Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-10-21
v.
GRADY TAKES A HAND.

1 have no 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. /
Old myself that / was the victim of a
dreadful nightmare; that all this was
the rsult of o~ver-wrought nerves and
That L should wake presently. No
needed a vacation-well, 1 would take
it y
And all the time 1 knew that 1t was
not a nightmare, but grim reality; that
Philip Vantine was dead-killed by a
oman Who had told me that? And
then remembered the sobbing
Two or three persons came into the
room-Parks n the other servants, I
suppose; l heard Godfrey's voice Civ
ing orders; and finally someone held a
glass to my lips and command
ed me to drink. 1 did so mechan-
ically; coughed spluttered, was con
eagerly again. And then 1 saw Godfrey
standing yer me.
Feel better?" he asked.
I nodded.
II don't wonder 1t knocked you OUT
ne went on. I'm feeling shaky myself.
I had them call vantine's physician
but he can't do anything"
He's dead. then?'" I murmured. nv
eye on that dark and crumpled object
which had been Philip Vantine.
"Yes-just like the other"
men l remembered, and I caught
his arm n drew him down to me.
Godfrey" I whispered, whose voice
about a woman?"
You didn't dream tit was Rogers
hes almost hystericaL Well get the
story. as soon as 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 woma 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 oma 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, as . tresnos
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
What IL 1t. Lester?" he asked
II can't stand 1t here" I gasped 4Itsi
too horrible!'
Don't think about 1t. Come GU,
here and have another drink"
He led me to the hall. and q secont
glass Of brandy gave me back some
thing Of my s~elf-control.. I vas ASHAMED
| OF my weakness. but when I glanced q
Godfrey, I saw how white his face was
"Better take a drink yourself" I said
! heard the decanter rattle on tn
glass.
II don't know when I have heel
80 shaken" he said, setting the 8las
down empty. TT was 20 gruesome-.s
nnexpected-and then Rogers carryin
tor" he added. a. the front doc
opened and Parks showed q man in.
I knew Dr.. Hughes, Of course, rs
turned his nod. and followed him an
Godfrey into tile ante-Toom hut I ha
not yet sufficiently recovered to d
more than sit and stare at him ~ b
} knelt beside the body and assured hin
self that life had Ned. Then I hear
Godfrey telling him all we knew, WIFI
Hughes listened with incredulous FAC
but It's absurd. you mow!" he pr,
Things like this don't happen here
. New York. In Florence. perhaps, In Il
middle ayes; but not hore In the Twel
neth century,"
Il can scarcely believe my ov
lenses" Godfrey agreed. "But ! @
the Ftonchman lying here this afte
] noon: and now here's vanttno.'
ION the oAme opot3
AZ nearly q lean toll."
NAnd killed In the same WayY
Z "Kllled IN precisely the an VA
0ugheo turned back 20 the -