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Show - 131 - sometime the search for Dirk was continued by the police. It was finally concluded that he had boarded the ship that night and sailed to Mexico, perhaps to go on and lose himself somewhere in Central America, where he had changed his identity and started a new life. The investigation showed that his entire fortune had been removed from the banks in San Francisco a few days before his departure. So you can see he had planned carefully for Claudine and himself. Yes, it was the most baffling murder mysteryof the decade." Maddie looked worn out and she took her handerchief out of her pocket again and mopped her face. Dusk was upon them and no one had noticed that a chill was in the air. "Is that where it ended, Maddie?" sa,id Penny. "Well, Yes and no," she responded. "I could go on and say that the moment the inquest was over Andre' left and went back to France, or should I say scurried like a rat deserting the sinking ship. I believe he wanted to get out while he could. The Gavens just left. They didn't want to ever see the house again. The furniture and everything else was left as it was. The windows and doors were barred. They had asked Tom and me to stay on as long as the investigation was in progress, and we did, but we had to earn our living and finally were forced to leave also. "I won't go into the agonizing details of Claudine's funeral. I can only say to you that her parents wanted to take her back to France, but that was not feasible. Then they wanted her buried in the rose garden of Gaven House, but it was against the city ordinance so she was interred in the beautiful cemetary on the outskirts of San Francisco. Mrs. Gaven insisted she be buried in her wedding dress." "When did Claudine start to appear at Gaven House?" said Vicky. "Well, let me see," answered Maddie. 'It wasn't too long after the |
