Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-03-05
CHAPTER XII (Continued)
1mpatiently I tore it open an
raced through its contents.

1mpatiently I tore it open and
raced through its contents.
Dear Mr.. Calhoun:
Thank you deeply for attend
ing to my errand. Owing to your
kindness I received the letters I
wanted. Now. will you do me n
last favor? Come again to the
parcel which you will find in the
Chinese jar in the music room.
Keep this for me and if I do not
ask you for it within a year, de-
stroy it unopened. I wish I could
be more frank with you you
have proved yourself such a -.
staunch friend, but 1 cannot con-
troll circumstances and SO I must
bear my fate. l do not know what
Mrs. Schuyler will think Of it.
but I have written her a letter.
When you see her, try to make
her realize it is useless to hunt
for me Since I can keep hidden
for this length of time, my re-
treat Is not likely to be discover
ed. And now, my kindest Of
friends. goodbye.
vicky Van.
stood, staring at the letter. I read
it through a dozen times. OF course.
I would do her bidding, but my heart
rebelled at the finality of the lines. !
knew 1 would never hear from Vicky
Van again. AS she said, since we
hadn't traced her yet, we eve could.
I wondered where she could posi-
bly, be. And Julie, too. Somebody was
shielding them both. They couldn't
be disguised or anything Of that sort,
for they had left the house at dead of
night, without luggage or-and
hadn't thought of this .before-with-
ont poon6vfy Hour could thou hoyo
found shelter, save in some friends
house?
OF course, vicky could have
snatched up a purse as she ran. Per-
haps that was what she flew upstairs
for. And then, maybe, she went down
the back stairs-but no. the walters
must have seen her that way. And
Luigi was in the front hall a moment
after Vicky disappeared.
Aside from my personal interest, !
hated to think I should never know
just how she did get away. For now,
1 had no hope that Fleming Stone or
anyone else could ever. find the girl.
She was too canny to be taken, after
her successful concealment SO far.
I went downstairs after a time, but
I said nothing Of my letter to Aunt
Lucy or Win.
They were eagerly discussing the
ldtCSS uCwSs Ia Aubl 0ASy was 3d..
ing, Yes, I've heard of Mr.. Stone.
and they do say he's a marvel. I hope
he'll find the girl, II only toSlearn the
mystery Of her disappearance"
"Oh. he'll find her." assured Win
ME, I've heard a lot about him over
there and he's a wizard! But I think
he'll have a long chase"
Meantime, what becomes of the
house," queried Aunt Lucy. What
1~4~ TI41 To~ ~ 900 TO- q 49,
likes?"
NO" I returned. a little shortly,
for I foresaw Aunt Lucy had that alb
surd feminine desire to ply into IN
other persons home. Its in charge
Of the police. and they won't let any
one in, without some very good rea-
son."
Couldn't. you get in?"
II suppose l might" I admitted
unwillinely, IF I had any business
there"
"Oh, do get up some business,
Chet," begged Winnie. land get the
keys and let Auntie and me go with
you! Oh, do! I'd love to see that girls
things!"
Winnie, you're positively lowbred
to show such c%uriosity!" I exclaimed,
angrily-the more SO, that I had the
u key In my pocket at that mo-
ment. But I was glad 1 had not told
hem Of Vicky Vans letter to me!
I waited until we'll past midnight,
and then. after seeing the post patrol
pass Vicky's door, I softly went out
OF my own house, and ACROSS the
street.
1 walked calmly up the steps Of
Vlcky's home, and sadly put the
latchkey in the door-for the last
time felt as IL I e performing
funeral rites, and I. entered and
closed the door behind me. softly. as
one does in the house Of death
went up the stairs, in the gloom,
It was not black darkness, for = part
" raised blind gave me a glimmer Of
light from the street Into the music
room I went, and by my pocket flash
ight. I took the lid from the Chinese
jar. But there was no parcel inside!
Amazed, I threw the light down
n the big vase. but It wal utterly
empty.
There was no use looking elsewhere
Tor the parcel-I knew VIcky well
enough to know that she would do
exactly . she had. said. OF; since she
hadn't, I was sure that she would not
have left that parcel in any other
hiding-place.
1 put the lashnght back In my
pocket and started downstafrs.
Slowly Y descended, for / stiIl felt
q little uncertain what 70 do. Should
I wait for . short time. q 90 back
nome r.. saa rs sss g. as si ne lss ss,. %.
concluded TO 90 home, and then think
out my NEXT step. as
~ paspsd ths livinsSroom. !
heard Z low. voice whisper my name.
i turned sharply. In thu do0ryvay:fI
could dimIy discsrh = cioakeA Al6ure.