Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-10-22
CHAPTER v.
GRADY TAKES A HAND.

l have no very clear remembrance of
what happened after that. The shock
was SO great that l had just strength
enough to totter to a chair and drop
1nto IL. n sit there staring vaguely
at that dark splotch on the r 1
told myself that / was the victim of a
Dreadful Nightmares; that all this was
the rsult OF over-wrought nerves and
that should wake presently. No
doub l had been working too hard. I
needed a vacation-well, / would take
And all the time I knew that it was
not Il nightmare. but grim reality: that
Phlilp Vantine was ~dead-killed by a
woman. Who had told me that? And
then remembered the sobbing
voice 49,"
Two or three persons came into the
room-Parks and the other servants. |
suppose; / heard Godfrey's voice Civ
ing orders; and finally someone held a
glass to my lips and command
ed me to drink. I did SO mechan-
lcally; coughed spluttered, was con-
scious of a grateful warmth. and drank
eagerly again. And Their l saw Godfrey
standing owe me.
Feel better?. he asked.
I nodded.
I don't wonder 1t knocked you out"
he went on. I'm feeling shaky myself.
I had them call Vantine's physician
but he can't do anything"
He's dead. then?" 1 murmured. NV
eyes on that dark and crumpled object
"Yes-just like the other"
Then / remembered. and 1 caught
his arm and drew him down to me.
Godfrey I whispered, whose voice
was tt-or did I dream it-something
about a woman?"
You didn't dream tit was Rogers
he's almost historical. Well get the
story. as soon as he quiets down"
Someone called him from the door.
n 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
rled. What ugly skeleton was to be
dragged from its closet?
But II a killed Vantine, the
same woman also killed d'Aurelle.
Where was her hiding place? From
what ambush did she strike?
i glanced about the room,a as a tremor
of horror seized me-. / 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.
What is 1t, Lester?" he asked.
I can't tand it here" I gasped. "It's
TOO horrible!
Don't think about 1t. 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 s~elf-control. I was ashamed
of my weakness, u when I glanced at
Godfrey. I saw how white his face was.
Better take q drink yourself" I said.
I heard the %decanter rattle on the
J glass.
SIT don,t Lrow u,ha, , ~.
!, SO shaken he said, setting the glass
down empty. 1T 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.
I knew DR.. Hughes, of course, re-
turned his nod. and followed him and
| Godfrey into tile 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
self that life had fled. Then I heard
Godfrey telling him all we knew, while
Hughes listened with incredulous face.
But It's absurd. you KNOW he pro-
tested. when Godfrey had finished.
Things like this don't happen here in
New York. In Florence. perhaps, in the
middle ages; but mo here In the Twen-
tieth century,
" can scarcely believe my own
senses, Godfrey agreed. But / saw
the Frenchman lying here this after
noon: and now here's Vantine.'
ION the same spot?"
"As nearly az lean tell"
And killed In the same way?"
"Killed in precisely the same way"
Hughes turned back to the body
! again, and looked long and earnestly at
the injured hand.
What sore II instrument made this
wound. would youss say. Mr.. Godfrey?' ~
hesquestioned, at last.
.A sharp Instrument, with two
prongs.. Ny theory 81 that the prongs
are hollow. like hypodermic needle,
and leave q dropso or two ST poison at
the bottom OF the wound. You seen. 9
fvein has been cut @
sss es =, Hughea assented. IT would
scarcely be possible sto pierce the hand
here without striking = vein. One ~
the d would be sure to- do ~.
That's the reasons there ~ two q
them 4 fancy
sEut you are.of ourse.awsr thal