Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-13
declined the

spoke sharply as Sne uecAAiAS"
services of the maid?
II don't explain these facts. II tnes
are facts. But as 1 said, I'm no. pre-
pared to belieye this story implicitly.
i do believe those two went on a JOY,
ride and they >came home so fright
ened lest their misdemeanor should
be discovered, that they haven't a
very clear recollection of hat nap
pened. At least the girl hasn't, and
as YOU may remember the valet was
decidedly n uncertain OF
his facts when he gave his W testl,
|mony. Besides telling an up and
down lie as to his whereabouts that
evening"
"That,s~ all So" said the detective,
musingly. They've both servants:
They had both been doing wrong n
jwere both fearful of discovery. But
all that would not cause them to m
vent this story of the maids about
seeing Mrs. Var Wyck coming from
the study. Now, if, as I think, Car
stairs was mixed up in the matter,
may it not be thateit was because she
feared for her sons safety that Mrs.
Carstairs sent the girl, Jeanette,
away"
I pondered on this. I knew how
! MILO Ndk SL1llS AoOlAASo ASA Soss' -
knew she had been out early that
next morning endeavoring to obliter-
Iate the wheel tracks of the new car,
which might tell the tale of his
w~rong-doing. And knowing Jean
nette's historical nature, the house
keeper might very easily have felt
afraid that the maids evidence would
lead to suspicion of her son and sc
she sent the girl away. 1t all looked
plausible, so plausible that my fears
for Anne grew deeper. and the future
looked very black indeed.
eff my theory is~right," Markham
went on, "that there is collision be
tween Mrs. Van Wyck and the valet
l think the best plan Is to question
him. 1 think if sufficiently brighten
ed, he will tell the truth. And nov
he has no fear of punishment for hi
stolen ride, he will probably make VI
some other story and I may yet catcf
him tripping. But I think this, Mr.
Sturgis, I think it is high time WI
gave all this information to the othel
members of the family. My wa!
would be, to go straight to Mrs. Var
Wyck with the whole story; but if no
that, 1 think at least Miss Van Wycl
and her brother, should be told all O
this. They are practically my en-
ployers and my report is due t.
lthem."
Give me a little more time"
begged. "Wait till tonight, won
false, how much better not to hav'
insulted Mrs. Van Wyck With a re
cital of it,"
1T seems to me, Mr. Sturgis, tina
you're assuming a great deal of re
sponsibility in the matter"
But who else is there to take tn
helm? MorIand Van Wyck is not on
to deal with such things, and tn
ladies could not be expected to do So
And then as q was tea-time, w
joined the others in the music room.
OF course. since the tragedy, te;
: had not been served in the study. an
l the beautiful music room made an at
tractive Setting for the dainty func
ton,
AS was to be expected. there was al
air of constraint over us all; n in
:. stead of general conversation, w
! broke up into small groups and con
versed in low tones.
: AS was not unusual, Morland an,
Barbara were disagreeing on, som
subject. A few words in their raise
voices proved that they were discuss
ing the lost pearls.
Somewhat to my surprise, Mr.. Las
} setter look part in their argument.
".It couldn't have been a burglar,
Lasseter was saying, because h
would never have stolen that Dee
of Gift. That theft, proves positivel
; 1.-the work OF some one interested |
: behalf of the family. And so Nor
Hand as you'can't believe there wer
two thieves,&sI think you must agre
THAT the criminal was some intereste
lparty."
Are you accusing me?" burst GU
Morland. DO you perhaps thin,
), that I raised my hand against M
= own father?"
. II accuse nobody said Lassetel
"but 1 think we ought to make NOR
: progress toward discovering the Grim
. inal. Il cast nc implication on MI
fMarkham's work. but l do say that
> > lis a most mysterious case. and per
. thaps Mr.. Markham himself woul