Part 14 (2/2)
”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.”
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