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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43351 ***
+
+[Illustration: "THIS IS THE MOST BLESSED OF ALL YOUR
+CONTRADICTIONS"--_Page 267_]
+
+
+
+
+A CHAIN
+OF EVIDENCE
+
+
+_BY_
+CAROLYN WELLS
+AUTHOR OF "THE GOLD BAG," "THE CLUB"
+
+WITH ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR BY
+GAYLE HOSKINS
+
+[Illustration]
+
+PHILADELPHIA & LONDON
+J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
+1912
+
+
+
+
+COPYRIGHT, 1907
+BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
+
+COPYRIGHT, 1912
+BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+  CHAPTER                                                           PAGE
+      I. THE GIRL ACROSS THE HALL                                      7
+     II. THE TRAGEDY                                                  18
+    III. JANET PEMBROKE                                               30
+     IV. DOCTOR POST'S DISCOVERY                                      41
+      V. SEVERAL CLUES                                                52
+     VI. THE INQUEST BEGINS                                           63
+    VII. I GIVE EVIDENCE                                              75
+   VIII. AN AWFUL IMPLICATION                                         88
+     IX. GEORGE LAWRENCE                                             103
+      X. PERSON OR PERSONS UNKNOWN                                   118
+     XI. THE CHAINED DOOR                                            130
+    XII. JANET IS OUR GUEST                                          144
+   XIII. JANET IS MYSTERIOUS                                         160
+    XIV. MRS. ALTONSTALL                                             173
+     XV. WHO IS J. S.?                                               186
+    XVI. LEROY ARRIVES ON THE SCENE                                  201
+   XVII. CAN LEROY BE GUILTY?                                        214
+  XVIII. THE ROOMS IN WASHINGTON SQUARE                              227
+    XIX. A TALK WITH JANET                                           239
+     XX. THE INITIALED HANDKERCHIEF                                  251
+    XXI. FLEMING STONE                                               264
+   XXII. A CALL ON MISS WARING                                       282
+  XXIII. LAWRENCE'S STATEMENT                                        295
+   XXIV. THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE                                       306
+
+
+
+
+I
+
+THE GIRL ACROSS THE HALL
+
+
+I do hate changes, but when my sister Laura, who keeps house for me,
+determined to move further uptown, I really had no choice in the matter
+but to acquiesce. I am a bachelor of long standing, and it's my opinion
+that the way to manage women is simply to humor their whims, and since
+Laura's husband died I've been rather more indulgent to her than before.
+Any way, the chief thing to have in one's household is peace, and I
+found I secured that easily enough by letting Laura do just as she
+liked; and as in return she kept my home comfortable and pleasant for
+me, I considered that honors were even. Therefore, when she decided we
+would move, I made no serious objection.
+
+At least, not in advance. Had I known what apartment-hunting meant I
+should have refused to leave our Gramercy Park home.
+
+But "Uptown" and "West Side" represented to Laura the Mecca of her
+desires, and I unsuspectingly agreed to her plans.
+
+Then the campaign began.
+
+Early every morning Laura scanned the papers for new advertisements.
+Later every morning she visited agents, and then spent the rest of the
+day inspecting apartments.
+
+Then evenings were devoted to summing up the experiences of the day and
+preparing to start afresh on the morrow.
+
+She was untiring in her efforts; always hopeful, and indeed positive
+that she would yet find the one apartment that combined all possible
+advantages and possessed no objectionable features.
+
+At first I went with her on her expeditions, but I soon saw the futility
+of this, and, in a sudden access of independence, I declared I would
+have no more to do with the search. She might hunt as long as she chose;
+she might decide upon whatever home she chose; but it must be without my
+advice or assistance. I expressed myself as perfectly willing to live in
+the home she selected, but I refused to trail round in search of it.
+
+Being convinced of my determination, my sister accepted the situation
+and continued the search by herself.
+
+But evenings I was called upon as an advisory board, to hear the result
+of the day's work and to express an opinion. According to Laura it
+required a careful balancing of location and conveniences, of
+neighborhood and modern improvements before the momentous question
+should be decided.
+
+Does an extra bathroom equal one block further west? Is an onyx-lined
+entrance greater than a buttoned hall-boy? Are palms in the hall worth
+more than a red velvet hand-rail with tassels?
+
+These were the questions that racked her soul, and, sympathetically,
+mine.
+
+Then the name. Laura declared that the name was perhaps the most
+important factor after all. A name that could stand alone at the top of
+one's letter paper, without the support of a street number, was indeed
+an achievement. But, strangely enough, such a name proved to be a very
+expensive proposition, and Laura put it aside with a resigned sigh.
+
+Who does name the things, anyway? Not the man who invents the names of
+the Pullman cars, for they are of quite a different sort.
+
+Well, it all made conversation, if nothing more.
+
+"I wish you would express a preference, Otis," Laura would say, and then
+I would obligingly do so, being careful to prefer the one I knew was not
+her choice. I did this from the kindest of motives, in order to give the
+dear girl the opportunity which I knew she wanted, to argue against my
+selection, and in favor of her own.
+
+Then I ended by being persuaded to her way of thinking, and that settled
+the matter for that time.
+
+"Of course," she would say, "if you're never going to marry, but always
+live with me, you ought to have some say in the selection of our home."
+
+"I don't expect to marry," I returned; "that is, I have no intention of
+such a thing at present. But you never can tell. The only reason I'm not
+married is because I've never seen the woman I wanted to make my wife.
+But I may yet do so. I rather fancy that if I ever fall in love, it will
+be at first sight, and very desperately. Then I shall marry, and hunt an
+apartment of my own."
+
+"H'm," said my sister, "you seem to have a sublime assurance that the
+lady will accept you at first sight."
+
+"If she doesn't, I have confidence in my powers of persuasion. But as I
+haven't seen her yet, you may as well go ahead with your plans for the
+continuation of the happy and comfortable home you make for me."
+
+Whereupon she patted me on the shoulder, and remarked that I was a dear
+old goose, and that some young woman was missing the chance of her life
+in not acquiring me for a husband!
+
+At last Laura decided, regarding our home, that location was the thing
+after all, and she gave up much in the way of red velvet and buttons,
+for the sake of living on one of the blocks sanctioned by those who
+know.
+
+She decided on the Hammersleigh; in the early sixties, and not too far
+from the river.
+
+Though not large, the Hammersleigh was one of the most attractive of the
+moderate-priced apartment houses in New York City. It had a dignified,
+almost an imposing entrance, and though the hall porter was elevator boy
+as well, the service was rarely complained of.
+
+Of course dwellers in an apartment house are not supposed to know their
+fellow-tenants on the same floor, any more than occupants of a
+brown-stone front are supposed to be acquainted with their next-door
+neighbors. But even so, I couldn't help feeling an interest which almost
+amounted to curiosity concerning the young lady who lived in the
+apartment across the hall from our own in the Hammersleigh.
+
+I had seen her only at a few chance meetings in the elevator or in the
+entrance hall, and in certain respects her demeanor was peculiar.
+
+Of course I knew the young lady's name. She was Miss Janet Pembroke, and
+she lived with an old uncle whom I had never seen. Although we had been
+in the Hammersleigh but two weeks, Laura had learned a few facts
+concerning the old gentleman. It seems he was Miss Pembroke's
+great-uncle, and, although very wealthy, was of a miserly disposition
+and a fierce temper. He was an invalid of some sort, and never left the
+apartment; but it was said that his ugly disposition and tyrannical ways
+made his niece's life a burden to her. Indeed, I myself, as I passed
+their door, often heard the old ogre's voice raised in tones of
+vituperation and abuse; and my sister declared that she was not
+surprised that the previous tenants had vacated our apartment, for the
+old man's shrill voice sometimes even penetrated the thick walls.
+However, Laura, too, felt an interest in Miss Pembroke, and hoped that
+after a time she might make her acquaintance.
+
+The girl was perhaps twenty-one or twenty-two, of a brunette type, and,
+though slender, was not at all fragile-looking. Her large, dark eyes had
+a pathetic expression, but except for this her appearance was haughty,
+proud, and exceedingly reserved. She had never so much as glanced at
+Mrs. Mulford or myself with the least hint of personal interest. To be
+sure, I had no reason to expect such a thing, but the truth is, I felt
+sorry for the girl, who must certainly lead a hard life with that
+dreadful old man.
+
+Laura informed me that there was no one else in the Pembroke household
+except one servant, a young colored woman.
+
+I had seen Miss Pembroke perhaps not more than a half-dozen times, and I
+had already observed this: if I chanced to see her as she came out of
+her own door or descended in the elevator, she was apparently nervously
+excited. Her cheeks were flushed and her expression was one of utter
+exasperation, as if she had been tried almost beyond endurance. If, on
+the other hand, I saw her as she was returning from a walk or an errand,
+her face was calm and serene--not smiling, but with a patient, resigned
+look, as of one who had her emotions under control. At either time she
+was beautiful. Indeed, I scarcely know which aspect seemed to me more
+attractive: the quivering glow of righteous indignation or the brave
+calm of enforced cheerfulness.
+
+Nor had I any right to consider her attractive in either case. It is not
+for a man to think too personally about a woman he has never met.
+
+But I had never before seen a face that so plainly, yet so
+unconsciously, showed passing emotions, and it fascinated me.
+
+Aside from Miss Pembroke's beauty, she must be, I decided, possessed of
+great strength of character and great depth of feeling.
+
+But beyond all doubt the girl was not happy, and though this was not my
+affair, it vaguely troubled me.
+
+I admitted to myself, I even admitted to Laura, that I felt compassion
+for this young woman who seemed to be so ill-treated; but my sister
+advised me not to waste my sympathy too easily, for it was her opinion
+that the young woman was quite capable of taking care of herself, and
+that in all probability she held her own against her poor old uncle.
+
+"I don't see why you assume a poor old uncle," I said, "when you know
+how he berates her."
+
+"Yes, but how do I know what she may do to deserve it? Those dark eyes
+show a smouldering fire that seems to me quite capable of breaking into
+flame. I rather fancy Miss Pembroke can hold her own against any verbal
+onslaught of her uncle."
+
+"Then I'm glad she can," I declared; "as she has to stand such unjust
+tyranny, I hope she has sufficient self-assertion to resent it. I'd
+rather like to see that girl in a towering rage; she must look
+stunning!"
+
+"Otis," said my sister, smiling, "you're becoming altogether too deeply
+interested in Miss Pembroke's appearance. She is a good-looking girl,
+but not at all the kind we want to know."
+
+"And why not, pray?" I inquired, suddenly irritated at my sister's tone.
+"I think she is quite of our own class."
+
+"Oh, gracious, yes! I didn't mean that. But she is so haughty and moody,
+and I'm sure she's of a most intractable disposition. Otis, that girl is
+deceitful, take my word for it. I've seen her oftener than you have, and
+I've heard her talk."
+
+"You have! Where?"
+
+"Oh, just a few words now and then--in the elevator perhaps; and one day
+she was talking to the agent who lives on the first floor of the
+apartment. _Tumultuous_ is the only word to describe her."
+
+"H'm; she must be of a tumultuous nature if she can't control it when
+talking to an elevator boy or a house agent."
+
+"Oh, I don't mean she was then; but she gave me the impression of a
+desperate nature, held in check by a strong will."
+
+"Sounds interesting," I said, smiling at my sister's vehemence.
+
+"But that's just what I don't want!" declared Laura, emphatically.
+"You're not to get interested in that Pembroke girl; I won't have it! If
+you're going to fall in love at first sight, it must be with some one
+more gentle and more pleasing of demeanor than our mysterious neighbor."
+
+"But you see, I've already had my first sight of Miss Pembroke, and
+so----" I looked at my sister, teasingly.
+
+"And you've already fallen in love? Oh, don't tell me that!"
+
+"Nonsense! Of course I haven't done anything of the sort! I've seen Miss
+Pembroke two or three times. I admire her beauty, and I can't help
+thinking that she is terribly treated by that cruel uncle. She may be a
+termagant herself--I've no means of knowing--but as a casual observer my
+sympathies are with her, and I can't help feeling hard toward the old
+man."
+
+"You take a perfectly ridiculous attitude," Laura responded. "Like all
+men you are bewitched by a pair of big dark eyes and a pathetic mouth. I
+tell you, in all probability that poor old man is more entitled to
+sympathy than that melodramatic-looking girl!"
+
+As I have said, I always humor Laura, even in her opinions; so I only
+responded: "Very likely you are right, my dear," and let the subject
+drop. I'm a lawyer, and I'm thirty-two years old, both of which
+conditions have led me to the conclusion that in dealing with women
+acquiescence in unimportant matters is always expedient.
+
+But we were destined to become intimately acquainted with the Pembroke
+household, and to have opportunities to judge for ourselves whether Miss
+Janet deserved our sympathy or not.
+
+The hall boy usually brought the first morning mail to our door at about
+eight o'clock, and when he rang the bell it was my habit to open the
+door and take the letters from him myself.
+
+One morning I did this, as usual, and stood a moment looking carelessly
+over the letters before I closed the door. I may as well own up that I
+did this partly in the hope that Miss Pembroke would appear at the
+opposite door, where the boy was already ringing the bell. But my hope
+was unfulfilled, for, with a little click, the door was pulled open,
+then suddenly stopped with a sharp snap by reason of a night-chain.
+
+"Laws!" exclaimed what was unmistakably a negro girl's vice, "I nebber
+can 'member dat chain!"
+
+The door was clicked shut again, and I could hear the chain slid back
+and released; then the door opened and the grinning face of the colored
+girl appeared, and the boy gave her the letters. As there was no further
+hope of catching a glimpse of Miss Pembroke, I went back to my
+breakfast.
+
+
+
+
+II
+
+THE TRAGEDY
+
+
+It was perhaps half an hour later when I again opened my front door, to
+start for my downtown office. Laura accompanied me into the hall, as she
+often does and chattered a few parting inanities as we stood by the
+elevator. The car was rising, and as we are only on the third floor I
+had a half-formed intention of walking down the stairs, when the door of
+the other apartment flew open and Miss Pembroke ran out to meet the
+elevator. She was greatly excited, but not with anger, for her face was
+white and her eyes looked big and frightened.
+
+Surely the word _tumultuous_ applied to the girl now. But, it was plain
+to be seen that whatever caused her excitement it was something of
+importance. She had received a shock of some kind, and though she had
+herself well in hand, yet she was fairly trembling with almost
+uncontrollable emotion. She paid not the slightest attention to Laura or
+me, but clutched at the coat of an elderly gentleman who stepped out of
+the elevator.
+
+"Oh, Doctor Masterson," she cried, "come in quickly, and see what is the
+matter with Uncle Robert! He looks so strange, and I'm afraid he's----"
+
+She seemed suddenly to realize our presence, or perhaps she noticed the
+staring face of the elevator boy, for she left unfinished whatever she
+had been about to say, and, still clutching the doctor's coat, urged him
+toward her own door.
+
+I did not presume to speak to Miss Pembroke, but I could not resist an
+impulse that made me say to the doctor: "If I can be of any assistance,
+pray call upon me."
+
+There was no time for response--I was not even sure that the doctor
+heard me--but I turned back with Laura into our own apartment.
+
+"Something has happened," I said to her, "and I think I'll wait a bit."
+
+"Do," said my sister. "It may be that we can be of assistance to that
+poor girl; for if her uncle has a serious attack of any kind she will
+certainly want help."
+
+I looked at Laura with admiring affection, for I saw at once that she
+had realized that Miss Pembroke was in serious trouble of some sort, and
+her true womanly heart went out to the girl, forgetting entirely her
+previous dislike and suspicion.
+
+Almost immediately our door-bell rang, and, feeling sure that it was a
+summons in response to my offer, I opened the door myself.
+
+Sure enough, there stood the elderly doctor, looking very much
+perturbed.
+
+"You kindly offered your assistance, sir," he said, "or I should not
+intrude. I want immediate help. Mr. Pembroke is dead, Miss Pembroke has
+fainted, and their servant is so nearly in hysterics that she is of no
+use whatever."
+
+Laura is always splendid in an emergency, so of course she rose to the
+occasion at once.
+
+"Let me go to Miss Pembroke," she said, in her quiet, capable way. "I'm
+Mrs. Mulford, and this is my brother, Otis Landon. We are new-comers
+here, and do not know Miss Pembroke personally, but we are only too glad
+to do anything we can for her."
+
+"Thank you," said the old gentleman, looking at Laura with an air of
+approval. "I'm Doctor Masterson, the Pembroke's family physician. I'm
+greatly surprised at this sudden death. I'm surprised, too, that Janet
+should faint away, for I have never known her to do such a thing
+before."
+
+By this time we had all three crossed the hall, and were inside the
+Pembrokes' door, which opened into a short cross hall. On the right was
+the drawing-room, and here we found Miss Pembroke, who had not yet
+regained consciousness. She lay on a couch, and as the doctor bent over
+her she gave a convulsive shudder, but did not open her eyes.
+
+"She'll be all right in a moment," said Doctor Masterson. "Janet is a
+plucky girl, and sound as a nut. I'll leave her in your care, Mrs.
+Mulford."
+
+Laura was already hovering over the girl, and, with her intuitive
+womanliness, was doing exactly the right things.
+
+The colored woman was crouched in a heap on the floor, and was rocking
+herself back and forth, with occasional wails.
+
+"Stop that noise, Charlotte," commanded the doctor. "Don't make us any
+more trouble than we already have."
+
+The command was not heeded, but without further comment he turned away
+from her, and as he beckoned to me I followed him from the room.
+
+"I was at my wits' end," he exclaimed, "with those two women on my
+hands, and this dead man to look after!" As he spoke, we crossed the
+short hall and entered what was apparently the old gentleman's bedroom.
+I gazed with interest at the face of Robert Pembroke, and, save for what
+Doctor Masterson had told me, I should have thought I was looking at the
+face of a sleeping man. My first feeling was one of admiration, for the
+features were of classic mould, and the white hair, thick and rather
+long, waved back from a noble brow.
+
+"What a handsome man!" I exclaimed involuntarily.
+
+"Did you know him?" asked Doctor Masterson, looking at me keenly.
+
+"No," I replied; "I've never seen him before. I've lived in this house
+but two weeks."
+
+"Robert Pembroke was a handsome man," agreed the doctor, "but, with the
+best intentions, and with all the respect due the dead, there is little
+else good to be said of him. But his sudden death puzzles me greatly. I
+have been his physician for many years, and I should have said that he
+had not the least apoplectic tendency. Yet apoplexy must have caused his
+death--at least, so far as I can judge without a more thorough
+examination."
+
+As he spoke Doctor Masterson was examining the body, and his look of
+bewilderment increased.
+
+"He looks as if he were asleep," I said.
+
+"That's just it," said the doctor. "There is no indication of a
+convulsive struggle or a spasm of any kind. His limbs are quietly
+composed, even relaxed, as if he had died in his sleep; which is not
+quite indicative of a stroke of apoplexy."
+
+"Heart disease?" I suggested.
+
+"He had no valvular trouble of the heart," said the doctor, who was
+continuing his examination. "He had gout, indigestion, rheumatism, and
+many ailments incidental to old age, but nothing organic, and I had
+supposed he would live many years longer to torment that poor girl in
+there."
+
+"He was irascible, I know," I responded, feeling that I ought to say
+something.
+
+"Irascible faintly expresses it," declared the Doctor, in a low voice;
+"he was cruel, domineering, tyrannical and of a brutal temper."
+
+"And he vented it on innocent Miss Pembroke?"
+
+"Yes; he did, though Janet is no patient Griselda. She can hold her own!
+I've known her to----"
+
+Doctor Masterson ceased talking as he went on with his investigation.
+
+A dozen questions rose to my lips, but I refrained from uttering them.
+Miss Pembroke's affairs were none of my business; and, too, the doctor
+was not definitely addressing me, but seemed rather to be talking to
+himself.
+
+"Here's a key," he said, holding toward me a small bright key; "just
+take it for the moment, Mr. Landon, as it is doubtless an important
+one."
+
+"Where was it?" I asked.
+
+"On the bed, by Mr. Pembroke's side. It had probably been under his
+pillow. It looks like the key of a safety box of some sort."
+
+I put the key in my pocket, with a pleased thought that it would give me
+an opportunity to speak with Miss Pembroke. Meantime I noticed that
+Doctor Masterson's attitude was becoming more and more that of a greatly
+perplexed man.
+
+"I don't understand it," he muttered. "A man can't die without a cause.
+And every known cause shows its own symptom. But I find no symptoms.
+What can this man have died of?"
+
+"No foul play, I hope," I observed.
+
+"No, no; nothing of that sort! Mr. Pembroke died peacefully in his
+sleep. But how?"
+
+Suddenly he straightened himself up with an air of resolve.
+
+"Is there a doctor living in this house?" he asked.
+
+"Yes," I answered; "there is one on the first floor. Shall I fetch him?"
+
+"Do," said the old man. "Tell him that Doctor Masterson wishes to call
+him in consultation on a serious matter." I hastened on my errand,
+though not so rapidly as not to pause a moment to glance in at Miss
+Pembroke, who had recovered consciousness, and was lying quietly back on
+the sofa pillows, while Laura bathed her forehead with cologne. I well
+knew the soothing capabilities of Laura's finger-tips; and I also was
+not surprised to notice that the black girl had ceased her convulsive
+shuddering, and, though still sitting on the floor, was gazing at Laura
+as if fascinated.
+
+All this I took in in a brief glance, and then ran hurriedly down the
+stairs in search of Doctor Post.
+
+"Is this Doctor Post?" I asked as I entered his office.
+
+"Yes," he replied, laying down the gloves and hat he held. Apparently,
+he was just about to go out, and I had fortunately arrived in time.
+
+"Will you go up-stairs with me?" I went on. "Mr. Pembroke, on the third
+floor, is dead; and his physician, Doctor Masterson, is at a loss to
+discover the cause of his death. He sent me to ask you to join him in
+consultation."
+
+"Doctor Masterson!" exclaimed Doctor Post, and I saw at once that the
+younger man was flattered at being called in consultation by the older
+and celebrated practitioner. "He wants me?" he asked, as if scarcely
+able to believe it.
+
+"Yes; it is a peculiar case, and he asks your help. Will you go with me
+at once?"
+
+"Certainly," and in another moment Doctor Post and I were in the
+elevator.
+
+"Old Mr. Pembroke dead?" asked the boy as we entered.
+
+"Yes," I answered briefly.
+
+"Gee, is he? Well, _I_ can't give him any weeps! He was sumpin fierce!
+He just put it all over that young loidy. Sometimes she'd come down in
+this elevator all to the teary, so's I 'most hadta order a consignment
+of weep-catchers for myself. She's a looker all right, and she sets off
+the house great, but she leads the dismal swamp life, an' that's right!"
+
+I had neither time nor inclination then to reprove the boy for thus
+crudely expressing his opinion, for we had reached the third floor, and
+Doctor Post and I went at once to Robert Pembroke's bedroom.
+
+I introduced the new-comer to his older colleague, and then turned aside
+while they consulted on the problem that faced them.
+
+I was surprised that a physician of Doctor Masterson's age and
+experience should find it necessary to call the younger man to his aid,
+but as I knew little of medical men and their ways, I had no definite
+opinion on the subject. I felt a slight embarrassment as to my own
+presence in the room, but I also felt a hesitancy about returning to the
+drawing-room until the doctors should have reached a decision. I
+endeavored not to hear the low words they were speaking, but I couldn't
+help gathering that there was an element of mystery in Robert Pembroke's
+death. In order not to appear curious, I walked about the room, and idly
+noted its furnishings. Though not over-ornate, the appointments were
+comfortable and even luxurious. A great easy-chair stood by the window,
+which opened on an inner court, and which was in fact directly opposite
+the window of my own bedroom in our duplicate apartment. Near by stood a
+desk, open, and with its contents tidily arranged. The position of
+ink-stand, pen-racks and stationery proved the old gentleman to have
+been of methodical habits and orderly tastes. My lawyer's brain
+immediately darted to the conclusion that Robert Pembroke's sudden death
+had found him with his affairs all in order, and that his heirs, whoever
+they might be, would doubtless have no trouble in adjusting his estate.
+The dressing bureau and chiffonier presented just such an appearance as
+one would expect to see in the room of an elderly gentleman. While there
+were no fancy knick-knacks, there was a multitude of ebony-backed
+brushes and other toilet appurtenances. Moreover there were several bits
+of really good bric-a-brac, two or three bronzes, a carved silver box
+and some antique curios, that were evidently valuable.
+
+Mr. Pembroke may have been quick-tempered and cruel-natured, but he rose
+in my opinion as I noticed the good taste displayed in the furnishing of
+the room. However, this might be due to Miss Pembroke's housekeeping,
+and it somehow pleased me to fancy that it was.
+
+Two scraps of paper or cardboard lay on the floor near the foot of the
+bed. Obeying my instinct for tidiness, and really without thinking of
+what I was doing, I picked them up and threw them into the waste basket.
+As I did so, I noticed they were stubs of theater tickets. I felt a
+momentary surprise at this, for I had been told that Mr. Pembroke never
+went out of the house. However, it was quite within the possibilities
+that the stubs represented Miss Pembroke's attendance at the theatre, or
+might even have been dropped there by some caller. These matters took no
+definite shape in my mind, but were mere drifting thoughts, when I heard
+Doctor Masterson say:
+
+"Excuse me, Mr. Landon, but may I ask you to leave Doctor Post and me by
+ourselves for a few moments? This affair is assuming a very serious
+side, and it is necessary that a professional secrecy be observed, at
+least for the moment."
