Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-07

eAS 0SSV AAA SAA~S
ment Vicky was under the same roof
with ourselves!
But Stone completed his survey Of
the dining.room, and as a. matter Of
course. started next up the stairs. I
pushed ahead q little, in my eager
9 to precede him. but a vague de-
sire to protect vicky urged me on. !
stood in the upper hall as the rest
came up, and I imagined that Stone
gave me a curious 1Gance, as he noted
my evident embarrassment.
But, Winnie dashed into the music
room. and the Schuyler sisters quickly
followed. Trust a woman to feel and
show curiosity about her neighbours
home!
Again Stone examined the walls.
but the immaculate white and gold
aides of the music room said nothing
intelligtble to me, and II they spoke
to him he did not divulge the mes
sage. The women exclaimed at the
beautiful room. and. as Stones Elk
filed back to Vicky's bedroom.
I heard no sound Of her, and I
breathed more freely. as we did not
find her in bedroom or in the boudoir
beyond. She had, then, succeeded in
getting away, and trusted to me not
to betray her presence there.
The boudoir or dressing-room, all
pam o0I4l &A1V WIlHtS cu6IuOlSO WICK.
er called forth new ordinations from
Winnie, and even Rhoda Schuyler ex-
pressed a grudging admiration,
1T Is beautiful" she conceded. II
wish Ruth had come, after all. She
loves this sort Of furniture. Don't you
remember, Sarah, she wanted Ran
dolph to do up her d~ressing-room in
wicker?"
Yes, but he didn't like it, he said
IT was gim-crackery. And the Circas-
sian walnut Of Ruth's room is much
handsomer"
"of course 1t is. Ruth has a charm
Ing suite. Oh. do look at the dresses!'
Fleming Stone had flung open a
wardrobe door. and the costumes dis
OF beautiful coloring and design. Win
ME. unable to resist the temptation,
fingered them lovingly, and called my
attention to certain wonderful con-
f%ections.
the crime?" Stone asked, and / told
I'm Having Win for a sister, I am
iairiy good at describing women's
clothes, and I drew q vivid word pic
u of Vicky's gold fringed gown.
Heavenly" exclaimed Winnie, al
though h had had me describe the
gown to her on the average Of twice q
day for 9. week. II wish I could see it!
Some e.. Day, chet I'm going to have
"Frinee?" said Stone, c~ur,ou.ly,
oh, yes" I responded. But it. was
z long fringe of gilt beads that really
formed an o~ver.dress to the tulle
dress. Stay. I've a piece Of It," and I
too out my pocketbook. "See, here
It Is. I found it caught in those gilded
leaves at the lower corner Of the mir
ror frame-that long dressing-mir-
ror."
They. all looked. at the mirror,
which hung nat against the wall: its
|foliated F1orentine frame full Of ir-
regular protuberaeces:
OF course" said Winnie, noddins
her head, II know just how she stood
In front Of it. whirling around to see
her gown from all sides; like this"
Win whirled herself around, before
the glass, and succeeded in catching
9 bit Of her own full skirt, on the
frame.
you little goose!" I cried, as the
fabric tore. I'VE don't need a demon-
straticn at the expense Of your
Fleming Stone was studying the
posed of tiny beads of varying shapes,
and had already begun to ravel into
shreds.
tn keep this" he said. and willy
nilly, lost my little souvenir of
vicky Van. But. Of course. II he con-
sidered It evidence, ! had to give it
up, and the fact Of doing so. partly
feeling at concealing the fact Of
V.icky's presence in her " house
just then.
And, too. I said to myself. Mr.
stone Is out to find her. Surely a de-
tective, OF his caliber'can accomplish
that without help Of an humble lay
man! So I kept my own counsel, and
further search. Of the next story, and
later, Of the basement rooms. gave No
hint OF Vicky's presence or departure.
Indeed, I began to wonder IL / had
really seen her. Could she have been
50 clearly in my mind. that I visualiz.
ed her In a moment of clairvoyance?
MY reason rebelled at this. for I knew
!, saw her. az we'll as I knew was
alive; she had on the same little hat
on no cloak. and her tailor.made
street dress was Of a dark cloth.
couldn't be sure how she got away.
tor the basement door we found bolt
ed on the inside. but she must have
wartiy. evaded and eluded us and
slipped here and there as we pur-
sued OUR course through the house,
and then have gone out by the front
door when we were, say, on the upper
floors.
Returning to vicky,s boudoir.
where her little writing was.
Fleming Stone began to run over the
letters and papers therein.
It was locked, but he picked the
httnsy fastening and calmly took up
the q with his usual quick-moving,
I STAYED with him. and IN. th...