The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-01-15
orhnnks.~ said vantine drilY.


Parks" said Goldberger.
IN may quite possibly have been
Parks" agreed Godfrey gravely.
"Nonsenser' broke in vantine impa-
tiently.
"Of course it's nonsense" assented
Goldberger. ,"Its nonsense to say that
he was killed by anybody. he killed
himself"
I'll cable to Paris" said SimmoDds
"If he belongs there we'll soon end our
who he is"
You'd better call an ambulance and
have him taken to the morgue," went
on Goldberger Somebody may iden-
tify him there. There'll be crowd
tomorrow, for, of course. the papers
will be full of this affair."
1.-The Record at least will have very
full account" Godfrey assured him
And I'll call the inquest for the day
after" Goldberger continued. "Tll
send my physician down to make a
post mortem right away. If there's
any poison In this fellows stomach
we'll find it."
Godfrey did not speak. but I knew
what was In his mind. He was think
ing that If such poison existed the ves-
sci which had contained it had not yet
been found The same thought no
doubt occurred to Simmonds, for after
ordering the policeman in the ball TO
call the ambulance be returned and
began careful search of the room.
using his electric torch to illumine
every shadowed corner. Godfrey de-
voted himself to a similar search, but
both were without result Then God
frey made a minute inspection of the
injured hand. while Goldberger looked
on with i'll concealed impatience. and
finally Godfrey moved toward the
door
81 think I'll 6e going" he said. "Bnt
I'm interested in what your physician
will find. Mr.. Coroner. viii you be at
home tonight. Lester?"
"Yes, expect to be-" ] answered.
you're still at the Marathon"
YES" said: suit a."
perhaps I'll drop around to see
you" he said. And a moment later
we heard the door close behind him as
Parks let him ont.
"Godfrey's a good r'an.' said Gold
berger. but he's too romantic. Take
this case Here's man kills himself.
and Godfrey wants us to believe that
death resulted from scratch on the
hand. Why. there's no poison on earth
would kill man as quick as that. for
he must have dropped dead before he
help. If it was prussic acid he swal-
lowed IT.
How do you explain the address on
the card. Mr.. Goldberger?" asked.
my theory is that this fellow really
had some business with Mr. Vantine
Probably he wanted to borrow some
money or ask for help. and then while
he was waiting he suddenly gave the
thing up and killed himself The ad-
dress has no bearing whatever. that
can see. on the question of suicide.
And I'll say this. Mr.. Lester, If this
ISN'T suicide Here's the ambulance"
The bearers entered with the stretch
er, placed the body on 1t and carried
Il away. Goldberger paused to gather
up the articles ne had taken from the
dead mans pockets.
You gentlemen will have to give
your testimony at the inquest" he
said: so will Parks and Rogers. 1t
will be day after tomorrow, probably
at 10 o'clock. but I'll notify you of the
hour"
Very WELL" said well be there,
end Goldberger bade us goodby and
left the house. And now," | added
to Vantine. Il must be getting back to
the office. They'll be asking the police
to look for me next Man alive"-al,d
i glanced at my watch-'its after A
o'clock
Too late for the Office" said Van
tine Better come upstairs and have
a drink Besides, | want to talk with
you"
'At least III let them know I'm still
alive" said. and called up the of
fce and aIlayed any anxiety that may
have been felt there concerning me.
must admit that 1t did not seem acute
''Tell me. Lester" said vantine. and
he looked at me earnestly, do you
think that poor devil came in here just
to get chance to kill himself quietlyT
mo. ! don't" said.
Then what did he come In for?"
81 think Goldberger's theory pret
ty good one that he had heard of you
as generous fellow and came in here
to ask help and while he was waiting
suddenly gave 1t up"-
"And killed himself? vantine com
pleted.
! | hesitated | was astonished to find
at the back of my mind a growing
doubt.
"See here. Lester" vantine demand
ed, IF he didn't kill himself. what
happened to him?"
Heaven only knows" l answered
in despair. I've been asking myself
the aama uuasfion vyithouf finding ,