The Argosy, Vol. 90 No. 1 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

12 THE ARGOSY. that your knife sticking in hime? I mean, is it the one belonging to Fraschini’s ser- vice? Don’t touch it, but look at it. You can tell.” Luigi leaned over the dead man. ‘Yes, it is one of our boning-knives,” he said. “ We always bring our own hard- ware.” ‘Well, then, if you want to clear your- self and your men of doubt, tell all you know.” “I know this ”’—and Luigi braced him- self to the ordeal— I was waiting in the pantry for Miss Van Allen to send me word to serve supper, and I peeped in the dining- room now and then to see if it was time. I heard, presently, Miss Van Allen’s voice, also a man’s voice. I didn’t want to in- trude, so waited for a summons. After a moment or two I heard a little scream, and heard somebody or something fall. I had no thought of any wrong, but thought. the guests were unusually—er—riotous.”’ ‘“Are Miss Van Allen’s guests inclined to be riotous?” “No, sir; oh, no,” asseverated the man, while Mrs. Reeves and Ariadne looked in- dignant. ‘And for that reason I felt a little curious; so I pushed the door ajar and peeped in.” ‘“What did you see?” ‘““T saw—” Luigi paused so long that I feared he was going to collapse. But, as the coroner eyed him sternly, he went on: ‘“‘T saw Miss Van Allen standing, look- ing down at this—this gentleman on the floor, and making as if to pull out the knife. I could scarcely believe my eyes, and I watched her. She didn’t pull the kmfe, but she straightened up, looked around, glanced down at her gown, which —which was stained with blood—and then —she ran out into the hall.” ‘“ Where did she go?” “T don’t know. I couldn’t see, as the door was only open a crack. Then I thought I ought to go into the dining-room, and I did. I looked at the gentleman, and I didn’t know what to do. So I went into the hall, to the parlor door, and called for kelp, for a doctor or somebody. And then they all came out there. That’s all I know.” Luigi’s nerve gave way, and he sank into a chair with a sob. Fenn looked at him, “Can this be true?” he said, turning to us. “Can you suspect Miss Van Allen of this crime?” ‘“No!” cried Bert Garrison and the wo- men at once. And “ No!” said I. “I am positive Miss Van Allen did not know Mr. Somers and could not have killed an utter stranger— on no provocation whatever.” “You do not know what pfovocation she may have had,” suggested Fenn. “Now, look here, Mr. Coroner,” said Mrs. Reeves very decidedly, “I won’t have Miss Van Allen spoken of in any such way. I assume you mean that this man, though a stranger, might have said or done something to annoy or offend Miss Van Allen. , ‘Well, if he had done so, Victoria Van Allen wouldn’t have killed him! She is the gentlest, most gay and light-hearted girl, and though she never tolerates any rudeness or familiarity, the idea of her killing a man is too absurd. You might as well suspect a dove or a butterfly of crime!” “That’s right, Mr. Coroner,” said Gar- rison. ‘“‘ That waiter’s story is an halluci- nation of some sort—if it isn’t deliberate falsification. Miss Van Allen is a dainty, happy creature, and to connect her with anything like this is absurd!” “ That’s to be found out, Mr. Garri- son. Why did Miss Van Allen run away?” “YT don’t admit that she did run away —in the sense of flight. If she were fright- ened at this thing—if she saw it—she may have run out of the door in hysterics or in a panic of terror. But she the perpetra- tor? Never!” ‘““ Never!” echoed Mrs. Reeves.. “ The poor child! If she did come out here and saw this awful sight—why, I think it would unhinge her mind!” “Who is Miss Van Allen?” asked Fenn. “What is her occupation?” “She hasn’t an occupation,” said Mrs. Reeves. “She is a young lady of inde- pendent fortune. As to her people or im- mediate relatives, I know nothing at all. I’ve known her but a year or so, and as oO Comicbooe S CO