Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-10-01

'AA.SSN eASAOO opoI Nv L III NAO
coroner a search reveals nc weapons in
the room. no clues showing how a hurg-
lar might have entered the room, but a
pearl necklace. valuead at 500, 600, is
missing from the safe.
"A search is made for the deed to the
library and it is found missing. The
~tective.
Miss Fordyce, a guest. tells the writer
or seeing an drive into the
grounds at midnight and a draped figure
also puzzled by the coincidence Of see
ing Mrs. Carstairs, the housekeeper. and
her son searching for some lost article
A detective arrives to Investigate the
case.
CHAPTER IX-Continucd.
"Nor l." said Archer. but if our
presence here makes it any easier for
you, here we stay as long as you
lof the visitors, and save you or Mrs.
Van Wyck that annoyance"
OF course everyone in the village
knew of the tragedy by this time, and
fiocks of curious people were gather
ing in and about the house. Soon
the whole place was in a turmoil.
Neighbors and village people were
looming and going, and everybody
was making suggestions or propound-
ing theories. y
Barbara and Morland quarrelled
Iopenly; Anne refused to see anybody;
Archer TODD around. moody and
taciturn; the languid figure of Beth
Fordyce could be seen %strolling about
the gardens, wringing her hands in
picturesque despair; while Mrs. Stel-
ton f1uttered about everywhere, ask
ing absurd questions and making
herself a general nuisance.
I longed for a little talk with
Anne, but decided not to bother her,
so l employed myself answering the
Questions of the curious visitors who
lcame and vent.
The whole village was up in arms.
And yet nobody seemed to care very
much hat David Van wyck was
dead. Their all-absorbing interest
was the mystery of the thing. They
positively gloated over the seemingly
contradictory facts that A man had
nsat his death in an inaccessible room
and yet apparently not by his own
hand.
Dozens Of explanations were offer
ed, some ingenious, some ridiculous;
but I listened to them all, hoping
that perhaps a chance shot might hit
the truth. For I too was deeply in
terested in solving the mystery.
Quite apart from my personal con-
nection with the matter, I felt a stir
ting vi LIE ueleCtlpG llSIlHCL u SOlfC
the problem. And not the least Curl
GUS phase of it was that apparently
nobody accused or even suspected
any individual. The whole argument
seemed to be that it must have been
the work of an expert burglar, and
yet that the entrance of such an in
truder was impossible!
Buttonwood Terrace. hitherto so ex-
elusive, was thrown open to all. Be-
side the curiosity seekers irons the
village, many personal friends anG
some distant relatives arrived at the
house.
AS both Anne and Barbara de.
|clined to see anybody, Mrs. Carstairs
acted as hostess. She was serene anC
determination that mad me wonder
what her thoughts might be. At one
time 1 saw her in earnest colloquy
with Mr.. Markham. l burned tt
know what she was talking abouI
and l asked him.
oh he said, "she doesn't wan,
to testify at the inquest, and she
of course they'll have to-"
Can he or they be implicated?"
asked, with interest.
Probably not. More likely it's {
woman's natural instinct to dreae
such an experience both for hersel.
and for anyone dear to her."
I thought then Of the peculiar cir
mother both hunting for something
in the road, and both denying tina
, they had lost anything. I was abou
!, to tell this to Mr.. Markham when HI
was called away on some matter
And I thought too, perhaps it wa
better not to mention the subject I'm
til I should discover what develop
yoor<c poi0hf roc,y1t fvnnn tho irny1oc<
: Coroner Mellen proved himsel
. capable of conducting matters in
!, btsiness-like way. If he appeared
hard and heartless it was probabl.
> necessary. considering the work h
had to do. The inquest was to be he'll
at half-past two, and there was mucl
Ito be done by way Of preparation
The jurymen were arriving, also sew
!, eral policemen and a number of re
porters.
The incoming trains brought PEG
pie from the city, and many of TIN
: principal men of the village were IL
attendance. Not everyone was allow
, led to enter the house, but tn
grounds were thronged with curiosi
lty-seekers and idlers.
: AS the time neared> for the inquest
a the great hall began to be filled will
|people. A table had been placed ii
the centre for the use of the corone
! n the reporters, ana a GROUP o
chairs near by were intended for tn
: jury.
. Seats were reserved for the. mem
3 bers of the household, and the res
t of h room was quickly filled by al
: interested II Mortified audience.
The o and the jurymen filet
: in and took their places, and as II b,
! the touch of a magic wand, the beau
3 tiful reception hall was transformed
into q our room.
The arrival Of the family upon tn
scene created a decided stir amongs
the audience.
i Anne came first, walking with Con
ldron. Archer. Her beautiful face wa
{ white, but her eyes were not cas-
: down; instead, she looked straigh
: ahead of her, but with an unseeinl
! gaxe,, az II walking in sleep. Archie
8 lied her to a chair and sat down be
side her. They were followed i'm
: Immediately by Barbara and M0rland
who were whispering together q
they came in. This brother and els
tier were often at variance in thei
Iopinions n apparently the preserl
2 occasion offered them opportunit,
! for differing views.
! Mrs. Stelton and Miss Fordyce fol
!, lowed them. both. looking very mucf
disturbed and embarrassed. I
1, myself. came fn with Markham
{ 1.-THE detective. and behind us were
Mrs. Carstairs and her son. The 9th.