Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1938-11-03
CHAPTER VIII-Continued

IL
"Ah, Richard," she said. "And
John Herrick, I'm glad to see you
again."
We went to her side at once, and
she gave us her hand to be kissed
and then, but not until then, Eliza
beth left the car.
The Count was not there to greet
her. (He was in fact attempting
without success to present my neph-
ew, Percy to the Duchess OF
Whelp.)
The reception was over, and we
were alone in the hall, when, as
though from nowhere, maid ap-
peared at our side.
''Her ladyship begs that you will
take tea in her suite"
cat once?" said Herrick, rising.
cat once, sir. If you follow me,
will show you the way"
She waited for me to rise, and
then, with delicate Difference, took
the lead.
Her demeanor was point-device:
her appearance, beyond reproach:
she breathed efficiency. She was
dark and by no means ill-favored,
and I would have said discreet, but
for curious expression about her
lips-Leonardo da Vinci could have
caught it, for the woman was not
smiling, and yet the smile was
there.
I followed her thoughtfully, be-
cause I knew who she was. And
that was Elsa-Elizabeth' personal
maid.
She led us the way we had gone
some As minutes before-that is, by
the staircase-turret Elizabeth al
ways used; and, as we went, paid
what attention I could to the doors
which shut the turret from the rest
of the house. Of these there were
three-one which gave to lobby
upon the ground-f1oor, one which
gave to the picture-gallery upon the
first floor, and one which opened
directly into Elizabeth's bedroom
upon the second floor. These doors,
which were small but massive,
could be neither bolted nor barred,
but below each old-fashioned latch
was good Yale lock. The bolts of
these locks were not shot, but were
at present held back by catches
within the locks: but, once the
catches were down, none could have
passed the doors unless they had
been admitted or possessed the ap-
propriate key. Il have made it clear
before now that the turret had also
a door which gave to the terrace
without, that this door had Yale
lock, but could also be barred.) All
the locks were within the turret,
except the last: and that was in
Elizabeth's bedroom.
Her sitting-room door was open,
and as we entered the bedroom, I
heard Elizabeth's voice.
II have said that, because of
my fall, I cannot remember what
happened for several hours: that,
after that, was cared for by peo-
pie did not know and that, by their
advice, sught the Duchess of
Whelp. I may say that these people
knew you and that, though they had
not been engaged to, er, care for
my health, nobody could have been
kinder-or more insistent that I
should not return to Brief"
IF you think" said Virgil, as I
walked into the room
Elizabeth turned and smiled.
"Do sit down." she said. "The
inquest is nearly DONE"
In some agitation, the Count of
Brief got to his feet, and Percy
surveyed us with murder in both
his eyes.
"'If you think you were say
ing" said Elizabeth.
'"Thank you," said Percy, calm
ly. eff you think you can get away
with a tale like that"
"D'you mind getting out of this
room?"
There was pregnant silence.
Then I walked to the door to the
landing and opened it wide.
The Count of Brief glanced at his
watch.
my God, I'm late," he said, and
fairly ran out of the room.
"'Adjourned,' not 'done,'" said
Percy, and with that, he turned on
his heel and followed the other out.
AS I shut the door
"'Such men are dangerous )"
said Herrick, and put on Elizabeth's
For a quarter of an hour we
talked. Then she and / left for the
stables, and Herrick went to the
tower. But long before then, nv
inventory was complete. The door
to the landing had Yale lock, but
no bars.
There was no mark upon Caesar,
and if his legs had been tender,
he now was perfectly sound. The
grooms had noticed nothing when
he came in. Two other good-looking
hunters were each let out of his
box, and Elizabeth babe me choose
one "for tomorrow at seven
o'clock" And then she gave her or
ders, and we went down the garden
and I'D to the belvedere