The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-03-07
Continued From Our Last Issue)
CHAPTER V.

The Woman in the Case.
haven't much memory Of what
happened after that for some time.
Grief over the loss of my friend
and the shock of the manner of the
loss obliterated incidents. Godfrey
took charge and the first thing
that / was really aware OF was his
return to the room, where Vantine
still lay on the folor, with Sim
monds and Goldberger. A third
man followed them whom | later
learned was Freylinghuisen, the
coroner's physician.
They all looked at the body and
conversed in low tones. Then the
door opened again to admit a
short, heavy-set man, with florid
face, and little, close-set eyes. He
glanced about the room, nodded
to Goldberger, and then looked in
quiringly at me.
This is Mr.. Lester, Commits
sioner Grady" said Goldberger,
and / realized the chief of the de-
tective bureau had come to take
personal charge OF the case.
A very few minutes sufficed for
Freylinghuisen and | to tell all we
knew of this tragedy and of the
one which had preceded it.
you've got list of the SER
wants here. of course, Simmonds,"
Grady said, when we had finished
the story.
"Yes, SIR" and Simmonds hand
ed it to him.
(which one of 'em found Van
tines body?"
Parks, I think" said.
Better have him in" said
Grady, and doubled up the list and
slipped 1t into his pocket
Parks came in looking decidedly
shaky; but answered Grady's ques-
lions clearly and concisely.
"Mr. yantine had dinner at
home, SIR" he said. 1T was
served, l think, at seven o'clock.
He must have finished little
after seven-thirty. | didn't see
him, for | was strengthening
things around up in his room and
lputting his clothes away. We Just
got back from Europe yesterday,
you know-and it must have been
half-past eight when l heard
Rogers yelling for me. l come
down in a hurry. Rogers was
standing out there in the hall,
looking like he'd seen a ghost. He
kind of gasped and pointed to this
room, and | looked In and saw
Mr.. Vantine laying there"
His voice choked at the words,
but he managed to go on, after a
moment.
"Then l telephoned for Mr.. Les
ter" he added, "and that's all |
know"
VERY WE'LL" said Grady. That's
all for the present. Send Rogers
lin."
Rogers face, as he entered the
room, gave me a kind of shock.
He was a man of about fifty, with
iron-grey hair, and smooth
shaver face, ordinarily rudy with
health. But now his face was
livid, his eyes blood-shot and star
ing. He reeled rather than walked
into the room.
Get him a chair" said Grady,
and Simmonds brought one. Now,
my man." Grady continued, you'll
have to brace up. Didn't you ever
see a dead man before?"
We'll, SIR" began Rogers slow
ly, as though carefully considering
his words, "Mr. Vantine came out
from dinner about half-past seven
and told me to light all the lights
in here and in the next room
"I don't want to be disturbed,
Rogers he said, and come in here
and shut the door.
1T was maybe twenty minutes
after that that the door-bell rung,
and when | opened the door, there
was woman standing on the
steps,
did you know herr" question
ed Grady.
NO, sir, I'd never seen her be-
fore" he answered hoarsely.
Describe her."
"She wore heavy veil, sir, so
that | couldn't see her very we'll;
but the first thing | noticedawas
her eyes-they were so bright. Her
face looked white behind her veil,
and / could see how red her lips
WERE"
"How was SHE dressed?"
I'm a dark gown, sir, cut so
skinny that | knowed she was
French before she spoke"
"Ah!" said Grady. "She was
French, was she?"
Yes sir; though she could
speak some English. She asked
for Mr.. Vantine. l told her Mr..
Vantine was busy. And then she
said something very fast, and all
the time she kept edging in and
in, till the first thing I knowed
she was inside the door.
"T must see Mistaire Vangtine,
she says, very fast.
Then I'll have to put you out,
says /, and took hold of her arm
And at that moment she screamed
and Just then Mr.. Vantine opened
the door and came out into the
hall.
What's all this, Rogers?' he
says.
But before could answer, that
wild cat had rushed over to him
and begun to reel off string Of
French. Mr.. Vantine looked sur
prised at first, and then he final,