and Inman were found on the bottle. , , At the Country Club the murder is dismissed by SAM ANDERSON, Heaths rival for the club presidency; AE CUNNINGHAM. wdio is trying to solve the crime, and others. Some believe Heath the murderer. Anderson disagrees. TODHUNTKR BUCK, nephew of Mrs. Prentiss and in love with Bunny, suggests that Heath also may have been murdered. . EMMA, a waitress in the Heath home, tells of seeing Bunny ascend the stairs about—the time of the murder, carrying her vanity case. Later Bunny is amazed to get a phone call irom Perry Heatli, advising her to keep silent. CHAPTER XXIII Mrs. Prentiss did not inquire and Bunny did not vouchsafe any information as to the identity of her telephone caller. The girl went back to bed, and the older women went to her room, but netiher of them slept much. Toddy Buck, too, was wakeful, and when the three met nt breakfast, though outwardly cheerful, there was an undercurrent of restraint and all were a little ill at ease. The meal was nearly over, when Bunny was called to the telephone. "I won’t go!” she cried, petulantly. “You go for me, won’t you, Mr. Buck?” * "No, Miss Moore,” the waitress Intervened, “the gentleman on the wire says he mjust speak to you personally.” With a sigh, Bunny rose and went tc the small booth In the hall, where the Instrument was. As she had fully expected, the voice she heard was Perry Heath's. “Don’t speak," he said, ‘‘don’t say a word. But, listen. You must be careful what you say or do. Emma has told a lot of stuff about you—probably lies—but she will make trouble for you if she can. I don’t think she has it in for you exactly, but loves to talk, and the detectives are getting a, lot out of her. “You’d better see her yourself, if you can, and manage to shut her mouth some way. Offer her money, if you can do it secretly. But be careful that no one knows it. And remember this, child. lnman did the deed. Inman is the criminal. If they come at you, and they will, you tell them he is the murderer of Mfc, ra. Now, remember all I’ve said, and don’t go to pieces when tuey question you. You've nothing to sea you keep your secrets to yourself. But confide in anybody and you're lost.” “But —” “Hush, don't talk. The very walls have ears. No one can hear what I say to you, hut they can hear what you say to me. So, don't say a word. Don't tell anyone 1 have talked to you, don't tell anyone the whole truth. Bet them hunt tor me as much as they like —they'll never find me. Good-by, Little One, and try to forget me yourself.” The voice ceased abruptly, and the dead silence told Bunny she would hear nothing more. She hung up the receiver, and walked slowly back to the porch, where the others still sat. They looked at her so expectantly that she felt she must satisfy or ( at least allay their evident curiosity, “It was a man I know,” she snid, slowly. “He thinks I am in danger, and warns me to be careful. Especially. he warns me against the waitress over at the Heath house. That Emma—he thinks she is telling tales about me.” "She is,” Toddy spoke out bluntly. He had concluded that he could best help Bunny by telling her all he knew, and letting her profit by it. “They are not true,” Bunny said, calmly. "Emma is making up stories.” “I heard her, last, night,” Buck said, not looking at her, hut gazing Intently at the cigaret he was lighting. “I have to admit, her statement's had the ring nt truth." “Bait!” said his aunt,” you don’t know truth when you hear it, Todhunter! You have about as much insight or intuition as a hitchingpost! Also, you're a gullible sort. If anybody told you the earth was flat, you’d begin to think that very likely it is.”

