Vicky Van

him was a man I had never seen before, and whom

idge table down at the end of the room. Her back was toward us, and she was so absorbe

ar the group I was wit

So

good taste-he bore himself like a gentleman, yet there was an unmistakable air of ostentatious wealth that repelled me. A second look made me think Mr. Somers had dined either late or twice, but h

ghed, in answer to the glance, "if, indeed, we dar

ng Ariadne Gale's receptive smile. "I'm anchored here for the moment. Mi

ll talk. I sized him up for a lumbering oldster,

for a thick white mustache, that drooped slightly on either side of a full-lipped mouth. His hair was white, his eyes dark and deep-set, and he could easily be called a h

hastily, and I met him half way, and even

ore?" I asked; "Good old St

ely, "but I shall, I hope, come often. Charming littl

led Ariadne, "fair

st protect my heart!" He clasped his fat hands pretty near where his heart

r! I feel sure we shall be friends,

adne's sympathy was so evidently profou

nnings," said the viva

omers kid later. Wher

t all. Norman Steele br

oesn't allow tha

. Any way, S

she won't mind for once. She won't, if she likes t

ell means to sell him her latest 'Autumn In

she does. Poor Ad paints above the heads of the public, so if this i

her wo

lse. Vicky is so fond of Ariadne and so sorry her pic

now Miss Van Alle

ly good stuff, and Vicky buys 'em fo

rizes? I thought she like

prizes and pink tea. Vicky Van isn't a gay doll, you know. She's-sometimes, she

hasn'

never seen any man

ll love this

less than a crown prin

to meet him. Won't

ers' face as he was presented to Miss Van Allen. He was bowled over. His eyes beamed

she drew away her hand, saying, "not allowed. Naughty man! Ex

sorry! I'll never do it again-unti

ought," I said to Cass

rose from

ed her eyes adorably, "I must see about the arrangement of seats at the supper table."

, and continued the Bridge game with

eep the hand," she said, as he rose. "I've playe

urned, and as he determinedly stood behi

of her game to be rattled at his close scrutiny, but it seemed to me her sho

her gown, it made her seem more than ever like an houri. She smiled up into Somers' face, and then, coyly, her l

-night! She looked roguish, and she made most brilliant plays, tossing down her c

ick, if you'd played for it," So

aw, just too late, that I was get

hat again," he said, l

ent tulle, but still, it roused Vicky. She glanced up at him, and I looked at him, too. But Somers was not in flirtatious mood. He sa

king after the surprise for the supper. To my surprise, Somers followed her, not hastily, but rather

asked him, rather abrup

eele, smiling. "He

at res

y and

known hi

right. Forget it. What's the su

uldn't be a surprise

lways great fun. Why the grouc

ace that I was put out. But I didn't like the looks of Somer

ce, and one scarcely to be heard above the hum of gay v

as quite evidently a waiter. He was white-faced and staring-eyed, and he

. Reeves, as everybody

stepped toward him, an

me man, please-some doc

asked Mrs. Reeves, kindly. "

only until Doctor Remson joined her, and the two

. Partly curiosity and partly a foreboding

of the hall to the dining room. There I saw S

rs. Reeves, clutching at my arm as I

he end of the long hall, as in most city houses. The room

ose in the living-room pressed out into

the women back, but curiosity and horror m

on. "This man is dead. It's an

l. On the inside were Remson, Mrs. Reeves, who wouldn't budge, and myself

ice, going nearer to the doctor and

aight to the heart with-s

ers, Mrs. Reeves drew near. "Not really," she moaned.

ing to his feet, from

I tell you.

door opposite the hall door, probably one that led to a butl

Remson; "not all of

waiter came into the r

e doctor, shortly. "Who are you?

f. "We're caterer's men

e here to se

you know

he Italian looked tru

and out of the dini

But now it's all ready, and I was wait

ss Van Allen

Luigi hesitated, and Do

uestions, Mr. Calhoun.

Mrs. Reeves, "oh no!

l an officer arrives. You waiters, stay there in that pantry. Close those doors to the o

ed the lady. "You're no

e house, but no

Doctor Remson went at once to the t

ing room, hearing thi

nor, as I could see, desirable to keep

y driven crazy by the frantic women, he said, sharply, "You may all do just as you like. I've no authority here, except that the ethics of my profession dictat

gathered up their wraps and went out

came to me i

ink I may? Why, it would interfere greatly with m

y, but the look in her eyes aroused my sympathy. "Well, go on," I said, "I

hope I won't be called on. Why,

ests. After all, I thought, it couldn't matter much. Few, if any, o

ague idea that we

you suppose she knows about this? I'm going up in the music room to see if she's ther

anyone kill Mr. Somers? Did the caterer's people do

Reporters may be here any minute. Must be here as

," and Ariadn

y if you want to, Ariadne, but behave like a sensible woman, n

n, of some sort?

hat revelations are yet

e man who brought

troduced Somers to the Van Allen house, and no one else present, so far as I knew, was

who had stayed. Only a ha

t I to bring on them any shadow of trouble or opprobrium that might result from my presence in that house at that time? Would it not be better to go while