Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-06-16


1t was lying on its right side. half
on its stomach. with its right arm dOu-
bled under it and it's left hand clutch
ing at the floor above it's head. The
knees were drawn up as though i'll a
CONFUSION. and the face was horribly
contorted. with sort of purple tinge
under the skin. as though the blood had
been suddenly CONCEALED. The eyes
were wide open, and their CLASSY stare
added not little to the apparent ter
ror and suffering of the face.
The coroner glanced at Simmonds.
Not much question as to the cause"
he said. Poison. of course"
"Of course" nodded Simmonds.
But what kind?" asked Godfrey.
1T will take postmortem to tell
that" and Goldberger bent for another
close look at the distorted face. I'm
free to admit the symptoms aren't the
usual ones"
/ told all ! knew-how Parks had
announced a mans arrival. how Van.
tine and l had come downstairs to-
gether. how Vantine had called me
and finally how Parks had identified
the body as that of the strange caller.
How long a time elapsed after
Parks announced the man before you
and Mr.. Vantine came dOwnstairs?'
asked Goldberger.
Half an hour perhaps"
Goldberger nodded.
Lets have Parks in" he said.
opened the door and called to
Parks. who was sitting on the bottom
step of the stair.
Goldberger looked him over careful
ly as he stepped into the room. but
there could be no two opinions about
Parks. He had been with Vantine for
eight or ten years. and the earmarks
of the competent and faithful servant
were apparent all over him.
"Do you know this man?" Gold
berger asked. with a gesture toward
the body.
mo. SIR said Parks; 81 never saw
him till about an hour ago. when
Rogers called me downstairs and said
there was a man to see Mr.. Vantine."
who is Rogers?"
Hes the footman. sir. He answer
ed the door when the man rang"
"Well. and then what happenedY'
Il took his card up to Mr.. Vantine,
sir
"Did Mr.. vantine know him?"
mo, sir: he wanted to know what
he wanted
What did he want?"
II don't know. sir. He couldn't
speak English hardly at all. He was
French. l think He was SO excited
that be couldn't remember what little
English he did know
What made you think he was ex-
cited?"
THE way he suffered and the way
his eyes glinted. After Mr. Vantine
said he would see him presently Rog-
ers and me went back to our lunch"
do you mean to say that you and
Rogers went away and left this
stranger here by himself?"
1.-THE servants dining room is right
at the end of the hall. sir. We left the
door open. If he'd come out into the
hall we'd have seen him."
"And he didn't come out into the
hall while you were thereY"
mo. sir"
did anybody come in?"
"Oh. no. sir: the front door has a
snap lock. 1t can't be opened from the
outside without key"
$50 you are perfectly sure that no
one either entered or left the house
by the front door while you and Rog-
erS were sitting there?"
Nor by the back door either. sir: to
get out the back way. you have to pass
through the room where we were"
where were the other servants?"
1.-THE cook was in the kitchen. sir.
This is the housemaid's afternoon out
The coroner paused Godfrey and
Simmonds had both listened to this in
terrOgatiOn.
What is the room yonder used for?''
asked Godfrey. pointing to the connect
ing door
It's sort of storeroOm just now.
sir said Parks. "Mr Vantine is just
back from Europe. and we've been un-
packing in there some of the things
he bought while abroad"
''Send in Mr.. Vant1ne. please" said
Goldberger
Parks went out. and Vantine came in
a moment later He cOrrobOrated ex-
actly the story told by Parks and my
self, but he added one detail.
Here is the mans card" he said,
and held out square of pastebOard.
1t contained d single engraved line:
m. TheOphile D'Aurelle."
Hes French. as Parks suggested
said Godfrey. That's evident. too,
| from the cut of his clothes"
'Yes. and from the cut of his hair.
added Goldberger You say you didn't
know him. Mr.. Vantine?
Il never before saw him. to my
Vantinp 'TTbp