Vantine sort of upset me--I didn't know just what I was saying."
"You don't think so now, then?" questioned Grady, sharply.
"I don't know what to think, sir."
"You say you never saw the woman before?"
"Never, sir."
"Had she ever been here before?"
"I don't think so, sir. The first thing she asked was if this was
where Mr. Vantine lived."
Grady nodded.
"Very good, Rogers," he said. "I'll be offering you a place on the
force next. Would you know this woman if you saw her again?"
Rogers hesitated.
"I wouldn't like to say sure, sir," he answered, at last. "I might
and I might not."
"Red lips and a white face and bright eyes aren't much to go on,"
Grady pointed out. "Can't you give us a closer description?"
"I'm afraid not, sir. I just got a general impression, like, of her
face through her veil."
"You say you didn't search these rooms?"
"No, sir, I didn't come inside the door."
"Why not?"
"I was afraid to, sir."
"Afraid to?"
"Yes, sir; I'm afraid to be here now."
"Did Parks come in?"
"No, sir; I guess he felt the same way I did."
"Then how did you know Vantine was dead? Why didn't you try to help
him?"
"One look was enough to tell me that wasn't no use," said Rogers, and
glanced, with visible horror, at the crumpled form on the floor.
Pages:
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72