The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-06

&RA = tAAtifNAtd kA VI Nuf. 80
! came back to the case In hand.
Look here. Godfrey" said. III
II wasn't poison. what was IT."
But Il was poison"
'lnso'ied at the hand7"
lie nodded.
GoidbcTgeT saws there's no pol.
son known which could be used
that way aud which would act 40
quickly"
"Coidberger ia right In that"
agreed Godfrey. but there's n pol.
Hon unknown that will-becauss II
dif. That fellow practically drop.
ped where he was struck.'
But you've already said there's
no poison 40 powerful IA all that.
i said We didn't know OF any. !
wouldn't be 80 sure that Catherine
de Medici didn't"
What has Catherine dc Medici
TO do with ity'
"Nothing-exccpi that what has
been done may always be done
again. Those old stories are. no
doubt. exaggerated: bu, Il seems
fairly certain that the Queen OF
Navarro was killed with a pair OF
poisoned gloves. the Due d'Ahjou
with the scent OF n poisoned rose.
ard the Prince de PorcIAn with the
smoke OF poisoned lamp. This
case isn't as extraordinary as
those"
M" ] agreed. and fell silent.
After ALL" went on Godfrey, at
last. There e. one thing that
neither YOU nor nor any reason.
able man can believe. and that IA
that this Frenchman came from
heaven knows vhere-from Paris.
perhapE--with Yantine's address in
his pocket. and hunted up tho house
and made his way into II simply
TO kill himself there. He had some
other object. and he met his death
while trying 10 accomplish it"
Have you found out who he
,s7"
NO: he's not registered At any
OF the hotels: the French consul
never heard Of him We've cabled
our Paris office To look him up.
But even II We discover the iden.
lily OF Theophile dAurelle. II won't
help us any"
But. Godfrey" I said. suppose
you knew who he was and what
no wanted with vantine-suppos
you could mako guess AT who
killed him and why-how was IL
done?"
All" agreed Godfrey. That's
~ How was II done7 But wait
till we hear from Paris" =
THAT reminds me-" said. sit.
ting up suddenly. I've go, 10 cable
TO Paris myself. on some business
for Mr.. vantine."
Not connected with this affair.""
"Oh. no: his shippers over there
sent him a piece OF furniture that
doesn't belong TO him. He asked
me 10 straighten the matter out"
| rang for the hall.boy. asked
for n cable-blank, and sent off the
Godfrey was about to 20 when
my telephone rang.
Hello" | said taking down the
receiver.
Us that you. Mr.. Lester" asked
a voice.
Yes"
This is Parks" and suddenly
realized that his voice WAS unfa.
miliar because II was hoarse and
quivering with emotion. Gould
you come down 10 the house right
away. sir7"
Why. yes" said. wonderingly.
~ It's important. Does Mr.. Van.
tine need me?"
we all need you" said the
vioce, and broke into a dry sob.
For heavens sake. come quick.
Mr.. Lester!"
"All right" I said.
shall come, too?" asked God.
frey.
Perhaps you'd better" agreed.
1T sounded pretty serious"
Three minutes later we had
hailed taxi and were speeding
eastward toward the Avenue. Five
minutes later we drew up before
he Vantine place.
In another moment Parks had |
dragged us to the door OF the room
where we had found the French.
mans body. In there, sir" he
sobbed. In there!'
The room was ablaze with light.
md for an instant my eyes were
so dazzled that could distinguish
Dimly saw Godfrey |