Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-11

tlnu ne now ATTENDS 10 the 8nAlTS Oh the
schuyler,s. Miss Winnie Calhoun. Ches.
Schuylet temporarily.
Mrs. Schuyler learns that vicky Var
her to be and would like the case hush.
ed up-she does not want publicity;
Detectives make a search for Vicky
Mrs. Schuyler and Mr.. Calhoun re,
ceive letters from Miss Van n Cal
houn goes to vicky's home. when he un.
expectedly meets her: she beEs OF him
Fleming Stone. expert detective. is en-.
gagged to run her down. He gets q clue
CHAPTER XvI-(Condnued.)
you scared him away" chided
Ruth, under her breath, as our
glances met. "He and I were getting
positively chummy."
why was he talking of your BIRTH
day? I asked.
II don't know. I'm sure. He said I
was born in the spring. because I'm
like a flower! Really, that child will
grow up a poet, IL he doesn't look
out!"i
you are like a nower," I muir
INJURED back. ."And I'm glad your
birthday is in spring. I mean to cele-
brate it,"
And then I thought Of poor vicky
Vans birthday, so tragically ended,
and / quickly changed the subject.
Armed with the pictures, Fleming
Stone and his young assistant spent
the next day on a still hunt.
And in the evening Stone came over
to see me.
IA little quiet confab." he said. as
we secluded ourselves in my sitting
room and closed the door. I've been
to a score Of places. and invariably
they recognize Miss Van Allen and
her maid. but all say they've not seen
her since the tragedy. I went to
where she would be likely to need to
go. Also, her friends houses. But
nothing doing. The shops have heard
from her, in the way Of paid bills,
checks and such matters. but !
learned absolutely nothing that
throws any light N her whereabouts.
Now, Mr.. Calhoun, the very thor
oughness of her disappearance, the
very in%violable secrecy Of her hiding
place proves to me that she isn't hid
ing"
you talk like a real story-book de-
sort are impressive to the laynaan,
you know"
"Pshaw!" and he looked annoyed,
"if you knew anything about detec-
tive work, you'd know that the most
seemingly impossible conditions are
often the easiest to explain"
"well. then, explain. Ill be glad
to hear"
II will. And. in return, Mr.. Cal
houn, I'm going to ask you If you
don't think, that all things consider
ed, o ought to tell me what you are
keeping back? You won't mind, will
from evidence" he smiled, that your
interests are largely coincident with
those of Mrs. Schuyler"
You're on" I said. shortly, but not
annoyed at his perspicacity.
We'll, then. / assure o that Mrs,
Schuyler is most DESTROYS Of locating
Miss Van Allen. She is not so re-
vengeful or vituperative as the sisters
Of her husband, but she feels it is due
to her husbands memory to find his
slayer, if possible. Now suppose you
to keep it ar inviolate confidence ex-
cept so far as it actually helps the
progress of the wheels Of justice"
Il do want to do what is best fol
Mrs. Schuyler's interests" I said. aft
err l had thought a moment. But, ]
must confess. 7 have a certain sym.
pathy and pity for Victoria Van Al.
len. I cannot believe her guilty
"Then tell me frankly the truth. II
you are right, and she Is not the mur
derer, the truth can't harm her. And
if she is the guilty person, you are
compromising a felony, in the eyes O
ton"
Stone spoke Z little sternly. and
realized he was-right. If vicky were
untraceably hidden. all I could tel
wouldn't hurt her. And, too,
couldn't see that it would, anyway
Moreover. as Stone said. I was max
ing myself amenable to the law, by .
refusal to tell all I knew. and since
was SO aware Of my own devotion t.
Ruth Schuyler, I felt / had no right
to do anything that she would disap'
feminine pique in her disposition
would resent any consideration o!
Vicky over her 0wn claims!
Therefore I told Fleming Stone al
I knew Of Victoria Van Allen, bott
before. during and after the occasior
of her birthday party.
He listened. with his deep eye,
fixed on my face.
Most extraordinary!" he said. a
last. AFTER l nadS nnlene0.g Il neVe'
heard of such daring! To enter he
own house when it was watched b.
the police"
"only the post patrol, then" 1.re
minded him. "She could easily man
age between his rounds"
Yes, yes. I know. But you've pu
the whole thing in different focus
Tell me more"
There was no more to tell, but
went over my story again, ampl!fyinl
and remembering further details, un
til we had spent the whole evening
He egged me on by questions and. hi
burning, eager eyes seemed to drinl
in my words as II they were 80 muci
priceless wisdom.
And I told him, too, that I hal
promised to put Vicky's address bool
in the Chinese jar for her that yer.
evening
promptly. "she meant ia meet 70,
there, I'm surev I'm also sure sh'
changed her mind about that, whel
she learned 81 ~ edvent. However
well keep your promise"
Acting 1t his instructions,t I ven
with hin, ever to vieky Vans. II wal
about midnight and - he had tn
address took WITH him. he kopt POI.
sss1aon GIFT