a salad, and had left it in the butler's pantry an hour or so before
the crime was committed. Any one could have taken the knife without
its being missed, as the salad had been completed and put aside.

"In that case, Miss Van Allen must have secured the knife some little
time before it was used, as Luigi was in the pantry just previously,"
observed Fenn. "That shows premeditation. It wasn't done with a weapon
picked up at the moment."

"Then it couldn't have been done by Miss Van Allen!" exclaimed Mrs.
Reeves triumphantly, "for Vicky had no reason to premeditate killing a
man she had never seen before."

"Vicky didn't do it," wailed Ariadne. "I know she didn't."

"She must be found," said Lowney. "But she will be found. If she's
innocent, she will return herself. If guilty, we must find her. And we
will. A householder cannot drop out of existence unnoticed by any
one. Does she own this house?"

"I think so," said Mrs. Reeves. "I'm not positive, but it's my
impression that she does. Vicky Van never boasts or talks of her money
or of herself. But I know she gives a good deal in charity, and is
always ready to subscribe to philanthropic causes. I tell you she is
not the criminal, and I don't believe she ever left this house in the
middle of the night in evening dress! That child is scared to death,
and is hiding--in the attic or somewhere."

"Suppose, Mrs. Reeves," said the coroner, "you go with Mr. Lowney, and
look over the house again. Search the bedrooms and store-rooms."