+
+"Certainly," I replied, greatly awed by the apprehension clearly evident
+on the Doctor's kindly old face. "I have no wish but to be of service
+in any way I may, and I'm completely at your orders."
+
+"Thank you, Mr. Landon," returned Doctor Masterson, courteously, "I will
+tell you that we have to deal with a very grave situation, but I will
+ask you to say nothing to the people in the other room concerning it."
+
+
+
+
+III
+
+JANET PEMBROKE
+
+
+Leaving the two doctors to their consultation I went back into the
+drawing-room.
+
+Although this room was the duplicate of our own living-room in the
+apartment across the hall, it presented quite a different appearance
+because of its richer furnishings. The simple tastes of my sister and
+myself did not incline us to velvet hangings and heavily upholstered
+furniture. Our whole room was lighter in effect, but the Pembroke
+drawing-room, while harmonious in coloring and design, was almost
+oppressive in its multitude of appointments. Tall pedestals supported
+large pieces of Chinese bronze. Embroidered screens made a background
+for high, carved chairs and inlaid tabourets. The rugs were antique and
+thick, the curtains conventionally draped and the pictures on the walls
+were paintings of value.
+
+I instinctively felt that all of this reflected the old uncle's taste,
+rather than that of Miss Pembroke, for, though I had not seen her often,
+her general appearance had a note of modernity quite different from the
+atmosphere of her home.
+
+I glanced at the girl as she sat beside Laura on the sofa. Though not a
+connoisseur in women's clothes, I am yet not so absurdly ignorant as
+many men are. Miss Pembroke wore a simple house dress of soft material
+and of an old rose color. There was a big black satin bow effectively
+attached somewhere--I can't describe its location, but it had broad
+streamers that fell gracefully to the floor. The simply cut garment and
+the soft dull color suited the girl's pale white complexion and dark
+hair. She was doubtless of an unusual pallor that morning, which made
+the thick curls clustering round her brow, and the big brown eyes seem
+even darker than usual.
+
+It was late in October and a lighted gas log gave a comfortable warmth
+to the room.
+
+Miss Pembroke seemed to be quite herself again, though still somewhat
+dazed, apparently, by what had happened. She showed no inclination to
+talk, but her manner was quiet and composed as she asked me to be
+seated. I had no wish to intrude, but I thought there might be other
+ways in which I could serve her, so I sat down and waited. There was an
+indescribable something in her manner, or rather in her appearance, that
+puzzled me.
+
+I had thought her beautiful before, but in this time of sorrowful
+emergency there was a mysterious expression on her face that gave her an
+added charm. She was not pathetic or appealing in effect, but seemed to
+be possessed of an energy and excitement which she determinedly
+suppressed. She showed no sign of grief at her uncle's death, but her
+calmness and self-control were unmistakably the result of a strong will
+power. Had she been broken-hearted, but for some reason determined that
+no one should know it, she would have acted this same way; but it also
+seemed to me that had she felt a secret sense of relief, even almost of
+gladness, at being released from the old man's tyranny, she must have
+acted much the same.
+
+Occasionally her composure was broken by a sudden, quick gesture or an
+abrupt, impulsive remark.
+
+"Charlotte," she said suddenly, "why do you stay here? You may as well
+go to the kitchen and go on with your work."
+
+The black girl rolled her eyes apprehensively toward Mr. Pembroke's
+room, as if a superstitious dread made her hesitate.
+
+"I don't like to go off my myse'f alone, Miss Janet," she said.
+
+"But you must, Charlotte," said Miss Pembroke nervously, but not
+unkindly; "you must go and clear away the breakfast things."
+
+"But yo' haven't had yo' breakfast, Miss Janet, honey."
+
+"Never mind, Charlotte; I can't eat any breakfast. Clear it all away. I
+don't want anything."
+
+I was much impressed with the tense, drawn expression of the speaker's
+face, and the quick, sharp accents of her voice, as if she had almost
+reached the limit of her self-control.
+
+Here Laura interposed: "I'm sure, Miss Pembroke, you would feel better
+able to meet the day if you would eat something. Charlotte, if you will
+bring just a cup of coffee and a roll on a tray, I think Miss Pembroke
+will take some of it."
+
+"Yas'm," said Charlotte, and, falling, as nearly every one did, into the
+way of obeying Laura's suggestions, she went away.
+
+I endeavored to keep up the conversation by casual and unimportant
+remarks, and Laura ably assisted me, by responding to my observations.
+But though Miss Pembroke tried to join the conversation, it was
+impossible for her, and, as I had feared, her tense self-control gave
+way and she suddenly broke down in a fit of hysterical sobbing.
+
+Laura tried to soothe her, but had sense enough not to try to stop her
+crying. She let the nervous and overwrought girl give way to her tears
+which of themselves brought relief.
+
+"I didn't love him!" she exclaimed, her voice broken by sobs, "and
+that's why I feel so bad. I tried to love him, but he wouldn't let me.
+I honestly tried--don't you believe I did?"
+
+She grasped Laura's hands as she spoke, and looked into her eyes.
+
+"Of course I believe it," replied Laura, heartily; "don't think about
+that now, Miss Pembroke. I'm sure you have nothing to reproach yourself
+for."
+
+"Oh, yes, I have. I'm a wicked girl! I ought to have been more patient
+with Uncle Robert. But he was so old and so cruel. He was my mother's
+uncle, you know, and he took me on sufferance--because he couldn't help
+himself--and he never let me forget it. He told me a dozen times a day
+that I was dependent on him for the bread I ate. And last evening we had
+a most awful quarrel! One of our very worst. Oh, I can't bear to
+remember it!"
+
+"Don't remember it, dear," said Laura, with her arm still around the
+quivering body of the girl; "don't think of it."
+
+"Think of it! I can never forget it. You see, he was determined that I
+should----"
+
+Apparently Miss Pembroke had been about to make a confidant of Laura,
+when she suddenly remembered my presence. She straightened up with a
+start, and seemed to recover not only her poise, but the hauteur which I
+had so often observed in her demeanor.
+
+It was a relief to the situation when at that moment Charlotte, the
+maid, returned with a daintily-appointed breakfast tray.
+
+It was quite evident that the colored girl adored her young mistress.
+She hovered about her, arranging the tray on a small table at her side
+and looked at Miss Pembroke with an air of loving concern.
+
+"Do try and eat sumpin, Miss Janet, honey; do, now."
+
+"Thank you, Charlotte," and Miss Pembroke looked kindly at the girl; "I
+will try."
+
+With a little nod, she tacitly dismissed the maid, but Charlotte
+lingered. After a moment of hesitation, she volunteered a suggestion,
+which was evidently weighing on her mind.
+
+"Miss Janet, honey," she said, slowly, "ain' yo' gwine send fo' Master
+George?"
+
+"George!" exclaimed Janet Pembroke. "Why, how strange I hadn't thought
+of it! Of course we must send for George. I'll telephone at once. You
+may go, Charlotte."
+
+Again Charlotte left the room, and Miss Pembroke turned to Laura to
+explain.
+
+"George," she said, "is George Lawrence, my cousin. He is my only
+relative except--Uncle Robert. He used to live with us, but a few months
+ago he moved to bachelor apartments farther downtown. If you will
+excuse me, I will telephone for him."
+
+The telephone was in a small adjoining room, which was really rather a
+large alcove off the drawing-room. This was apparently a sort of
+music-room here, while my corresponding alcove--for the apartment was,
+of course, a duplicate of our own--I used as my smoking-room.
+
+I heard Miss Pembroke, in a calm, clear voice, call up her cousin and
+ask him to come at once. She did not tell him what had happened. Then
+she hung up the receiver and returned to where we sat.
+
+"I don't see why I didn't think of George sooner," she said. "I ought to
+have sent for him the very first thing."
+
+"You were so dazed," I suggested, "that what would ordinarily be the
+most natural thing to do did not occur to you."
+
+"Yes," she said, catching at my suggestion almost eagerly--"yes, that
+must have been it. I was dazed, wasn't I?"
+
+"Indeed you were," said Laura soothingly. "You fainted quite away."
+
+"Oh, yes," returned the girl; "that was when Doctor Masterson told me
+that Uncle Robert was dead. It was such a shock. I couldn't believe it,
+you know. Why, I never faint! I'm not that sort."
+
+"Even so," said Laura, "the sudden shock was quite enough to cause you
+to faint."
+
+The girl looked at her almost wistfully. "Yes, it _was_ enough, wasn't
+it?" she said; "a shock like that would make anybody faint, wouldn't it?
+I just couldn't believe it. We--we never dreamed he would die suddenly.
+I wonder what George will say?"
+
+"Is there any one else that you would like to have notified?" I asked.
+
+"No," she said. "I have no other relatives at all. Of course we must
+tell Milly Waring, but I'll wait until after I see George."
+
+"But aside from relatives, Miss Pembroke," I said, "is there no one else
+who ought to be notified? Ought you not to advise your uncle's lawyer?"
+
+I was all unprepared for the effect this casual suggestion had upon the
+girl. Although she had recovered her composure almost entirely, it now
+seemed to desert her again. But instead of weeping her emotion was of a
+different nature; she seemed intensely angry. A red spot appeared in
+either pale cheek, and her dark eyes flashed fire. Her voice quivered
+when she spoke, but it sounded like the accents of suppressed rage.
+
+"Uncle Robert's lawyer!" she exclaimed, in a tone of scorn; "he's the
+last person I want to send for!"
+
+The words of themselves were astonishing, but not nearly so much so as
+the scathing inflection with which they were uttered.
+
+"Then we won't send for him," said Laura, in her soothing way. "You
+shan't be troubled just now."
+
+Laura looked at me with a glance of deep reproach, which was, to say the
+least, unjust; for, as a lawyer, it seemed to me I had made a most
+rational suggestion. Moreover, my sister's change of base somewhat
+surprised me. She it had been who denounced Miss Pembroke as being
+deceitful, melodramatic and untrustworthy! Now, she was not only
+befriending the girl as only one woman can befriend another, but she was
+resenting a most common-sense suggestion on my part.
+
+But I was destined to learn that Janet Pembroke always did the
+unexpected.
+
+As suddenly as it had come, her flash of anger left her, and with a
+quiet, almost expressionless face, she turned to me, and said: "You are
+quite right, Mr. Landon. I am sure it is a case where my uncle's lawyer
+should be called in. He is Mr. Leroy--Graham Leroy--and I suppose I
+ought to tell him at once about my uncle."
+
+"You don't like Mr. Leroy?" I said, impulsively. Had I paused to think,
+I should not have spoken thus personally. But Miss Pembroke answered
+simply:
+
+"No, I do not like Mr. Graham Leroy. But that does not make any
+difference. He has full charge of my uncle's financial affairs; and,
+too, he has long been his personal friend and adviser. So, I know it is
+right to send for him."
+
+She sighed, as if her decision were entirely because of what she
+considered her duty.
+
+It was absurd of me, to be sure, but I am always given to jumping at
+conclusions, and it flashed across me that Graham Leroy's interest in
+the Pembroke family extended farther than his professional relations
+with the old gentleman. I know him slightly, as a brother lawyer, and I
+knew that from a feminine point of view he was a most fascinating man.
+He was a bachelor, and though not young, was handsome, brilliant and
+exceedingly distinguished in effect. Moreover, flattering myself that I
+understood the contrariness of a woman's assertions in such matters, my
+mind leaped to the conviction that because Miss Pembroke had denounced
+him, she was in all probability in love with him.
+
+And then I sternly inquired of myself how it could possibly matter to me
+if she were.
+
+But this stern and questioning attitude of myself to myself did not
+deceive me in the least. I knew perfectly well that I was already
+sufficiently interested in Janet Pembroke to resent the introduction of
+such a dangerous factor as Graham Leroy into the case. Being a lawyer,
+the absurdity of my own mental attitude was perfectly clear to me, but
+being a man, I didn't care if it was. Of course, my sentiments toward
+her were nothing more than admiration for her beauty and sympathy for
+her sorrow. If these were augmented by the elusive mystery that seemed
+to enwrap her, that was an argument in justification of my sudden
+interest in a comparative stranger.
+
+"Will you, Otis?" Laura was saying, and I collected my scattered wits
+with a start, as I said, "will I what?"
+
+"Will you telephone to Mr. Leroy?" she said, a little impatiently, and I
+knew she was repeating her question.
+
+"Of course," I said, jumping up and looking for the telephone book.
+
+"His number is on the card by the telephone," said Miss Pembroke, and in
+a few moments I had Leroy's call. But he was not in his office, so
+leaving word for him to come as soon as possible, I hung up the
+receiver.
+
+
+
+
+IV
+
+DOCTOR POST'S DISCOVERY
+
+
+A few moments after this, Mr. George Lawrence arrived. He let himself in
+at the front door with a latch-key, and walked into the room with the
+air of one familiar with the place.
+
+"Well, Janet, what's up?" he began, and then, seeing strangers, paused
+expectantly.
+
+"Mrs. Mulford," said Janet, "this is my cousin, Mr. Lawrence. Mr.
+Landon, Mr. Lawrence."
+
+The new-comer bowed politely and with the graceful courtesy of a
+well-bred city man, then turned again to his cousin.
+
+"I sent for you, George," began Janet, "because--because----"
+
+But here her self-possession failed her, and she could go no further.
+She cast an appealing glance at me, as if to ask me to speak for her,
+then threw herself on the couch in an uncontrollable fit of weeping.
+
+Laura sat beside the sobbing girl, while Mr. Lawrence turned to me for
+an explanation.
+
+Judging at first sight that with a man of his type a straightforward
+statement would be the best, I told him in as few words as possible what
+had happened.
+
+"Uncle Robert dead!" he exclaimed. "Why, what does it mean? He had no
+heart trouble that we knew of. Was it apoplexy?"
+
+"I think so," I replied. "Two doctors are in there now, holding a
+consultation."
+
+"Two doctors?" exclaimed Mr. Lawrence. "Who are they?"
+
+"Doctor Masterson, who was, I believe, your late uncle's physician, and
+Doctor Post, who lives in this house."
+
+"Which came first?" asked Mr. Lawrence.
+
+By this time Miss Pembroke, who seemed to be subject to sudden changes
+of demeanor, took it upon herself to answer his question. She had
+stopped crying, and again showed that icy calmness which I could not yet
+understand.
+
+"I sent for Doctor Masterson," she said. "I thought uncle was only ill,
+but when the doctor came he said he was dead; and then he wanted another
+doctor, so Mr. Landon very kindly went for Doctor Post."
+
+"Why did he want Doctor Post, if Uncle Robert was already dead?"
+demanded Lawrence.
+
+"To help him to discover what caused uncle's death."
+
+"Then we must await the result of their consultation," he replied. He
+seemed about to say something else, but checked himself. I could
+readily understand why he should hesitate to say in the presence of
+strangers many things that he might have said to his cousin had they
+been alone.
+
+I felt attracted to this young man. Although he had a careless,
+good-natured air, there seemed to be an underlying vein of kindly
+feeling and courteous solicitude. Like Miss Pembroke, he seemed to be
+controlling his emotion and forcing himself to meet the situation
+calmly.
+
+George Lawrence was large-framed and heavily-built, while Janet Pembroke
+was a lithe and willowy slip of a girl; but their features showed a
+degree of family likeness, and the dark eyes and dark, curling hair were
+decidedly similar. They seemed congenial, and thoroughly good comrades.
+Miss Pembroke appeared glad that her cousin had arrived, and he seemed
+desirous of doing whatever he could to help her. I was struck by the
+utter absence of any expressions of grief on the part of either, and
+then I remembered what I had heard about the cruel temper of their
+uncle. Could it be possible, I thought, that these two were really glad
+rather than otherwise? Then I remembered Miss Pembroke's piteous
+weeping, and as I looked at Mr. Lawrence and noted his white face and
+clenched hands I concluded that they were both controlling their real
+feelings, and exhibiting only what they considered a proper attitude
+before strangers.
+
+Then I began to think that since Miss Pembroke's cousin was with her,
+perhaps Laura and I ought to go away and leave them to themselves. I
+made a remark to this effect, but, to my surprise, both Miss Pembroke
+and her cousin insisted that we should stay, at least until the doctors
+had finished their consultation.
+
+So we stayed, and Laura, with her usual tact, managed to keep up a
+desultory conversation on various unimportant subjects.
+
+Occasionally the talk became more or less personal, and I learned that
+George Lawrence had previously lived with his uncle and cousin in this
+same apartment. It also transpired--though this, I think, was told
+unintentionally--that the reason why he went away to live by himself was
+because he could no longer stand the unpleasantness caused by the fierce
+fits of anger into which old Mr. Pembroke would fly upon the slightest
+provocation.
+
+"It does seem a pity," he said, "that such a really fine man should be
+so utterly unable to control his temper. I could stand an ordinary
+amount of grumbling and fault-finding, but Uncle Robert in his rages was
+almost insane. He grew worse as he grew older. Janet and I lived with
+him for many years, and each year he grew more unbearable. I suppose,
+poor old chap, it was his gout that made him so crusty and cross, but it
+kept me in hot water so much of the time that I couldn't stand it. Janet
+stood it better than I did, but she's a born angel anyhow."
+
+Mr. Lawrence looked admiringly at his cousin, who acknowledged his
+compliment with a faint smile.
+
+"I didn't stand it very well," she said; "but I'm sorry now that I
+wasn't more patient. Poor old uncle, he didn't have a very happy life."
+
+"Well, you can't blame yourself for that. You did everything in your
+power to make it pleasant for him, and if he wouldn't accept your
+efforts, you certainly have nothing for which to reproach yourself."
+
+"Yes, I have," she declared; "we had an awful quarrel last night, and
+when Uncle left me he was very angry. I hate to think of our last
+interview."
+
+"The usual subject, I suppose," said young Lawrence, looking
+sympathetically at his cousin; "have you sent for Leroy?"
+
+This question confirmed my fears. Mr. Lawrence had certainly implied by
+association of ideas, that Miss Pembroke's quarrel with her uncle the
+night before had had to do with Graham Leroy in some way. This might
+refer only to financial matters. But my jealous apprehension made me
+suspect a more personal side to the story.
+
+She answered that she had sent a message to Leroy, and then again,
+without a moment's warning, Miss Pembroke burst into one of those
+convulsive fits of sobbing. I was glad Laura was still there, for she
+seemed able to soothe the girl as I'm sure no one else could have done.
+
+His cousin's grief seemed to affect George Lawrence deeply, but again he
+endeavored to suppress any exhibition of emotion. His white face grew
+whiter, and he clinched his hands until the knuckles stood out like
+knots, but he spoke no word of sympathy or comfort.
+
+I felt myself slightly at a loss in the presence of his repressed
+feeling, and as I did not think myself sufficiently acquainted with him
+to offer any word of sympathy, I said nothing.
+
+It was into this somewhat difficult situation that the two doctors came.
+They looked exceedingly grave; indeed, their faces bore an expression of
+awe that seemed even beyond what the case demanded.
+
+"Ah, George," said Doctor Masterson, grasping the hand of the young man,
+"I'm glad you're here. Did Janet send for you?"
+
+"Yes, doctor; she telephoned, and I came at once. I'm indeed surprised
+and shocked at Uncle Robert's sudden death. Had you ever thought such a
+thing likely to happen?"
+
+"No," said Doctor Masterson, and his voice had a peculiar ring, as of a
+man proving his own opinion.
+
+Apparently Janet Pembroke was accustomed to the inflections of the old
+doctor's voice, for she looked suddenly up at him, as if he had said
+something more. Her crying spell was over, for the time at least, and
+her white face had again assumed its haughty and inscrutable expression.
+
+"Was it heart disease?" she inquired, looking straight at Doctor
+Masterson.
+
+"No," he replied; "it was not. Nor was it apoplexy, nor disease of any
+sort. Mr. Robert Pembroke did not die a natural death; he was killed
+while he slept."
+
+I suppose to a man of Doctor Masterson's brusk, curt manner it was
+natural to announce this fact so baldly; but it seemed to me nothing
+short of brutality to fling the statement in the face of that quivering,
+shrinking girl.
+
+"Killed!" she said, clasping her hands tightly. "Murdered!"
+
+"Yes," said the doctor; "murdered in a peculiar fashion, and by a means
+of devilish ingenuity. Indeed, I must confess that had it not been for
+Doctor Post's conviction that the death was not natural, and his
+determination to discover the cause, it might never have been found
+out."
+
+"Was he shot?" asked Janet, and it seemed to me she spoke like one in a
+trance.
+
+"Shot? No!" said Doctor Masterson. "He was stabbed, or rather _pierced_,
+with a long, thin pin--a hat-pin, you know. Stabbed in the back of his
+neck, at the base of the brain, as he lay asleep. He never knew it. The
+pin broke off in the wound, and death was immediate, caused by cerebral
+hemorrhage. Doctor Post and I have made a most thorough examination, and
+we are convinced that these are the facts. Mr. Pembroke was lying on his
+side, in a most natural position, and was, in all probability, sleeping
+soundly. This gave the murderer an excellent opportunity to aim the
+deadly pin with careful precision, and to pierce the brain with a swift
+stab. The result of this was precisely the same as a sudden and fatal
+apoplectic stroke. Though there may have been a tremor or slight quiver
+of certain muscles, there was no convulsion or contortion, and Mr.
+Pembroke's face still retains the placid look of sleep. Death must have
+taken place, we conclude, at or near midnight."
+
+We who heard this sat as if paralyzed. It was so unexpected, so
+fearfully sudden, so appalling, that there seemed to be no words fit to
+express our feelings.
+
+Then George Lawrence spoke. "Who did it?" he said, and his white face
+and compressed lips showed the struggle he was making for self-control.
+
+"I don't know," and Doctor Masterson spoke mechanically, as if thinking
+of something else.
+
+"No, of course, we don't know," broke in Doctor Post, who seemed a bit
+inclined to emphasize his own importance. And perhaps this was but
+natural, as the older doctor had plainly stated that but for Doctor
+Post's insistent investigation they might never have discovered the
+crime.
+
+"But we must immediately set to work to find out who did this dreadful
+deed," Doctor Post went on; and though I felt repelled at the avidity he
+showed, I knew he was right. Though the others seemed partially stunned
+by the suddenly disclosed fact, I foresaw the dreadful experiences that
+must follow in its train.
+
+Miss Pembroke, though still sitting by Laura's side, had broken away
+from her encircling arm. The girl sat upright, her great eyes fixed on
+Doctor Masterson's face. She showed no visible emotion, but seemed to be
+striving to realize the situation.
+
+"Murdered!" she breathed in a low whisper; "Uncle Robert murdered!"
+
+Then, without another word, her eyes traveled slowly round the room,
+resting on each person in turn. Her glance was calm, yet questioning. It
+almost seemed as if she suspected some one of us to be guilty of the
+crime. Or was it that she was seeking help and sympathy for herself? If
+so she could stop with me. She need look no further. I knew that in the
+near future she would want help, and that of a legal nature. She had
+herself said, or at least implied, that she would not look for such help
+from Graham Leroy. If this were true, and not merely a bit of feminine
+perversity, I vowed to myself that mine should be the helping hand
+outstretched to her in her hour of need.
+
+"There is much to be done," Doctor Post continued, and his mind was so
+occupied with the greater facts of the situation, that he almost ignored
+Miss Pembroke. He addressed himself to Doctor Masterson, but it was
+easily seen that this was a mere form, and he himself quite evidently
+intended to be the real director of affairs. "We must find out who was
+the intruder, doubtless a professional burglar, who committed this awful
+deed. We must search the room for clues, and that, too, at once, before
+time and circumstance may obliterate them."
+
+Although I didn't show it, I couldn't help a slight feeling of amusement
+at this speech. It was so palpably evident that Doctor Post possessed
+what he himself would doubtless call the Detective Instinct; and,
+moreover, it was clearly indicated that his knowledge of the proper
+methods of procedure were gained from the best detective fiction! Not
+that he was wrong in his suggestion, but it was not the time, nor was it
+his place to investigate the hypothetical "clues."
+
+Doctor Masterson appreciated this point, and with a slightly
+disapproving shake of his wise, old head, he observed: "I think those
+things are not in our province, Doctor Post. We have performed our duty.
+We have learned the method and means of Robert Pembroke's death; we have
+made our report, and our duties are ended. The case has passed out of
+our hands, and such details as clues and evidence, are in the domain of
+the coroner and inspector."
+
+Doctor Post looked a little chagrined. But he quickly covered it, and
+effusively agreed with the older doctor.
+
+"Quite so, quite so," he said; "I was merely suggesting, in what is
+perhaps an over-zealous desire to be of assistance. What you say, Doctor
+Masterson, is entirely true. And now," he added, again bristling with an
+assumption of importance, "and now, we must send for the coroner."
+
+
+
+
+V
+
+SEVERAL CLUES
+
+
+I had often told Laura that if I ever did fall in love it would be at
+first sight, and now it had come. Not only Janet Pembroke's beauty and
+the pathetic appeal of her sorrowful face attracted me, but I was
+fascinated by the mystery of the girl.
+
+The astounding news that had just been told her was so much worse than
+the mere fact of her uncle's death, that I fully expected her to show
+her emotion in desperate hysterics. But instead, it seemed to rouse in
+her a spirit of courage and self-reliance, and though it was quite
+evident that she was making a great effort, yet she ably succeeded in
+controlling herself perfectly.
+
+There was no use blinking the fact; I had fallen in love with Janet
+Pembroke. And as the truth of the fearful tragedy penetrated her dazed
+brain, and she seemed so sadly in need of comfort and help my impulse
+was to go to her, and tell her of my sympathy and regard.
