The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-11-05

Good night. gentlemen he said
weakly, and shuffled way, leaning
heavily on Parks shoulder.
"What do you think of that?"
Hes lying, of course. We've got
to fiaa 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 o the slip"
TN have him looked after" I prom
ised. But I fancy he'll be afraid to
run away. Besides, it is possible he's
telling the truth. / don't believe any
woman had anything to do with either
death."
Godfrey turned. as he was starting
away, n stopped to look at me.
Who did then?" he asked.
Nobody"
You mean they both suicided in that
abnormal way?"
No, it wasn't suicide-they were
killed-but not by a human being-at
least, not directly" l felt that l was
fioundering hopelessly, n stopped.
:! can't tell you now, Godfrey 1
pleaded. II haven't had time to think
IT out. You've got enough for one
day"
haps I'll look in on you about midnight,
on my way home, If 1 get through by
then"
1 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 MAN. 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 ha in hn1 orl J11 r;J1 ~ --S..
wake me-"
Conditions accepted" he laughed, as
L opened the door for him.
Parks joined me as l turned back into
the house.
"I got Rogers to bed, sir" he said.
Hell be all right in the morning. But
he's a queer duck"
How long have you known him,
Parks?"
Hes been with Mr. vantine about
five years, I don't know much about
him; he's a silent kind OF fellow. keep
ing to himself 2. good Heal and sort of
brooding over things. But he did his
work all right, except once ia a while
when he kecied 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
l thought a great deal Of him. Nav.
what with his story Rogers tells, and
n or two other things, there is talk of
a oma Is there any foundation for
talk of that kind?
mo, sir" said Parks, alphabetically.
I've been Mr. Nantine's valet for eight
years and more, and in all that time he
mas never been mixed up with a woman
IN any shape or form. 1 always fan
cled 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 q Woman-not in that way
h you, Parks" 1 said, with a
sigh Of relief. i've beer through so
much today, that I felt 1 couldn't en-
dure that; and low"
Beg pardon, sir" said a voice at my
elbow; we have everything ready. sir"
L turned with a start to see a little.
Clean shaVen ma standing there, rub
bling his hands softly together and gaz-
ing blandly up at me.
The undertaker's assistant, sir ex-
pla!heo fafks, seeing my look of as
constituent. H came While you and
Mr.. Godfrey were in the music room
DR.. Hughes sent him."
Yes. sir" added the little man; and
we nave the corpse ready for the cof-
fin. Very nice it looks, too: though if
was a hard job. Was it poison killed
him. sir?'
Yes" 1 answered, with a feeling Of
nausea, lit was poison"
Very powerful poison, too, should
say, SIT; we didn't get here none too
soon: Where shall we put the body,
sir?' '
Why not leave it where it is?oI
asked, fnlpatiently.
Very good, sir" said the man, and
presently he n his assistant took
enenlselVes OH, to my intense relief.
And now, Parks" 1 began, there
is something l want to say to you.
Let US go somewhere and sit down"
Suppose we go up to the study, sir.
you're looking regularly done up. if
youtl permit me S>say so. sir. Shall
"A brand and soda" I assented. land
bring n for yourself"
Very good, sir" and a few minutes
later we were sitting opposite each
other In the room where Vantine had
Offered me similar refreshments NOT
many hours before. [ looked at Par l ps
as he sat there, and turned over in nv
mind what l had to say to him. I liked
tHe man, n | felt he could be trusted.
At any rate, l had to take the risk,
NOW, Parks l began again, set
ting down my glass, what I have TO
say to you is very serious, and I want.
you TO keep 1t to yourself. l know that
you were devoted to Mr.. Vantine-I
may as well tell you that he has re-
membered you in his willard 7 am
sure you are willing to do anything in
your to help solve the mystery
of his death"
That am, SIR Parks agreed
warmly. Il was very fond of him, sir:
nobody will miss him more than /
will"
l realized that the tragedy meant
lar more to Parks than it did even to
for he had lost not only a friend,
but a means of livelihood, and I looked
at him with heightened sympathy.
i know how you feel" said. land
l am counting on you to help me. I
have a sort of idea how his death
came about. Only the vaguest possible
idea added hastily, as his eyes
Wldened with interest; "altogether too
vague to be put ito words. But 1 can
this much-the mystery, whatever
1t is, is in the ante room where the
bodies were found, or in the room
next to it where the furniture is. Now,
am going to lock up those rooms and
l 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.
i am not so sure of that" I dis
scented, speaking very seriously. In
fact. L am of the opinion that there is
somebody who wants to enter those