Vicky Van Part 14

"I doubt it. Anyway, you stand up for Vicky, as far as you can do so honestly. Won't you?"

"I can surely promise that," I replied, as I started on my errand.

Approaching the Fifth Avenue residence, I looked at the house, which I had been unable to see clearly the night before.

It was large and handsome, but not one of the most modern mansions.

Four stories, it was, and as I glanced up I noticed that all the window shades were down. The floral emblem of death hung at one side of the wide entrance, and as I approached, the door silently swung open.

A footman was in charge, and I was ushered at once to the library where I had been some hours earlier. It was not a cheerful room; the appointments were heavy and somber, though evidently the woods and fabrics were of great value. A shaded electrolier gave a dim light, for the drawn blinds precluded daylight.

A soft step, and Mrs. Schuyler came into the room.

Black garb was not becoming to her. The night before, in her blue house-dress, she had looked almost pretty, but now, in a black gown, without even a bit of relieving white at her throat, she was plain and very pathetic.

Her face was pale and drawn, and her eyes showed dark shadows, as of utter weariness. She greeted me simply and glided to a nearby chair.

"It is kind of you to come, Mr. Calhoun," and the fine quality of her voice and inflection betokened New England ancestry, or training. "As you were here last night--you seem more like a friend than a mere business acquaintance."

"I am very glad, Mrs. Schuyler," and I spoke sincerely, "that you look on me like that. Please tell me anything you wish to, and command me in any way I can serve you."

The speech sounded a little stilted, I knew, but there was something about Ruth Schuyler that called for dignified address. She had the air of bewildered helplessness that always appeals to a man, but she had, too, a look of determination as to one who would do the right thing at any cost of personal unpleasantness.

"It is all so dreadful," she began, and an insuppressible sob threatened her speech. But she controlled it, and went on. "There is so much to be gone through with and I am so ignorant of--of law and--you know--of police doings."

"I understand," I returned, "and anything that you can be spared, rest a.s.sured you shall be. But there is much ahead of you that will be hard for you--very hard, and perhaps I can help you get ready for it."

"Will there be an inquest, and all that?" she whispered the word half fearfully.

"Yes, there must be; though not for several days, probably. You know they can't find Miss Van Allen."

"No. Where can she be? I don't suppose they will ever find her. Why should she kill my husband? Have you any theory, Mr. Calhoun? How well did you know this--this person?"

"Only fairly well. By which I mean, I have met her some half a dozen times."

"Always in her own house?"

"Not always. I've attended studio parties where she was present--"

"Oh, Bohemian affairs?"

"Not exactly. Miss Van Allen is a delightful girl, bright and of merry spirits, but in no way fast or of questionable habits."

"That's what they tell me; but pardon me, if I cannot believe a really nice, correct young woman would have a married man visiting her."

"But remember, Mrs. Schuyler, Miss Van Allen did not invite Mr.

Schuyler to her house. As near as we can make out, Mr. Steele brought him, without Miss Van Allen's permission. And under an a.s.sumed name."

A blush of shame stained her face.

"I realize," she said, "how that reflects against my husband. Must all this be made public, Mr. Calhoun?"

"I fear it must. The law is inexorable in its demands for justice."

"But if they can't find Miss Van Allen, how can they indict her? or whatever the term is. Why can't the whole affair be hushed up?

Personally, I would far rather never find the girl--never have her punished, than to drag the Schuyler name through the horrors of a murder trial."

"I quite understand your position, but it will not be possible to evade the legal proceedings. Of course, if Miss Van Allen is never found, the affair must remain a mystery. But she will be found. A lady like that can't drop out of existence."

"No, of course not. Why, her bills must be paid, her household effects looked after; is she in a house or an apartment?"

"A house. I understand she owns it."

"Then she must communicate with her business people--lawyer, bank or creditors. Can't you trace her that way?"

"We hope to. As you say, she must surely return to attend to such matters."

"And her servants? What do they say?"

I described the unusual menage that Vicky Van supported, and Mrs.

Schuyler was interested.

"How strange," she said. "She sounds to me like an adventuress!"

"No, she isn't that. She has money enough."

"Where does she get it?"

"I don't know, I'm sure. But she is a quiet, self-reliant little person, and not at all of the adventuress type."

"It doesn't matter," and Mrs. Schuyler sighed. "I don't care anything about her personality. She must be bad or she wouldn't have killed my husband. I'm not defending him, but men don't go to the houses of complete strangers and get murdered by them! And I hope she will never be found, for it might bring out a story of scandal or shame that will always cling to Mr. Schuyler's memory. But, of course, she will come back, and she will plead innocence and lay all blame on Mr. Schuyler.

Can't we buy her off? I would pay a large sum to keep her story from the world."

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Schuyler, but that can't be done."

"I thought you would help me--I'm so disappointed."

Tears gathered in her eyes, and her voice trembled. I wished Bradbury had had this job instead of myself, for I am soft-hearted where feminine appeal is concerned, and I didn't know quite what to say.

But just then the two Schuyler sisters came into the library and I rose to greet them.

"Oh," cried Miss Rhoda, "it's all too awful! We can't believe it! I wish I had that girl here! You must find her, Mr. Calhoun--you must!"

"Yes," chimed in Miss Sarah; "she must be brought to judgment. An eye for an eye and a life for a life. That's the Scripture law."

"Don't talk so, Sarah," pleaded Ruth Schuyler. "It won't bring Randolph back, to punish his murderer. And think of the awful publicity!"

"I don't care for that. Murder has been done and murder must be avenged. I'm ashamed of you, Ruth, if you let any idea of personal distaste stand in the way of righteous law and order."

"I, too," agreed Rhoda. "Spare no effort or expense, Mr. Calhoun, to find that wicked girl and have her arrested."