+
+As this was out of the question, I was glad to see Laura sit by the
+girl's side and soothe her with kindly caresses. But, to my surprise,
+Janet did not faint, nor did she seem in any danger of physical
+collapse. On the contrary, Doctor Post's remark seemed to arouse her to
+action. She sat up very straight, and, though the rest of her face was
+perfectly white, a red spot glowed in either cheek.
+
+"The coroner?" she said, in a strained, unnatural voice. "What would he
+do?"
+
+"It is necessary, my child, that he be summoned," said Doctor Masterson,
+"since your uncle did not die a natural death."
+
+"But what will he do?" persisted Janet.
+
+"He will ask questions of all who know anything about the matter, and
+try to discover the one who did the awful deed."
+
+"Of course, Janet," observed George Lawrence, "we must call the coroner.
+It is always done, I believe, in such a case as this."
+
+"Very well," said Janet; "but it is all so dreadful--I can't realize it.
+Who killed Uncle Robert? Was it a burglar? Did he steal anything?"
+
+She seemed to be talking quite at random. George answered her kindly,
+and his manner was gentle and affectionate.
+
+"We don't know, Janet dear," he said. "That is what the coroner will
+inquire into."
+
+I was thankful that my own business did not imperatively demand my
+presence at my office that day, and I concluded to stay where I was, at
+any rate, until the coroner arrived.
+
+I would doubtless be called as a witness, and, too, I trusted I could be
+of help to Janet.
+
+The girl puzzled while she fascinated me. She seemed so helpless and
+alone, and yet she showed a strange courage--almost bravado.
+
+George Lawrence, too, was reserved and self-contained, and I imagined
+they both inherited something of their dead uncle's strength of
+character.
+
+Doctor Masterson had telephoned for the coroner, who said he would come
+soon and bring an inspector.
+
+Then Laura persuaded Miss Pembroke to go with her across to our own
+apartment, and rest there for a time. This plan commended itself to
+Doctor Masterson, and he told Janet not to return until he sent for her.
+
+Doctor Post said he would return to his office, but would come up to the
+apartment again when called for.
+
+He contrived to have a short talk with me before leaving.
+
+"There's more to this than appears on the surface," he declared, with
+the air of imparting information of value. "This is a most cold-blooded
+murder, carefully planned and cleverly carried out. The criminal is no
+ordinary sneak thief or burglar."
+
+"That may be," I returned, "but if so, it is the coroner's place to
+discover and punish the murderer. Surely we can do nothing."
+
+"We ought to," urged Doctor Post; "we ought to examine the whole place
+carefully for clues."
+
+"I confess, Doctor Post," I returned, "that I should be glad to do so.
+My inclinations, like yours, are toward going to work at once. But we
+are not in authority, and Doctor Masterson is. It is only courteous to
+him and to Miss Pembroke to acquiesce in their wishes."
+
+So, reluctantly, Doctor Post went away, and I observed that Doctor
+Masterson seemed relieved at his departure.
+
+"It's a bad business," said the doctor to young Lawrence. "I can't
+understand it."
+
+"It's horrible!" exclaimed George Lawrence, covering his face with his
+hands. "Why, I was here yesterday afternoon, and Uncle Robert was
+particularly well, and particularly----"
+
+He paused, and with a grim smile Doctor Masterson completed the
+sentence: "Particularly cantankerous?"
+
+"Yes, sir, he was," said Lawrence candidly. "I think I never saw him in
+a worse rage, and all about nothing. He stormed at Janet until the poor
+girl cried, and then he scolded her for that. But I suppose his gout
+was pretty bad, and that always made him ugly."
+
+"Where do you live now, George?" inquired Doctor Masterson.
+
+"I've bachelor rooms down in Washington Square. Not as comfortable in
+some ways as I was here, but good enough on the whole. I must make a
+home for Janet somewhere now. It's all dreadful, to be sure, but,
+really, she'll be happier without Uncle Robert, in every way."
+
+"She inherits property?" I asked, and, because of Lawrence's
+confidential manner, my casual question did not seem impertinent.
+
+"She and I are the only heirs," he said straightforwardly. "Uncle
+Robert's will is no secret. It was made long ago, and as we are his only
+relatives he left us equal inheritors. I don't care about that part of
+it, but I'm glad Janet is to have some money of her own. Uncle Robert
+was mighty close with her. I made money enough for my own needs, but
+Janet couldn't do that, and she had to scrimp outrageously. She's so
+proud, she won't accept a cent from me, and between uncle's miserliness
+and his temper she has led an awful life."
+
+"Then I can't feel real regret that Mr. Pembroke is gone," I said,
+"except that the manner of his taking off is so horrible. Do you
+suppose that it is the work of burglars?"
+
+"Must have been," said Lawrence. "I haven't looked around at all--I hate
+all that sort of thing--but I suppose the coroner will clear up all
+mystery."
+
+"Now, on the contrary," said I, "I have a liking for detective work,
+and, if there is any occasion for it, I'll be glad to do anything I can
+for you."
+
+George Lawrence seemed not to hear me.
+
+"Uncle Robert hadn't an enemy in the world, that I know of," he said
+musingly; "so it must have been a burglar or marauder of some sort."
+
+"Very unusual method for a burglar," said I, thinking of the hat-pin.
+"Would you mind if I looked about a little bit? I'd like to find the
+other end of that pin."
+
+"What pin?" asked Lawrence.
+
+"The pin that killed your uncle. The doctors say it was a hat-pin,
+broken off close to the flesh."
+
+"A hat-pin? How awful!"
+
+The young man gave a shudder, as if sensitive to gruesome pictures.
+
+"Yes," I went on; "and if we could find the head end that broke off, it
+might be a clue to the murderer."
+
+"Oh, yes, I see. Well, certainly, go and look about all you choose. But
+excuse me from that sort of thing. I'll get the best detectives, if
+necessary, but I can't do anything in that way myself."
+
+I readily understood this attitude in one so closely related to the
+victim of the dreadful deed, and at his permission I determined to
+search the whole apartment thoroughly. We had been alone during this
+conversation, as Doctor Masterson had returned to his late patient's
+room, and the servant, Charlotte, had not reappeared.
+
+I went directly to Mr. Pembroke's bedroom, but when there, I hesitated
+for a moment before addressing Doctor Masterson.
+
+And then he spoke first; "I freely confess," he said, "that I owe to
+Doctor Post the discovery of the truth. I was positive it was not a
+natural death, but my old eyes failed to detect that tiny speck that
+gave us the solution. However, that does not give Doctor Post the right
+to pry into the affairs of the Pembroke household. It is now a case for
+the Coroner, and no one else has a right to interfere."
+
+"I appreciate your attitude, Doctor Masterson," I returned, "but Mr.
+Lawrence, who is, of course, in authority, has given me permission to
+search this room, and in fact the whole apartment, for possible clues
+that may help to solve the mystery."
+
+"Humph," grunted the old Doctor, peering at me through his glasses; "if
+George says so, of course you may do what you like, but I warn you
+you'd better let the matter alone."
+
+"Have you any suspicions?" I asked suddenly.
+
+"Suspicions? Goodness, no! How could I have any suspicions? You must be
+crazy!" And without another word the old man hurriedly left the room.
+
+After this exhibition of anger on his part, I felt myself in an
+unpleasant position. Perhaps I had been over-zealous in my desire to be
+of service to Miss Pembroke. Perhaps there were clues or evidences
+better left undiscovered. But, pshaw! such ideas were absurd. Robert
+Pembroke had been murdered. It was the duty of any American citizen to
+do anything in his power toward the discovery of the criminal.
+
+Convinced of this, I set to work at once to make a thorough search of
+the room for anything that might seem indicative.
+
+I merely glanced at the quiet figure lying on the bed, for such evidence
+as that might show must be determined by the coroner's physicians. I was
+only seeking stray clues that might otherwise be overlooked, and that
+might prove to be of value.
+
+Seating myself in front of the open desk, I noted the carefully filed
+and labeled documents that filled its pigeon-holes.
+
+I could not bring myself to look into these; for though Lawrence had
+given me unlimited permission, I felt that this personal sort of
+investigation should be made only by a member of the family.
+
+But in plain view lay a rubber band and a pencilled memorandum which
+appeared to have been hastily thrown down. The paper slip seemed to show
+a receipt for ten thousand dollars brought to Robert Pembroke in payment
+for some stock sold by his brokers. This might all be an unimportant
+business detail, but in view of the otherwise tidy condition of the
+desk, it seemed to me to indicate that the intruder had stolen the money
+or security noted on the slip, leaving the paper and rubber band behind
+him.
+
+I might be over-fanciful, but there was certainly no harm in preserving
+this possible evidence, and I put the slip of paper and the rubber band
+in my pocket-book.
+
+I saw nothing further of interest about the desk, and I turned my
+attention to the waste basket. On top of a few other torn papers lay the
+two stubs of theater tickets, which I had myself thrown there, before I
+knew that there was a crime in question.
+
+I transferred the two bits of paper to my pocket-book and proceeded to
+investigate further the torn papers in the basket. They seemed to me to
+have no bearing whatever upon the case, being mostly circulars,
+receipted small bills, or ordinary business notes.
+
+However, toward the bottom, I found a torn telegram, which pieced
+together read, "Expect me on Wednesday evening."
+
+It was addressed to Robert Pembroke, and it was signed J. S.
+
+Of course I put this away with my other findings, for though it might be
+of no importance whatever, yet the contrary might be equally true.
+
+Rising from the desk, I saw a folded paper on the floor near by and
+picked it up. This proved to be a time-table of local trains on the
+Lackawanna Railroad. It was not probable that the burglar had left this
+as a clue to his travels,--it was more likely that it had belonged to
+Mr. Pembroke or his niece,--but I put it in my pocket, with the general
+idea of collecting any evidence possible.
+
+Further minute search of the floor revealed nothing whatever but an
+ordinary hair-pin. With two women in the household, this was not an
+astonishing find, but I kept it, among my other acquisitions.
+
+At last, feeling convinced that there was nothing more to be learned
+from the room, I was about to leave it, when I paused by the bedside.
+Near the foot of the bed, and outside the counterpane, I noticed a
+handkerchief. I picked it up and its large size proved it to belong to a
+man. Though slightly crumpled, it was quite fresh, and in the corner
+three small letters, W. S. G. were embroidered in fine white stitches.
+These initials were not Robert Pembroke's, and there were of course many
+plausible explanations of the presence of the handkerchief. But since it
+didn't seem to represent the property of any member of the household, I
+felt myself justified in folding it carefully and putting it in my
+pocket.
+
+As I left the room I cast a final glance around it, feeling certain that
+a more skilled detective would have discovered many things that I had
+overlooked, and probably would have scorned to look upon as clues the
+collection of articles I had pocketed.
+
+But knowing nothing of the personality or habits of Robert Pembroke, it
+was difficult indeed to judge intelligently the contents and condition
+of his bedroom.
+
+
+
+
+VI
+
+THE INQUEST BEGINS
+
+
+When I returned to the drawing-room, I found the coroner had already
+arrived, accompanied by Inspector Crawford.
+
+Mr. Ross, the coroner, looked like a capable, active man, while Mr.
+Crawford's face wore the blank and inscrutable expression which is
+supposed to be part of the detective's stock in trade. I have often
+wondered whether this imperturbability is not used quite as often to
+cloak utter ignorance as to hide secret knowledge.
+
+They had been in the house but a few moments, and Doctor Masterson was
+making them acquainted with the main facts of the case. Young Lawrence
+was assisting in the recital, but whether because of his natural
+disinclination for gruesome subjects, or because of his relationship
+with the dead man, he seemed unwilling to talk, and referred all
+questions to Doctor Masterson.
+
+I took a seat, and remained a mere listener; as I knew it was not yet
+the time to tell of any discoveries I might have made.
+
+But beyond a brief introduction by the aged doctor and a brief
+acknowledgment of it by the coroner, little attention was paid to me,
+and I listened with interest to Mr. Ross's pertinent questions and quick
+decisions.
+
+Being possessed of the facts of the case, and having learned all that
+those present could tell him, the Coroner determined to hold a
+preliminary inquest right then and there.
+
+Although as a lawyer I have had more or less experience in these matters
+it seemed to me an incredibly short space of time before a jury was
+impanelled and the examination of witnesses begun.
+
+There were but a half-dozen men on the jury, and these seemed to spring
+up out of the very ground. As a matter of fact, Inspector Crawford had
+gone out and brought some back with him, and others were summoned by
+telephone.
+
+A reporter also had materialized from somewhere, and was sharpening his
+pencils in a business-like way as he sat at a small table.
+
+The whole assembly had an official effect, and it seemed as if the magic
+of some evil fairy had transformed the luxurious drawing-room into a
+Hall of Justice.
+
+George Lawrence was sent across to bring Miss Pembroke back, and when
+they came Laura accompanied them.
+
+Doctor Masterson was called as the first witness.
+
+He testified as to the manner and cause of Mr. Pembroke's death.
+
+"Were you Mr. Pembroke's physician?" asked the coroner.
+
+"Yes; I have attended him for twenty years."
+
+"He had no ailments or symptoms that would make his sudden death
+probable?"
+
+"None that I know of."
+
+"Yet you thought at first that he died of apoplexy?"
+
+"I did, because it seemed to be a case of cerebral hemorrhage, and I
+looked only for natural causes."
+
+"Why did you call Doctor Post?"
+
+"I didn't feel satisfied to trust my uncorroborated opinion, and desired
+the advice of another physician."
+
+"After you learned beyond all doubt that Mr. Pembroke had been wilfully
+murdered, did you observe anything that might point toward a possible
+criminal?"
+
+"No, nothing at all. I found a key in the bed, which had doubtless
+slipped from under the pillow. It seemed to be an especial key, as of a
+box or drawer."
+
+"Where is the key?"
+
+"I handed it to Mr. Landon for safe keeping."
+
+At the request of the Coroner I produced the key, and gave it to him.
+He turned to Miss Pembroke.
+
+"Was this key the property of your uncle?" he asked.
+
+"I don't know," she replied; "it may have been."
+
+"You have never seen it before, then?"
+
+"Not to my knowledge. But my uncle has several boxes in the bank and in
+the safe deposit company, and it may belong to one of them."
+
+"Do you know anything of this key, Mr. Lawrence?" pursued the Coroner,
+turning to the young man.
+
+"I know nothing whatever of my uncle's business affairs, or his boxes or
+keys. Doubtless his lawyer could tell you of these matters."
+
+"Who is his lawyer, and why has he not been summoned?" said Mr. Ross. He
+looked at Miss Pembroke, as if she were the one in authority.
+
+"We have sent for him," replied Miss Pembroke, "but he is out of town."
+As she spoke, the girl's cheeks flushed to a delicate pink, and my heart
+sank as I began to fear that she was deeply interested in the handsome
+lawyer, and that her apparently adverse remarks concerning him had been
+prompted by feminine pique.
+
+The Coroner laid the key on the table before him, as if postponing its
+further consideration and then called Doctor Post as a witness.
+
+The young man, who had been again summoned from his office, gave his
+testimony in a fussy, self-important sort of way.
+
+His evidence agreed with all Doctor Masterson had said, and continued
+thus:
+
+"I felt, like Doctor Masterson, that the effects were not quite those of
+apoplexy, and so made a thorough examination for other causes of death.
+At the base of the brain I discovered a small black speck. It proved to
+be the end of a long pin, which was so deeply imbedded as to be almost
+invisible. It is not strange that Doctor Masterson should not have
+discovered it, as it was completely covered by the long, thick white
+hair of the head."
+
+"This pin, you say, is a hat-pin?"
+
+"A part of a hat-pin. It was evidently inserted while the victim was
+asleep. It was then, either intentionally or accidentally, broken in
+half. Owing to a peculiar tendency of human flesh, the pin was probably
+drawn in a trifle deeper than when left there by the criminal's hand,
+and thus almost disappeared from view."
+
+"And it was this stab of a pin that caused death?"
+
+"Undoubtedly--and immediately."
+
+Except for a few technical points regarding the cause and effect of
+cerebral hemorrhage, that was the gist of Doctor Post's evidence.
+
+As the case was indisputably a murder, there being no possibility of
+suicide, the next thing was to discover the criminal.
+
+Coroner Ross went about his work in a most methodical and systematic
+manner. His witnesses were called, sworn, questioned, and dismissed with
+a despatch that amazed me.
+
+The agent of The Hammersleigh, who also lived in the house, was examined
+next.
+
+"Your name?" asked the Coroner.
+
+"James Whitaker."
+
+"Your occupation?"
+
+"I am agent and superintendent of The Hammersleigh. I live in an
+apartment on the first floor."
+
+"How long have you had Robert Pembroke as a tenant?"
+
+"Mr. Pembroke has occupied this apartment for three years."
+
+"Of how many members did the family consist?"
+
+"Until about three months ago, there were three in the family. Mr.
+Pembroke, his niece and nephew. Also, one servant was kept, usually a
+colored woman. About three months ago, the nephew, Mr. Lawrence, moved
+away."
+
+"They have proved satisfactory as tenants?"
+
+"Exceedingly so, with one exception. It was always difficult to collect
+from Mr. Pembroke the money due for his rent."
+
+"He was not a poor man?"
+
+"Quite the contrary. He was a very wealthy man, but he hated to part
+with his money."
+
+"When did you see him last?"
+
+"Yesterday afternoon. About two o'clock I came up here to ask him for
+his rent which was overdue."
+
+"He paid you?"
+
+"Yes; he paid me with bills of large denomination, taken from a very
+large roll of similar bills. He must have had about ten thousand dollars
+in the roll."
+
+I listened with great interest to this evidence. Surely that roll of
+bills which Mr. Whitaker saw was the money noted on the memorandum I had
+found.
+
+"Were the bills in a rubber band, and was a slip of paper with them?" I
+asked, for the inquest was conducted informally, and anyone spoke who
+chose.
+
+"Yes," replied Whitaker, looking at me with a glance that savored of
+suspicion; "how did you know?"
+
+I resented his manner, and then I suddenly remembered that I was but a
+new tenant, and the agent was justified in his desire to question me.
+
+"Mr. Landon will be examined later," said the Coroner, with his
+authoritative air; "we will continue with the present witness. What can
+you say, Mr. Whitaker, of the general character of Mr. Pembroke?"
+
+"I know little of him. As a tenant he made me no trouble at all. He
+never complained to me of the apartment, the management or the service.
+As a business man, I have no reason to think him other than upright and
+honorable. Further than this I had no acquaintance with him. He was not
+a man to invite acquaintance."
+
+"He was of uncertain temper, I understand."
+
+"Well, it could hardly be called uncertain." Mr. Whitaker smiled a
+little. "On the contrary, his temper was certain to be bad. He was an
+inveterate scold, and sometimes would fly into a most ungovernable rage
+over nothing at all. But this was not my affair; he always paid his
+rent,--though only under protest, and after numerous requests."
+
+"When you saw him yesterday, was he ill-tempered?"
+
+"Very much so. I would say unusually so, except that he was usually as
+cross as any man could be."
+
+"What was he cross about?"
+
+"Everything and nothing. He railed at the government, the weather, his
+lawyer, his niece,--and in fact, spoke angrily upon any subject that was
+mentioned between us."
+
+"Then you can tell us nothing, Mr. Whitaker, that will throw any light
+upon the crime that has been committed in your house?"
+
+"Nothing at all."
+
+"Would it be possible for a marauder or intruder to get in during the
+night?"
+
+"Into the house, yes. The front doors are open until midnight. Each
+tenant is supposed to safeguard his own apartment."
+
+"And you know of no questionable person who entered the house last
+night?"
+
+"Certainly not. I have no reason to notice those who come or go. The
+elevator boy might tell you."
+
+Mr. Whitaker was dismissed, and the elevator boy was sent for. He was
+rather a clever-looking young fellow of about seventeen, and his face,
+though impudent, was shrewd and intelligent.
+
+"Samuel McGuire, me name is," he announced, in response to the Coroner's
+question; "but the fellers call me Solomon, cos I know mor'n they do. I
+studies and reads every chance I gets, and they jes' loafs 'round."
+
+"Well, Samuel, what can you tell us of Mr. Pembroke?"
+
+"Nuttin good. But then they ain't much to tell. He never trun himself
+loose outen his own door; but I didn't mind his bein' canned, cos I knew
+he couldn't pry himself loose from a tip, any way. So I never seen him
+since the day he came; but gee, I've often heard him! Say, the
+Mauretoonia's fog-horn ain't got nothin' on him! Tain't no silent
+treatment he gives that niece of his'n! Nur that classy brunette
+soivant, neither!"
+
+"He was not even kindly-spoken to his niece, then?"
+
+"I guess no! Gee, the foist time I seen that skoit, I t'ought I'd been
+shot in the eye wit' a magazine cover! An' she's as daisy actin' as she
+is lookin'. I sure admire Miss Pembroke!"
+
+This was not the kind of information Mr. Ross wanted, but young McGuire
+rolled it forth so rapidly, and with such graphic facial expression that
+his audience listened, uninterrupting.
+
+"That's enough, McGuire," said Mr. Ross, sternly; "please confine your
+speech to simple and direct answers to my questions."
+
+"Sure," agreed the boy, grinning. "But I thought you wanted me to tell
+you all what I was wise to of the family's doin's."
+
+"What I want to know especially, is, whether any one came into the house
+last evening, or late last night, who was a stranger to you?"
+
+"Well, no; I ain't seen no Rube divin' into my cage, wot looks
+suspicionary. But then, you see, Mr. Coroner, I ain't on the night
+shift. This week I goes off at six P. M. and toddles myself off to a
+tremblin' scenery show."
+
+"Then you're not the elevator boy we want, at all," said Mr. Ross,
+greatly annoyed at this loss of time.
+
+"Be-lieve me, I ain't! But I'm glad to add it against brother Pembroke.
+He never left his rooms, but, gee! he didn't have to, fer me to hear him
+bally-hooin'! Every time I passed this floor, 'most, he wuz a handin' it
+out to the young lady good an' plenty!"
+
+McGuire was excused, and being loath to leave the room, he was
+materially assisted by Inspector Crawford.
+
+Though not an attractive specimen of his class, and though his evidence
+was unimportant, he had at least helped to prove the irascibility of the
+late Mr. Pembroke, and the fact that his ugly temper was often vented
+upon his niece.
+
+As I learned all this, I felt more than ever glad that Janet was at last
+freed from this tyrant. Indeed, my attention was only half given to the
+business in hand. My thoughts continually wandered to the girl who had,
+all unconsciously, twined herself around my heart. I found myself
+wondering where she would go when this was all over; how soon I could
+cultivate her acquaintance; and if--in the future--I could at last win
+her for my own. It was my first infatuation with any woman, and I gave
+myself up to it unreservedly, while my soul thrilled with hopes of what
+might some time be. To be sure, Miss Pembroke had not so much as glanced
+at me with other than the most formal politeness, such as she might show
+to any new acquaintance. But I would not let this discourage me. Because
+it was love at first sight on my side was no reason why it should be on
+hers, so I only determined to win her, if possible, and to be careful
+that she should not yet discover my feelings toward herself.
+
+From these rose-colored dreams I was suddenly recalled to the dreadful
+realities of the occasion by hearing myself summoned as a witness.
+
+I took the stand, hoping that some chance word or tone of my otherwise
+unimportant evidence might at least convince Miss Pembroke of my
+friendly interest in her and her affairs.
+
+
+
+
+VII
+
+I GIVE EVIDENCE
+
+
+"Your name," said the Coroner to me.
+
+"Otis Landon."
+
+"You live in this house?"
+
+"Yes, I live in the apartment across the hall, on this same floor. It is
+a duplicate of this apartment."
+
+"Please tell in your own words," said Mr. Ross, "exactly what you know
+of this matter."
+
+And so I told my story. "I am a lawyer, and a bachelor," I said. "My
+widowed sister, Mrs. Mulford, keeps house for me. As we sat at breakfast
+this morning the door-bell rang. Knowing from the hour--just about eight
+o'clock--that it was probably the hall boy with the mail, I opened the
+door myself, and took the letters from him. As I stood a moment,
+carelessly running over the mail, the boy pressed the button at the
+opposite apartment--the one where we now are. The colored servant came
+to the door, and though she unlatched it at once, it was held by a
+chain."
+
+Just here Inspector Crawford interrupted me.
+
+"The night-chain was on, you say?"
+
+"Yes," I answered; "I heard the colored woman's voice exclaiming that
+she always forgot to remove the night-chain before opening the door; so
+she reclosed the door, unfastened the chain, and opened the door again.
+She then took the letters and went back to the apartment. I returned to
+my own breakfast. Perhaps half an hour later I started for my office. As
+I was waiting for the elevator to come up, my sister stood with me,
+chatting. When the elevator did arrive I saw a gentleman in it, who, I
+have since learned, is Doctor Masterson. As the car reached our floor
+Miss Pembroke rushed from her own apartment to meet the doctor,
+exclaiming that her uncle was ill. My sister and I were much concerned,
+and offered our assistance. A few moments later Doctor Masterson came
+and asked us to come over here, as Mr. Pembroke was dead and Miss
+Pembroke had fainted. We came at once, and have endeavored to do
+anything we could to help."
+
+For some reason, Doctor Masterson seemed disturbed at my remarks. Why, I
+could not guess, for I had told the exact truth, and it seemed to me to
+have little bearing on the circumstances of the old man's death. On the
+other hand, what I had said seemed to give satisfaction to the Coroner.
+He nodded his head affirmatively several times, and it was plain to be
+seen that my testimony corroborated, at least did not contradict some
+already formed theory of his own.
