Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1915-07-14


umn story still to write, was apparent
" as fresh and eager as ever.
"All right" l agreed IF you see
light. come up. If there isn't any light
I'll be in bed. and I'll kill you if you
wake me-"
Conditions accepted" he laughed.
as opened the door for him.
Parks Joined me as | turned back
into the house after Godfrey left.
81 got Rogers to bed. sir" be said.
Hell be all right in the morning.
But he's queer duck"
How long have you known him,
Parks?"
He's been with Mr.. Vantine about
five years. | don't know much about
him. He's a silent kind of fellow.
keeping to hisself a good deal and
sort of brooding over things. But he
did his work all right, except once in
while when he keeled over like he
did tonight"
Parks" said suddenly. "I'm going
to ask you a question. You know
that Mr. Vantine was friend of mine.
and / thought a great deal of him.
Now, what with this story Rogers tells
and one or two other things. there is
talk of a woman. Is there any foun-
dalton for talk of that kind?"
mo, SIR" said Parks emphatically.
give been Mr.. Vantine's valet for
eight years and more, and in all that
time he has never been mixed up with
a woman in any shape or form. l al
ways fancied he'd loved lady who
died"
Thank you. Parks" l said with
sigh of relief. 1--WE been through SO
much today that felt couldn't en-
dure that. And now
BEG pardon. SIR" said a voice at
my elbow. 1--WE have everything
ready. SIR"
turned with a start to see a little.
clean shaven man.
1.-The undertaker's assistant, sir" ex-
planned Parks. seeing my look of as
constituent He came while you and
Mr.. Godfrey were in the music room"
"Where shall we put the body. sir?'
asked the man.
"Why not leave it where it is?"
asked impatiently.
Every good. sir" said he. and pres
emily the undertaken and his assistant
took themselves off. to my intense re-
lief.
"And now. Parks" began. there is
something l want to say to you. Let
go somewhere and sit down."
Suppose we go up to the study. sir.
You're looking regularly done up. if
you'll permit me to say so. sir"
A few minutes later we were sitting
opposite each other in the room where
Vantine and l had sat not many
hours before. liked Parks. and l felt
he could be trusted. At any rate.
had to take the risk.
"Now. Parks began again. what
/ have to say to you is very serious.
and want you to keep it to yourself.
know that you were devoted to Mr..
Vantine ! may as we'll tell you that
he has remembered you In his will. 4
am sure you are willing to do any
thing in your power to help solve the
mystery Of his death. have sort of
idea how his death came about. The
mystery. whatever it is. is in the ante
room where the bodies were found or
in the room next to it where the furni-
ture is. Now, am going 10 lock up
those rooms, and l want you to see
that nobody enters them without your
knowledge"
"Not very likely that anybody will
want to enter them, sir" and Parks
laughed a grim little laugh.
81 am not so sure Of that" dis
scented. speaking very seriously. In
fact, am of the opinion that there is
somebody who wants to enter those
rooms very badly. am going to make
it your business to keep him out and
to capture him IL you catch him trying
to get in."
"Trust me for that, sir" said Parks
promptly. ''What is it you want rae
to dO?"
81 want you to put cot in the hall
way outside the door Of the anteroom
and sleep there tonight. Tomorrow
will decide what further precautions
are necessary"
every good. sir" said Parks. I'll
get the cot up at once"
There is one thing more" 1 went
on. 81 have given the coroner my per-
sOnal assurance that none Of the serv-
ants will leave the house until after
the inquest. suppose 1 can rely on
| them?'
"Oh. yes, sir. I'll see they under
stand how important it is.''
Rogers. especially" added. looking
at him.
81 understand. sir" said Parks.
"Very well. And now let us go
down and lock up those rooms
They were still ablaze with light, but
both of us faltered little. think. on
the threshold of the anteroom. for in
the middle of the floor stood stretcher.
and on it was an object covered with
sheet. it's outlines horribly suggestive.
Rut I tOOk myself in hand and en-