The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-01-29

must get down to the office. One
word. Lester-be sure Rogers doesn't
give you the slip"
"I'll have him looked after" prom
Used. "But fancy he'll be afraid to
telling the truth don't believe any
woman had anything to do with either
DEATH"
"who did. then ?" asked Godfrey.
Nobody"
'You mean they both suicided in that
abnormal way?"
mo, II wasn't suicide-they were
killed-but not by human being-at
least. not directly" | felt that / was
fioundering hopelessly and stopped. 81
can't tell you now. Godfrey" plead
ed. 81 haven't had time to think it
out. You've got enough for one day"
EYES," he smiled "I've got enough
for one day And now goodby. Per-
haps I'll look in onlyou about midnight
on my way home. IL get through by
then"
| was already longing for bed and
there remained so much to be done.
But he. after day which | knew had
been hard one. and with a many COL
umn story still to write, was apparent
ly as fresh and eager as ever.
"All right."l agreed IF you see
light, come up. If there isn't any light
III be in bed. and I'll kill you If you
wake me-"
Conditions accepted he laughed
as opened the door for him.
Parks Joined me as | turned back
into the house after Godfrey left.
81 got Rogers to bed. SIR" he said
Hell be all right in the morning
But he's a queer duck"
How long have you known him.
Parks?"
Hes been with Mr.. vantine about
FIVE years. | don't know much about
him He's silent kind Of fellow
keeping to hisself a good deal and
sort of brooding over things. But he
did his work all right, except once in
while when he keeled over like he
did tonight"
Parks" | said suddenly. "I'm going
to ask you a question. You know
that Mr.. Vantine was a friend of mine
and | thought a great deal of him.
Now, what with this story Rogers tells
and one or two other things. there is
talk of woman. Is there any foun-
dation for talk of that kindT'
mo. sir said Parks emphatically.
'I've been Mr. yantines valet for
eight years and more, and in all that
time he has never been mixed up with
woman in any shape or form. / al
ways fancied he'd loved lady who
died"
THANK you. Parks" said with a
sigh of relief. I've been through so
much today that | felt couldn't en-
dure that. And now
BEG pardon. sir" said voice at
my elbow. I'VE have everything
ready. SIR
turned with start to see little.
clean shaven man.
"The undertaker'c assistant. sir" ex-
planned Parks, seeing my look of as
tonishment. HE came while you and
Mr.. Godfrey were in the music room"
Where shall we put the body, sir?"
asked the man.
why not leave it where it is?" |
asked impatienty.
Every good. sir said he. and pres
emily the undertaken and his assistant
took themselves off to my intense re-
lief.
"And now. Parks" | began, there is
something | want to say to you. Let
80 somewhere and sit down"
Suppose we go up to the study. sir.
You're looking regularly done up. If
you'll permit me to say so. SIR
A few minutes later we were sitting
opposite each other in the room where
Vantine and | had sat not many
hours before. | liked Parks. and felt
he could be trusted. At any rate,
had to take the risk.
Now. Parks" began again, what
] have to say to you is very serious.
and | want you to keep it to yourself.
! | know that you were devoted to Mr..
Vantine. may as well tell you that
he has remembered you In his will. I
am sure you are willing to do any
thing in your power to help solve the
mystery Of his death. | have sort of
idea how his death came about. The
mystery, whatever it is. is in the ante
room where the bodies were found OF
In the room next to it where the furni-
ture is. Now, | am going to lock up
those rooms. and / want you to see
that nobody enters them without your
knowledge"
mot very likely that anybody will
want to enter them, sir" and Parks
laughed grim little laugh.
II am not so sure of that" | dis
sented, speaking very seriously. ''ln
fact l am of the opinion that there is
somebody who wants to enter those
rooms very badly. | am going to make
it your business to keep him out and
to capture himff you catch him trying
to get in
'Trust me for that sir" said Parks