Vicky Van | Page 7

What's the surprise for
supper? Do you know?"
"Of course not. It wouldn't be a surprise if we all knew of it."
"Well, Vicky's surprises are always great fun. Why the grouch, old man?
Can't you chirrup?"
"Oh, I'm all right," and I felt annoyed that he read in my face that I was
put out. But I didn't like the looks of Somers, and I couldn't say so to
the man who had brought him there.
"Oh, please! Oh, _please!_" shouted a hoarse, strange voice, and one
scarcely to be heard above the hum of gay voices and peals of gay
laughter, "oh, _somebody_, please!"
I looked across the room, and in the wide hall doorway stood a man,
who was quite evidently a waiter. He was white-faced and staring-eyed,

and he fairly hung on to a portiere for support, as he repeated his
agonized plea.
"What is it?" said Mrs. Reeves, as everybody else stared at the man.
"What do you want?" She stepped toward him, and we all turned to
look.
"Not you--no, Madame. Some man, please--some doctor. Is there one
here?"
"Some of the servants ill?" asked Mrs. Reeves, kindly. "Doctor Remson,
will you come?"
The pleasant-faced capable-looking woman paused only until Doctor
Remson joined her, and the two went into the hall, the waiter following
slowly.
In a moment I heard a shriek, a wild scream. Partly curiosity and partly
a foreboding of harm to Vicky Van, made me rush forward.
Mrs. Reeves had screamed, and I ran the length of the hall to the dining
room. There I saw Somers on the floor, and Remson bending over him.
"He's killed! He's stabbed!" cried Mrs. Reeves, clutching at my arm as I
reached her. "Oh, what shall we do?"
She stood just in the dining-room doorway, which was at the end of the
long hall, as in most city houses. The room was but dimly lighted, the
table candles not yet burning.
"Keep the people back!" I shouted, as those in the living-room pressed
out into the hall. "Steele, keep those girls back!"
There was an awful commotion. The men urged the women back, but
curiosity and horror made them surge forward in irresistible force.
"Shut the door," whispered Remson. "This man is dead. It's an awful
situation. Shut that door!"

Somehow, I managed to get the door closed between the dining-room
and hall. On the inside were Remson, Mrs. Reeves, who wouldn't
budge, and myself. Outside in the hall was a crowd of hysterical
women and frightened men.
"Are you sure?" I asked, in a low voice, going nearer to the doctor and
looking at Somers' fast-glazing eyes.
"Sure. He was stabbed straight to the heart with--see--a small, sharp
knife."
Her hands over her eyes, but peering through her fingers, Mrs. Reeves
drew near. "Not really," she moaned. "Oh, not really dead! Can't we do
anything for him?"
"No," said Remson, rising to his feet, from his kneeling position. "He's
dead, I tell you. Who did it?"
"That waiter--" I began, and then stopped. Looking in from a door
opposite the hall door, probably one that led to a butler's pantry or
kitchen, were half a dozen white-faced waiters.
"Come in here," said Remson; "not all of you. Which is chief?"
"I am, sir," and a head waiter came into the room. "What has
happened?"
"A man has been killed," said the doctor, shortly. "Who are you? Who
are you all? House servants?"
"No sir," said the chief. "We're caterer's men. From Fraschini's. I'm
Luigi. We are here to serve supper."
"What do you know of this?"
"Nothing, sir," and the Italian looked truthful, though scared.
"Haven't you been in and out of the dining-room all evening?"

"Yes, sir. Setting the table, and such. But now it's all ready, and I was
waiting Miss Van Allen's word to serve it."
"Where is Miss Van Allen?" I broke in.
"I--I don't know, sir," Luigi hesitated, and Doctor Remson interrupted.
"We mustn't ask these questions, Mr. Calhoun. We must call the
police."
"The police!" cried Mrs. Reeves, "oh no! no! don't do that."
"It is my duty," said the doctor, firmly. "And no one must enter or leave
this room until an officer arrives. You waiters, stay there in that pantry.
Close those doors to the other room, Mr. Calhoun, please. Mrs. Reeves,
I'm sorry, but I must ask you to stay here--"
"I won't do it!" declared the lady. "You're not an officer of the law. I'll
stay in the house, but not in this room."
She stalked out into the hall, and Doctor Remson went at once to the
telephone and called up headquarters.
The guests in the living room, hearing this, flew into a panic.
Of course, it was no longer possible, nor, as I could