The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-01-26

q + then he got more Interested. and finally. he asked her nshere andashut the door, and that was the last I sawsof thenn:D
 'sYou mean you didn't let the woman out?" demanded Grady. 'sYes. sir, that's just what Ismean thought if Mir. yantine wanted to talk with her, well and good: that was his business. notsmine. Sol went back to the pantry to help the cook with the silver. expecting to hear the bell every minute. But the bell didn't ring. and after maybe half an hours Iacame out into the hall again to sec If the woman had gone. and I walked past the door of this room, but didn't hear nothing; and then went on to the front door and was surprised to lind it wasn't Iatched.'' ,s
 Maybe you hadn't Iatched it.'' sugr gested Grady.
 "It was a snap lock, sir When that woman slammed it shut I heard 1t catchr as k IT. 4z
 "what did Fyou do thens.s
 q closed the door. sir. and then come back along the hall. I felt uneasy. some way, and stood outside the door there listening But \ couldn't hear nothing. and then 1 tapped. sbut there wasn't no answer. So II just opened the door and looked in. and the first thing I see was him. I was so scared couldn't scarcely stand. sir. But managed to get to the foot Of the stairs and yell for Parks. and he came running down, and that's all I relnem- Der, sir-''
 ''The woman wasn't here?'
 tsNo, sir'.
 Did you look through the rooms?,'
 ssNo, sir. When 7 found the front door opened knew shed gone out. She hadn't shut the door because she was afraid I'd hear her.ss
 ssThat sounds probable.'. :. agreed Gra- dy- But what makes you think she killed vantine2', H
 1t'WelI. sir answered Rogers slowly, ssI guess oughtn't to have said that. But finding the door open that way and then coming on MT. Vantine sort of upset ne. I didn't know just what I was saying"
 'sYou say you never saw the woman before2''
 Never. sir.'
 Had she ever been here before2,s
 "I don't think so sir. The first thing she asked was if this was where Mir. E Vantine iived.''
 Would you know this woman 1T you saw her again?''
 Rogers hesitated
 "I wouldn't like to say sure. sir, he. answered at last. q might and I might not" ss5S.Ssss< Y.
 You say you didn,t search these. rooms?,' ss@
 ".No, sir; didn't eome Inside the door. was afraid 7 ss
 Did Parks come in g'S sags.tsl45zs
 "No. sir; I guess he felt the same | way. I did,
 E Then how dids you know .Vant1ne was dead? X Why didn't you ny to help him ?'s z ssSssS< s5,<e z "One look was enough to tell me that wasn't no use said Rogers and gEancz. ed with visible horror at the crumpIed form on the door.. @as4-s
 There's, one thing I don't under stand" said Grady, 'sand that is why Vantine should want all these lights. | What was he doing in here P.
 "I1 couldn't be sure. sir. but I SUD- pose he was looking at the furniture he brought over from Europe. He was collector. you know, sir There are five or six pieces in the next | room'' Without a word Grady arose and l passed into thes room adjoining. we after him. only Rogers remained seat ed where hewa remember glane- Ting back over my shoulder and noting how he huddfed forward in his chair, as though crushed by great weight, | the instant our backs were turned l The inner room was ablaze with light. and the furniture stood haphaz- ard about it. just as I had seen it ear- Her in the day. Only one thing had been moved That was the Boule cab l met It had been carried to the center | of the room and placed in the full | glare of the light from the chandelier. l It stood there blazing with arrogant | beauty. thing apart
 Who had helped Vantine place it there? l wondered, Neither Rogers | nor Parks had mentioned doing so. l turned back to the outer room. lscould feel Rogers jerk with nervous l 1ess.as touched him on the shoulder.
 a"T just wanted to ask vou-did you 1 help move any of the furniture in the room yonder?" said,
 No. SIT: haven't touched any of it. k sir" .s-s.
 'eThat's all rirht then.'' said. and turned back into the inner room. yantine had said that he intended -xamining the cabinet in detail at the i first opportunity.e He and tT1es woman had entered the anteroom together He had closed the door, and then