The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

VICKY R. S. was embroidered in tiny white let- ters on the handkerchiefs, and a monogram R. S. was on his seal-ring. His jewelry, which was costly, the in- spector did not touch. There were magnifi- cent pearl studs, a watch-fob, set with a black opal, and pearl cuff-links. Examina- tion of his hat showed the pierced letters R. S., but nothing gave clue to his Christian name. ‘“‘ Somers,” said the inspector musingly. ‘‘ What club does he belong to?” “IT don’t know,” I replied. ‘“ Mr. Steele belongs to several, but Mr. Somers does not belong to any that I do. At least, I’ve never seen him at any.” “Call in the servants. Let’s find out something about this household.” As no one else moved to do it, I stepped to the door of the butler’s pantry and sum- moned the head-waiter of the caterer. “‘ Where are the house servants?” I asked him. ‘“‘ There aren’t any, sir,’”’ he replied, look- ing shudderingly at the grisly. form on the floor. “No servants? In a house of this type? What do you mean?” “ That’s true,” said Mrs. Reeves, break- ing her silence at last. “ Miss Van Allen has a very capable woman who is house- keeper and ladies’ maid in one. When guests are here the suppers are served from the caterer’s.”’ “ Then call the housekeeper. And where is Miss Van Allen herself?” “ She’s not in the house,” said the police- man, Breen, returning from his search. “Not in the house!” cried Mrs. Reeves. ‘Where is she?” “T’ve been all over—every room, every floor. She isn’t in the house. There’s no- body up-stairs at all.” “No housekeeper or maid?” demanded Mason. ‘“ Then they’ve got away! Here, waiter, tell me all you know of this thing.” The Italian, Luigi, came forward, shaking with terror and wringing his fingers. “T d-don’t know anything about it,” he began, but Mason interrupted. “You do! You know all about it! you kill this man?” “No! Dio mio! A thousand times no!”’ Did VAN. 11 “Then, unless you wish to be suspected of it, tell all you know.” A commotion at the door heralded the coroner’s arrival, with a detective and a couple of plain-clothes men.: Clearly, it was a mysterious case. The coroner at once took matters into his own hands. Inspector Mason told him all that had been learned so far, and though Coroner Fenn seemed to think matters had been pretty well bungled, he made no com- ment and proceeded with the inquiries. “Sure there’s nobody up-stairs?” he asked Breen. “Positive. JI looked in every nook and cranny. I’ve raked the whole house except the basement and kitchen.” “Go down there, then, and then go back and search up-stairs again. Somebody may be hiding. Who here knows Miss Van Allen the most intimately?” ‘“’ Perhaps I do,” said Mrs. Reeves, “ or Miss Gale. We are both her warm friends.” ‘“‘T am also her friend,” volunteered Bert Garrison. ‘And I can guarantee that if Miss Van Allen has fled from this house it was out of sheer fright. She never saw this man until to-night. He was a stranger to us all.” ‘‘'Where’s the housekeeper?” went on Fenn. ‘“‘ IT think she must be somewhere about,” said Mrs. Reeves. ‘‘ Perhaps in the kitchen. Julie is an all-around capable woman. When there are no guests she prepares Miss Van Allen’s meals herself. When company is present the caterer always is employed.” ‘“‘ And there are no other servants?”’ ‘Not permanent ones,” replied Mrs. Reeves. ‘‘I believe the laundress and chore- boy come by the day, also cleaning women and such. But I know that Miss Van Allen has no resident servant beside the maid, Julie.” “This woman must be found,” snapped the coroner. ‘“ But we must first of all identify the body. Mason, call up the principal clubs on the telephone, and locate R. Somers. Also, find Mr. Norman Steele. Now, Luigi, let’s have your story.” The trembling waiter stammered inco- herently and said little of moment. “Look here,” said Fenn bluntly, “ is oO Comicbooe S CO