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Bunny smiled a little, but she looked at Buck, seriously. “Did you really hear Emma talk?" she asked. “What did she say?” Toddy hesitated, and then said: “I believe I'll tell you, for I think you ought to kno\v. She declares she saw you going upstair sat half past one o’clock, the night of the murder. She says you were walking slowly, and you were carrying your vanity case—the one you have lost.” “How did Emma come to disclose this fact?” Bunny spoke coldly, her eyes almost glittered, anti her whole expressTtin was #inlike her usual sunny smile. “She said Carter told her to do it,” Toddy went on, looking at her now, and trying to gather an inkling of her real thoughts. "Carter!” Bunny gave a sudden start, and a frightened look appeared in her eyes. In some ways, Toddy Buck had asingle track mind. Just now, he was determined to find out something about Bunny’s doings on the fatal night, and he took deliberate advantage of her present distraction to quiz her. “You were downstairs, you know,” ho said, not accusingly, but as one stating a fact. “You saw the candles burning—” "I —I saw those in the morning—” Bunny began, but Toddy said, inexorably: “No; they had burned out when you entered that room in the morning. You went in with Dr. Conklin, and the candles had then gone out.” Bunny stared at him. But instead of losing her grip on herself, she seemed to bo steadier, and she said, quietly: “What are you trying to do? Trick me into some incriminating statement?” “No,” Buck looked at her kindly hut very seriously. “I am trying to prepare you for others who will try to trick you into such admissions. For it/ Is better you should know that there are such —that there are people who are beginning to thin!; you have some knowledge of Mrs. Heath's death beyond what you have told.^’-^ “Oh, there are!” and, now Bunny’s lovely mouth took on a scornful curve, her blue eyes stared haughtily and her golden, curly bob tossed with an air of utter contempt for the people of whom she had just been told. “Will you be good enough,” she said stonily, “to go to them and tell them to mind their own personal affairs?” “But they consider this matter their own affair,” Buck said, watchbig her. “You see, they are the detectives. That man, Mott, is just waiting a little longer for Perry Heath’s return—” ‘Perry Heath will never return,” Bunny said, with a note of solemnity in her voice. A Mrs. Prentiss’ if tuition li;ted Its head. “Was that Perry Heath talking to you on the telephone last night and this morning?” s he demanded. Bunny returned her gaze. “No,” sne said, simply, and shook her head. The girl's mind worked like lightning. She wanted to confide in these kind friends, and ask their advice, but Perry Heath TTTcT forbidden her to say he had spoken to her, and his wordAvas law. Yet she must not antagonize these people with whom she was staying. She must make chefn believe in her truth and innoccwise. Hhe must wheedle Mrs. Prentiss into a real friendship, and she must charm young Buck, until ho was blind to her faults. Well, these things ought to he easy for her—for Baby Moore, who had always, so far in her short life, charmed anybody she wished to. But these folks were so—no, not suspicious—but so curious, yes, that was it, they were curious to know about her doings that night. "Well, they must not know, that was a sure thing! Why, her fingerprints and Larry's too, were on that pottle about the death of Myra! And her vanity case—oh, why did they harp on that'' so? Did they know—oh, what did they know? And here, Mrs. Prentiss broke in on her thoughts agfin. “What were you crying about so bitterly when Carter came to your room v to tell you the sad news? Ples.se tell us—it will be so much better for you to confide in friends. Mow, if you tell us the whole story, we can understand the case better and we can be of real help to you.” "Oh, I can’t—l can’t—” and Bun ny was crying now. Not sobbing, but just silently weeping, and the tears ran unheeded down her pink cheeks. But they left no stain, for never once, since the sight of Myra and her painted face, had Bunny touched rouge or lipstick. ‘‘Well, let me tell it, and you cheek me up,” Toddy said. “You went downstairs late at night to get ypur vanity box that you had left in the studio.” “How did you know that!” “All right. I know,” and he nodded his head in satisfaction. “Well, then, when you went in the room! you saw—Mrs. Heath—dead—“Oh, no, no!” and Bunny eovered ner eyes with her hands. “Yes, dead—and the candles burning—” “You’re all wrong. Mr. Buck. I saw nothing of the sort. I—l didn’t go down—” “Then, when did’ you see those candles burning at the head and feet of Mrs. Heath?” , “I—l didn't see them at all. I almost felt as if I had seen them, because I heard them described so often —'/ ' “Oh tut. tut! Let up on the Fairy Tales Now. little Miss Moore, I'm ready to help you, my good aunt, here, is ready also, but we can’t do it unless you are frank and truthful with us.” “You see, my dear,” Mrs. Prentiss spoke gravely, ”1 am certain you knew of Mrs. Heath’s death before Carter told you. That is why you were crying when the woman came to your room.”

