Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-05
gxno1s13.

SSNASy 0AA Va 04 o4O oSAAVSA
sweetheart, Anne Vanwyck. whose hus-
band. David. VanWyck. q nan OF Inn
mense wealth. is mary years her senior.
ne soon perceives that VanWyck IN in
Flemming Stone, who has wonderful
abilities as q detective. is also ons Of
the guests.
Stone gives a marvellous exhibition of
van Wyck. 1t developes., Is determined
tune to q village library. The transfer is
Wyck's son and daughter are bitterly OPP
posed to the scheme.
~ The trustees call to complete
The deed Of gift 10 made out although
not signed. The next morning VanWyck
IS found in his study, shot through the
The dramatic attitude of the house
Keeper, Mrs. Carstirs, before the arrival
declaring positively that the man COM
% eoreesr S aassa4ch pP feRea she n arrival nsapS OF the ie
the ROOM. no clues showing how a burg
lar might nave entered the room, but a
pearl eeklaee valuead at 100000. is
"A search is made for the deed to the
library and it is found missing. The
VanWycks decide to hire an expert de-
Miss Fordyce, a guest. tells the writer
of seeing an automobile drive into the
grounds ct midnight INC q draped figure
to pass ~ her r. window The writer is
ing Mrs. Carstairs, the ~housekeeper, and
her son searching for some lost article
on the driveway.
case. r"
The calls an inquest to
probe the death.
CHATTER XII
Mrs. Carsairs antd her son were
greatly agitated. Mrs. Carstairs con-
trolled 1t and the valet did not.
But as they had been agitated dur
ing most Of the inquest, I could not
tell whether Miss Fordyce's story had
made any special impression on them
or not. And then, again, l remem-
bered their search in the road. Could
there be my connection between their
mysterious searching and the myster-
ious motor car?
But Miss Fordyce was still on the
witness stand. The coroner evidently
thought that she was an important
witness after all and questioned her
on many subjects. In response to one
Of his inquiries. she repeated a re-
mark which Morland had made to his
father at dinner the night before.
This speech was to the effect that
Mr.. Van Wyck would be sorry If
he carried out his plan. I couldn't
cast a shadow of suspicion in Nor
lands direction, but, to the eager
crowd waiting for a straw to show
which way the wind blew, this speech
was indicative. And yet, quite uncon-
scious. apparently, of having said any
thing by way Of suggestion, Beth took
her seat, placid and unruffled.
But to Morland, evidently the shaft
had struck home. He remembered
allied that 1t might react against him.
I thought Of this too, and then I re-
membered that Lasseter had sworn
that he had left Morland alone with
his father, and Morland had given
him the lie!
But already Archer was testifying.
The gist Of his evidence was practi-
cally the same rs the others, but5>he
related it in a concise, straightforward
way that held the attention of his
hearers. He said, that he had said
past ten the night before, and that
then, in company with me, he had
gone to the smoking-room, where
we stayed for perhaps half an hour,
both going to our rooms at about
eleven o'clock. He then told Of our
meeting again at the breakfast-table,
and of Anne's coming to the dining
room to tell US of MT. Van Wyck.s
non-appearance. OF course the rest Of
his story was practically a repetition
OF the others.
Have you any theory regarding
the crime r. asked Mr. Mellen, and
the soft-repeated question took on 8
new interest as Archer said thought
fully:
"Ifs hardly q theory, but should
like 20 suggest an idea that may 81
may not be plausible.
What - II" asked the coroner,
with interest.
I'm afraid It will sound absurd,
sid Archer slowly and seriously; .sbut