+
+After a slight pause, while he seemed to weigh in his mind the evidence
+I had given, he resumed his questioning.
+
+"I am told Mr. Landon, that you searched Mr. Pembroke's bedroom for
+possible clues. Did you find any?"
+
+"I am not sure," I replied; "in a room that one has never seen before,
+it is difficult to know what belongs there and what does not. However I
+picked up a few articles, which, though they may be informative, are
+equally likely to be of no importance to us in our search."
+
+I offered first in evidence the memorandum of money and the rubber band
+still around it. The slight crumpling of the paper, seemed to show a
+hasty removal of the money,--if money had been enclosed.
+
+"This seems to me to be of decided importance," commented Mr. Ross;
+"indeed, unless some member of the household can throw light on the
+matter, I shall conclude that a sum of money was stolen from Mr.
+Pembroke, and that the robbery constituted the motive for either
+previous or subsequent murder."
+
+This seemed to me both rational and logical, and I waited with interest
+the next questions.
+
+Mr. Ross first addressed Miss Pembroke.
+
+"Do you know anything concerning this money?" he inquired, simply.
+
+Janet Pembroke was sitting on a sofa, next to Laura. As, with the
+exception of the colored servant, they were the only women present,
+Laura assumed the attitude of chaperon and protector to the young girl.
+And it was doubtless due to my sister's sympathy and support, that Miss
+Pembroke was preserving a calm demeanor. But at the Coroner's question,
+she became greatly agitated. She trembled, and her fingers grasped
+nervously at Laura's arm as she stammered a reply.
+
+"I--I--I know that Uncle Robert had a large sum of money in his
+possession yesterday."
+
+"Where did he get it?"
+
+"His lawyer, Mr. Leroy, brought it to him night before last."
+
+"Was it as much as ten thousand dollars, as this memorandum seems to
+indicate?"
+
+"I--I--I think it was."
+
+What was the matter with the girl? If she had stolen the money herself,
+she could not have acted more guiltily embarrassed. To me, the idea of
+theft in connection with Janet Pembroke was absurd, but I could readily
+see from the countenances of the men about me, that the situation
+impressed them quite otherwise.
+
+"Was Mr. Pembroke in the habit of keeping such large sums of money in
+the house?"
+
+"No; it was most unusual."
+
+"How, then, did it happen in this instance?"
+
+"I am not quite sure;" and now Miss Pembroke looked anxious and puzzled,
+rather than frightened, as she had appeared before, "I think he expected
+a man to come to see him, to whom he would pay the money."
+
+"Do you know the name of this man?"
+
+"It was,--no,--I do not."
+
+I think no one present believed this statement. It was made with too
+much hesitation and uncertainty.
+
+"Are you sure, Miss Pembroke that you do not know the name of the man
+for whom your uncle intended the money?"
+
+The girl's uncertainty appeared to vanish. "I do not!" she cried; "my
+uncle was not in the habit of confiding to me his business matters. But
+he often spoke in loud tones, and quite unintentionally I overheard a
+few words between him and Mr. Leroy, which gave me the impression that
+he intended the money for some man who would soon call to receive it."
+
+"Do you know anything concerning this money?" Mr. Ross then said,
+addressing his question to George Lawrence.
+
+The young man had been sitting watching his cousin in silence. He seemed
+absorbed in deep thought and roused himself suddenly as the Coroner
+spoke to him.
+
+"No," he said, with an air of detachment from the whole affair; "I know
+nothing at all of these matters. I saw my uncle for a few moments
+yesterday afternoon, but he said nothing to me about money, or his
+financial affairs of any sort."
+
+"Did you see your uncle in his own room?" I asked, of Mr. Lawrence.
+
+"Yes," he replied giving me a glance, which, though coldly polite,
+seemed to resent my interference. But I was not to be baffled in my
+intent.
+
+"Was his desk open when you were there?" I went on.
+
+"I didn't notice definitely, but it is usually open. Indeed, I think I
+have never seen it closed."
+
+"And did you see a large roll of bills in it?" I relentlessly pursued.
+
+"I did not; nor should I have remarked it if I had. If my uncle chose to
+be careless with his cash it was not my affair."
+
+"It is possible the money may yet be found," observed the coroner; "Mr.
+Pembroke may have put it away more safely. Search must be made for it,
+but at present we will continue our verbal evidence. Mr. Landon, what
+else did you find in your search?"
+
+"I found this time-table," I replied, feeling a little foolish as I gave
+it to the Coroner.
+
+"H'm, local trains on the Lackawanna," he murmured, as he glanced at it;
+"Miss Pembroke, is this likely to have belonged to your uncle?"
+
+Again the girl became agitated. "I think not," she said; "no, it
+couldn't have been his. Uncle Robert never went out anywhere. Why should
+he have a time-table?"
+
+"Is it your own?"
+
+"No; I have not travelled on that road for a long time, and have had no
+thought of doing so."
+
+Then the Coroner turned to Charlotte. "Do you know anything about this?"
+he asked; "have you ever seen it before?"
+
+"Laws, no!" replied the colored woman, rolling her eyes distractedly. "I
+nebber trabbels myself, and Marse Pembroke, he nebber trabbled outside
+de do'. And Miss Janet she ain't nebber been trabblin' since I'se been
+here--dat I knows on."
+
+"Then it would seem," said Mr. Ross, "that this time-table must have
+been left in the room by some outsider. Do you know anything of it, Mr.
+Lawrence?"
+
+"No; I rarely use time-tables. But it does not seem to me important.
+Leroy may have left it, he's always travelling about."
+
+Immediately the time-table seemed to shrink into insignificance, and the
+Coroner tossed it aside and asked to see my next exhibit.
+
+A little chagrined at the apparent unimportance of my clues, I produced
+the handkerchief.
+
+"This lay on the foot of the bed," I said; "I noticed it only because it
+bears initials which are not those of Mr. Pembroke."
+
+"W. S. G.," read the Coroner as he examined the corner of the
+handkerchief. "Do you recognize those initials, Miss Pembroke?"
+
+"No;" and the girl's face this time expressed mere blank amazement; "I
+know of no one with those initials. It is a man's handkerchief?"
+
+"Yes," replied the Coroner, holding up to view the large square of
+linen; "And it is of fine texture and dainty finish."
+
+"And beautifully hand-embroidered," said Miss Pembroke, as she rose from
+her seat and took the handkerchief in her hand.
+
+She seemed in a quite different mood now. Apparently the handkerchief
+had roused her curiosity. She turned to Charlotte with it, saying,
+"You've never seen this before, have you, Charlotte?"
+
+"No, Miss Janet; I nebber seed dat hank'chif befo'. Dat's sure! It
+ain't Marse Pembroke's, nor it aint's Master George's, and dat's all de
+men dey is in dis fambly."
+
+"It couldn't have been left by Mr. Leroy," went on Miss Pembroke,
+musingly; "I cannot explain it. It's a mystery to me."
+
+She returned the handkerchief to the Coroner, and resumed her seat
+beside Laura.
+
+"It would seem," said Mr. Ross, "that whoever left this handkerchief in
+Mr. Pembroke's room, was a man of refined tastes,--but we must defer
+definite assumption of that sort until after further inquiry. You have
+something else to show us, Mr. Landon?"
+
+Without a word I handed him the two stubs of theatre tickets.
+
+"National Theatre," he read. "Your uncle never went to the theatre, Miss
+Pembroke?" he inquired.
+
+"Never," she answered, quietly.
+
+"You sometimes go yourself?"
+
+"Occasionally, yes. But I know nothing of those tickets. I have never
+been to the National Theatre."
+
+I was glad to hear this, for the National Theatre, though entirely
+reputable, was of the Music Hall class, and it pleased me that Janet
+Pembroke did not incline to that type of entertainment.
+
+In response to inquiries, Charlotte asserted volubly, and George
+Lawrence haughtily, that they knew nothing of these mysterious bits of
+pasteboard. The only inference was, then, that they had been dropped in
+Mr. Pembroke's room by some one who was calling on him recently.
+
+And then, as a final offering to the mysterious accumulation of
+evidence, I handed to the Coroner the torn telegram I had found in the
+waste basket. It had been torn across but once, and was easily pieced
+together. The Coroner read it aloud:
+
+"Expect me on Wednesday evening. Signed, J. S. Sent from East Lynnwood,
+New Jersey. H'm, that links it to the Lackawanna time-table, as East
+Lynnwood is on a branch of that road."
+
+"Are you sure of that?" asked George Lawrence.
+
+"No, I'm not sure," returned Mr. Ross; "but it's my impression that East
+Lynnwood is off that way, somewhere."
+
+"I'm not sure, myself," said Lawrence, and no one present seemed to know
+where East Lynnwood was, and the time-table was only for stations on the
+main line, not to branches. I determined to look it up for myself as
+soon as the inquest was over, for surely these hints I had picked up
+must lead somewhere.
+
+"Do you know who J. S. may be?" the Coroner asked of Miss Pembroke.
+
+"No," she replied, briefly, but again I had a conviction that she was
+not speaking truthfully. The very vehemence with which she spoke seemed
+to me to betoken a desperate intention to hide the truth, but of this I
+could not be sure.
+
+"But if your Uncle received a telegram, bidding him expect a caller last
+evening, would you not be likely to know about it?"
+
+"Not necessarily," returned Miss Pembroke; "My Uncle never informed me
+of his business appointments or arrangements. But no one did call upon
+him last evening, of that I'm certain."
+
+"The telegram may have been a blind," said one of the jurors, wagging
+his head sagaciously. He seemed to think he had said something
+exceedingly clever, but Coroner Ross paid no heed to him. Indeed the
+Coroner seemed to care little about material clues, and was anxious to
+continue his verbal inquiries.
+
+After a few more questions, of no definite importance, I was excused,
+and my sister Laura was called to the stand.
+
+Her evidence regarding the occurrences which led to our introduction on
+the scene, was practically an echo of my own, and consequently not of
+direct importance. The Coroner endeavored to learn from her something
+concerning the unpleasant relations between Mr. Pembroke and his niece,
+but though Laura had expressed herself often and frankly to me on the
+subject, she would say nothing in public concerning it. She declared
+that she was totally unacquainted with the Pembrokes, and had never
+spoken to Miss Janet until that morning, and had never been in their
+apartment before.
+
+Of course she was soon excused, and next Charlotte, the colored servant,
+was called.
+
+She responded in a state of terrified excitement. She was nervously
+loquacious, and Mr. Ross was obliged to command her to answer his
+questions as shortly as possible, and not dilate on them or express any
+opinions.
+
+"At what hour did you rise?"
+
+"'Bout seben, sah."
+
+"Did you then prepare breakfast?"
+
+"Yes, sah--bacon 'n' eggs, an' cereal, an'----"
+
+"Never mind what the meal consisted of. Did you see any one before you
+served breakfast?"
+
+"Only the hall boy, when I went to take the lettahs, sah."
+
+"He rang the bell?"
+
+"Yes, sah. He allus does. An' I dun gib de do' a yank, but dat ol'
+chain held it. I 'clar to goodness, I can't nebber 'member dat chain."
+
+"Have you been with this household long?"
+
+"I's been here six weeks, sah. But I was gwine to leave, any way. I
+couldn't stan' de way Mr. Pembroke called me names, sah. Miss Janet
+she's mighty nice lady, but de ol' massa he was too much fo' anybody."
+
+
+
+
+VIII
+
+AN AWFUL IMPLICATION
+
+
+"Never mind your opinions of your employers," commanded the coroner
+sternly. "Simply answer my questions. What did you do with the letters?"
+
+"I took 'em to Miss Janet."
+
+"Is that your custom?"
+
+"Yes, sah. She looks 'em ober, an' if dey's bills she doesn't gib 'em to
+Mr. Pembroke till after breakfast, sah."
+
+"Where was Miss Pembroke when you gave her the mail?"
+
+"In her own room, sah, jes' finishin' dressin'."
+
+"What did you do next?"
+
+"Den Miss Janet she tole me to knock on Mr. Pembroke's door, so he'd
+know breakfas' was ready. An' I did, but he didn't answer. Gen'ally he
+hollers at me when I knock. So I knock again an' again, an' when he
+don't holler out cross-like, I 'mos' know sumpin's wrong. So I went and
+tol' Miss Janet dat her uncle didn't answer back. An' she say: 'Oh,
+pshaw, he's asleep. Knock again.'"
+
+"Did you do so?"
+
+"Yes, sah. An' still he don't holler out ugly, like he always do. Den I
+got awful scart, an' I begged Miss Janet to go in his room. An' den she
+did. An' she scream out: 'Oh, Charlotte, uncle has had a stroke or
+sumpin! What shall we do?' An' I say: 'Oh, Miss Janet, send for de
+doctor.' An' she telephoned right away, an' bimeby he come."
+
+"That will do," said Mr. Ross. "From that time on, we have had the
+history of events. But to go back to last night. Were you in the house
+last evening?"
+
+"Yes, sah; dat is, I was, after nine o'clock. I went out befo' dat, but
+I come in sharp at nine, as Miss Janet had tole me to."
+
+"There were no guests here when you returned?"
+
+"No sah; no comp'ny. Miss Janet and her uncle--dey sat in de drawin'
+room, conversationin'."
+
+The way Charlotte's eyes rolled about, and the quizzical look on her
+face, gave a distinct hint as to the nature of the conversation.
+
+"Was the conversation of a pleasant sort?" the Coroner could not refrain
+from saying.
+
+"Laws, no, sah! Marse Pembroke, he nebber conversed pleasantly, sah. He
+jes' nachelly scold Miss Janet always. Sometimes wusser dan odders,--but
+always scoldin'."
+
+"What was he scolding her about?"
+
+"I dunno. I jes' walked by de do', but I 'spect,----" Here Charlotte
+rolled her eyes toward Miss Pembroke, and the expression on that young
+lady's face, was so unmistakably a desire for Charlotte to cease her
+revelations, that I was not surprised at the colored woman's obedience
+to it.
+
+"Go on," said Mr. Ross, "what do you suspect?"
+
+"Nuffin, sah! nuffin 'tall."
+
+"But you were about to say something?"
+
+Again Charlotte rolled her eyes toward Miss Pembroke, and again the girl
+gave her a look which as plainly as words, forbade her to continue.
+
+"Oh, laws," said Charlotte, easily, "den I 'spect old Marse Pembroke wuz
+jes' blowin' her up kase de bills wuz so big. He always said de bills
+wuz 'normous, even if dey wuz as small as anything. Dey wasn't no
+pleasin' dat man, no how."
+
+Mr. Ross abandoned this line of query and began a fresh subject.
+
+"Sit here," he said to Charlotte, indicating a seat where she could not
+see Miss Pembroke, who was directly behind her. "Now," he went on,
+"remember you are under oath to tell the truth, and see that you do it!
+Did you hear Mr. Pembroke or Miss Pembroke make any reference to a large
+sum of money?"
+
+Charlotte said nothing. She twisted and turned in an endeavor to look
+round at Miss Pembroke, but the Coroner sternly ordered her to sit still
+and to answer the question. He added some remarks of a warning nature
+about punishment for untruthfulness, which so worked upon her
+half-ignorant mind that Charlotte became greatly agitated.
+
+"Mus' I tell de trufe to you-all?" she gasped, in a stage whisper.
+
+"Yes, and quickly," commanded Mr. Ross.
+
+"Well, den, Miss Janet, she did ask Mr. Pembroke for a lot o' money."
+
+"And he refused her?"
+
+"Well, sah, he 'llowed as he'd gib it to her, ef she'd marry dat Leroy
+man."
+
+At this point George Lawrence interposed.
+
+"I cannot think it necessary," he said, "to allow the exposure of these
+personal matters, and especially through the medium of an ignorant
+servant."
+
+I quite agreed with the speaker, and I admired the manly, dignified
+manner which accompanied his words. It seemed to me distinctly mean and
+petty to wrest these intimate revelations from the colored woman.
+
+"In a case like this, Mr. Lawrence," the Coroner replied, "the law is
+justified in getting evidence from any reliable source. And I am
+convinced that this woman is telling us the truth."
+
+"But truths that are irrelevant to the matter in hand," declared
+Lawrence. "Your investigation, I take it, is for the purpose of
+discovering the murderer of Mr. Robert Pembroke; and it surely cannot
+aid you to pry into the personal affairs of Miss Pembroke."
+
+"It is quite possible," said the Coroner, coldly, "that Miss Pembroke's
+personal affairs may have some bearing on our quest. However I agree
+with you, to this extent. I think it will be preferable not to learn of
+these matters through the testimony of a menial. I think I should prefer
+to learn the truth from Miss Pembroke herself. Miss Pembroke, will you
+now give your evidence?"
+
+Doctor Masterson's expression had grown even more worried than before.
+He seemed to me to look positively alarmed, and I wondered what it was
+that troubled him so.
+
+Miss Pembroke, on the contrary, was absolutely composed, and had again
+assumed that air of hauteur which I had sometimes noticed on her face
+when I had met her before I was privileged to speak to her, but which
+had been utterly absent since her uncle's death.
+
+The coroner looked at her, not unkindly, but with an air of coldness
+which quite matched her own.
+
+"Your name?" he said briefly.
+
+"Janet Pembroke."
+
+"Your relation to the deceased?"
+
+"That of great-niece. Robert Pembroke was my grandfather's brother."
+
+"You lived with him?"
+
+"I have lived with him since I was sixteen."
+
+"Was he kind to you?"
+
+"No."
+
+This was said without a trace of anger or resentment, but merely in the
+tones of one stating a simple fact.
+
+"Why was he not kind to you?"
+
+"I know of no reason, save that he was not of a kindly disposition. He
+had a dreadful and ungovernable temper, which was doubtless due in part,
+at least, to the fact that he suffered greatly from gout."
+
+"Was he--was he cruel to you?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Did he ever offer you personal violence?"
+
+"He has struck me several times."
+
+My blood boiled at these revelations. To think of that exquisite
+creature at the mercy of an angry brute!
+
+"Why did you not leave him?"
+
+"I had no other home, and, too, he needed me to look after him."
+
+"He could afford to hire caretakers."
+
+"Yes, but he was my only living relative, except my cousin, Mr.
+Lawrence, and I felt that I owed him care and attention in return for
+what he had always done for me. Besides, it was difficult for him to
+keep servants of any sort. They always left after a few of his violent
+exhibitions of temper."
+
+"Was he liberal with you in money matters?"
+
+"He was not."
+
+"Do you refer to money for household expenses or for your personal use?"
+
+"To both."
+
+"Do you know the contents of your uncle's will?"
+
+"I do."
+
+"You know, then, that by his death you will inherit a large sum of
+money?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+This conversation was listened to intently by all present, and it seemed
+to me that at this point the coroner's face took on an even harder and
+colder look than it had had before. I wondered why he seemed so devoid
+of sympathy or even of common humanity as his metallic voice rang out
+the questions.
+
+"You heard the testimony of Charlotte, your servant?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You corroborate it?"
+
+"I do, so far as it concerns my actions."
+
+"Then you saw your uncle first this morning, when Charlotte called you
+to his room?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And you thought him ill?"
+
+"I feared he was dead, he looked so white and still. But I thought it
+might be a paralytic stroke, or something that would cause an appearance
+similar to that of death."
+
+"Did you touch the body?"
+
+"No." Miss Pembroke gave a slight shudder, which seemed to be not
+without its effect on the coroner.
+
+"Why not?"
+
+At this she looked extremely white and her lip quivered slightly, but
+with a sudden accession of extreme dignity she drew herself up proudly
+and answered:
+
+"I saw no occasion to do so, and I deemed the proper thing was to send
+at once for our family physician."
+
+Still the coroner eyed her in a peculiar way, I thought, as, without
+cessation, he continued to question her.
+
+"When did you last see your uncle alive?"
+
+"When he left the drawing-room last evening, to retire to his bedroom."
+
+"Was he apparently as well as usual?"
+
+"Quite so. His gout was troublesome, but he had no other ailment that I
+know of."
+
+"At what hour was this?"
+
+"About ten o'clock."
+
+"Was your uncle in a bad temper when he left you?"
+
+"He was."
+
+"Especially so?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"What was the reason?"
+
+"He had been looking over the household accounts, and he accused me of
+extravagance."
+
+"Did he often do this?"
+
+"Invariably, upon looking over the bills."
+
+"You always expected it, then?"
+
+"Always," and Miss Pembroke's face showed an expression of resignation,
+that made it pathetic to look upon. What that poor little girl must
+have suffered from that parsimonious old man!
+
+"Did your Uncle show anger with you for any other cause?"
+
+Miss Pembroke hesitated. And then, though with a rising color in her
+pale face, she replied, "He did."
+
+"I'm sorry, Miss Pembroke, to be unpleasantly inquisitive, but it is
+imperative that I should know the facts of the case. What was the reason
+of your uncle's anger, aside from the question of your household bills?"
+
+"He was angry with me because I refused to become engaged to Mr. Leroy."
+
+"Mr. Graham Leroy, your uncle's lawyer?"
+
+"Yes, that is the man."
+
+"Your uncle wished you to marry him?"
+
+"He did."
+
+"Mr. Leroy has asked you to become his wife?"
+
+"He has."
+
+The cold, even tones of the two speakers, and the quiet expressionless
+faces seemed to rob this strange conversation of all hint of
+personality. For myself, I felt a glad thrill that Janet Pembroke could
+speak thus dispassionately of the man with whom I had feared she was in
+love. And, yet, in love with him she might be, for as a lawyer, I knew
+much of the vagaries and contradictions of woman's perversity; and I
+realized that the mere fact of Miss Pembroke's excessive calm might mean
+only a hiding of excessive emotion.
+
+Inexorably the Coroner went on.
+
+"Did your uncle promise you a large sum of money if you would marry Mr.
+Leroy?"
+
+Miss Pembroke flashed a reproachful glance at Charlotte, who had of
+course brought about this question, but she answered, in a steady voice:
+"It was not of the nature of a bargain, as your words seem to imply."
+
+"But you had asked him for a large sum of money?"
+
+"I had done so."
+
+"You asked him last evening?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Knowing that he had a large sum of money in the house?"
+
+"I----I was not sure that he had." It was the first time that the girl
+had stammered or hesitated in her speech, and though it told against her
+in the minds of the jurors, yet to me it only showed a giving way of her
+enforced calm.
+
+"What did you want the money for?" said the Coroner, suddenly.
+
+Miss Pembroke looked at him, and now, her eyes flashed like those of an
+accusing goddess. "You have no right to ask that!" she exclaimed, "and I
+refuse to tell."
+
+"It certainly has no bearing on the case," said George Lawrence, and his
+haughty, disdainful tones seemed like a sneer at the way the Coroner was
+conducting matters.
+
+Mr. Ross turned red, but he did not repeat his question. Instead, he
+took up a new line of query.
+
+"Had your Uncle any enemies that you know of?"
+
+"I do not know exactly what you mean by enemies," replied Miss Pembroke;
+"owing to his unfortunate disposition, my uncle had no friends, but I do
+not know of anyone whom I would consider an aggressive enemy.
+
+"Your uncle went to his room, you say, at about ten o'clock?"
+
+"Yes, that was his usual hour for retiring."
+
+"And after you yourself retired, did you hear anything in the night--any
+noise, that might have seemed unusual?"
+
+"N--n--no," came a hesitating answer, after a considerable pause.
+Surely, no one could doubt that this girl was not telling all she knew!
+The evidence that she gave was fairly forced from her; it came
+hesitatingly, and her statements were unconvincing. She needed help,
+she needed counsel; she was too young and inexperienced to cope with the
+situation in which she found herself. But though I judged her thus
+leniently, the Coroner did not, and speaking almost sharply, he said:
+
+"Consider carefully, Miss Pembroke. Are you sure you heard no noise in
+the night?"
+
+Her calm seemed to have returned. "In an apartment house," she said,
+"there are always unexplainable noises. It is impossible to tell whether
+they come from the halls, the other apartments or the elevator. But I
+heard no noise that I considered suspicious or of evil import. Nothing
+to indicate what,--what must have taken place." She shuddered and buried
+her face in her hands as if to shut out an awful, imaginary sight.
+
+"Then when you last saw or heard your uncle he was leaving you in a fit
+of rage?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+When Janet said this her eyes filled with tears, and I could readily
+understand how it hurt the tender-hearted young girl to remember that
+her uncle's last words to her had been uttered in anger. This, however,
+did not seem to affect the coroner. He went steadily on, with his voice
+singularly lacking in inflections.
+
+"What did you do after your uncle retired?"
+
+"I sat in the drawing-room and read for an hour or so."
+
+"And then?"
+
+"Then I put out the lights and went to bed."
+
+Janet seemed to think that this ended her examination, and started to
+return to her seat; but the coroner stopped her.
+
+"Miss Pembroke," he said, "I must ask you a few more questions. Where
+was your servant?"
+
+"She had gone to bed some time earlier--about nine o'clock, I should
+say."
+
+"So that after your uncle left you you were alone?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"And when you went to bed you put out the lights for the night?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You----" The coroner hesitated for the fraction of a second, and then
+cleared his throat and went on: "You put the night-chain on the front
+door?"
+
+"Yes." Janet spoke as if the matter were of no importance.
+
+"Then--pardon me, Miss Pembroke--but if you put the chain on last night,
+at eleven, and Charlotte took it off this morning, at eight, how was it
+possible for a marauder to enter, as the inspector tells me he finds
+all the windows fastened, except those which Charlotte says she opened
+herself this morning?"
