The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-11-05

weakly, ana snuf1led away leaning
heavily on Parks shoulder.
What do you think of that?"
He's lying, of course. We've got
to find out why he's lying
and bring it home to him. But
It's getting late-I must get down to the
office One word, Lester-be sure Rog-
ers Doesn't give you the Slip
IN have him looked after" / prom
ised. But 7 fancy he'll be afraid to
run away. Besides, 1t is possible he's
woman had anything to do with either
DEATH" t-s
Godfrey turned, as he was starting
away. and stopped to look at me.
Who did then?' he asked.
Nobody"
you mean they both suicided in that
abnormal way?"
mo, It wasn't s~uicide-they We're
killed-but not by a human being-at
least. not directly" I felt that 1 was
foundering hopelessly, and stopped.
Il can't tell you now, Godfrey" I
pleaded. II haven't had time to think
1t out. You've got enough for one
day"
for n day: And now good bye. Per-
haps III look in on you about midnight,
on my way home, II I get through by
then" s..
I sighted. Godfrey's energy became
a little wearing sometimes. I was al
ready longing for bed. and there re-
NAMED SO much to be done. But he,
after a day which I knew had been
a hard one, and with a many column
story still to write, was apparently as
fresh n eager as ever.
"All right" I agreed. "If you see a
light, come up. If there isn't any light,
I'll be in bed. and I'll kill you IL you
wake me-"
Conditions accepted" he laughed, as
I opened the door for him.
Parks Joined me as I turned back into
the house. ..
IT got Rogers to bed. sir" he said.
He'll be all right In the morning. But
he's a queer duck"
Parks?"
Hes been with Mr.. vantine about
five years, L don't know much about
him; he's q silent kind of fellow, keep
Ing to himself a good deal and sort Of
broodtng over things. But he did his
work all right, except once ia a while
when he keeled over like he did to-
night
Parks" I said, suddenly, I'm GO
ing to ask you a question. You know
MI. Vantine was a friend Of mine, and
1 thought a great deal of him. Now,
what with this story Rogers tells. and
one or two other things. there is talk Of
a woman. Is there any foundation for
talk OF that kind?
"No, SIR said Parks, emphaticalIy.
I've been Mr.. Vantine's valet for eight
years n more, and in all that time he
has never been mixed up with a woman
In any shape or form. I always fam
cied he'd loved a lady who died-I don't
know what made me think so: but
anyhow, since I've known him, he never
looked at a woman-not In that way"
Thank you, Parks" I said, with a
sigh OF relief. I've been through so
much today, that / felt I couldn't en-
dure that; and low" TIT,
beg pardon, SIR said a voice at my
elbow; W have everything ready, sir"
/ turned with q start to see a little,
clea- shaven man standing there. rub
bins mis- hands softly together and gaz-
ing blandly up at me.
The undertaker's assistant, SIR" ex-
planned Parks. seeing my look Of as
constituent. II came while you and
Mr.. Godfrey were in the music room.
DR.. Hughes sent him"
Yes. sir" added the little man; and
we have the corpse ready for the cof-
was a hard job. Was 1t poison killed
him. sir?"
Yes" I answered, with a feeling Of
nausea, ut was poison"
Very powerful poison, too, I should
say, sir; we didn't get here none too
soon: Where shall We put the body,
......
why not leave 1t where II is pr
asked, impatiently.
Very good, sir" said the man, and
presently he his assistant took
off, to my intense relief.
And now, Parks" 1 began, there
Is something l want to say to you.
us go somewhere and sit down"
Suppose We go up to the study, sir.
you'll permit me 4> say so, sir. Shall
get you something?"
"A brand and Soda" I assented; land
bring one for yourself" 4
Very good, sir" and a few minutes
later we We're sitting opposite each
other In the room where Vantine had
offered me similar refreshments not
many u before. looked at Parks
as he sat there, and turned over in my
what I had to say to him. I liked
the man, n I felt he could be trusted.
n rate. I had to take the risk.
Now, Parks" / began again, set
ting down my glass, what / have to
say to you is very serious, and 1 want
you to keep 1t to yourself. I know that
JOu "SAS uSNuleu 10 MI. pantlne-II
may as well tell you that he has re-
membered you in his willard I am
you are willing to do anything I'm
your power to help solve the mystery
his death"
THAT I am, sir" Parks agreed
warmly. Il was very fond of him, sir;
nobody will miss him more than I
NN i
I realized that the tragedy meant
FAR more to Parks than 1t did even to
me, for he had lost not only a friend,
but a means Of livelihood, and I looked
him with heightened sympathy.
Il know how you feel" l said, land
! am counting on you to help me. I
a sort of idea how his death
about. Only the vaguest possible
Idea," l added hastily, as his eyes
wfdened with interest; altogether too
vague to De put ito words. But 1 can
say this much-the mystery, whatever
4 Is, Is in the ante room where the
bodies were found, or in the room
to 1T where the furniture is. Now,
am going to lock up those rooms and
want you to see that nobody enters
them without your knowledge"
Not very likely that anybody will
want to enter them, sir" and Parks
laughed a grim little laugh.
Il am not so sure of that" I dis
speaking very seriously. In
,act, / am of the opinion that there is