Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-07-07

"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-l didn't like
her looks. sir. from the first"
"How was she dressed?"
'Tn a dark gown. sir. cut so skinny
that I knowed she was French before
she spoke"
"Ahg" said Grady. "She was French.
was she?"
Yes. sir: though she could speak
some English. She asked for Mr.. Van
tine. l 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 I knew she was inside
the door. and then she just pulled the
door out Of my hand and shut it. L
must see Mistaire Vangtine.' she says.
very fast. L must see Mistaire Wang
tine. 1t is most necessaire that l see
Mistaire Vangtine.'
"Just then Mr.. Vantine opened the
door there and came out into the hall.
What's all this. Rogers?' he says.
who is this party?'
But before | could answer. that
wildcat had rushed over to him and
begun to reel off a string of French so
fast l 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
he asked her in here and shut the door.
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
his business. not mine. So went back
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 it
mt latched."
daybe you hadn't latched it." sug-
gested Grady.
1T was a snap lock. sir When that
woman slammed it shut l heard it
CATCH
What did you do them"
II closed the door. sir, and then come
back along the hall. ! 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. l was so
scared I 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 1 remem-
Der, sir"
1.-THE woman wasn't here?
mo, sir
did you look through the rooms?"
mo. sir When I 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,
at 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
Twas saying"
"You say you never saw the woman
before?
Never. sir"
Had she ever been here before"
81 don't think so. sir. The first thing
she asked was if this was where Mr.
Vantine lived
would you know this woman il you
saw her again?"
Rogers heSitated-
81 wouldn't like to say sure, sir" he
answered at last 81 might and
might not"
You say you didn't search these
roomsg''
''No. sir: l didn't come inside the
door. was afraid"
did Parks come imp
NO, SIT, guess ne IelI the same
way / did,
Then how did you know Vantine
was dead? Why didn't you try to
help himY'
zone look was enough to tell me that
wasn't no use." said Rogers and gIanc-
ed with visible horror at the crumpled
form on the floor.
There's one thing don't under
stand." said Grady, land that is why