+
+"I don't know," said Janet, the dazed look returning to her pale face,
+and then, sinking to the floor, she again swooned away.
+
+
+
+
+IX
+
+GEORGE LAWRENCE
+
+
+The implication was awful, monstrous, and yet--there it was. Since, as
+Janet said, she put the chain on, and since it had been found still on
+by Charlotte in the morning, certainly no one could have entered the
+apartment during the night by that door. And as the apartment was the
+duplicate of our own, I knew there was no other door. There was no rear
+entrance, and the dumb-waiter closed with a snap lock on the kitchen
+side.
+
+The inspector stated that the windows had evidently been securely
+fastened through the night. Those in the sleeping-rooms, which were
+partly opened for ventilation, were secured by a burglar-proof device,
+which fastened them at any desired point, leaving ample room for air,
+but far too small a space for a human being to pass through. Thus the
+possibility of an intruder was eliminated, and, granting that, who had
+killed Mr. Pembroke?
+
+Logically speaking, it must have been some one already in the apartment,
+and the other occupants numbered but two. It didn't seem that it could
+have been Charlotte; and my mind refused even a hint of a thought of
+Janet in that connection; and yet--who?
+
+As I sat stunned, I vaguely saw that some one had raised Miss Pembroke,
+and that Laura had once more taken her in charge.
+
+I looked at the hard, impassive face of the coroner, and, like a flash,
+I realized that he believed Janet guilty, and that was why he had
+questioned her along the line he did.
+
+He meant to prove first motive and then exclusive opportunity! I, as a
+lawyer, followed the workings of his mind, and understood at last his
+rigorous catechism of the poor girl.
+
+Janet guilty! Why, it was simply a contradiction of terms. That girl was
+no more capable of---- Then I remembered her manner that had so puzzled
+me. But that she could explain, of course. As to exclusive opportunity,
+that was mere foolishness. I remembered the chained door, but of course
+there must have been other ways of ingress to a professional burglar. I
+hastily thought over the windows of our own apartment. There were three
+large front ones on Sixty-second Street, and the others were all on
+air-shafts or a fire-escape.
+
+Ah, that was it--the fire-escape!
+
+Then I remembered the inspector's statement. Had there been a possible
+way to get in that house that night, surely he would have found it. That
+would not require very clever detective work.
+
+Suddenly a thought struck me, which turned my heart to ice. It was I who
+had first testified that the chain was on the door when Charlotte opened
+it that morning! If I had not mentioned it, perhaps no one would have
+thought of it, and it would have been assumed that the criminal forced
+his way in at the front door.
+
+That would have left a loophole for doubt. Now they said there was none.
+Oh, how could I have been so stupid as to tell of that chain? I who
+desired only to serve and assist the woman I loved--I had done the one
+thing, said the one word, that gave those men reason to say she had
+"exclusive opportunity"!
+
+That, then, was why Doctor Masterson had looked so perturbed at my
+testimony. That was why he was worried and nervous at Charlotte's
+mention of the chain. That was why he looked relieved when Laura
+completed her account without referring to that awful bit of evidence.
+
+And why didn't Laura refer to it? Perhaps she thought it would be a
+point which couldn't be explained, which was as inexplicable to her as
+to me, but which no more proved Miss Pembroke guilty than it proved the
+angels in heaven to be criminals.
+
+Janet had regained consciousness, but still lay on the couch, with
+closed eyes, and the inexorable coroner called George Lawrence.
+
+The young man seemed to be controlling himself by a mighty effort.
+
+"I see your implication," he said to the coroner, "and I want you to
+retract it. My cousin, Miss Pembroke, is incapable of such a thing as
+you hint, and the mere fact of a chained front door does not preclude
+other modes of housebreaking. I am by no means sure the windows were all
+securely fastened last night. Indeed, I am forced to believe they were
+not, since somebody came in and killed my uncle, and it was not my
+cousin Janet."
+
+"There has been no accusation," said the coroner coldly. "Will you now
+give us your testimony?"
+
+"I can tell you nothing to throw any light on the mystery," said George
+Lawrence, who was, apparently, holding himself well in hand. "I called
+here yesterday afternoon between five and six. My uncle was very cross
+and grumpy, and gave me no pleasant word while I was here. He was not
+at that time definitely angry, but merely testy and irritable. I talked
+for a time with Janet, and went away about six.
+
+"Where did you go then?"
+
+"I went back to my own apartment in Washington Square."
+
+"And then?"
+
+"I dressed, and went to dine with some friends in Sixtieth street. Of
+course this can be verified."
+
+Lawrence spoke with an air of superciliousness, almost contempt, at this
+detailed questioning, but the Coroner looked at him impassively.
+
+"We are not doubting your word," he said; "you spent the evening at the
+house where you dined?"
+
+"Yes; I left there at eleven o'clock, and then I went directly home. I
+reached my apartment at eleven twenty-five."
+
+"How do you know the time so exactly?"
+
+"I happen to be sure of the hour, because the hall boy told me the time
+by the office clock. He then took me up in the elevator, and I went at
+once to my rooms. I slept all night, and had not yet left my bedroom
+when my cousin telephoned for me this morning. That is my story, and, as
+I said, it throws no light on the case. But light shall be thrown on
+the case, if I have to move heaven and earth to have it thrown. This
+mystery shall be solved and my cousin freed from the slightest taint of
+this absurd suspicion!"
+
+I had liked George Lawrence from the first, and this outburst of loyalty
+to his cousin quite won my heart. It was no more than he ought to have
+felt, but his spontaneous enthusiasm charmed me. I determined to add my
+efforts to his own, and it would go hard if between us we did not bring
+the evil-doer to justice.
+
+I admired the appearance of the young man. Of an athletic type, though
+perhaps not specially trained, he was well set up, and had that assured
+air that belongs to so many young New York men.
+
+He especially exhibited self-possession and self-control, and though
+perhaps he gave more the effect of physical force than of mental
+strength, yet to my mind he showed bravery and courage both in manner
+and speech.
+
+Though in no way conspicuous, his clothes were correct, and hung well on
+his rather graceful figure. Although I had heard he was an artist, he
+showed no trace of Bohemianism in his make-up. He was rather, it seemed
+to me, of the type that frequents our best clubs or restaurants.
+
+But what I liked best about the man was his very evident affection and
+loyalty toward his cousin. As the coroner had said, there had been no
+definite accusation, and yet it was plain to be seen that as the
+evidence seemed to point toward either the guilt or the complicity of
+Janet Pembroke, the jurymen were being influenced by it.
+
+The coroner asked George more questions.
+
+"You carry a latch-key to this apartment?" he asked.
+
+"Yes. I lived here until a few months ago, and I've still kept the key.
+I go in and out as I like. The chain is never put on in the daytime."
+
+"Is it always on at night?"
+
+"Yes. When I lived here I was usually the last one in at night, and I
+put on the chain. Since I left, my cousin has told me that she always
+puts it on when she retires at night."
+
+"You did not get on well with your uncle?"
+
+"I did not. It was because of his bad temper that I went away to live by
+myself. I hoped, too, that if I were not here to anger him, which I
+often did, he might be more gentle to Janet."
+
+"Did it turn out that way?"
+
+"I fear not, to any considerable extent. I think he could not control
+his temper, even if he tried, and it was his custom to vent his wrath on
+whomever happened to be nearest."
+
+"You also knew of the conditions of your uncle's will?"
+
+"Yes. It was no secret. He had always told us we two were his sole
+heirs, but, though he seemed willing to leave us his money, he was not
+generous with it while alive."
+
+"What is your business, Mr. Lawrence?"
+
+"I am an artist--or, at least, an illustrator. I make pictures for books
+and magazines."
+
+"You find it lucrative?"
+
+"Sufficiently so. My tastes are not extravagant, and I earn enough by my
+work to gratify my simple ambitions. I trust I shall make a worthy use
+of my inheritance, but I had hoped not to come into it for many years
+yet."
+
+This last remark jarred on me. I didn't want to think the young man
+hypocritical, and yet that attitude as to his inheritance seemed to me
+not quite ingenuous.
+
+"Did Robert Pembroke have any enemy that you know of?"
+
+"Not that I know of definitely, and none that I would suspect of crime.
+But I know very little of my uncle's business affairs or his
+acquaintances. He was not at all communicative, and I was not curious
+about such matters."
+
+"He had callers occasionally?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Of what sort?"
+
+"Business men, his lawyer, various agents who transacted business for
+him, and sometimes strangers who came to ask contributions for
+charitable purposes, or perhaps to interest him in financial schemes."
+
+"He always saw these visitors?"
+
+"Yes; Mr. Pembroke was always ready to see any one who called. I
+suppose, as he never went out, it provided diversion and entertainment
+for him."
+
+"He always treated them politely?"
+
+"Perhaps not that, but he was decent to them. However, he frequently
+used them as targets for his ill temper."
+
+"They resented this?"
+
+"That depended on their errand. If they were asking favors, they were
+naturally more patient than if they were there to transact my uncle's
+business."
+
+"Your uncle also vented his ill-temper on his servants, I understand?"
+
+"He certainly did. No servant ever staid very long in his employ."
+
+"Can you think of any servant who has lived with him who might be
+implicated in this crime?"
+
+George Lawrence paused, and seemed to be thinking over the line of
+servants who had come and gone. At last he shook his head; "Not
+definitely," he said. "I don't remember them individually. But there
+were several who were so badly treated by my uncle that it would not be
+surprising if they had held revengeful thoughts toward him. However, I
+could not go so far as to accuse any one of them."
+
+"And you can't throw any light on these various articles collected from
+Mr. Pembroke's bedroom, and which we hope will prove to be clues to the
+discovery of the criminal."
+
+Although the Coroner's words were straightforward enough, the glance he
+cast on the various articles I had laid before him, proved that he had
+little serious hope of assistance from them.
+
+George Lawrence was even more plainly of an opinion that they were
+valueless. He glanced at them with an air of utter indifference, saying:
+"I really know nothing of them, I assure you."
+
+"You have no idea who is the J. S. who signed his initials to this
+telegram?"
+
+To my surprise, and I doubt not, also to the surprise of all present,
+George Lawrence turned to his cousin and smiled. It was a flashing
+smile, as if caused by a humorous thought, and it seemed so out of key
+with the proceedings, that it jarred on my sense of the fitness of
+things.
+
+But I was even more surprised when Miss Pembroke flashed back an
+answering smile, showing entire comprehension of her cousin's meaning.
+
+"You know something of the matter," affirmed the coroner, looking a
+little annoyed at the attitude of his witness.
+
+"I am not sure that I do," said Lawrence, "but I will tell you what is
+in my mind. For many years my uncle lived in fear of a personage whom he
+called J. S. Though rarely in humorous mood, my uncle would sometimes
+make jesting references to this J. S., as if he were in fear of him.
+When we asked him what name the initials stood for, he told us John
+Strong, but told us in such a way that he gave us clearly to understand
+that was not the real name of J. S. And so we came to look upon John
+Strong as a sort of mythical personage, and as the only one of whom my
+uncle was afraid. He has sometimes said to us, 'J. S. will catch me yet,
+if I'm not careful,' or, 'J. S. must never know of this.' It is our
+opinion, though uncorroborated by any known facts, that this man was
+once a partner of my uncle in business."
+
+"A long time ago?"
+
+"Yes; many years ago. These matters should be explained to you by my
+uncle's lawyer, but since he is not here, I will tell you what I know of
+this thing, though it is not much. As nearly as I could piece it
+together from the few hints my uncle let fall, I gathered that he and
+this J. S. bought a cotton plantation together, many years ago. At first
+the investment was unsuccessful. Then my uncle bought out John Strong's
+share, and after that the property became exceedingly valuable. I am
+perfectly sure my uncle dealt justly by his partner so far as the
+legality of the transaction was concerned. But John Strong seemed to
+think that my uncle was under a sort of moral obligation to give him a
+portion of the later profits. Now this is all I know about it, and I am
+not sure that these details are quite accurate. But I do know that the
+partner's name was not really John Strong, and that my uncle used that
+name because the man had a strong hold over him in some way."
+
+"But you think the partner's initials were J. S.?"
+
+"I think so, yes; but I am not sure."
+
+"You have never seen the man?"
+
+"Not to my knowledge. My uncle often had callers who were strangers to
+my cousin and myself."
+
+"This matter seems to me to be important," said the Coroner, looking
+again at the telegram which was signed J. S.; "This message is dated
+yesterday and advised Mr. Pembroke to 'expect J. S. tonight,' that is,
+last evening. It certainly must be looked into."
+
+"It certainly should," agreed George Lawrence. "When you have as
+evidence a telegram from a man known to be an enemy, it seems as if it
+ought to be investigated."
+
+"But, on the other hand," went on the Coroner, looking very serious, "we
+know that this J. S. did not come last evening, in accordance with his
+announcement. We have Miss Pembroke's evidence, in addition to that of
+the servant, that there was no caller here last evening. Then after Miss
+Pembroke put the night-chain on the door and retired, there was no
+possibility of the entrance of an intruder. Therefore, we are bound to
+conclude that J. S. did not keep his engagement with Mr. Pembroke,--if
+indeed this is a genuine message from him."
+
+At this remark of the Coroner's I looked aghast. He had practically cast
+a doubt on the genuineness of the telegram, and this implied that it was
+manufactured evidence, and so pointed to deeper and more complicated
+villainy than the crime itself. Moreover Mr. Ross's face expressed
+incredulity at the whole story of the mythical John Strong.
+
+I was indignant at this, for the very frankness with which Lawrence told
+the story, the unmistakable approval and agreement of Janet in all that
+he said, and the slightly amused air of both of them all seemed to me to
+prove that the John Strong episode, whether important or not, whether
+for or against the cause I had espoused, was at least a true story, and
+honestly set forth.
+
+But there was no doubt that the Coroner, the Inspector, and the Jurymen,
+took views entirely opposite to my own.
+
+"I have heard your story, Mr. Lawrence," Mr. Ross said, calmly, "and the
+jurors have heard it It is recommended to their thoughtful
+consideration. The telegram signed J. S., may or may not be from this
+person whom you call John Strong, but whose name you say is something
+different. However as this person did not call last evening before Miss
+Pembroke put the chain on the front door, and as he could not have
+entered this apartment afterward, I cannot feel that we should attach
+great importance to this message. The evidence given goes to prove that
+the crime must have been committed after eleven o'clock last night, and,
+in the opinion of the doctors, by or before midnight. This narrows the
+time down to a very definite hour, and we see that the deed must have
+taken place shortly after Miss Pembroke had retired for the night."
+
+George Lawrence was then excused from the witness stand, the inquest was
+closed, and the jurors dismissed to consider their verdict.
+
+
+
+
+X
+
+PERSON OR PERSONS UNKNOWN
+
+
+I am usually cool-headed and clear-sighted, but as I realized the
+significance of the trend of the coroner's investigation my brain began
+to whirl. While I couldn't for a moment imagine Janet guilty of crime,
+or assistance or connivance thereat, there was much about the girl that
+I could not understand. Her sudden fainting spells and her spasms of
+convulsive weeping contrasted strangely with her calm, cold demeanor as
+she talked about her uncle. She had shown no grief at his death, but,
+remembering his cruelty to her I could not wonder at this. Surely, if
+ever a woman had cause to be glad at a relative's death, she had; and
+yet--what was I thinking of? Of course Janet, as I had already begun to
+hope I might some day call her--was incapable of anything but the
+gentlest and most filial thoughts of her dead uncle. Then my legal mind
+awoke again, and I said to myself: "I know absolutely nothing of this
+girl, or of her real nature. I am in love with her, I admit, but I have
+never spoken with her before today; she is a veritable stranger to me,
+and I cannot know the secrets of her heart."
+
+Then the thought again occurred to me that, whatever might be the truth
+of the matter, I had been the one who first called attention to the
+chain on the door, which was, of course, the unassailable point against
+Janet. Since, therefore, I was directly responsible for this bit of
+evidence, which might or might not have been brought out otherwise, I
+felt that I owed all assistance in my power to the girl I had so
+unwittingly placed in an awkward predicament.
+
+Foreseeing what the verdict of the coroner's jury must inevitably be, I
+formed my resolve at once. I sat down beside Janet and talked to her in
+a low tone.
+
+"Miss Pembroke," I said, "the unfortunate circumstances of the case will
+undoubtedly lead to a trial before a legal jury. This may--though I
+trust it won't--cause you some annoyance, and in a merely nominal and
+formal way you may be held in detention for a few days. I wish,
+therefore, to ask if you have a family lawyer to whom you would
+naturally intrust the whole matter?"
+
+"No," said Janet, and again I was repelled by her cold and unresponsive
+manner; "I know of no lawyer whom I would wish to consult; nor do I see
+any necessity for such consultation."
+
+"Would you not wish to employ Mr. Leroy in this matter?"
+
+I made this remark entirely from a sense of duty, for it seemed to me
+that the lawyer of the late Mr. Pembroke was the proper one to look
+after the affairs of his niece. And I had a secret sense of virtue
+rewarded, when I saw on Janet's face a look of utter repugnance to my
+suggestion.
+
+"Indeed, no," she said, "in no circumstances could I think of consulting
+Mr. Leroy, or allowing him to advise me."
+
+"Why not?" I asked, so impulsively, that I did not realize how blunt my
+words sounded. Indeed, I was so delighted at Janet's positive
+repudiation of the idea that I scarce knew what I was saying.
+
+"Pardon me if I refuse to discuss my reasons with a stranger," was the
+answer, given in a haughty tone and with a distinct implication that I
+had overstepped the bounds of convention.
+
+"You need not tell me why," I said earnestly, "but, Miss Pembroke, let
+me impress upon you the advisability of your seeing some one who has
+legal knowledge, and who can be of assistance to you in your present
+position."
+
+Janet Pembroke looked at me with an expression on her face which I could
+not understand. We were sitting a little apart from the rest; Laura had
+risen and crossed the room to talk with George Lawrence, and as Miss
+Pembroke and I conversed in low tones, we were overheard by no one.
+
+"I have my cousin to help me," she said, after a moment's pause; "and I
+will help him. We are both saddened by Uncle Robert's death, for though
+unkind to us, he was our relative, and as a family, we Pembrokes are of
+loyal instinct. And so Mr. Lawrence and myself are sufficient to each
+other, I think. There will be no question of financial settlements, as I
+know my uncle's will is definite. And as it is in the possession of Mr.
+Leroy, of course he will look after that matter. But George will be
+executor of the estate, that I know, and he and Mr. Leroy will attend
+entirely to carrying out my uncle's will, without necessity of my
+personal attention to the matter."
+
+I was at a loss to know just how to intimate to the girl the serious
+position in which I felt sure she was about to be placed. Apparently she
+had not a clear appreciation of the Coroner's suspicions, which were
+only too evident to me. I was not sure that I ought to enlighten her,
+and yet it seemed to me that it would be better for her to be warned. I
+know that she would have to have a lawyer's assistance, whether she
+wanted it or not; and moreover, I wanted to be that lawyer. And, aside
+from this, I had the ever recurring remembrance that I was personally
+responsible for the evidence of the night-chain, and that it was that
+particular bit of evidence that had turned suspicion toward Janet.
+
+But before offering my own services, I determined to make one more
+effort to persuade her to retain Leroy, for I knew that such a course
+would seem to anyone else the most rational and natural.
+
+"At risk of offending you," I said; "I must urge you, Miss Pembroke, to
+follow my advice in regard to a lawyer. Will you not, at least, discuss
+the matter with Mr. Leroy as soon as he returns to the city?"
+
+As I had feared, this made Miss Pembroke exceedingly angry. She did not
+raise her voice, in fact, she spoke in even a lower tone, but with a
+tense inflection that proved the depth of her feeling. Also, her face
+turned white, her red lips pressed closely together, and her dark eyes
+flashed as she replied: "Will you never understand, Mr. Landon, that I
+absolutely refuse to have any dealings with Graham Leroy? Entirely aside
+from my personal attitude toward the man, I know him to be unworthy of
+confidence or trust."
+
+"Graham Leroy untrustworthy!" I exclaimed; "I am sure, Miss Pembroke,
+your personal prejudice makes you unjust to a well-known and even
+celebrated lawyer."
+
+I regretted the words the moment I had spoken them. They were forced
+from me by an impulse of justice and generosity toward my rival, but
+even as I uttered them, I feared the effect they would have on the
+turbulent mind of the beautiful girl who was facing me.
+
+And then again I was treated to one of the surprises that were ever in
+store for him who undertook to understand Janet Pembroke. Instead of
+resenting my speech, and flinging back some angry or haughty reply, she
+said, very gently:
+
+"Ah, I see you do not know him,--at least, not as I do. I have known Mr.
+Leroy so long, and so well, that I know much about him that other people
+do not know. He was exceedingly intimate with my Uncle Robert. He is a
+man of brilliant mind, of remarkable talent; but he is crafty and even
+unscrupulous in his legal manoeuvers. It may be that this was partly
+because of his deference to my uncle's wishes. Though Uncle Robert was
+himself honorable, so far as exact legality was concerned, yet I have
+cause to know that he allowed Mr. Leroy to carry on transactions for him
+that were,----but why should I say this to you? I did not mean to! you
+have fairly dragged it out of me!"
+
+Again her eyes were blazing with anger, and by a curious association of
+ideas, I suddenly remember, that I had once said to sister Laura that I
+would like to see this girl in a towering rage. Well, I was justified in
+my supposition! Her strange, almost weird beauty was enhanced by her
+intense emotion.
+
+I spoke to her quietly. "You have done no harm in speaking to me thus;
+Graham Leroy is an acquaintance of mine, and a brother lawyer, but I
+have no personal friendship with him. I only suggested your consulting
+him, because it seemed to me right that you should do so."
+
+"I thank you, Mr. Landon, for the interest you have shown in my affairs,
+and I am sure you will excuse me if I beg of you not to trouble yourself
+further about me."
+
+Her sudden change of manner, from a gentle confidence to extreme hauteur
+warned me that she was about to conclude the interview, and that if I
+wished to carry my point, I must make a bold plunge. So, with an
+intonation scarcely less frigid than her own, I said:
+
+"But--excuse me, Miss Pembroke, I feel it my duty to tell you that in
+all probability there will be a necessity for you to have the counsel of
+an experienced lawyer; and, since you have no one else at hand, I want
+to offer you my services. Do not think me presumptuous, but believe that
+I will do my best to serve you, and--that you will need such service."
+
+The girl looked at me as if unable to comprehend my full meaning.
+
+"Do I understand," she said slowly, "that because the apartment was
+locked and chained so that no one could enter, it may be supposed that
+_I_ killed Uncle Robert?"
+
+"You must admit," I replied, "that to a jury of disinterested outsiders
+it might seem to be a possibility."
+
+"I!" she said, with a proud gesture and a look of hauteur even more
+scornful than she had previously shown; then with a sudden and complete
+change of demeanor she cried out brokenly: "Ah, well, perhaps I did!"
+and buried her face in her hands.
+
+I was dumfounded. Her rapid alternations between an aggressive
+self-assurance and a nervous collapse left me more than ever uncertain
+as to the true nature of the woman.
+
+But so deeply was I interested that this very uncertainty only whetted
+my desire to take up the case that I felt sure was more than probably
+impending.
+
+"Never mind about that," I said calmly, "but please agree, Miss
+Pembroke, to consider me as your counsel from this moment."
+
+This was, of course, precipitate, but I was impelled to it by the
+emergency of the moment. And, too, the conviction was every moment
+sinking deeper in my heart that this was the one woman in the world I
+could ever love. So alone was she, and so pathetic in her loneliness, so
+mysterious was her conduct and so fascinating her personality, that I
+resolved to devote all the legal talent I possessed to her aid.
+
+"I will," she said, and she gave me a glance earnest but so inscrutable
+that I could make no guess as to its meaning.
+
+If I was surprised at her quick acceptance of my offer, I made no sign
+of it. I had gained my point, and, satisfied, I said no more. Nor had I
+been mistaken in my premonitions.
+
+The coroner's jury brought in a verdict that Robert Pembroke was
+murdered by some person or persons unknown, between the hours of eleven
+and one on Wednesday night. They suggested the detaining of Miss
+Pembroke and Charlotte, the maid, in custody of counsel who would be
+responsible for their appearance when called for.
+
+As this was exactly the verdict I had expected, it was no surprise to
+me; but it acted like a thunder-bolt on the others.
+
+George Lawrence was white with rage, and rather lost his head as he
+inveighed angrily against those who could be capable of such an
+absurdity as any connection between crime and Miss Janet Pembroke.
+
+"Detain Janet!" he cried; "what nonsense!"
+
+"It is not nonsense, Mr. Lawrence," said the coroner, "but we may call
+it merely a form, which is advisable in our opinion, until we can
+further investigate the case."
+
+"Indeed we will investigate!" Lawrence declared; "and our investigation
+will prove that it was an intruder from outside who killed my uncle. A
+robber, a burglar, a professional criminal of some sort! You have enough
+evidence of this. Clues, you call them. Well, there they are; let them
+lead you to the discovery of the man who brought them here."
+
+"But, Mr. Lawrence," objected the coroner, "it has been proved that a
+burglar, such as you speak of, could not get into this apartment last
+night. How do you suppose he entered?"
+
+"How did he get in? I don't know! that is your business to find out.
+There you have your precious clues--enough of them to implicate any
+burglar. If necessary, get detectives--the best possible. Use any means,
+stop at no expense; but discover the man who committed this crime! And
+in the meantime, retract your absurd and idiotic suggestion of detaining
+Miss Pembroke."
