The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-01-05
CHAPTER VIII

How good of you to come early"
Herrick and I looked round-from
one of the magnificent Bouchers
which hung on the hall of Brief.
Percy Ebert Virgil was standing
six PAGES away.
'For that" said Herrick, slowly,
''the warmth of our invitation must
be our excuse"
Virgil raised his eyebrows and
took out cigarette.
"My uncle will see you later. Till
then you must put up with me-"
Wen manage somehow" said
Herrick. st don't remember you
here in 1912"
The other frowned.
"Allow me to warn you," he said,
mot to refer to that visit when my
uncle is here. AS you probably
know, in 1914 his father and wife
were both killed and his only broth
er, my father, met with hideous
fate. And these three terrible blows
all fell within "a hours. From that
day to this he has never so much as
mentioned what went before. For
him the past is buried-in holy
ground"
SIS it indeed?" said Herrick. "Pd
no idea. And don't think his daugh-
ter has. She never said"
"His daughter? When did you
meet herr"
The queries famed. That Herrick
had drawn first blood was as clear
as day.
"At Tracery," said Herrick, calm
ly. ''We dined there on Friday
night"
Virgil stood still as death.
Then, as though released from
some spell, he turned to table be-
side him, struck a match and light
ed a cigarette.
"Wen, WELL" he said lightly. "And
how are you proposing to get me
DOWN."
The sudden, impudent question hit
me between the eyes, but Herrick
replied as coolly as if a child had
come up and asked him the time.
"Well, we rather thought of leav-
ing that operation to YOU"
Virgil laughed.
81 don't know that I blame you,"
he said, and took his seat on the
arm of a mighty chair. "It's rotten
to be laughed out of court. Have
thew found Max yet?''
"They found him on Tuesday,"
said Herrick.
well, that ought to help you."
said Virgil, comfortably.
ST think it WILL" said Herrick,
'before we're through"
Virgil fingered his chin.
"Where were you," he said, "on
Wednesday, at half-past nine?"
Elsewhere" said Herrick, short
ly. Where were you on Friday,
at half-past six?"
"That," said Virgil, els easy !.
Never mind, let's look at your
rooms" He got to his feet. "Did
you bring a servant of sorts? Or
are you working alone?"
81 don't think he'd suit you," said
Herrick, eff that's what you mean"
SIS that meant to be rude?" said
Virgil.
Intensely" said Herrick.
Virgil sucked in his breath.
Then
GAS your host, L"
"What makes you think" said
Herrick, "that you are our host?"
The others eyes burned in his
head.
Then, with a manifest effort
Come" he said Tricky. "I'n
take you way that you know"
And so he did.
At the foot of each staircase tur-
ret, there were two doors, one of
which gave to the terrace and one
to the house. A moment later, there
fore, we followed him into the tur-
ret which gave to Elizabeth's suite,
climbed the stair and passed
through her lovely rooms.
And then we had entered the tow
er and were climbing up to the
bedroom I knew so well.
Winter was busy, unpacking. AS
we came in, he turned, with a shirt
in his hands
Now Winter, of course, was pre-
pared for some such encounter as
this; but Virgil was not: and the
sudden, improvised meeting with
the valet whom he had oppressed,
who must, he knew, be itching to
take revenge, hit our unpleasant