"Go down there, then, and then go back and search upstairs again.
Somebody may be hiding. Who here knows Miss Van Allen the most
intimately?"

"Perhaps I do," said Mrs. Reeves. "Or Miss Gale. We are both her warm
friends."

"I'm also her friend," volunteered Bert Garrison. "And I can
guarantee that if Miss Van Allen has fled from this house it was out
of sheer fright. She never saw this man until to-night. He was a
stranger to us all."

"Where's the housekeeper?" went on Fenn.

"I think she must be somewhere about," said Mrs. Reeves. "Perhaps in
the kitchen. Julie is an all round capable woman. When there are no
guests she prepares Miss Van Allen's meals herself. When company is
present the caterer always is employed."

"And there are no other servants?"

"Not permanent ones," replied Mrs. Reeves. "I believe the laundress
and chore boy come by the day, also cleaning women and such. But I
know that Miss Van Allen has no resident servant besides the maid
Julie."

"This woman must be found," snapped the coroner. "But we must first
of all identify the body. Mason, call up the principal clubs on the
telephone, and locate R. Somers. Also find Mr. Norman Steele. Now,
Luigi, let's have your story."