New Britain herald., 1927-05-03
HAS GONE BEFORE

From the veranda of the Hotel Majusaca, at Ocean Town, N. J.. Titus Riggs, guest, sees man taken from the ocean and laid on the beach while a crowd gathers to stare.
 The reader has been introduced to these bathers: Ned Barron, the copper king. and his wife, Madeline: Angelica Fair and her fiance. Robin Sears; Rob- in's father. Croydon Sears; Carmel ita Valdon and her companions. Roger Neville, Garrett Folsom and Mrs. Barnaby, whom everyone calls the Duchess.
 From the shocked expression on the faces of the throng, Riggs sur mises that the man is dead and, putting down' his field glasses. he hastens down to the beach, to find that the dead man Is Garrett Fol- som.
 At the hotel, where the body is taken. Ross, the victims valet. is questioned, and Dixon. hotel de- tective. decides to examine all of Folsom's companions. q NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER W
 Dixon pushed a button and a bellboy appeared at the door.
 "Oh, It's you. Hubby. Is 1t? We'll. hike yourself up to these two room numbers and ask the two ladies to come down here immedi- ately."
 "Yes sir" and the fat youngster took the slip that Dixon handed him.
 Isn't that a little imperative, Mir. Dixon?" said Neville. with a look of astonishmert.
 Its the only way. I've tried too many times asking, ladies to come when convenient, and it means long wait. They can't re- sent definite summons in an emergency like this."
 No, I suppose not" Neville agreed, and sure enough, 1t was but a few moments before the two came in.
 "Oh, oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Bar naby. as she caught sight of the blanketed form, 'can't we go somewhere else? That awful oh, oh"
 She covered her face with her hands and sat moaning.
 Flush. hush, Duchess" her com panion whispered. Don't make such fuss.'
 T can't help 1t! Oh. MT. Pelham, do let us go out of here! MT. Neville, beg him to let me go! must go!"
 She rose and made for the door with such evident determination that Dixon thought best to humor her.
 "All right" he said kindly. well go into another room. Come, please. Mrs. Valdon. and you, too. MT. Neville"
 There were several nearby rooms used more or less as offices, and into one of them Dixon ushered his little crowd of people.
 Pelham remained behind. wait ing for the appearance of the doc tor, who had been sent for with an urgent request to make haste.
 The whole affair was most dis tasteful to Mir. Pelham. To be sure, no hotel manager could be blamed for having one of his guests drop dead. but it made an unpleasant commotion. and try as he would. 1t seemed impossible to keep the affair secret.
 The bellboys were staring; the elevator attendants were on the alert; the clerks at the desk. though outwardly calm, were vide eyed and listening.
 The news had. of course. spread, and some of the guests in the great foyer were frankly curi- ous, and were even beginning to ask questions.
 They saw the two women, ac- companied by the hotel detective and Roger Neville, go into a room and close the door.
 Yet the conversation in there was in no way alarming or even in teresting.
 Relieved of the sight of the still shrouded form of Garrett Folsom. Mrs. Barnaby became herself again and answered readily enough all the questions put to her. Too readily. indeed. for she was a voluble sort, and once started she loved to hear the sound of her own voice.
 "Oh. yes, of course I knew Mir. Folsom" she returned to Dixon s question. "No. didn't know him