Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-18
i: BY WELLS

SOU1eTSs" n S4l0, Oe1OFe
him. T." she dropped her eye,
rangement Of seats at the supper
table," With a merry laugh, she ran
from the room. and through the Ions
hall to the dining room.
Somers dropped into her vacant
chair, and continued the bridge
game with the air Of one who knows
how to play.
In less than five minutes vicky was
back. mo, keep the hand" she said
as he rose. I've played long enough,
And supper will be. ready shortly"
Finish the RUBBER insist
Sonhers returned. and as he deter
minedly stood behind the chair
Vicky, p%erforce. sat down.
chair, watching her play. Vicky wa
too r of her game to be ratified
at his close scrutiny. but 1t seemed
to me her shoulders shrugged a little
impatiently, as he criticized or COM
mended her plays.
She had thrown a light scarf OF
gauze or tulle around when she was
out of the room. and being the same
color as her gown. it made her seem
smiled up into .Somers' face, and
then, coyly. her long lashes fell or
her pink cheeks. Evidently, she had
concluded to bewitch the newcomer
and she vas making good.
l drew nearer. principally because
I liked to look at her. She was q
live wire tonight! She looked roguish,
and she made most brilliant plays
tossing down her cards with gay little
gestures, and doing trick shuffles
with her twinkling fingers.
SvN,v No,,IN ha1vn hoA that Ia 81
trick, If you'd played for it." Somerl
said, as the rubber finished. =,
II. know It," Vicky conceded. Il
saw, just too late. that 1 was getting
the lead into the wrong hand"
well, don't ever do that again.,
he said, lightly, "neyer again."
AS he said the last word, he laid
his finger tips on her shoulder. II
the veriest touch. tho shoulder
swathed in the transparent tulle,
but still, it reused Vicky. She
glanced up at him. and I looked al
him, too. But Somers was not in
flirtatious mood. He said, II beg
your pardon" In most correct fashion.
Had he then. touched her inadvert.
emily? 1t didn't seem SO. but his
Vicky jumped up from the table,
and ignoring Somers. ran out to the
hall, saying something about lookins
after the surprise for tho supper. To
surprise, Somers followed her, not
hastily, but rather deliberately. and,
quelling an absurd impulse to go,
too, I turned to Norman Steele, who
stood near.
who's this somers?" I asked him,
rather abruptly. rs he all right?' .
You bet" said Steele, smiling,
Hes a top-notcher."
In what ~respects?"
Every and ALL"
you've known him long,"
Yes. I tell you Cal. he's all right
Forget it. What's the surprise fol-
supper? Do you know"
"Of course not. It wouldn't be b
surprise II we all knew Of it." 2
Well. Vicky's surprises are Away:
great fun. Why the crouch, old man ::
Can't you c%hirrup?" = 40.
"oh. I'm all right" and / felt an.
! was put out. But L didn't like the
looks Of Somers. and I couldn't ga,
so to the man who had brought him
there"
Oh, please! Oh. pleased" shouted q
hoarse, strange voice. and one scarce.
ly to be heard above the hum Of IA,
voices and peals Of gay laughter
"oh. somebody. pleased"
l looked across the ROOM. and ir
the wide hall doorway stood a man
who was quite evidently a waiter
tie was whtte-faced and staring-eyed
and he fairly hung on to a porticr<
for support. as he repeated his agon,
lied plea.
What is it?" said Mrs. Reeves. a.
everybody else stared at the man
What do you WANT" She stepped
toward him, and we all turned t.
look.
Not you-no. Madame. Some
man.. please-some doctor. Is Their.
n here?"
Some Of the servants ill?" asked
Mrs. Reeves. kindly; Doctor Rem
The pleasant=faced capable-lookinl
woman paused only until Doctor
Remson Joined her, and the two wen
into the hall. the waiter .followinf
slowly.
In a moment 1 heard a shrek. :
wild scream. Partly curiosity ant
partly a forebodinR Of harm t.
Vicky Van. made me rush forward
Mrs. Reeves had screamed, and
ran the length Of the hall to the din
the floor, and Remson bending owe,
him.
He's killed! He's stabbed"' criee
Mrs. Reeves. clutching at my arm a
I reached her. "Oh. what shall ",
do?"
She stood just in the dining DON
doorway. which was at the end o
the long hall. as in most city houses
The room was but dimly lighted, tn,
table candles not yet burning.
Keep the people back!" l shouted
ne tnNQA In thu v1r&va~ ------.
out into the hall. Steele. keep thos
girls back!"
There was q n awful connection
The men urged the women back. blu
curiosity and horror made then
surge forward In Irresistible force,
Shut the door," whispered Rem
son: This man Is dead. It's q,
awful situation. Shut that door,"
Somehow, ! managed to get tn,
door closed between the dining room
and hall. On the inside-were Rem
and myself. Outside in the hall wa
q crowd of hysterical women an,
frightened men.
Are you surs!" I asked, IN a 10,
voice. going nearer to tho doctor an,
looking at s6tner6' fast-klaxing eye.
Sure. He was stabbed straight t
the heart wtth-see-a small, shar
Her hands over her eyes, but peer
ing through her fingers. Mrs.. Reeve
drew near. Not really" she moaned
"Oh, not really dead! Can't we d
anything for him."
mo-" said Remson. rising to hi
feet from his kneeling position. He
dead, ] tell you. Who did lit"
That waiter" I began, and the
stopped. Looking in from a door or
posite the hall door, probably on
that led to buffers pantry Q
faced walters.
Come In here" said Re,nson; INC
an Of you. Which II chief?".
v II am, sir" and q head waite