+
+Though not astonished that George Lawrence should so resent the
+suspicion of his cousin, I was surprised that he should express himself
+so vehemently and with such an exhibition of passion.
+
+And then I remembered that both he and Miss Pembroke were of strongly
+emotional nature, and that since Robert Pembroke had been given to
+frequent exhibitions of anger and ill temper, it was probably an
+hereditary trait.
+
+After the Coroner's words Lawrence said no more, but his firmly set
+mouth and glaring eyes, betokened the intensity of his thoughts.
+
+The colored girl, Charlotte, was also moved to loud and protesting
+lamentations. She became hysterical and wailed and moaned in true negro
+fashion.
+
+"Oh, lawsy me!" she exclaimed! "why didn' I leave befoh dis yer strodegy
+happened! Oh, Miss Janet, honey, did yo' really kill Marse Robert? An'
+did you steal dat money? Oh, I nebber thought my Miss Janet would do
+dat!"
+
+"Silence!" roared George Lawrence, but the excited woman paid no
+attention to him.
+
+"She did, she did!" Charlotte went on; "Marse Robert, he told Miss Janet
+he'd cut her out of his will, ef she didn' marry that Leroy man! So, ob
+co'se, Miss Janet she jes' nachelly had to kill him!"
+
+Although Charlotte's remarks were definite and dreadful, they were so
+incoherent and so interrupted by her wails and moans, that they made
+little impression on the people present. Moreover, George Lawrence had
+grasped the colored woman by the arm, and was shaking her into a
+submissive silence, threatening dire punishment, unless she ceased her
+random talk. I had gathered the trend of Charlotte's story; George and
+Janet had also understood it, but fortunately the Coroner and jurymen
+had been talking together, and had not listened to the servant's
+hysterical talk.
+
+
+
+
+XI
+
+THE CHAINED DOOR
+
+
+Janet herself sat as one turned to stone. I think it was the first time
+she had realized that even a slight suspicion had definitely been
+attached to her name, and, had she been guilty, she could not have
+looked more stunned by shame and ignominy.
+
+I remembered that she had said: "Perhaps I did do it"; I remembered that
+I knew nothing of her character save that it was a complex one, and--I
+wondered.
+
+But it was no time for wondering; it was an occasion for action. Rising
+to my feet, I announced that as Miss Pembroke's counsel I would at once
+take up the direction of her affairs. I agreed to be responsible for her
+appearance, and Charlotte's also, whenever necessary, and I directed
+that any communication for Miss Pembroke be addressed to me as her
+lawyer.
+
+My standing in my profession was of sufficient prominence to make all
+this possible, and the coroner agreed to my proposals.
+
+George Lawrence looked amazed and not altogether pleased.
+
+"I think, Janet," he said, "you should have left it to me to select your
+counsel."
+
+As usual, Janet's behavior was an insoluble problem. "Why should I?" she
+retorted. "I need an able lawyer at once, and as Mr. Landon offered his
+services I was glad to accept his offer."
+
+"What is your urgent need?" said George, looking at her peculiarly. "You
+are not accused."
+
+"I may be," she returned calmly. "And, too, I have now important
+financial interests to be attended to."
+
+I was shocked at the calm way in which she referred to her possible
+accusation, and also at the reference she made to her presumptive
+inheritance. Could it be, after all----?
+
+"Yes," said George; "it is wise to have good legal advice immediately,
+and you have done well to retain Mr. Landon."
+
+This sudden change of base surprised me, but I was growing used to
+surprises, and accepted it with the rest.
+
+"Call on me," said George affably, as he held out his hand, "for any
+assistance or information I can give you regarding my cousin's affairs."
+
+As it was then nearly two o'clock, I proposed to Laura that she take
+Miss Pembroke over to our own apartment for luncheon and rest, and,
+after a short talk with Mr. Lawrence, I would follow.
+
+In conversation with George Lawrence, I learned that he was
+administrator of his uncle's estate, and as he and his cousin shared the
+inheritance equally, there would be little difficulty in the settling of
+financial affairs.
+
+But as to the murder, there was more to be said.
+
+George was still furious at the implication cast on Janet and
+continually repeated how absurd the whole idea was.
+
+"But," I said, merely for argument's sake, "you know Miss Pembroke did
+put the chain on the door last night, and Charlotte did take it off this
+morning."
+
+"There are other ways of getting in a house," stormed George. "Windows
+have been forced before now."
+
+"Let us ourselves examine the windows," I said. "We may find some clue."
+
+"I hate that word 'clue,'" he declared. "I hate all suggestion of
+detective work, and deductions, and inferences."
+
+"But surely a detective is needed in a case like this," I said.
+
+"Not to my notion. Uncle Robert was killed. Janet never killed him. Of
+course Charlotte didn't either. So somebody _must_ have got in at the
+window."
+
+"Very well then, a detective might find out who it was."
+
+"Oh, detectives never find out anything. I did suggest employing them, I
+know; but I don't think they do any good. Now look at that bunch of
+stuff you picked up in my uncle's bedroom; surely that's enough for
+clues, if clues are wanted. But who could find the man who belongs to
+all that stuff?"
+
+"I'm afraid, Mr. Lawrence you haven't a deductive mind. I'm no detective
+myself, but my legal training makes it natural for me to connect cause
+and effect. Apparently your mind doesn't work that way."
+
+"No," said Lawrence, smiling; "I suppose I have what is called the
+artistic temperament. I am rather careless and inconsequent in my mental
+attitude, and I certainly never could reason out anything--let alone a
+gruesome mystery like this. But, for that matter, if you're going to
+look at the situation in the light of pure reason, it seems to me it's
+this way: The murderer of my uncle came in from the outside. He couldn't
+come through the door, therefore he came in through a window; and there
+you have the whole thing in a nutshell. Now, find your burglar."
+
+I couldn't help feeling attracted to the young man. Although he spoke in
+a light tone, he was by no means unmindful of the gravity of the
+situation, and his only thought seemed to be to refute the absurd
+suspicion which had fallen on his cousin.
+
+"But how could any one get in at a window?" I remonstrated. "The windows
+were all fastened."
+
+"Don't ask me how he did it! I don't know. I only say he _did_ do it,
+because he _must_ have done it! If he left clues behind him, so much the
+better for the detectives. Those handkerchiefs and theater stubs mean
+nothing to me, but if they could put a detective on the right track I'll
+be only too glad to pay the gentleman's well-earned fee."
+
+"What about the key?" I said. "Isn't that a clue?"
+
+"Clue to what?" returned Lawrence; "it's probably my uncle's own key,
+that he had slipped under his pillow for safety."
+
+"That's exactly what I think myself. How can we find out?"
+
+"Well, I don't see how we can find out until Leroy comes home. I know
+the will makes me executor,--but of course, I can't do anything in that
+matter until my uncle's lawyer is present."
+
+"Why not call up Leroy's office and find out when he's coming home?"
+
+"Not a bad idea," agreed Lawrence, and putting the plan into action, we
+learned that Mr. Leroy was not expected back for two days at least.
+Whereupon we gave orders to his secretary to communicate with him at
+once, tell him of the tragedy, and urge his immediate return. This was
+promised, and then our conversation returned to the subject of the
+lawyer. I discovered at once that Lawrence did not like him, although
+his denunciation of Leroy was not so severe as Janet's. Indeed
+Lawrence's chief grievance against the lawyer seemed to be Leroy's
+desire to marry Janet.
+
+"He's too old," he exclaimed, when I asked his reasons. "Just because
+he's a handsome, rich widower, all the women are crazy after him. But
+Janet isn't,--she detests him."
+
+I knew this to be true from Miss Pembroke's own words, and at the risk
+of seeming intrusive, I pursued the subject further.
+
+"Mr. Pembroke desired the match, didn't he?"
+
+"Oh yes; Uncle Robert was hand and glove with Leroy. And what that fool
+colored woman said, was true; Uncle Robert had threatened to disinherit
+Janet if she persisted in refusing Leroy. But you know as well as I do,
+that that doesn't mean a thing in connection with the death of Uncle
+Robert."
+
+"Of course not," I agreed, heartily. "By the way, of course no suspicion
+could be attached to Leroy?"
+
+"Heavens, no! how utterly absurd! and yet----" Lawrence hesitated, and a
+strange look came into his eyes, "oh, pshaw! suspicion can be attached
+to anybody and to nobody! to anybody, that is, except Janet. To dream of
+_her_ in such a connection is impossibility itself."
+
+"Of course it is," I agreed; "and I don't think you need bother about
+those foolish remarks of Charlotte's, for I don't think Mr. Ross or his
+people heard them. By the way, when was Leroy here last?"
+
+"Why, I don't know. Yes, I know he was here night before last because
+yesterday afternoon, Janet told me of the terrible scene they all had
+with uncle. He was in such a rage that Janet begged Mr. Leroy to go
+away."
+
+"What an old Tartar that man was!" I exclaimed, my whole heart going out
+in sympathy to the poor girl who had borne such injustice and
+unkindness.
+
+"He was all of that," assented Lawrence, "and in my secret heart I can't
+grieve very deeply because he's gone. But of course----"
+
+"Of course his death must be avenged," I continued for him, "and proper
+measures must be taken, and at once."
+
+"Yes, I suppose so," agreed Lawrence, with a sigh. "And I will do my
+part, whatever it may be. But I confess I have no taste for this
+investigation business. If you have, Landon, I wish to goodness you'd go
+ahead and examine the whole place to your heart's content. I'd be glad
+to have it done, but I can't bear to do it myself, and I'd take it
+kindly of you if you'd help me out."
+
+At this, since George wouldn't accompany me, I myself thoroughly
+examined all the windows of the apartment. I have, I am sure, what is
+known as the "detective instinct." I am of the conviction that it is
+scarcely possible for a human being to be in a room, even for a short
+time, and go from it without leaving behind him some evidence of his
+having been there. So I made a round of the rooms. I scrutinized every
+window. The only ones I found open were those which Charlotte had said
+she had herself opened that morning. The others were securely fastened
+with an ingenious contrivance which was really burglar-proof. Granting
+Charlotte's assertions to be true, which I had no reason to doubt, the
+net was surely drawing closely around these two women. But I felt sure
+there was some other possibility, and I determined to discover it.
+
+There was no back stair or kitchen exit. The dumb-waiter had a strong
+snap bolt and closed itself, without any means of opening from the other
+side. Then I returned and carefully examined the front door. The Hale
+lock, though easily opened with its own key, was not to be opened
+otherwise; and, aside from this, a key was of no use if the night-chain
+was on. I looked at the heavy brass chain; then I put it in its slot,
+and opened the door the slight distance that the chain allowed. The
+opening was barely large enough to admit my hand. There was no
+possibility of a man getting through that tiny crack, nor could he by
+any chance put his hand through and slide the chain back; for to remove
+the chain I had to close the door again, as Charlotte had done this
+morning.
+
+For the first time I began to feel that I was really facing a terrible
+situation.
+
+If only I had kept silent about that chain, and if Janet and Charlotte
+had also failed to mention it, there would have been ample grounds for
+suspecting that an intruder had come in by the front door.
+
+But realizing myself that the windows had all been secured, and that the
+chain had been on all night, what _possibility_ was left save the
+implication of one or both of the only human beings shut inside with the
+victim?
+
+Bah! There _must_ be other possibilities, no matter how improbable they
+might be. Perhaps an intruder had come in before the door was chained,
+and had concealed himself until midnight and then had committed the
+crime.
+
+But I was forced to admit that he could not have put the chain on the
+door behind him when he went away.
+
+I even tried this, and, of course, when the door was sufficiently ajar
+to get my hand through, I could not push the end of the chain back to
+its socket. The door had to be closed to do this.
+
+With a growing terror at my heart, I reviewed other possibilities.
+Perhaps the intruder had remained in the house all night, and had
+slipped away unobserved in the morning.
+
+But he couldn't have gone before Charlotte unchained the door, and since
+then there had been a crowd of people around constantly.
+
+Still this must have been the way, because there was no other way.
+Possibly he could have remained in the house over night, and part of the
+morning, and slipped out during the slight commotion caused by the
+entrance of the jurymen. But this was palpably absurd, for with the
+jurors and the officials and the reporters all on watch, besides the
+doctors and ourselves, it was practically impossible that a stranger
+could make his escape.
+
+Could he possibly be still concealed in the house? There were many heavy
+hangings and window curtains where such concealment would be possible,
+but far from probable. However, I made a thorough search of every
+curtained window and alcove, of every cupboard, of every available nook
+or cranny that might possibly conceal an intruder. The fact that the
+apartment was a duplicate of our own aided me in my search, and when I
+had finished, I was positive the murderer of Robert Pembroke was not
+hidden there.
+
+My thoughts seemed baffled at every turn.
+
+There was one other possibility, and, though I evaded it as long as I
+could, I was at last driven to the consideration of it.
+
+The fact of the securely locked door and windows precluded any entrance
+of an intruder, _unless_ he had been admitted by one of the three
+inhabitants of the apartment.
+
+At first I imagined Robert Pembroke having risen and opened the door to
+some caller, but I immediately dismissed this idea as absurd. For,
+granting that he had done so, and that the caller had killed him, he
+could not have relocked the door afterward. This brought me to the
+thought I had been evading; could Charlotte or--or Janet have let in
+anybody who, with or without their knowledge, had killed the old man?
+
+It seemed an untenable theory, and yet I infinitely preferred it to a
+thought of Janet's guilt.
+
+And the worst part of this theory was that in some vague shadowy way it
+seemed to suggest Leroy.
+
+Lawrence had acted peculiarly when I suggested Leroy's name in
+connection with our search. Janet had acted strangely whenever I
+mentioned Leroy; but for that matter, when did Janet not act strangely?
+
+And though my thoughts took no definite shape, though I formed no
+suspicions and formulated no theories, yet I could not entirely quell a
+blurred mental picture of Janet opening the door to Leroy, and
+then--well,--and what then? my imagination flatly refused to go further,
+and I turned it in another direction.
+
+I couldn't suspect Charlotte. Although she disliked her master, she
+hadn't sufficient strength of mind to plan or to carry out the deed as
+it must have been done.
+
+No, it was the work of a bold, unscrupulous nature, and was conceived
+and executed by an unfaltering hand and an iron will.
+
+And Janet? Had she not shown a side of her nature which betokened
+unmistakably a strength of will and a stolid sort of determination?
+
+Might she not, in the wakeful hours of the night, have concluded that
+she could not stand her uncle's tyranny a day longer, and in a sudden
+frenzy been moved to end it all?
+
+I pushed the thought from me, but it recurred again and again.
+
+Her demeanor that morning, I was forced to admit, was what might have
+been expected, had she been guilty. Her swooning fits, alternating with
+those sudden effects of extreme haughtiness and bravado, were just what
+one might expect from a woman of her conflicting emotions.
+
+That she had a temper similar in kind, if not in degree, to her late
+uncle's, I could not doubt; that she was impulsive, and could be
+irritated even to frenzy, I did not doubt; and yet I loved her, and I
+did not believe her guilty.
+
+This was probably cause and effect, but never would I believe the girl
+responsible in any way for the crime until she told me so herself. But
+could she have been an accessory thereto, or could she have caused or
+connived at it? Could I imagine her so desperate at her hard lot as
+to--but pshaw! what was the use of imagining? If, as I had often
+thought, I had even a slight detective ability, why not search for other
+clues that must exist, and that would, at least, give me a hint as to
+which direction I might look for the criminal?
+
+Determined, then, to find something further I went to Mr. Pembroke's
+bedroom. There I found Inspector Crawford on his hands and knees, still
+searching for the broken end of the hat-pin.
+
+But, though we both went over every inch of the floor and furniture,
+nothing could be found that could be looked upon as a clue of any sort.
+
+"Of course," I observed, "the intruder carried the end of the pin away
+with him, after he broke it off."
+
+"What are you talking about?" almost snarled the inspector. "An intruder
+is a physical impossibility. Even the skeleton man from the museum
+couldn't slide through a door that could open only three inches. And,
+too, men don't wear hat-pins. It is a woman's weapon."
+
+
+
+
+XII
+
+JANET IS OUR GUEST
+
+
+Ah, so the blow had fallen! He definitely suspected Janet, and, besides
+the point of evidence, opportunity, he condemned her in his own mind
+because a hat-pin pointed to a woman's work. He didn't tell me this in
+so many words--he didn't have to. I read from his face, and from his air
+of finality, that he was convinced of Janet's guilt, either with or
+without Charlotte's assistance.
+
+And I must admit, that in all my thought and theory, in all my
+imagination and visioning, in all my conclusions and deductions, I had
+entirely lost sight of the weapon, and of the fact that the Inspector
+stated so tersely, that it was a woman's weapon. It _was_ a woman's
+weapon, and it suddenly seemed to me that all my carefully built
+air-castles went crashing down beneath the blow!
+
+"Well," I said, "Inspector, if you can't find the other half of the pin,
+it seems to me to prove that an intruder not only came in, but went away
+again, carrying that tell-tale pin-head with him,--or with her, if you
+prefer it. I suppose there are other women in the world, beside the lady
+you are so unjustly suspecting, and I suppose, too, if an intruder
+succeeded in getting in here, it might equally well have been a woman as
+a man."
+
+Inspector Crawford growled an inaudible reply, but I gathered that he
+did not agree with me in any respect.
+
+"And then again, Inspector," I went on, determined to talk to him while
+I had the chance, "if there was no intruder, where, in your opinion, do
+all those clues point to? Mr. Lawrence thinks them of little value, but
+as a detective, I'm sure you rate them more highly. Granting the hat-pin
+indicates a woman's work, what about the man's handkerchief?"
+
+"No clues mean anything until they are run down," said Mr. Crawford,
+looking at me gravely; "I'm not sure that the handkerchief and ticket
+stubs and time-table, and all those things, weren't the property of Mr.
+Pembroke; but the only way to be sure is to trace them to their owner,
+and this is the next step that ought to be taken. This is not a simple
+case, Mr. Landon; it grows more complex every minute. And please
+remember I have not said I suspect Miss Pembroke, either of guilt or of
+complicity. She may be entirely innocent. But you must admit that there
+is sufficient circumstantial evidence to warrant our keeping her in
+view."
+
+"There isn't any evidence at all, circumstantial or otherwise, against
+her!" I declared, hotly; "you merely mean that she was in this apartment
+and so had opportunity to kill her uncle if she wanted to. But, I
+repeat, you haven't a shred or a vestige of evidence,--real
+evidence,--against her."
+
+"Well, we may have, after some further investigation. As you know, the
+whole matter rests now for a few days; at any rate, until after the
+funeral of Mr. Pembroke, and until after the return of Mr. Leroy."
+
+"Do you know Graham Leroy?" I asked, suddenly.
+
+It must have been my tone that betrayed my desire to turn suspicion in
+any new direction, for the Inspector's grey eyes gleamed at me shrewdly.
+"Don't let any foolishness of that kind run away with your wits," he
+said; "Graham Leroy is too prominent a man to go around killing people."
+
+"That may be so; but prominence doesn't always preclude wrong doing," I
+said, rather sententiously.
+
+"Well, don't waste time on Leroy. Follow up your clues and see where
+they lead you. Greater mysteries than this have been solved by means of
+even more trivial things than a handkerchief and a few bits of paper. To
+my mind, the absence of the other half of that hat-pin is the most
+remarkable clue we have yet stumbled upon. Why should the murderer
+break it off and carry it away with her?"
+
+"The doctors have explained that because it was broken off, it almost
+disappeared from sight; and had it done so, the crime might never have
+been suspected. Surely this is reason enough for the criminal to take
+the broken pin away."
+
+The Inspector nodded his head. "Sure," he agreed. "With the spectacular
+hat-pins the women wear nowadays it might have proved an easy thing to
+trace. However, it is necessary that I search all the rooms of this
+apartment for it."
+
+This speech sent a shock through my whole being. I had searched the
+apartment, but it had been merely with the idea of noting the window
+fastenings, and looking for a possible villain hidden among the
+draperies. I had not thought of a search of personal belongings, or of
+prying into the boxes or bureau-drawers. And that odious Inspector
+doubtless meant that he would search Janet's room,--and for that
+hat-pin! Suppose he found it! But I would not allow myself such
+disloyalty even in imagination.
+
+Changing the subject, I said, "do you think that key they found is Mr.
+Pembroke's?"
+
+"I don't think anything about it, it isn't a matter of opinion. That key
+belonged either to the deceased or to somebody else. It's up to us to
+find out which, and not to wonder or think or imagine who it might,
+could, would or should have belonged to!"
+
+Clearly, the Inspector was growing testy. I fancied he was not making as
+rapid progress as he had hoped, and I knew, too, he was greatly
+chagrined at not finding the pin. As he would probably immediately set
+about searching the whole place, and as I had no wish to accompany him
+on his prying into Janet's personal effects, I concluded to go home.
+
+Sad at heart, I turned away from my unsuccessful search for clues, and,
+bidding good-by to George Lawrence and to the officials who were still
+in charge of the place, I crossed to my own apartment.
+
+The contrast between the gruesome scenes I had just left and the cheery,
+pleasant picture that met my eyes as I entered thrilled me with a new
+and delightful sensation.
+
+To see Janet Pembroke sitting in my own library, in one of my own easy
+chairs, gave me a cozy, homelike impression quite different from that of
+Laura's always busy presence around the house.
+
+Miss Pembroke smiled as I entered, and held out her hand to me.
+
+"Mrs. Mulford has been so good to me," she said. "She is treating me
+more like a sister than a guest, and I am not used to such kind care."
+
+Although I was fascinated by Janet's smile and tone, I was again
+surprised at her sudden change of demeanor. She seemed bright and almost
+happy. What was the secret of a nature that could thus apparently throw
+off the effects of a recent dreadful experience and assume the air of a
+gentle society girl without a care in the world?
+
+But I met her on her own grounds, and, shaking hands cordially, I
+expressed my pleasure at seeing her under my roof-tree.
+
+She suddenly became more serious, and said thoughtfully:
+
+"I don't see what I can do, or where I can live. I can't go back to
+those rooms across the hall"--she gave a slight shudder--"and I can't
+live with Cousin George now, and I can't live alone. Perhaps Milly
+Waring would take me in for a time."
+
+"Miss Pembroke," I said, "I am, as you know, your counsel, and as such I
+must have a very serious talk with you."
+
+"But not now," broke in Laura; "Miss Pembroke is not going to be
+bothered by any more serious talk until after she has eaten something.
+Luncheon is all ready, and we were only waiting for you to come, to have
+it served."
+
+I was quite willing to defer the conversation, and, moreover, was quite
+ready myself for rest and refreshment.
+
+Notwithstanding the surcharged atmosphere, the meal was a pleasant one.
+Laura's unfailing tact prevented any awkwardness, and as we all three
+seemed determined not to refer to the events of the morning, the
+conversation was light and agreeable, though desultory.
+
+"I wish I had asked Mr. Lawrence to come over to luncheon, too," said
+Laura. "Poor man, he must be nearly starved."
+
+"Oh, George will look out for himself," said Janet. "But I hope he will
+come back here this afternoon, as I must talk to him about my future
+home."
+
+"Miss Pembroke," I said, feeling that the subject could be evaded no
+longer, "I hope you can make yourself contented to stay here with my
+sister and myself for a time, at least. Of course it is merely nominal,
+but you must understand that you are detained, and that I, as your
+lawyer, am responsible for your appearance."
+
+"Do you mean," asked Janet in her calm way, "that I'm under arrest?"
+
+"Not that exactly," I explained. "Indeed, it is not in any sense arrest;
+you are merely held in detention, in my custody. I do not apprehend that
+your appearance in court will be necessary, but it is my duty to be able
+to produce you if called for."
+
+Seeing that the serious consideration of Janet's affairs could be put
+off no longer, Laura proposed that we adjourn to the library and have
+our talk there.
+
+"And I want to say, first of all," she began, "that I invite you, Miss
+Pembroke, to stay here for a time as my guest, without any question of
+nominal detention or any of that foolishness. Otis may be your counsel,
+and may look after your business affairs, but I am your hostess, and I'm
+going to take care of you and entertain you. If you are in any one's
+custody you are in mine, and I promise to 'produce you when you are
+called for.'"
+
+If ever I saw gratitude on any human face, it appeared on Janet
+Pembroke's then. She grasped Laura by both hands, and the tears came to
+her eyes as she thanked my sister for her whole-souled kindness to an
+entire stranger.
+
+"Surely," I thought to myself, "this is the real woman, after all; this
+grateful, sunny, warm-hearted nature is the real one. I do not
+understand the coldness and hardness that sometimes comes into her face,
+but I shall yet learn what it means. I have two problems before me; one
+to discover who killed Robert Pembroke, and the other to find the
+solution of that delightful mystery, Janet Pembroke herself."
+
+I could see that Laura, too, had fallen completely under the spell of
+Janet's charm, and, though she also was mystified at the girl's sudden
+changes of manner, she thoroughly believed in her, and offered her
+friendship without reserve. As for myself, I was becoming more
+infatuated every moment. Indeed, so sudden and complete had been my
+capitulation that had I been convinced beyond all doubt of Janet's
+guilt, I should still have loved her.
+
+But as I was by no means convinced of it, my duty lay along the line of
+thorough investigation.
+
+It having been settled, therefore, that Janet should remain with us for
+a time, I proceeded at once to ask her a few important questions, that I
+might at least outline my plan of defence, even before the real need of
+a defence had arisen.
+
+"Of course you know, Miss Pembroke," said I, "that, as your lawyer, I
+shall do everything I can for you in this matter; but I want you to feel
+also that I take a personal interest in the case, and I hope you will
+trust me implicitly and give me your unlimited confidence."
