The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1914-01-22

Did you know her?" questioned
tirady y
Rogers loosened his collar with
convulsive movement.
mo. sir. Id never seen her before"
he answered hoarseiy.
Describe her"
"She wore a heavy veil. sir. so that
couldn't see her very well; but the first
thing noticed was her eyes-they
were so bright. they seemed to burn
right through me Her face looked
white behind her veil. and could see
how red her lips were--I didn't like
her looks. sir. from the first
How was she dressed?'
"In dark gown. sir. cut so skinny
that knowed she was French before
she spoke"
"Ah." said Grady. "She was French,
was she?"
"Yes. sir. though she could speak
some English. She asked for Mr. Van
tine. told her Mr.. vantine was busy.
And then she said something very fast
about how she must see him. and all
the time she kept edging in and in. till
the first thing ! knew she was inside
the door. and then she just pulled the
door out of my hand and shut II. i
must see Mistaire Vangtine, she says.
very fast. 4 must see Mistaire Wang
tine. 1t is most necessaire that | see
Mistaire vangtine.
Just then Mr. vaptine opened the
door there and came out into the hall.
What's all this, RogersY he says.
who is this partyy
But before could answer, that
wildcat had rushed over to him and
begun to reel off a string Of French so
fast | wondered how she got her
breath. And Mr.. vantine looked at
her kind of surprised at first, and
then he got more interested. and finally
and that was the last | saw of them. !"
You mean you didn't let the woman
out?" demanded Grady.
Yes. sir, that's just what I mean.
| thought If Mr.. vantine wanted to
talk with her. well and good; that was
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 hour came
out into the hall again to see If .the
woman had gone. and | walked past
the door of this room. but didn't hear
nothing; and then | went on to the
front door and was surprised to find 1t
wasn't latched"
Maybe you hadn't latched it." sug-
gested Grady.
1T was snap lock, sir. When that
woman slammed it shut heard it
catch"
What did you do then?'
II closed the door, sir, and then come
back along the hail. felt uneasy,
some way, and ! stood outside the
door there listening But couldn't
hear nothing. and then tapped, but
there wasn't no answer So | just
opened the door and looked In, and the
first thing ! see was him. 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 remem-
Der, SIR"
1.-The woman wasn't here?"
"No. sir
did you look through the rooms"
mo. sir. When ] found the front
door opened | knew she'd gone out.
She hadn't shut the door because she
was afraid I'd hear her"
THAT sounds probable" agreed Ora
dy. But what makes you think she
killed Vantine?
well, sir" answered Rogers slowly,
II guess ! oughtn't to have said that.
But finding the door open that way
and then coming on Mr. vantine sort
of upset me. | didn't know just what
l was saying"
''You say you never saw the woman
before?"
Never. SIR"
Had she ever been here befOre?"
II don't think 50. sir. The first thing
she asked was Il this was where Mr..
Vantine lived"
Would you know this woman II you
saw her again2"
Rogers hesitated
Il wouldn't like to say sure, SIR" he
answered at last II might and |
might not"
You say you didn't search these
roomsp'
"No. sir; didn't come inside the
door. | was afraid"
did Parks come In?
mo. sir: guess be felt the same
way did"
Then how did you know vantine
was dead? Why didn't you try to
help him?r
'One look was enough to tell me that
wasn't no nse," said Rogers and glanc-
ed with visible horror at the crumpled
form on the floor.
There's one thing | don't under
stand" said Grady. "and that Is why
yantine should want all these lights
YAnk 4 Al. H..