Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-02-19


Van Allen has a. very capable woman,
who 10 ~housekeeper and ladies' maid
IN one. But when guests are here.
the suppers are served from tho
Then call the housekeeper. And
where is Miss Van Allen herself?"
She's not in the house." said the
policeman Breen, returning from
his search.
mot in the housed" cried Mrs.
Reeves. Where is she?"
I've been all over-every room
every floor. She isn't in the house.
There's nobody upstairs at ALL"
N h~ousekeeper or maid?" de-
manded Mason. "Then they's got
away! Here, waiter. tell me all you
know Of this thing"
The italian Luigi came forward,
shaking with terror, and wringing his
fingers %nervously.
: II DIDN'T know anything about
It," he began, but Mason interrupted,
You do! You know all about it!
Did you kill this manu-
mo! Dio milo! No! a thousand
Then, unless you wish to be sus-
pected Of it. tell all you know"
A commotion at the door heralded
the coroner's arrival, also a detective
and a couple of plain clothes men.
Clearly, here vas a mysterious case.
J. The orone at once took matters in
his w hands. Inspector Mason told
him all that had been learned so far,
and though Coroner Fem seemed to
think matters had been pretty well
bungled. he made no comment and
proceeded with the inquiries.
Sure there's nobody ~upstairs?" he
asked Breen.
Positive. I looked in every nook
and Granny. I've raked the whole
house, but the basement and kitchen,
part"
go down there, then, and then go
back and search upstairs again, Some
Miss Van Allen the most Intimately"
Perhaps I do" said Mrs. Reeves.
cor Miss Gale. We are both her
warm friends"
II am also her friend" volunteered
Bert Garrison. "And l can guarantee
that if Miss Van Allen has fled from
this house it was out of sheer fright.
She never saw this man until tonight.
He was a stranger to us ALL"
where's the housekeeper?" went
on Fem.
Il think she must be somewhere
about" said Mrs. Reeves. perhaps
in the kitchen. Julie is an all round
capable woman. When there are no
meals herself. When c oE1pany- is
present the caterer always is en-
ployed."
"And there are no other ~servants?"
"Not permanent ones" replied Mrs.
Reeves. II believe the laundress and
chore boy come by the day, also
cleaning women and such. But l
know that Miss Van Allen has no resi-
dent servant besides the maid Julie"
This woman must be found"
snapped the coroner. But we must
first of all identify the body. Mason,
call up the principal clubs on the
telephone, and locate r.. Somers. Also
find Mr.. Norman Steele. Now, Luigi,
let's have your story. ,,
The trembling waiter stanlmered in
coherently. and said little Of moment.
Look here" said Fem, bluntly, lis
that you knife sticking in him? I
mean. is it n belonging to Fras-
chini's service? Don't touch it, but
look at it, you can tell"
Luigi leaned owe the dead
eyes, it is one Of Jul boning knives"
he said. I'VE always bring our own
hardware"
Well. then, if you want to clear
yourself and your men of doubt, tell
all you know"
II know this" and Luigi braced
himself to the ordeal. II was waiting
in the pantry for Miss Van Allen to
send me word to serve supper, and l
peeped in the dining-room now and
then to see il it vas time. 1 heard,
pres entity, Miss Van Aliens voice, also
a mans voice. I didn't want to in
trude, SO waited for a summons.
After. a moment or two I heard a
little cream. and heard somebody OF
something fall. I had no thought of
anything wrong, but thought the
guests were observation-disclosures"
"Aro Miss Van Aliens guests in
clined to be %riotous?"
mo. sir, oh. no." asseverated the
man. while Mrs. Reeves and Ariadne
looked indignant. "And forNthat
reason, / felt a little curious sd I
pushed the door adjar and peeped
in"
What did you see?"
II saw" Luigi paused so long that
I feared he was going to collapse.
But the coroner eyed him sternly,
and he ven on. II saw Miss Van
Allen standing, looking down at this
this gentleman on the floor, and
making Is if to pull out the knife. I
could scarcely believe my eyes. and I
watched her. She didn't pull the
knife. but she Strengthened up, looked
around, glanced down at her gown.
which-which was stained with blood
and then-she ran out into the
hail." %
Where did she go?"
II don't know. / couldn't see. as
the door was but on a crack. Then
l thought I ought to go into the din
ing room, hnd I did. I looked at the
gentleman and l didn't know what
to do. So I went into the hall, to the
parlor door, and called for help, for
a doctor or somebody. And then they
all came out here. That's all know"
Luigi's nerve gave way, and he sank
into a chair with a Sob. Fem looked
at him. and considerably left him
alone for the time.
"Can this be true ?" he said; turn
ing to US. Can you suspect Miss Van
Allen of this crime?" g
MOI" cried Bert Garrison and the
women, at once. And, mol" said /.
II am positive Miss Van Allen did not
know Mr.. Somers and could not have
ANN oMP1