OUT OUR WAY—By WILLIAMS

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CHAPTER XXIV “Nothing of the sort!” said Bunny, who had suddenly, and, It seemed miraculously, recovered not only her sang £roid, but her usual attitude of airy impertinence. "I was crying because of a bad dream I had. 1 thought—oh, it was a terrible dream —I don’t want to remember it! Now, Mrs. Prentiss and Mr. Buck,/you are kind and good-hearted, but I can’t— I just simply can't be more frank and confidential with you, because —well, becauso I just can't! But I do fel grateful for your wel-meant offers of help, and I can see how you think I ought to tell you more—but, you see, you are already prejudiced against me, and what I would tell you, would doubtless make you more suspicious of me, and surer that I am more or less im> plicated in the death of my friend.” If Buttfiy had made this speech with an humble or appealing air, it might have had a good* effect, but, on the contrary, she was smiling of face and gay of demeanor. Her hearers couldn’t know that the poor child was frightened almost to death, that she longed for help and advice, and that hated to seem heartless and ungrateful, but Bunny had a perverse nature in some ways. Kindness always won her heart; sympathy always impelled her confidence; but these people showed a lttle too much cold curiosity, a little too much suspicious interest, to please/Miss Bunny. And discerning these things, she turned from a sweet, confiding child, to a wise, canny and even tricky ycung

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woman. It wasn’t quite fair of Bunny, but then, she felt that they hadn't been quite fair to her. Asking questions of the servants behind her back! In response to the shocked protestation at her last speech, she said, in a conciliatory way: “Well, never mind. I do want some advice, but I’m not quite ready to tell you all about myself. I think I'll run over to the other house a few moments, and see for myself what Emma had to say, and also have a few words with Carter.” “May I go with you?" asked Toddy, and though about to say no, his smile was so truly friendly and sincere, Bunny changed her mind and yaid graciously, “I’d be glad to have you, Mr. Buck.” Over to the Heath house they went, and found Larry Inman in the studio, surrounded by a deskful of letters and pai>ers belonging to Perry Heath. “Have you found anything of importance?" Bunny asked. “No, not as bearing on the mystery of Myra's death or Perry's absence,” Inman replied. “Do you think Perry will ever come back?” Bunny asked. “I did think so, at first, he returned, slowly. “Now—l don’t know.” “Bunny has heard from him,” said Todhunter Buck. “What!” cried Inman, turning to look at the girl. "I have not!” she declared, angrily, but the flood of color that broke over her face gave her words the lie.

SALESMAN $ AM—By SJVAN

BOOTS AND HER BUDDIES—By MARTIN

FRECKLES AND IBS FRIENDS—By BLOSSER

“You have!” Inmhn said, “I always can tell when you’re lying, Bunny. What did he say? Did he write you?” “No! I haven’t heard from—him at all. Mr. Buck is mistaken—or he is joking. A. very 111-timed jest!” “I think he telephoned to her,” Toddy spoke to nobody in particular, merely looking into space, as he leaned his chin on the knob of his stick. “Did he, demanded Inman. “No,” she said. “Then where does the joke come in?” “Oh, I had a telephone message from someone else, and Mr. Buck thinks it funny to assume it was from Perry. I wish I khew where he is!” “Yes, so do I,” Inman agreed. “I say. Bun, here comes that pest, Mott! Do you want to scoot out the back way?” Bunny looked frightened at first then seeing in Toddy’s eyes that new light of friendly kindness, she concluded to stay with him. Though not of deep intiuitions. Mott sensed that the mental atmosphere was not in sympathy with him. "You are the one I want to question first, Miss Moore,” he said. “Yes?” she said. “I am told. Miss Moore, that you went upstairs of half past one, or thereabouts the night of Mrs. Heath’s death. Is that true?” “Why, no I don’t think so,” Bunny looked like a puzzled child. “I

