Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-12-31
CHAPTER xxv111.-tcontinued,.

To my relief. Drouet's identity was
established without n help from me.
The bag which he had left on the pier
mad been opened at the request of the
police and a card case found with his
address on it. Why ne had sent in to
Vantine a card not his own and what
his business with Vantine had been,
We're details concerning which the po-
lice could offer no theory, and which l
did not feel called upon to explain, since
neither in any way made clearer the
mystery of his death.
An amusing incident Of the inquest
was the attempt made by Goldberger
to heckle Godfrey, evidently at Grady's
suggestion.
On the morning after the tragedy"
Goldberger began sweetly. you printed
in the Record a photograph which you
claimed to be that of the wornan who
had called upon Mr.. Nantine the night
before, and who a presumably, the
last person to see him alive. Where did
you get that photograph"
1T was a copy of one which Drouet
carried in his watch case" answered
Godfrey.
Since them pursued Goldberger,
you have made no further reference
to that feature of the case. | presume
you found out that o were mistaken"
"On the contrary, l proved that l was
correct"
Goldberger's face Redeemed, and his
look was not pleasant.
Prove is rather a strong word. isn't
it " he asked.
1T is h right word"
"What was the woman's connection
with the man Drouet?"
She had been his mistress"
You say hat very confidently" said
Goldberger, his lips curling. After all,
1t is merely a guess, isn't it?"
Il have reason to say it confidently"
retorted Godfrey quickly. since the
m confessed as much in my
presence"
Again Goldberger REDEEMED.
Il suppose she also confessed that 1t
was really h who called up Mr.. Van
tin?" he sneered.
She not only confessed that" said
Godfrey, still more quietly. but she
told in detail what occurred during that
visit"
The confession was made to your
self alone, of course?" queried Gold
berger, in a tone deliberately insulting.
Godfrey flushed a little at the words,
but managed to retain his s~elf-control.
Not at ALL" he said. 1T was made in
the presence of Mr.. Lester and of an
other distinguished lawyer whose name
[ am not at liberty to reveal"
Goldberger swallowed hard, as though
he had received a slap in the face. 1
dare say, he felt as though he had!
This woman is in New York? he
asked.
Il believe So"
What is her name and address,"
Il am not at liberty to answer"
~Goldberger glared at him.
you win answer he Numbered, cor
III commit you for contempt!"
Godfrey was quite himself again.
Very WE'LL" he said, smiling. II
have not the slightest objection. But
l would him it over, if l were you. Mr..
Lester will assure you that h woin-
an was in no way connected with the
death either of Drouet or Of Mr.. VAN
tine"
Goldberger did think it over: he
realized the danger of trying to punish
a paper so powerful as the Record, and
he finally decided to accept Godfrey's
statement as a mitigation of his refusal
to answer.
THAT is only one of the details which
frey added, pleasantly.
THAT will do" Goldberger broke in,
and Godfrey left the stand.
1 was recalled to confirm his story. 1
also. Of course, refused to give the
woman's name, explaining to Gold
sionally, that l was certain she had
been guilty of no crime. and that
to reveal it would seriously
embarrass an entirely innocent wom-
an. With that statement, The coroner
was compelled to appear satisfied.
Grady did not go on the stand; he
was not even at the inquest. In fact,
since the first day, he had not APP
peared publicly in connection with the
case at all; and 1 had surmised hat he
did not care to be identified with a
mystery which there seemed to be no
prospect of solving, and from which no
glory was to be won. The case had
been placed in Simmonds' hands, and
it vas he who testified on behalf Of the
police, admitting candidly that they
were all at sea. He had made a care
full examination Of the Vantine house,
he said, particularly of the room in
which the bodies had been found and
had discovered absolutely nothing in
the shape Of a clue to the solution of
the mystery. There was something d.
abolical about it; something almost SUI
pernatural. He had not abandoned
hope, and was still working on the
case; but he was inclined to think that,
il the mystery was ever solved, it would
be only by some lucky accident or
through the confession of the guilty
man.
Goldberger was annoyed; that was
evident enough from the nervous way
in which he gnawed his mustache: but
he had nc theory any more than the
police; there was not a scintilla of evil
dence to fasten the crime upon anyone:
and the end of the hearing vas that
the jury brought in a verdict that Phil
ip Vantine and Georges Drouet had
died from the effects Of a poison ad-
ministered by a person or persons UNI
known.
Godfrey Joined me at the door as 1
was leaving. and we went down the
steps together.
It was glad to hear Simmonds con-
fess that the police are up a tree" he
said. "Of course, Grady is trying to
sneak out of it, and blame some one
else for the failure-but I'll see that he
doesn't succeed. I'll see that
Simmonds gets a square deal-he's an
old friend of mine, you know"
Yes" l said, II know; but we're all
up a tree, aren't we?"
For the present" laughed Godfrey,
we do occupy that u%ndignified post
ton. But you don't expect to stay
there forever, do you, Lester?"
Since my theory about the Boule
cabinet exploded" I said, 81 have Civ
en- up hope. BY the way, I'm going to
turn the cabinet over tc it's owner to-
morrow"
ITO its owner?" be repeated, mis- eyes