Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-24
VI.-Continued.

Van had put on wraps and gone out
by either door h would surely have
been seen by some one in the house.
I'm just suree she didn't go out by the
front street door. for we in the living
room must haye noticed her. And
she couldn't have gone out by the
area door. for there were walters all
about, down here" >
We were sitting in the front base
ment room, a pleasant enough place,
evidently a servants sitting room.
Before Mrs. Reeves. on the table. were
the remnants of her. scarce tasted
breakfast. : AS she had said. the tiny
sandwiches and rich salad, which she
had procured from the unused stores
of the caterers provision. did seem
too closely connected with the trag-
edy to be appetizing.
THE kitchen is. back Of this?" I
asked.
Yes. and dumb walters to the din
ing room. I confess I've looked about
1 felt 1 was justified"
"You certainly are. Mrs. Reeves" I
said. warmly, for she IA thoroughly
ood-hearted, and a staunch friend Of
Vicky Van. Have you learned any
thing illuminating?"
mo; but things are queer" !
Queer, how?"
NNClAs yOu WOUluIl l. uuuCISIdHUs "A
man couldn't. But it's this way. Lots
Of potted meats and jars Of jam and
cans Of tea and coffee and cocoa in
the pantry, but no fresh meat or green
vegetables about. No butter in the
icebox, and no eggs orr bacon"
"Wvell, what does that imply? I'm
mo houseKeeper::sI admit"
leaving this morning-I mean as il
she had expected to 20 ava today,
and so had no stun; on handSto spoil"
Perhaps this is her market day"
No; it's queer, that's what it Is.
You know sometimes Vicky does go
away for days at a time"
Hasn't she a right toy.
"of course. she has. I'm thinking
it out. Where does she go? And
wherever it is, that's where she is
now"
Mrs. Reeves triumphant air seemed
to Settle the question.
"But all that isn't queer, my lear
lady" I said. I'VE all know vicky
Van gads about a lot. I've telephoned
her myself twice. and she wasn't
here. Once, Julie answered. and once
{there was no response of any sort"
"Yes. I suppose that's the case. She
was going away on a visit today, may
be. and SO had little food on hand to
be disposed Of. A good housekeeper
would look after that. OF course. it
wouldn't be Vicky's doing, but jules.
That h~ousekeeper is a treasure. She
could run a hotel il she wanted to-"
"'Vicky ran away and went to the
place. wherever it is. that she expect
ed to visit today"
"oh, Il don't know. This is all
merely conjecture. And. too, how
could she; in that dress? No. she has
gone to some friend in town. She
must have done SO. A hotel wouldn't
take her in-why," Mrs. Reeves voice
broke. you know that waiter said
there-there was blood on Vicky's
gown!"
do you believe that?"
If we believe him at all, why
shouldn't we believe the whole tale?
I don't know Vicky Van, you under
stand. except as a casual friend. I
mean. I know nothing Of her family.
he past, or her personality, except
as I've seer her in a friendly way. I
like her. thoroughly. but I can't hon.
estly say that I know her"
Nobody. All her friends say the
same thing. She is lovely and dear,
but never confidential. or communica-
tive regarding herself"
Wherever she went. Julie must be
with her" I suggested.
II don't know. I dare say that is
so, but how on earth could two women
get out of his house without its be-
ing known?"
And yet. they did. Whether alone
or together, they both got away last
night. Youtdon't think they're still
concealed N the house,"
"oh, no, Of course not; after the
search We made"
Il can't help thinking they'll turn
up today. Julie. anyway. Why, Miss
Van Allen must come back or send
back for her, valuables. saw lew
eiry and money in the dressing ROOM"
"Yes; but Of course. they're safe
enough. They're all In care Of the po-
We were interrupted by the en-.
trance OF a policeman and a woman
who had come to work.
She says" the policeman adj
dressed Mrs. Reeves. that, she was
expected here today to clean. Now,
we can't let her disturb things much,
but shed better wash up a little, and
that won't keep.
Everybody seemed to look to Mrs.
Reeves aa. 9 sort Of proxy ~housekeep-
err, and wondered what they would
have done without her. Though /
suppose they would have managed.
Yes. indeed" was her glad fe-
fast things I'VE just used. ana there's
some cups and plates in the kitchen,
for ! gave those poor policemen some
food long bout three o'clock th1e
morning. And she can throW out the
melted Ice cream, It's no rood 20 any
bod. andsit surely isn't .evtdenceWs
2 deter1ni9ed to ask t~hesworklng-
woman some questions. but the police
i YOE4AI6dIAng mo 4l-fE IaE1ktg.n Z&sFNaSs&GHt e.