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

Fleming Stone lived up to his repu-
tation as a detective, and scrutfnized
everything with quick, comprehensive
glances. We m through the long
Hving-room. and into tho dining
room. whose pale green and silver
again enchanted Winnie.
The walls are exquisite" Stone
agreed. looking closely ut the panels
of silk brocade. framed with 4 silver
tracery.
burn at your praise" said, in an
effort to speak lightly. for Stones
face had an onninous look, as If he
were learning grave truths.
Walls not only have ears. they
nave tongues" he returned. These
wa1tks have already told me much Of
Mss Van. Aliens character"
"oh. howl" cried Winnie. do tell
how you dsduce and all that"
I looked hastily at Stone. thinking
he might be annoyed by winnie's
volatile speech.
But he said kindly, ITO the trained
eye, Miss Calhoun, much is apparent
that escapes the casual observer. But
displayed in the WALL decoration.
A woman Of the adventures type
would prefer more sarish display.
OF course. / am generalixine. but
there Is much to bear me- out. Then.
! see. by certain tiny marks and
cracks. that these walls have lately
been done. over. and that they were
i a3s9 f Ssfsfs, Tb,. s1 S1ays, t ,'ns M nst
crafty her whims and she chooses
to spend 1t in satisfying her aesthetic
preferences. Further. the walls have
been carefully cared for, showing an
interested and capable ,housekeeperly
instinct and traits Of extreme order
illness and tidiness. CleverheXSs even.
pit Of the plaster has been rdefaced
by a knock or scratch. and 1t has
been delicately painted over with q
little pale green paint which matches
exactly. It is MT the work OF a pro-
fessional decorator. so reason tells me
remedied the defect" ~
Good gracious!". exclaimed Win
ME, II can, see all that myself, now
you tell me, but I never should have
thought of it! Tell me more"
Then the pictures. which are 80
well chosen and placed, that they
seem part Of the walls. arr. a. you
notice, all figure pieces. There are no
that Miss Van Allen is not distinctly
a nature lover but crefers humanity
and society. This argues for the Joy
of living and the appreciation OF
mental pleasures and occupations.
No devotee OF nature would have fail.
ed to have pictures of flowers or har.
monizing landscapes on these walls.
So. Q sea.i to be edited by the
listen to them but understand their
language" -
And then stone began taking in the
rest Of the dining-room's contents.
The table, hastily cleared by the ca
terer's men, was empty of the china
and glass which they had supplied,
but still retained the. c~andlesticks and
epergnes that, were vicky VANS own.
These were Of plated silver, not sterl-
ing. which fact Stone noted. The
lace-trimmed linen, however, was Of
the finest and most elaborate sort.
An unholy waste. Of money!" de-
clared Rhoda Schuyler, looking at the
marvellous monogram Of v. v. A. en-
broidered on the napkins.
But I gazed sadly at the table, only
partially dismantled, which had been
SO gayly deeked for Yieky's birthday
supper.
Scanning the sideboa5d, stone re-
marked the absence lbf the small
carving knife. I told Him /, too, had
observed that, and that ! had made
Did you ask the caterers people
II they took it by mistaken" said the
detective.
"No," ] admitted. ashamed that I
hadn't thought Of it. and I promised
AZ Stone stood, silently contem-
glahs a the Ssa p,sss 4. whets H:naclnn
out into the hall. / had no conscious
reason for doing So but I did, and
CHANGING to glance toward tho stairs.
I With difficulty repressed IN exeia-
For halfway up the s-tairca.s, I
saw yicky Yan! 4
! was sure It vas 40 hailucination.
over the banister, !. listening to what
Stone was saying. Suddenly. even a.
I looked. she . upstairs ana disap-
peared. Il
was she safe, Gould she escape,
Perhaps by q back staircase, or could
b manage g eluds ~ and slip away
Then was conscisnes-stricken.
Was ! conniying at the escape 81 =
guilty person? Did I want to do this3
], didn't know. 8ome<hing told met
must tell Stone Of her p~re9ance. and
yet something else made It impo1si.
BILE for me 70 do %.
I turned. back % the dining-roasn,
the spot, then, that's NhsfoS 6end0Inh
VS. killed by that avfui iwelnan! N.
Stone you must mt hsf!ss Anss0ys Tor
An Gte-A lifs for Mel ohS must
pay the psnalty Of her aguitt!"I
Winnis Mi liAfsplng, and tiara.
stood IA her eyes Like Ruth Schay-
isr ron whssh she 4onbtless teek 4