Vicky Van

esponsible for the death of Randolph Schuyler. The funeral of the millionaire had taken place, and the will had bee

the prominence of the victim, but because of the mystery s

rmation regarding Victoria Van Allen, but none of these knew a

quest, but more were not so called on, as the

yself, but I wanted to hear the opening queries

ingle stab of the short, sharp knife. The knife was produced and identified. It had been carefully taken care of and had been photogra

e party supper, and of the sending of his best

before, but I listened with deep interest, and I realized, that, granting

of her talking to me over the telephone. Should absolute law and justice call for

by parcel post, nor was it registered-these would have called for the sender's address-b

same night, and I intended to say nothing of it, until I

ne whom Vicky loved well enough to wish to shield. And, too, the guests were all in the big living-room; there was no one unaccounted for. If Luigi himself, or any of the caterer's men had by chance done the deed, Vicky wouldn't have run away! There was no sense in that. So I could see no possible theory but that of Vicky's actual guilt. Why she did it, wa

nk this. Gravely the m

their faces showed

d; all enjoyed her as a delightful hostess; and many told individual instances of Vicky's kind heart and helping hand. Not infrequently had she lent assistance, both

rtation; the women gave her such commendation as is rarely given them to their own sex, and declared that Miss Van A

Van's, as he wanted to meet her. But he had asked Steele, especially, to introduce him as Mr. Somers. He had given no reason for this, and Steele had thought little of it. Randolph Schuyler was a man whom his friends o

r. Said he often called on ladies who could not be called

The reason for this had little, if anything, to do with what had followed. A connection of some sort, between Vicky and Mr. Schuyler

, but though Vicky favored him more than some others, yet she gave him no definite encouragement, as he himself ruefully admitted. But he

n's vehemence, and let him run on for

, why, then, Mr. Garri

Allen dis

d Garrison; "she has been taken away by somebody and he

erself. It couldn't be that Vicky was held captive, since she was at her own house two nights after the

y, or theoretically, he th

rised during or after the act by the sudden appearance of Miss Van Allen in the dining room, he

out being seen by the waiters. Unless, perchance, the waiters had been bribed to silence

purpose of diverting suspicion from Vicky Van. However, it seemed t

h evident reluctance, that she had caught a mere glimpse of somebody

ental to her work as a concert singer to be mixed up in this affair. But since she

rs from the living-room?" a

l, I had a vague, fleeting impression of somebody running upstairs.

or a

llen. I didn't see her clearly enough even to notice the color of her gown. It was merely a gl

me intruder, it may have be

ay I know somebody ran upstairs. Furthe

ad she stabbed Mr. Schuyler, Miss Van Allen would not have disappeared. Now, if this woman who ran u

ne had thought of Vicky Van le

to where? Not to a neighbor's, for Vicky Van knew none of the nearby residents. I had heard her say so, myself.

ely sent an order to have the skylight matt

ture in the back of Randolph Schuyler's watch. But she declared t

haffed him a bit on his dignity and awe-inspiring presence, he refuted it by showing me the picture in his watch. He said it was a little chorus girl he had taken out to supper the night before. I could see the picture had been merely t

hey had neve

strangers, I know Miss Van Allen well, and she is not one to dissemble or pretend. I a

nothing, nor did that of several other

s home life than any of the rest of us, but

Miss Gale's studio parties, and

t her, Miss Gale," the c

sant and so interested in my work that she came two or three times, and then I invited her to one of my little st

e was always a bit of a mystery. I confess I tried at times, to learn something of her previous life. But she adroitly evaded my questio

term," observ

all I

en go on her frequent a

n would tell of a gay house party down on Long Island or a week-end trip

to Bronxville. I've heard her tell of these trips. She has a wide circle

hich I daresay I ought to exhibit. It is a letter fro

f that I did. I wasn't in love with Vicky Van, but I had a tremendous interest in her, and I didn't want that little lone, helpless person haled before a court of justice. Vicky did seem terribly alone. Hosts of friends she

letter over to the coro

r

am going away and I shall never return. Don't think of me any more hardly than you must, but if you can keep any loving little memory of the hours we spent together, I want you to do so. And as a remembrance, I want you to have my l

is from Miss Van

. Reeves. "There's no

er, it would be difficult to imitate it, and, too, no one would have any reason to forge that letter to Mrs. Reeves. She had verified Vicky's statem

ght before, the postmark showing that they were mai

t the letters to be mailed by some one else? By Julie, perhaps,

this, and by degrees the slowe

d, he thought, but what a clue! Two letters posted in the ci

might be bought in any stationery or department store, no monogra

o Vicky's handwriting, and the coroner

r, look at it through his good old lens, smell it, and then

inating in that plain paper and envelope,

ure and composure. Clearly, she was not breathlessly hurrying from one place to another, or vigilantly eluding pursuit.

icky! She seemed so alone-and yet-how did I know? She may have gone to friends or-some

future for Vicky Van. I didn't want her to kill herself-I didn't want her to be found and arrested-what did I want? I wasn't sure in my own mind, save

cturnal visit to Vicky's house or of our telephone conversation. If my conscience smote me I co

nothing of her or of her home life. They all spoke of her as a kind lady to work for, though,

th her. I had had this information from Vicky herself, but others to

the search being made for her, and showed her determination not to be found. It was Saturday, and when the inquest was adjourned until Mon

mail from her box and hide it where she had directed. I secretly hoped she might be i