Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1914-02-05

contorted. with Il sort of purple tiuge
under the skin, rs though the blood had
been suddenly couSealed The eyes
were wide open. and their CLASSY stare
added not little to the apparent ter
ror and suffering of the face,
The coroner glanced ut SimmoudS
Not much question rs to the cause"
he said. Poison. of course"
"Of course" nodded Simmonds.
But what kind?" asked Godfrey.
lit will take Il poStmortem to tell
that" and Goldhcrgcr bent for another
close look ut the distorted face I'm
free to admit the symptoms aren't the
usual ones"
told all | knew-how Parks had
announced Il mans arrival. how Van
tine and | had come downstairs to.
gcthcr, how Nantine had called me
and finally how Parks had identified
the body aS that of the strange caller
How long Il time elapsed after
Parks announced the man before you
and Mr.. Nantine came downstairs"
asked Goldherger.
Half an hour perhaps"
Goldberger nodded.
Lets have Parks in" he said
| opened the door and called to
Parks, who was sitting on the bottom
step of the stair
GoIdherger looked him over careful
ly as he stepped into the room. but
there could be no two opinions about
Parks. He had been with Nantine for
eight or ten years, and the carmarks
Of the competent and faithful servant
were apparent all over him.
do you know this MANI" Gold
berger asked. with gesture toward
the body,
mo. sir said Parks: Il never saw
him till about an hour ago. when
Rogers called me downstairs and said
there was Il man to see Mr.. Nautine."
who is Rogers?"
Hes the footman. sir. He answer
ed the door when the man rang"
well. and then what happened?"
Il took his card up to Mr. Vantinc
sir"
Did Mr., Vautine know him?"
mo, sir: he wanted to know what
he wanted"
What did he want?"
II don't know. sir He couldn't
speak English hardly ut all. He was
French. think. He was so excited
that he couldn't remember what little
EnUIiSb bo 5iH lypOw
What made you think he was ex
cited?''
The way he suffered and the way
his eyes glinted. After Mr.. Vantine
said he would see him presently Rog-
ers and me went back to our lunch"
"Do you mean to say that you and
Rogers went away and left this
stranger here by himself?"
The servants dining room is right
at the end of the hall sir. We left tho
door open. II he'd come out into the
hall we'd have seen him"
And he didn't come out into the
hall while you were there?"
mo. sir
did anybody come in?"
"Oh. no, sir; the front door has a
snap lock. 1t can't be opened from the
outside without key"
so you are perfectly sure that no
one either entered or left the house
by the front door while you and Rog-
ers were sitting there?"
Nor by the back door either, sir; to
get out the back way, you have to pass
through the room where we were"
Where were the other servants?"
THE cook was in the kitchen, sir
This is the housemaid's afternoon out"
The coroner paused Godfrey and
Simmonds had both listened to this in
terrOgation
What Is the room yonder used for?"
asked Godfrey. pointing to the connect
ing door
ITS n sort or storeroom just now
SIR" said Parks. "Mr. Vantine is just
back from Europe and we've been I'M
packing in there some of the things
he bought while abroad"
"Send in Mr. Vantine, please" said
Goldberger
Parks went out, and Vantine came in
a moment later He corrOborated ex-
actly the story told by Parks and my
self, but he added one detail
Here is the mans card" he said
and held out a square Of pastcboard
1t contained single engraved line:
IN. Theophile D'Aurelle."
Hes French, as Parks suggested"
said Godfrey. That's evident. too.
from the cut of his clothes"
Yes. and from the cut Of his hair"
added Goidberger. You say you didn't
know him. Mr. Vantine"
II never before saw him. to my
knowledge" answered Vantine The
name is wholly unknown to me"
We'll" said Goldberger. taking pos
session of the card and slipping it into
his pocket. suppose we lift him on to
that couch by the window and take