+
+"You mean," said Janet, who had again assumed her inscrutable
+expression, "that I must tell you the truth?"
+
+I felt a little repulsed by her haughty way of speaking, and, too, I
+slightly dreaded the revelations she might be about to make; but I
+answered gravely: "Yes, as my client you must tell me the absolute
+truth. You must state the facts as you know them."
+
+"Then I have simply nothing to tell you," said Janet and her face had
+the cold immobility of a marble statue.
+
+"Perhaps I had better not stay with you during this conversation," said
+Laura, looking disturbed.
+
+"Oh, do stay!" cried Janet, clasping her hands, as if in dismay. "I have
+nothing to say to Mr. Landon that you may not hear. Indeed, I have
+nothing to say at all."
+
+"But you must confide in me, Miss Pembroke," I insisted. "I can do
+nothing for you if you do not."
+
+"You can do nothing for me if I do," she said, and her words struck a
+chill to my heart. Laura, too, gave a little shiver and seemed
+instinctively to draw slightly away from Janet.
+
+"I mean," Miss Pembroke went on hastily, "that I have nothing to tell
+you other than I have already told. I _did_ put the chain on and put
+out the lights last night at eleven o'clock. I _did_ fasten all of the
+windows--all of them. Charlotte _did_ unfasten some of the windows
+between seven and eight this morning; she _did_ unchain and open the
+door at about eight o'clock. Those are all the facts I know of. I did
+not kill Uncle Robert, and, of course, Charlotte did not."
+
+"How do you know Charlotte did not?" I asked.
+
+"Only because the idea is absurd. Charlotte has been with us but a short
+time, and expected to leave soon, any way. My uncle had been cross to
+her, but not sufficiently so to make her desire to kill him. He never
+treated her like he treated me!"
+
+The tone, even more than the words, betrayed a deep resentment of her
+uncle's treatment of her, and as I found I must put my questions very
+definitely to get any information whatever, I made myself say: "Did you,
+then, ever desire to kill him?"
+
+Janet Pembroke looked straight at me, and as she spoke a growing look of
+horror came into her eyes.
+
+"I have promised to be truthful," she said, "so I must tell you that
+there have been moments when I have felt the impulse to kill Uncle
+Robert; but it was merely a passing impulse, the result of my own
+almost uncontrollable temper. The thought always passed as quickly as it
+came, but since you ask, I must admit that several times it did come."
+
+Laura threw her arms around Janet with a hearty caress, which I knew was
+meant as an atonement for the shadow of doubt she had recently felt.
+
+"I knew it!" she exclaimed. "And it is your supersensitive honesty that
+makes you confess to that momentary impulse! Any one so instinctively
+truthful is incapable of more than a fleeting thought of such a wrong."
+
+I think that at that moment I would have given half my fortune to feel
+as Laura did; but what Janet had said did not seem to me so utterly
+conclusive of her innocence. Indeed, I could not evade an impression
+that sudden and violent anger was often responsible for crime, and in
+case of a fit of anger intense enough to amount practically to insanity,
+might it not mean the involuntary and perhaps unremembered commission of
+a fatal deed? This, however, I immediately felt to be absurd. For,
+though a crime might be committed on the impulse of a sudden insanity of
+anger, it could not be done unconsciously. Therefore, if Janet Pembroke
+was guilty of her uncle's death, directly or indirectly, she was telling
+a deliberate falsehood; and if she was not guilty, then the case was a
+mystery that seemed insoluble. But insoluble it should not remain. I was
+determined to pluck the heart out of this mystery if it were in power of
+mortal man to do so. I would spare no effort, no trouble, no expense.
+And yet, like a flash, I foresaw that one of two things must inevitably
+happen: should I be able to prove Janet innocent, she should be
+triumphantly acquitted before the world; but if, on the contrary, there
+was proof to convince even me of her guilt, she must still be acquitted
+_before the world_! I was not so inexperienced in my profession as not
+to know just what this meant to myself and to my career, but I accepted
+the situation, and was willing, if need be, to take the consequences.
+
+These thoughts had crowded upon me so thick and fast that I was
+unconscious of the long pause in the conversation, until I was recalled
+to myself by an instinctive knowledge that Janet was gazing at me.
+Meeting her eyes suddenly, I encountered a look that seemed to imply the
+very depths of sorrow, despair, and remorse.
+
+"You don't believe in me," she said, "and your sister does. Why do you
+doubt my word?"
+
+I had rapidly come to the conclusion that the only possible attitude to
+adopt toward the strange nature with which I had to deal was that of
+direct plainness.
+
+"My sister, being a woman, is naturally guided and influenced by her
+intuitions," I said; "I, not only as a man but as a lawyer, undertaking
+a serious case, am obliged to depend upon the facts which I observe for
+myself, and the facts which I gather from the statements of my client."
+
+"But you don't believe the facts I state," said Janet and now her tone
+acquired a petulance, as of a pouting child.
+
+I was annoyed at this, and began to think that I had to deal with a
+dozen different natures in one, and could never know which would appear
+uppermost. I returned to my inquisition.
+
+"Why do you think Charlotte could not have done this thing?" I asked,
+although I had asked this before.
+
+"Because she had no motive," said Janet briefly.
+
+This was surprising in its implication, but I went doggedly on:
+
+"Who, then, had a motive?"
+
+"I can think of no one except George Lawrence and myself." The troubled
+air with which Janet said this seemed in no way to implicate either her
+cousin or herself, but rather suggested to me that she had been
+pondering the subject, and striving to think of some one else who might
+have had a motive.
+
+"And you didn't do it," I said, partly by way of amends for my own
+doubtful attitude, "and George Lawrence couldn't get in the apartment,
+unless----"
+
+"Unless what?" asked Janet, looking steadily at me.
+
+"Unless you or Charlotte let him in."
+
+I was uncertain how Janet would take this speech. I even feared she
+might fly into a rage at my suggestion, but, to my surprise, she
+answered me very quietly, and with a look of perplexity: "No, I didn't
+do that, and I'm sure Charlotte didn't either. She had no motive."
+
+Again that insistence on motive.
+
+"Then the facts," I said bluntly, "narrow themselves down to these. You
+say that you know of only yourself and Mr. Lawrence to whom motive might
+be attributed. Evidence shows only yourself and Charlotte to have had
+opportunity. Believing, as I thoroughly do, that no one of the three
+committed the murder, it shall be my task to discover some other
+individual to whom a motive can be ascribed, and who can be proved to
+have had opportunity."
+
+At this speech Janet's face lighted up with a brightness that was like a
+glory. A look of relief, hope, and gladness came into her eyes, and so
+beautiful did she appear that again I said to myself that this was
+indeed her real nature; that she had been nearly tortured to death by
+her dreadful uncle, and that when the mystery was solved and the
+dreadful tragedy a thing of the past this was the way she would appear
+always. More than ever I determined to find out the truth, and bring to
+justice the evil-doer. Alas! how little I thought what would be the sad
+result of my search for truth!
+
+
+
+
+XIII
+
+JANET IS MYSTERIOUS
+
+
+"How clearly you put it!" exclaimed Janet in response to my last
+statement. "That is exactly what we have to do. Find some other person
+who had a motive, and who must have found an opportunity."
+
+"I will," I vowed, earnestly, "but it will help me so much if you can
+only bring yourself to trust me more fully. You know, you must know,
+that I have only your good at heart."
+
+I should have stopped right here, but it chanced that just at that
+moment Laura was called away on some household affair and left me alone
+with Janet. So, acting on an uncontrollable impulse, I said further: "I
+think if you knew how fervently I desire to do all I can for you, you
+would look upon me more in the light of a friend."
+
+"Are you my friend?" and Janet Pembroke's dark eyes looked into mine
+with a wistful gaze and an expression of more gentleness than I had
+thought the girl capable of. And yet I felt an intuitive certainty that
+if I met that expression with a similar one, she would at once flash
+back to her haughty demeanor and inscrutable air.
+
+"I am your friend," I said, but said it with a frank
+straightforwardness, which I hoped would appeal to her.
+
+But, alas, I had chosen the wrong manner; or I had made a mistake
+somewhere, for the wistfulness died out of her eyes and her lip curled
+disdainfully.
+
+"You're not a friend," she stated, calmly; "you are my lawyer, I have
+employed you as such; and when your work is finished, I shall pay you
+your fees. I trust you will use your best efforts in my behalf, and I
+may say I have confidence in your knowledge and your skill in your
+profession."
+
+I have heard of people who felt as if they had been douched with cold
+water, but I felt as if I had been overwhelmed by an icy avalanche! I
+had no idea why the sudden change occurred in her treatment of me, but I
+was determined to meet her on her own ground. Moreover, my interest was
+rather piqued at her strange behavior, and I was not at all sorry that I
+was to carry on the case for this wilful beauty.
+
+"I thank you, Miss Pembroke," I said in my most coldly polite manner,
+"for the confidence you express in my ability to handle your case; and I
+assure you I shall put forth my best efforts in anything I can or may do
+for you. As I told you, it would help us both if you were more frank
+with me,--but that is as you choose."
+
+"It isn't as I choose!" the girl burst forth, "I am _forced_,--forced by
+circumstances to act as I do! I would willingly tell you all, but I
+cannot,--I cannot! Mr. Landon, you _must_ believe me!"
+
+"I do believe you," I exclaimed, softened at once by her pained outcry.
+"I confess I cannot understand you, but I will promise to believe you."
+
+"I cannot understand myself," she said, slowly, and again a trace of
+that wistfulness showed in her eyes and in her drooping mouth. "I do so
+want a friend."
+
+Was the girl a coquette? was she leading me on, purposely, and enjoying
+my bewilderment at her sudden transitions of mood?
+
+At any rate she should not fool me twice in the same way. Not again
+would I offer her my friendship to have it scornfully rejected.
+
+"I think you do need a friend, Miss Pembroke," I said in a tone, which I
+purposely made very kind; "and I can assure you you will find a true one
+in my sister, Mrs. Mulford. I know she is already fond of you, and it
+rests with yourself whether or not she is your firm and faithful
+friend."
+
+As I said this, I rose, for I was just about to go away to my office,
+where some urgent business required my immediate attention. I had
+intended a very formal leave-taking, but to my surprise, Janet rose too,
+and putting out both hands said, "Thank you, Mr. Landon,--very deeply. I
+shall be only too glad to be friends with your sister, if she will give
+her friendship to a girl so unfortunately placed as myself."
+
+This remark could have called forth various kinds of response. But I
+knew it wiser to indulge in none of them, and with a formal, "good
+afternoon," I went away.
+
+There was business that required my presence at my office that
+afternoon, but I went also to get an opportunity to think by myself
+about the case I had undertaken. I seemed to have entered upon a new
+phase of existence, and one which was maddeningly contradictory. Above
+all else, I was surprised by the fact that I had fallen so suddenly and
+irrevocably in love. As I had reached the age of thirty-two without a
+serious love affair, I had come to the conclusion that my fate was to
+lead a bachelor life. But with Laura to look after me I had not felt
+this a deprivation. Now, however, all was changed, and I knew that
+unless I first cleared Janet's name from all taint of suspicion, and
+then won her for my wife, I should never know another happy hour.
+
+Although I intended to think over the legal aspects and the significant
+facts of the case I had undertaken, I found myself instead indulging in
+rose-colored dreams of what might happen in the future. It was perhaps
+the buoyant hopefulness consequent upon my realization of my love for
+Janet, but at any rate I felt not the slightest doubt that I should be
+able to free her entirely from any hint of suspicion.
+
+The fact that she was a mystery, that I could not understand her
+behavior or sound the depths of her nature, in no way detracted from my
+admiration of her. Indeed it rather whetted my interest and made all
+other women seem ordinary and tame by comparison. I deliberately assured
+myself that I had gone thus far through the world, heart free, for the
+very reason that never before had I met a woman who was out of the
+ordinary. Then, too, Janet's beauty was of no usual type. Other women
+might possess dark eyes and hair, red lips and a perfect complexion, but
+surely no one else ever had so expressive a face, where the emotions
+played in turn, each more beautiful than the last.
+
+Had I seen only her exhibitions of pride, anger or dismay, I might not
+have been so attracted; but having caught that fleeting smile of
+wistfulness, and that wonderful gaze of gentleness, I was fully
+determined to win her for my own, and to make those expressions the
+usual ones on her beloved face.
+
+The question of her possible guilt or complicity in guilt bothered me
+not at all. I knew she was innocent, and my only problem now was how to
+prove it to an unjust and suspicious world. But it should be done, for I
+would devote my best and bravest efforts to the cause, and I felt sure
+of ultimate triumph.
+
+If the thought obtruded itself on my mind that circumstances were
+against me, that my way would be a difficult one, and that even I myself
+were I not blinded by love, must feel some doubts, I resolutely ignored
+it, and resolved to succeed in spite of it.
+
+But I knew that the work I had undertaken would require not only the
+exercise of my highest legal powers, but also my most dextrous and
+ingenious methods of handling.
+
+I therefore looked after only such other matters as required my
+immediate attention, and then gave myself up unreservedly to the
+Pembroke case. Although technically it could not yet be called a case, I
+well knew if no other important evidence was brought out Janet would
+certainly be arrested, at least for complicity. Others might not believe
+her statement that she did not open the door to any one that night. As
+for myself, I did not know whether I believed it or not, and,
+furthermore, I did not care. I had determined to accept all Janet said
+as true, for a working basis. Let the results be what they might, let
+the truth be what it would, I would clear her name before the world, in
+defiance, if necessary, of my own beliefs.
+
+I set myself to work, and, with all the ingenuity acquired by my legal
+training, endeavored to construct a case. But it was by far the most
+difficult task I had ever attempted. The facts were so few and so
+evidential that it seemed to be an occasion for two and two making four,
+and possessing no ability to make anything else. Clearly I must collect
+more evidence, if--and though I didn't say this even to myself, I admit
+it haunted my brain--even if it had to be manufactured!
+
+But this was absurd; there was no occasion to manufacture evidence, all
+I had to do was to go and get it. There were the several clues that I
+had myself discovered, yet to be traced to their source.
+
+And yet, though I couldn't myself understand why, those clues seemed to
+promise little. I thought of those engaging detectives in fiction, how
+with one or two tiny clues they are enabled to walk straight to the
+murderer's front door and ring his bell. Yet here was I, with half a
+dozen clues at my disposal, and they seemed to me not at all indicative
+of the murderer's whereabouts.
+
+I wouldn't admit it to myself, but of course the truth must be, that
+since Mr. Pembroke had been murdered while the only entrance to the
+house was securely fastened, those precious clues could not have been
+left there by the criminal! If this disheartening thought attempted to
+present itself, I promptly thrust it aside, and remembered only that I
+had the clues, if they were clues, and certainly they did not point
+toward Janet.
+
+What had been called the principal clue, the hat-pin, the woman's
+weapon,--I ignored. I was not considering anything that pointed in a
+direction I did not choose to look.
+
+That was probably the real reason why I did not go at once for a
+professional detective and give him free rein. I knew he would begin on
+the hat-pin, and would end--, well,--never mind that.
+
+As a beginning, I made a list of matters to be investigated, setting
+them down, in my methodical way, in the order of their discovery.
+
+I had the key, the theatre stubs, the time-table, the torn telegram and
+the handkerchief. Surely, a lengthy list. Of course there had also been
+a hair-pin,--an ordinary wire hair-pin,--but this, I omitted for reasons
+of my own.
+
+Aside from the fact that it headed the list, the key seemed to me the
+most important. It was doubtless the key to some one of Mr. Pembroke's
+deposit boxes. And if so, it should prove useful. The box it fitted
+might contain papers or documents valuable as evidence. Considered as
+part of Mr. Pembroke's estate, it should of course be given into Leroy's
+charge; but considered as evidence in the Pembroke case, I surely had a
+right to use it.
+
+Deciding upon my course of action then, I went straight to the Coroner's
+and asked him for the key. He hesitated at first, but when I gave him
+the result of my own cogitation on the subject, he said: "You may as
+well take it, for at least you can find where it belongs. They won't let
+you open the box, as you are not the executor of the estate, so it can
+do no harm."
+
+I didn't dispute the point, but I felt a secret conviction that if I
+found the box to which the key belonged, I should somehow get sight of
+its contents.
+
+As Mr. Ross seemed inclined to talk about the Pembroke matter I went on
+to discuss the other clues. He announced his intention of calling in a
+professional detective, but was waiting for Leroy's return before doing
+so.
+
+"We've clues enough for a whole gang of burglars," he remarked. "I
+supposed of course most of these things,"--he was looking over my
+list,--"would be recognized by some of the family. But since they were
+not, they would seem to mean something definite in the way of evidence.
+However, I shall give them all to a detective as soon as possible, and
+if he can deduce any intruder from outside, and can explain how he
+effected an entrance, he will be cleverer than any detective in a
+story-book."
+
+"You have all the clues, I suppose," I said, feeling a distinct sense of
+dismay at the thought of his detective.
+
+"Yes," he said, opening a drawer of his desk.
+
+With no definite purpose, I examined them, and noted on my list such
+details as the date and seat numbers on the ticket stubs, the date and
+wording of the telegram, the initials on the handkerchief and such
+matters.
+
+"What is this?" I asked, as I noticed an opened envelope addressed to
+Robert Pembroke.
+
+"That is our newest exhibit," said the Coroner; "it was brought me
+within the last hour by Inspector Crawford, and it seems to me to
+eliminate the torn telegram from our case entirely. Read it."
+
+I took the letter from the envelope, and glancing first at the signature
+saw the name Jonathan Scudder. The letter went on to state that the
+writer would not be able to call on Mr. Pembroke on Wednesday evening,
+as he had telegraphed that he would.
+
+"This, then is the mysterious J. S.," I said, "and, as you say it makes
+it unnecessary for us to trace that clue further."
+
+"Yes," returned Mr. Ross, "but of course it was not a real clue any way,
+for neither J. S. nor anyone else could enter a chained door."
+
+That everlasting chain! Why do people have chains on their front doors,
+any way? There was one on our own door, but we never used it, and I
+wished to Heaven that Janet Pembroke had never used hers! They were
+supposed to be a safeguard, but in this case this infernal chain was
+condemning evidence against the woman I loved! That is, it condemned her
+in the eyes of others, but not in my eyes; nothing could ever do that!
+
+But there was no use of declaring my convictions to the Coroner. He was
+just as positive that Janet Pembroke was guilty as I was that she was
+innocent.
+
+However, all question of J. S. was settled. He was Jonathan Scudder, and
+whether or not he was the man whom Mr. Pembroke had sometimes called
+John Strong, made no difference to our case. I read the letter again,
+but it was of little interest and taking the key, which Mr. Ross gave
+me, I went away.
+
+Somehow, I was not so buoyantly hopeful after my interview with the
+Coroner as I had been before. The letter from Mr. Scudder did not affect
+me, it was of no consequence at all, but the Coroner's unshakable
+conviction of Janet's wrong-doing had made me realize that my own belief
+was founded not on facts but on my own glorious fancies.
+
+Very well, then, I concluded, I will go to work and get facts that will
+coincide with my beliefs. Action was better than theorizing, any way,
+and I went at once to the bank which I had been told carried Mr.
+Pembroke's account.
+
+But there I was informed that the key I showed was not the property of
+that bank or any of its departments. Nor could they tell me to what bank
+or company it did belong. I suspected they might have given me at least
+a hint of where to look, but as I was unknown to them personally, and
+they had no knowledge of how I had come by the key, they naturally were
+conservative on the subject.
+
+I could have explained the situation to them, but I knew it would be
+useless, as, if I were trying to use the key with fraudulent intent it
+was just the sort of a story I should have invented. So I turned away, a
+little despondent, but determined to keep on with my search, if I had to
+visit every bank in the city.
+
+It was a weary search. After two or three unsuccessful attempts, I took
+a taxicab and methodically made the rounds of the prominent banks.
+
+But as I met with no success, I concluded finally that such attempt was
+useless. I suspected that perhaps the bank officials suspected me, and
+would not give me information. This roused my ire, and as a next step I
+went to the office of the firm who made the key. As the makers' name was
+stamped on it I had no difficulty in finding them. Of course they were
+quite able to tell me for what institution that key had been made, but
+they were at first unwilling to do so. It was only after a full
+statement of my case and proofs of my own identity that I gained from
+them the information that the key had been made for The Sterling Safe
+Deposit Co.
+
+
+
+
+XIV
+
+MRS. ALTONSTALL
+
+
+The Sterling Safe Deposit Company! Well, at last I had some definite
+information! At last I had something to work upon! I went at once to the
+deposit company, and asked for an interview with the manager. I had
+difficulty in persuading him to grant my request, but after realizing
+the gravity of the situation and the significance of the clue, he told
+me that that key belonged to a safe deposit box rented by a Mrs.
+Altonstall, who lived on West Fifty-eighth Street.
+
+I looked at my watch. It was almost five o'clock, but I concluded to go
+at once to call on the lady.
+
+As I went up there in a taxicab, my brain was in a whirl. The key of a
+safe deposit box, not Mr. Pembroke's own, but belonging to a woman!
+found in his room, after a crime which it was assumed was committed by a
+woman!
+
+Who was Mrs. Altonstall? And why should she murder Robert Pembroke? This
+question opened such a wide field for speculation that it was
+unanswerable. Had the deed really been done by a woman? And was I, even
+now, about to verify this?
+
+I felt an uncertainty about proceeding. Ought I not to place the whole
+matter in the hands of the Coroner? Was I not taking too much upon
+myself to investigate alone this new evidence?
+
+But, I reasoned, delay might be dangerous. If the Coroner were to
+postpone until next day an interview with this woman, might she not have
+already effected her escape? Was it not wiser that I should go there at
+once, and lose no time in securing any possible information?
+
+At any rate, I went, resolved to take the consequences of my deed,
+whatever they might be.
+
+The address given me proved to be a large and handsome apartment house.
+At the office I inquired for Mrs. Altonstall and being informed that she
+was at home, I sent up my card, for I judged that the most open and
+straightforward measures were the best.
+
+A moment later I was informed that Mrs. Altonstall would see me, and
+entering the elevator I went at once to her apartment.
+
+The general effects of grandeur throughout the house and the elegance of
+Mrs. Altonstall's own room, made me wonder afresh if I could by any
+possibility be on the track of a criminal. Surely, the criminal classes
+did not live in a style implying such respectability and aristocracy as
+these surroundings seemed to indicate. But of course I realized that a
+woman who could commit murder was not necessarily found among the
+criminal classes, and indeed, being an exceptional individual, might be
+looked for in any setting.
+
+But when my hostess entered, and I saw a sweet-faced, middle-aged lady,
+of gentle manner and gracious mien, walk toward me, I felt the blood
+rush to my face, and I stood consumed with dismay and confusion.
+
+"Mrs. Altonstall?" I said, conquering my embarrassment.
+
+"Yes," she said, in one of the sweetest voices I ever heard. "This is
+Mr. Landon? you wanted to see me?"
+
+Surely with such a queen of women as this, frankness and truth were the
+only lines to follow.
+
+"Yes, Mrs. Altonstall," I said; "I am a lawyer, and I am at present
+investigating a serious case. In connection with it, there has been
+found a key, which I have been informed belongs to you. Will you kindly
+say if this is so?"
+
+As I spoke, I handed her the key. I need not say that at the first
+glimpse of that serene, gracious face, all thought of her implication in
+our affair instantly vanished. Presumably, too, the key was not hers,
+there had been a mistake, somehow.
+
+As she took the key, she looked at me with a bewildered surprise. "Why,
+yes, Mr. Landon," she said, "this is my key. May I ask where you
+obtained it?"
+
+I hesitated, for it seemed a terrible thing to tell this queenly lady
+where her key had been found. And yet the situation was so inexplicable,
+that I must solve it if possible.
+
+"I will tell you in a moment, Mrs. Altonstall," I said, slowly, "but
+first I must ask you if you know Mr. Robert Pembroke?"
+
+"Robert Pembroke?" she repeated; "no, I never heard the name. Who is
+he?"
+
+The unruffled calm and the straightforward gaze that met my own eyes, so
+frankly, was so convincing of her absolute veracity, that just for an
+instant the thought flashed through my mind that it might be merely the
+perfection of acting.
+
+But the next instant I knew better, for no human being could so simulate
+utter ignorance of a subject, if she had guilty knowledge of it.
+Moreover, since she knew nothing of Robert Pembroke, I instantly
+concluded not to tell her of the tragedy, but to inquire further
+concerning the key.
+
+"Since you do not know him, Mrs. Altonstall, let us not discuss him.
+Will you tell me how you lost possession of this key, since it is
+yours?"
+
+"I gave it to my lawyer, Mr. Leroy," she replied. "It was necessary that
+he should get some of my papers from the Safe Deposit Company, and it
+has been arranged that he shall have access to my box on presentation of
+my key. I am a widow, Mr. Landon, and as I have various financial
+interests, it is necessary for me frequently to employ the services of a
+lawyer. Mr. Leroy attends to all such affairs for me."
+
+"Do you mean Mr. Graham Leroy?" I asked, very gravely, for the
+introduction of his name stirred up all sorts of conjectures.
+
+"Yes," she replied, "he is an able lawyer, as well as a kind friend."
+
+"I'm acquainted with Mr. Leroy," I responded, "and I quite agree with
+your estimate of him. When did you give him the key, Mrs. Altonstall?"
+
+"About four or five days ago; last Saturday, to be exact. There was no
+immediate haste about my papers, he was to attend to the matter at his
+convenience. May I ask where the key was found?"
