The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1914-10-22
CHAPTER ".
GRADY TAKES A HAND.

I have nc very clear remembrance of
what happened after that. The shock
was so great that I had just strength
enough to totter to a chair and drop
into 1t. and sit there staring vaguely
at that dark splotch on the carpet. I
told myself that I was the victim of a
dreadful nightmare; that all this was
h rsult Of over-wrought nerves and
that L should wake presently. No
doubt I had been working too hard. /
needed a vacation-well, I would take
1t
And all the time I knew that It was
not a nightmare, but grim reality; tina
Philip Vantine was ~dead-killed by a
woman. Who had told me that? And
then remembered the sobbing
voice -
Two or three persons came into the
room-Parks and the other servants. I
suppose; I heard Godfrey's voice CIV
ing orders; and finally someone held a
glass to my lips and command
ically; coughed spluttered, was con-
scious Of a grateful warmth, and drank
eagerly again. And then / saw Godfrey
standing Over me. .....
Feel better" he asked.
/ nodded.
II don't wonder it knocked you out"
AO WYNN Ohs L III lCclilB budky myS6lI,
/ had them call Vantine's physician
but he can't do anything"
Hes dead. them" 1 murmured, my
yes on that dark and crumpled object
which had been Philip vantine.
"fes-Just like the other" ~
Then 1 remembered. and I caught
his arm and drew him down to me.
Godfrey" I whispered, whose voice
was it-or did I dream it-something
about a woman?"
You didn't dream tit was Rogere
hes almost hysterical. Well get the
story, as soon rs he quiets down"
Someone called him from the door,
and he turned away, leaving men star
Ing blankly at nothing. So there had
been a woman In Vantine's life! Per-
haps that was why he had never mar
ried. What ugly skeleton was to be
dragged from Its closet?
But IL a woman killed vantine, the
same woman also killed d'Aurelle.
Where was her hiding place? From
what ambush did she strike?
/ glanced about the room, as a tremor
Of horror seized me. I arose. shaking,
from the chair and CROPPED my way
toward the door. Godfrey heard me
coming, swung around, and, with one
glance at my face, came to me and
caught me BY the arms;
IL can't stand it here" I gasped. TITS
too horrible!'
Don't think about it. Come out
here and have another drink"
He led me to the hall. and a second
glass of brandy gave me back some
thing OF my self-control. 1 was ashamed
of my weakness, but when I glanced al
Godfrey, I saw how white his face was.
Better take a drink yourself" I said.
I heard the decanter rattle on the
glass.
"I don't know when I have been
so shaken" he said, setting the glass
down empty. ut was so gruesome-so
nnexpected-and then Rogers carrying
on like a mailman. All, here's the doc
tor" he added, as the front door
opened and Parks showed a man in.
/ knew DR.. Hughes, Of course, re-
turned his nod, and followed him and
Godfrey into the ante-room but I had
not yet sufficiently recovered to do
more than sit and stare at him as he
knelt beside the body and assured him
Godfrey telling him all we knew, while
Hughes listened with incredulous face.
but it's absurd. you know!" he PROF.
tested, when Godfrey had finished,
Things like this don't happen here in
New York. In Florence, perhaps, In the
middle ages; but not here In the Twen-
tieth century,"
ST can scarcely believe my own
Senses" Godfrey agreed. But / saw
the Frenchman lying here this after
noon: and o here's V~antine.'
ION the same spot?"
"As nearly as ! can tell"
"And killed In the same way?"
"Killed in precisely the same way"
Hughes turned back to h body
Iagain, and looked long n earnestly at
| the injured hand
what sore of instrument made this
wound, would you say. Mr.. Godfrey"
he questioned, at last.
"A sharp instrument, with two
Iprongs. My theory is that the prongs
are hollow, like a hypodermic needle,
and leave a drop or two Of poison at
1 the bottom OF the wound. You seen, o
l vein has been cut"
yes" Hughes assented. TT would
| scarcely be possible to pierce the hand
here without striking a vein. One Of
| the prongs would be sure to do 1t"
That's the reason there are two OF
| them. / fancy"
"But YOU are. OF course, aware that