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should say I went up to bed some time earlier than that. Didn’t I, Larry?” Inman gave her an imploring glance, which she rightly understood to mean advice to be more ingratiating in her manner. But he loyally played up to her lead, and said: “As I remember it, Miss Moore said good night and went to her room at something like half past eleven.” Mott said, gravely: “I gather, from facts told me that Miss Moore did go upstairs at the time you mention, but that she went down again later, and then reascended the stairs at about half past one o'clock. She carried up with her, her gold vanity case. It has been proved that the contents of this case were used on the countenance of Mrs. Heath, after that lady had ceased to live.” "Excuse me, Mr. Mott,” Toddy broke in, “may I ask how you proved that?” “By the evidence that the vanity case in question is the only one known to have been in the house that night which would give the results, the colors or tints, found on the face of the dead woman. This has been most carefully tested by expert chemists and we believe our deductions to be true ones. Did you nut the make up on Mrs. Heath’s face. Miss Moore?” “Most certainly not,” said Bunny, but so tremulous were her lips, and so nearly inaudible her voice that Mott smiled grimly, as If in disbelief. “But you were down in the studio

OUR BOARDING HOUSE—By AHERN

at one thirty?” he went on, inexorably. “No —I was not—” her voice trailed off to silence. Mott sighed patiently. “Then we must go on,” he said. “Now, we have to consider also the flight of Perry Heath. It is acknowledged that a disappearance is often equivalent to a confession. Therefore, I am ready to assume that since Mr. Heath has disappeared, it may well be that he is responsible for the death of his wife. I do not attribute too much importance to the card left behind, with the legend, ‘The Work of Perry Heath.’ That, it seems to me may be the work of the murderer himself and equally well may not. I can scarcely Conceive of Mr. Heatlj leaving the card if he were really the murderer. And, yet, it is not easy to imagine another doing it.” “Might it not be the work of some of the servants?” asked Buck, earnestly. “It doesn’t seem like that to me,” Mott said, “yet, of course it may be Too often servants are neglected or ignored at witnesses. On the contrary, it seems to me that servants, granted their truthfulness, are most valuable witnesses. They know the family secrets often, they overhear the family jars, or small squabbles. I wish, by the way, Mr. Inman, you -would call in the man, Herrick. He may prove helpful.” Larry was not at all anxious to accede to this suggestion, but ho saw no way out of it, and he pushed the bell that summoned the buikar,

AUG. 31, law

Sleek, smug and subservient, Her* rick appeared. “Did you ever hear or overhear any quarrels or small tiffs between Mr. and Mrs. Heath?” Mott asked him. Herrick, after a stumbling inter* val, managed to get out the informa* tlon that he had heard such. “When last?” Mott asked. “The—the night Mrs. Heath, died,” Herrick replied. * “Here in this room?” the detec* tive went on. “Yes, sis. They were in here.” “And where were you?” “In the lounge, ft?, 9 “What were you doing there?” “Just waiting to lock up the house. Mr. and Mrs. Heath were about to go upstairs.” “And the quarreled?” “Not to say quarrelled, sir. But they had / words, like, and Mrs. Heath told the master that she knew his secret.” y “Oh, she did: And what did he reply to that?” "Oh, he said a lot of things, but I didn’t half hear and I didn’t get the drift anyway. But they talked about a divorce and the lady said if the master's secret should get known it would be terrible.” “I don't think you know much about that conversation, Herrick.” “No, not much, sir.” jk “Well, then, don’t try to repeH it. Was Miss Moore’s name men* tioned?” "It was, sir,” Herrick flashed an apologetic look at Bunny. (Tq E|e Continued)) j