+
+I disliked extremely to rehearse the details of the case, and I knew it
+was in no way necessary. Of course the key belonged to this lady; aside
+from her own word, the bank had told me so. But her question must be
+answered.
+
+"It was found in the apartment of Mr. Robert Pembroke," I said; but
+immediately added, as she looked slightly startled, "I think, however,
+it is a matter of easy explanation. Graham Leroy is also Mr. Pembroke's
+lawyer, and he must have dropped the key there while calling on Mr.
+Pembroke."
+
+"Unpardonable carelessness," she said, and I saw that the sweet placid
+face could assume an expression of indignation upon occasion.
+
+"That, madam, you must say to Mr. Leroy. I am sorry to have troubled you
+in the matter, and I thank you for your courtesy to me."
+
+"But you will leave my key with me?" she said, as I was about to take
+leave.
+
+"I think I cannot do that, Mrs. Altonstall," I said, "as it was
+entrusted to me by official authority. But I promise to return it to Mr.
+Leroy, which, I trust will be satisfactory to you."
+
+The lady agreed to this, though a little unwillingly, and I went away,
+newly perplexed at this most recent development.
+
+So then, Graham Leroy had been in possession of this key. So then, he
+must have left it in Robert Pembroke's bedroom. He would not have done
+this purposely, of course, therefore he must have dropped it there
+without knowing it. It was found on Robert Pembroke's bed. Not under the
+pillow,--the suggestion that it had been under the pillow was mere
+supposition. It might have been dropped on the bed from the pocket of
+one leaning over the sleeping man.
+
+But Graham Leroy! the thought was preposterous!
+
+And then again, the old, ever insoluble question,--how could he get in?
+
+But really it was scarcely more impossible to conclude how he got in,
+than to imagine Graham Leroy getting in at all, except in correct and
+ordinary fashion.
+
+My brain worked quickly. To be sure, he might have dropped the key in
+that room when calling there, as he did, on Tuesday night.
+
+But I had asked Charlotte when Mr. Pembroke's bedroom had last been
+swept, and she had told me that she had swept it Wednesday morning, and
+had then emptied the waste basket. This had seemed to me to prove that
+all the clues I had found, had been brought into the room after that
+sweeping. But again, the key being found in the bed it had nothing to
+do with the sweeping of the room. However, Charlotte could not have made
+up the bed without seeing the key, so the only possible deduction was
+that Mrs. Altonstall's key had been left in Robert Pembroke's room after
+noon of Wednesday, the day he was murdered!
+
+It was all too much for me! I had undertaken to trace the clues that I
+had myself found, but if they were to lead me to such extraordinary
+discoveries as this, I felt I must appeal to more practical detective
+talent.
+
+But Leroy or not, at any rate it turned the tide of suspicion away from
+Janet. This was joy enough, of itself, to compensate for any horrible
+revelation that might come in the future concerning Leroy or anyone
+else.
+
+Somewhere in the back of my brain two dreadful words that the Coroner
+had used were hammering for admittance. These were _connivance_ and
+_complicity_; if Leroy entered the apartment on Wednesday night at any
+hour he was let in by either Janet or Charlotte.
+
+At that moment I realized the truth of the line, "that way madness
+lies."
+
+I pushed the thought from my mind with all my will power, and hastening
+my steps, for I had walked from Fifty-eighth Street, I went rapidly
+homeward.
+
+I reached home about six o'clock, and found that George Lawrence was
+there, and that Laura had invited him to stay to dinner. I was pleased
+at this, for I hoped that by the casual conversation at table I could
+learn something of Mr. Pembroke's past life and acquaintances.
+
+I concluded to say nothing about my discoveries of the afternoon, but to
+advise them of my decision to continue my search for a real criminal; a
+housebreaker or burglar, who could have committed the crime for the
+money, which he stole, and who must have contrived some way to get in
+through a window.
+
+During dinner, although Laura endeavored to keep away from the
+all-engrossing subject, which she disapproved of as table conversation,
+I gave a slight outline of the effort I intended to make.
+
+George Lawrence seemed greatly pleased with my ideas. He agreed that
+there must be some one, somewhere, besides himself and Janet who could
+be shown to have a motive, and he offered to assist me in looking over
+his uncle's private papers for some letter or other evidence which might
+indicate this.
+
+"Simply to make a statement of the case, but for no other reason," said
+George, "I will agree with you that the facts, as known, seem to
+implicate Janet. But as she is utterly incapable of such a thing, and as
+the idea of Charlotte being involved in the matter is absurd, the
+criminal must be somebody else, and we must find him or her. I say 'him
+or her' because the inspector declares that the hat-pin indicates a
+woman's deed, and, as we are utterly at sea regarding the individuality
+of the criminal, we are, I think, justified in assuming either sex. It
+is, of course, not beyond the bounds of possibility that Uncle Robert
+had a feminine enemy."
+
+"Once we can establish a motive," I said, "we shall have something to
+work upon in our hunt for evidence."
+
+"And yet motive isn't everything," said Lawrence, with a grim smile;
+"for if Janet had a motive, as you say, an equal one must be attributed
+to me, as I am an equal inheritor of Uncle Robert's fortune."
+
+I looked wonderingly at the young man. "The motive attributed to Miss
+Pembroke," I said "would probably not be her desire for inheritance, so
+much as the desperate difficulties attending her life with her uncle."
+
+This seemed to surprise Lawrence, but he only said carelessly: "It
+doesn't matter what motive they assign to Janet, for she didn't have any
+motive, and she didn't do the deed. But, for the moment, I'm speaking
+not of facts or even possibilities, but of contingencies which might
+arise. It might be claimed that I had a motive, from the mere fact that
+I am one of my uncle's heirs."
+
+"But you couldn't get in, George," said Janet quickly. "Your latch-key
+was of no use when the chain was on."
+
+"That's true enough, Janet, and we all know it; but, as I say, we're
+speaking of a hypothetical case. And you know, if we're going to hunt
+for some other person with a motive, we're bound to admit that he got
+into the apartment somehow. Therefore, to eliminate the possibility of
+being myself a suspect, I'll merely state, as a matter of fact, that my
+alibi is perfect. I can prove, should it be necessary, that I was far
+away from Sixty-second Street at the time of Uncle Robert's death, and
+can account for my time all through the night."
+
+I liked Lawrence's way of putting these things, and began to think his
+clear-headed views on the matter would be of assistance to me, even
+though he had no taste or talent for detective work.
+
+"Just what is an alibi?" asked Janet, with a perplexed air.
+
+"It means," I answered, "proof by witnesses of a person's whereabouts at
+a given time."
+
+"Oh!" said Janet. "And where were you last night, George?"
+
+Lawrence smiled as he answered: "I'm not in the witness box now, Janet,
+but I don't mind telling you that I dined and spent the evening at the
+Warings'."
+
+"Oh, did you?" cried Janet. "And you took Milly to a matinée in the
+afternoon. I know, because she told me about it before. You're getting
+awfully fond of her, aren't you, George?"
+
+"Yes, I like Miss Waring extremely," said Lawrence, and though he spoke
+as if he meant it, a certain sadness came into his eyes, and I suspected
+that Miss Waring did not reciprocate his regard.
+
+But though the young man seemed suddenly _distrait_, and did not attempt
+to continue our previous conversation, Janet, on the contrary had
+brightened up wonderfully. Being in a mood for making inferences, I
+deduced that George Lawrence was more interested in Miss Waring than
+Janet desired him to be, and that she was pleased rather than otherwise
+at George's lack of enthusiasm about the lady. Thereupon the sudden fear
+that Janet was in love with her cousin assailed me. This aroused what
+was of course an unreasonable jealousy on my part, for I had not the
+slightest actual foundation on which to rest the hopes I was rapidly
+building. I eagerly watched the two cousins after that, to discover if
+there was anything more than cousinly affection on either side.
+
+
+
+
+XV
+
+WHO IS J. S.?
+
+
+Whatever the cause, Janet's spirits were undeniably lightened.
+
+"I wish I could help," she said. "Here is our problem: to find somebody
+who wanted to kill Uncle Robert, and who was able to get into the
+apartment and do so."
+
+"That's the case in a nutshell," declared George; "but I confess I don't
+know which way to start."
+
+Although I had made up my mind not to refer to the letter from Jonathan
+Scudder, which Crawford had shown me, yet I thought I would introduce
+the subject of J. S. and see if Janet would volunteer any information
+regarding the letter.
+
+So, since both cousins had declared their willingness to consider the
+problem, I said: "As you say you don't know which way to start, Mr.
+Lawrence, suppose we take up the clue of the torn telegram. Do you think
+that J. S. who sent that message might have kept his appointment, and
+come last night, although no one knew it?"
+
+"How could he get in?" asked Lawrence.
+
+"That remains to be explained; but just granting for a moment that he
+did get in, why not turn our attention to discovering who he is and what
+his errand was?"
+
+"All right," agreed Lawrence, "but how shall we set about it? We know
+nothing of the man, not even his real name."
+
+"What do you think, Miss Pembroke?" I asked, turning to Janet; "do you
+think it would be possible for us to learn the real name of J. S.?"
+
+The girl looked at me with troubled eyes, but the expression of her
+mouth denoted determination. Even before she spoke, I knew that she was
+not going to tell of the letter she had read that morning. The letter
+was addressed to her uncle, but it had been opened. The reasonable
+explanation of this was that it had come in that morning's mail, as
+indeed its postmark proved, and that Janet had opened and read it; this
+latter supposition being probable, because the letter had been found in
+her room. To be sure after the death of her uncle, she was next in
+charge of the household affairs, but it would have been more commendable
+of her to have given her uncle's unopened mail to his lawyer or to some
+one in charge of his estate.
+
+When she spoke, as I had fully expected, she made no reference to the
+letter.
+
+"As I have told you," she said slowly, "my uncle often used to speak of
+J. S., and when we asked him who it was, he said John Strong."
+
+"But we know he didn't mean it," said Lawrence; "and also, Mr. Landon,
+although I do not know his real name, I'm positive that J. S. is the man
+who was my uncle's business partner many years ago. In fact my uncle has
+said to me that this partner thought that half of Uncle Robert's fortune
+should be given to him, or bequeathed to him by will. My uncle said he
+had no intention of doing this, but I gathered from his remarks on the
+subject, that his partner was continually making fresh efforts to obtain
+some of my uncle's money."
+
+"Then, in view of all this," I said, "is there not at least reason to
+look up this J. S. who sent the telegram, and see if he might not be the
+man whom your uncle called John Strong?"
+
+I looked directly at Janet as I said this, and though she returned my
+gaze at first, her eyes fell before my questioning glance, and her voice
+trembled ever so little as she said; "yes, let us do that."
+
+"It is a very good idea," broke in sister Laura, who was quick of
+decision and who rarely hesitated to express her opinions. "This John
+Strong may have been delayed, and reached the apartment very late at
+night. Then there may have been a stormy interview, and, unable to get
+what he wanted from Mr. Pembroke, John Strong may have killed the old
+gentleman, taken the money that is missing from the desk and gone away."
+
+"Sister dear," I said, "your theory is fairly plausible. If you don't
+mind I'll ask you to elucidate it a little further. Just how did John
+Strong get into Mr. Pembroke's apartment?"
+
+"Why," returned Laura, "Mr. Pembroke was expecting him, and as it was
+late, and the others were in bed, he got up and let the man in himself."
+
+"Yes; I understand," I went on; "and now, then, after this wicked Mr.
+Strong had committed his dreadful deed, who let him out, and put the
+chain on the door?"
+
+There was a dead silence. I had chosen my words most unfortunately. I
+had spoken rather quizzically, only with the intention of showing Laura
+how absurd her idea was; but my final question, instead of merely
+confuting her theory, had also suggested a dreadful possibility! For if
+anybody had put the chain on after the departure of the mythical Mr.
+Strong, it must necessarily have been one of the two living occupants of
+the apartment!
+
+Janet turned white to her very lips, and as a consequence, even more
+dreadful thoughts flashed into my mind. She had read a letter that day
+from the man who had sent the telegram. There was practically no doubt
+of that. When I had asked her concerning this man just now, though she
+had not denied, yet she had not admitted the knowledge which she must
+have possessed. And now when the faintest hint was breathed of a
+possible complicity of some one in the apartment with this mysterious
+J. S., Janet was so agitated as to turn pale and almost quiver with
+apprehension!
+
+I was strongly tempted to tell of the letter the Inspector had shown me,
+but I could not bring myself to do so, for far deeper than my interest
+in the case was my interest in this girl; and if that letter must be
+brought forward against her, it would have to be done by some one else
+and not by me. My evidence about the chain on the door had already
+wrought irremediable damage, and hereafter my efforts should be devoted
+to showing evidence that should prove Janet Pembroke innocent, and not
+of a sort which should make her seem to be guilty!
+
+"How would you advise trying to find this man?" asked George Lawrence,
+after a somewhat awkward pause; "the address on the telegram was East
+Lynnwood, but it would be difficult, even with a directory or census
+report to find a name of which we know only the initials."
+
+"Yes," agreed Laura, "there are doubtless men in East Lynnwood whose
+initials are J. S. Indeed, I should say those are perhaps the most
+common initials of all. You see, so many men's names begin with J."
+
+"And it may not be a man at all," suggested Lawrence. "Women's names
+often begin with J,--like Janet for instance."
+
+"But my initials are not J. S.," returned his cousin, "and besides, I
+didn't telegraph to uncle Robert."
+
+Again the girl surprised me, for she spoke in a light tone, as if almost
+amused at the idea.
+
+"But it might have been a woman," she went on, "which would explain the
+hat-pin."
+
+I was thoroughly perplexed at Miss Pembroke's words. She knew the J. S.
+of the telegram was the Jonathan Scudder of the letter. She knew
+therefore that J. S. was not a woman. Why was she so disingenuous? Was
+she shielding J. S., and did she know far more about the tragedy than I
+had supposed? At any rate, I could see she was determined not to tell of
+the letter she had read, and I was determined that if I should ask her
+concerning it, it would be when alone with her, for I would not subject
+her to possible humiliation before others.
+
+"We certainly can do nothing in the matter without knowing more of J. S.
+than we do now," I said, with an air of dropping the subject; "and I
+doubt, even if we should find him, that it would help us to discover the
+mystery."
+
+"I don't believe it will ever be discovered," said Laura. "It looks to
+me like one of those mysteries that are never solved. For whoever it was
+that was clever enough to get into that house, when there wasn't any way
+to get in, would also be clever enough to evade detection."
+
+George and Janet both looked at Laura as if startled by her remark. The
+fact that they were startled startled me. If they had known the clever
+individual whom Laura merely imagined, they couldn't have acted
+differently. But all this muddle of impressions on my mind really led to
+nothing. "If I'm going to do any detecting," I said to myself severely,
+"it's time I set about it, and not depend on guessing what people may
+mean by the expressions on their faces--especially faces capable of such
+ambiguous expressions as the two before me."
+
+Determined, therefore, to lead the conversation into channels that would
+at least put me in the way of learning some facts about the previous
+life of the Pembrokes and of George Lawrence, I spoke generally of ways
+and means of living in New York. I learned that Janet had the tastes and
+inclinations of a society girl, but that, owing to her uncle's
+restrictions, she had been able only slightly to gratify these
+inclinations. She was fond of concerts and theatres, of going shopping
+and calling, and yet had never been allowed the money or the freedom to
+pursue these pleasures. My heart sank as I realized how everything the
+girl said would tell against her should she ever be called to the
+witness box.
+
+Young Lawrence, it seemed, had similar social tastes, but even when he
+lived with the Pembrokes had been more free to go and come than his
+cousin. And, of course, since he had lived alone he was entirely his own
+master. He was a member of various clubs, and seemed to be fond of
+card-playing and billiards, in moderation. I also learned, though, I
+think, through an inadvertence, that he dabbled a little in Wall Street.
+It seemed surprising that a young artist could support himself in
+comfortable bachelor quarters and still have money left with which to
+speculate. This would not be in his favor, had there been a shadow of
+suspicion against him; but there could be no such suspicion, for even
+with his latch-key he could not get in at the door. He could hardly be
+taken for a professional housebreaker; and, besides, he was prepared to
+prove an alibi. I had little faith in this mythical personage we had
+built up with a motive and an opportunity, and as I reasoned round and
+round in a circle I was always confronted by the terrifying fact that a
+disinterested judge would suspect Janet and that, were I disinterested,
+I should suspect her myself. And so the reasoning went on in my excited
+brain, till I felt that I must go for a long walk in the cool night air
+as the only means of regaining my own clearness of vision.
+
+Soon after dinner, then, I announced my intention of going out.
+
+Lawrence said that he would spend some hours looking over his late
+uncle's papers, and Laura declared that she would tuck Miss Pembroke in
+bed early for a good night's rest.
+
+I started out by myself, and, swinging into Broadway, I turned and
+walked rapidly downtown. This was my custom when I had serious matters
+to think of. The crowded brightness of the street always seemed to
+stimulate my brain, while it quieted my nerves. I hadn't gone a dozen
+blocks before I had come to two or three different conclusions, right
+or wrong though they may have been.
+
+The first of these was a conviction that Janet felt more than a cousinly
+interest in George Lawrence. But this I also concluded might be caused
+by one of two things; it might be either a romantic attachment or Janet
+might suspect her cousin to be guilty of her uncle's death. If the first
+were true, Janet might have been in league with George and might have
+opened the door for him the night before. I was facing the thing
+squarely now, and laying aside any of my own prejudices or beliefs,
+while I considered mere possibilities.
+
+If, on the other hand, Janet suspected George, without real knowledge,
+this fact of course left Janet herself free of all suspicion. While I
+couldn't believe that the two had connived at their uncle's death, still
+less could I believe that Janet had done the deed herself. Therefore, I
+must face all the possibilities, and even endeavor to imagine more than
+I had yet thought of.
+
+But the more I considered imaginary conditions, the more they seemed to
+me ridiculous and untenable. George was not in the apartment; Janet was.
+George was not at the mercy of his uncle's brutal temper; Janet was.
+George did not want money and freedom to pursue his chosen ways of
+life; Janet did.
+
+Much as I liked George, I would gladly have cast the weight of suspicion
+on him instead of on Janet, had I but been able to do so.
+
+I had never before felt so utterly at the end of my resources. There was
+no one to suspect, other than those already mentioned, and no place to
+look for new evidence. Either the talent I had always thought I
+possessed for detective work was non-existent, or else there was not
+enough for me to work upon.
+
+But I had traced two clues. The telegram, though it had not implicated
+J. S. had pointed, indirectly, in Janet's direction. The key, though
+still mysterious, at least gave a hint of Leroy, and perhaps, in
+complicity, Janet.
+
+I made these statements frankly to myself, because since I was going to
+fight her battle, I wanted to know at the outset what I had to fight
+against.
+
+Having started on my investigation, I was eager to continue the quest I
+felt, if damaging evidence must be found, I would rather find it myself,
+than be told of it by some conceited, unsympathetic detective.
+
+But there was little I could do by way of investigation in the evening.
+However, as I passed through the theatre district, I bethought me of the
+ticket stubs. Though well aware it was but a wild goose chase, I turned
+my steps toward the National Theatre. As the program was fairly well
+along, there was not a crowd at the box office, and I had no difficulty
+in engaging the blithe young man at the window in conversation. I had
+not the ticket stubs with me, but I had a memorandum of their dates, and
+though it sounded absurd even to myself, I made inquiry concerning them.
+
+"House sold out, I suppose?" I said, carelessly, to the face at the
+window.
+
+"Just about. Want a poor seat?"
+
+"No; I'll wait till some other night. Is it sold out every night?"
+
+"Just about."
+
+"Was it sold out the night of October sixteenth?"
+
+"Sure! that was in one of our big weeks! Great program on then. Why?"
+
+"I don't suppose you could tell me who bought seats one and three in row
+G, that night?"
+
+"I should say not! do you s'pose I'm a human chart? What's the game?"
+
+"Detective work," I said, casually, thinking he would be less impressed
+if I did not seem too much interested. "I suppose you can't think of any
+way that I could find out who bought those seats for that night?"
+
+"Well, no, I can't; unless you might advertise."
+
+"Advertise! how?"
+
+"Why put in a personal, asking for the fellows that had those seats."
+
+"But they wouldn't reply; they don't want to be caught."
+
+"Sure, that's so! well, I'll tell you. Put your personal in and ask the
+fellows who sat behind those seats to communicate with you. Then you can
+find out something about your party, may be."
+
+"Young man," I said, heartily, "that's a really brilliant idea! I shall
+act upon it, and I'm much obliged to you."
+
+I offered him a material proof of my gratitude for his suggestion, which
+he accepted with pleasure, and I went straight away to a newspaper
+office. This scheme might amount to nothing at all, but on the other
+hand, it certainly could do no harm.
+
+I inserted a personal notice in the paper, asking that the holders of
+the seats near one and three G on the night of October sixteenth should
+communicate with me. I mentioned the numbers of the seats not only
+behind the mysterious numbers, but in front of them as well, and also at
+the side. I had little hope that this venture would bring any
+worth-while result, but there was a chance that it might, and action of
+any sort was better than doing nothing.
+
+After leaving the newspaper office, I continued my walk, hoping, by deep
+thought to arrive at some conclusion, or at least to think of some new
+direction in which to look. But the farther I walked, and the more I
+thought, the more desperate the situation became. Clear thought and
+logical inference led only in one direction; and that was toward Janet
+Pembroke. To lead suspicion away from her, could only be done by
+dwelling on the thought of my love for her. In spite of her mysterious
+ways, perhaps because of them, my love for her was fast developing into
+a mad infatuation, beyond logic and beyond reason. But it was a power,
+and a power, I vowed, that should yet conquer logic and reason,--aye,
+even evidence and proof of any wrong-doing on the part of my goddess!
+
+Notwithstanding appearances, notwithstanding Janet's own inexplicable
+words and deeds, I believed her entirely innocent, and I would prove it
+to the world.
+
+Yet I knew that I based my belief in her innocence on that one fleeting
+moment, when she had looked at me with tenderness in her brown eyes, and
+with truth stamped indelibly upon her beautiful face.
+
+Was that too brief a moment, too uncertain a bond to be depended upon?
+
+
+
+
+XVI
+
+LEROY ARRIVES ON THE SCENE
+
+
+When I reached home Lawrence had left, Miss Pembroke had retired, and
+Laura was in the library, waiting for me.
+
+"It doesn't seem possible," she said, as I flung off my coat and threw
+myself into an easy chair, "that so much could have happened in one day.
+Only think, Otis, when we arose this morning we didn't know Miss
+Pembroke to speak to, and now she is asleep in our guest room!"
+
+"Where is Charlotte?" I said.
+
+"She wanted to go to spend the night with some friends, so I let her go.
+We are responsible, you know, for her appearance if called for, and I
+know the girl well enough to know she'll never get very far away from
+her beloved Miss Janet."
+
+"Have you questioned Charlotte at all?"
+
+"Yes; and what do you think Otis? She believes that Miss Pembroke killed
+her uncle!"
+
+"Did she say so?"
+
+"Not in so many words; indeed, she scarcely owned up to it. But you know
+colored people are as transparent as children, and by talking in a
+roundabout way I discovered that she suspects Janet, only because she
+can't see any other solution of the mystery. She doesn't seem to blame
+her at all, and even seems to think Janet justified in putting the old
+man out of the way."
+
+"Of course she has no intelligence in the matter," I said; "but don't
+you see, Laura, that if she suspects Janet, but really knows nothing
+about it, that proves Charlotte herself absolutely innocent even of
+complicity?"
+
+"So it does, Otis. How clever you are to see that!"
+
+"Clever!" I said, somewhat bitterly. "I'm not clever at all. I may be a
+lawyer, but I'm no detective."
+
+"Why don't you employ a detective, then?"
+
+"It isn't my place to do so. But I feel sure that a professional
+detective, from the clues we have, could find the murderer at once."
+
+"Well, it wouldn't be Janet Pembroke," said Laura, with conviction.
+"I've been alone with that girl most of the evening, and she's no more
+guilty than I am. But, Otis, she does know more than she has told. She
+either knows something or suspects something that she is keeping
+secret."
+
+"I have thought that, too. And, as her counsel, she ought to be
+perfectly frank with me."
+
+"But isn't there a law or something," asked Laura, "that people are not
+obliged to say anything that may incriminate themselves?"
+
+"But you don't think her a criminal," I said quickly.
+
+"No," said Laura, with some hesitation; "but she is so queer in some
+ways, I can't make her out. Mr. Lawrence stayed here chatting some time
+after you left, and once or twice I thought Janet suspected him; and
+then, again, she said something that showed me positively that she
+didn't."
+
+"There it is again, Laura: if Janet _suspects_ George, she can't be
+guilty herself."
+
+"That's so," said Laura, her face brightening. "But then," she added,
+"they both may know something about it."
+
+Ah, this was my own fear! "Laura," I said suddenly, "do you think those
+two cousins are in love with each other?"
+
+"Not a bit of it," said Laura decidedly. "Mr. Lawrence is very much
+interested in Miss Millicent Waring, though I don't know that he is
+really in love with her. But I think he is rather piqued by her
+indifference. He seems to have a loyal fondness for Janet, but nothing
+more than would be expected from a good first-class cousin."
+
+"And she?" I asked, trying hard not to appear self-conscious.
+
+"Oh, she cares for George in the same way. He's her only relative now,
+you know. But she told me herself she had never cared especially for any
+man. She's peculiar, you know, Otis; but I do think she shows a great
+deal of interest in you."
+
+"Do you really?" I exclaimed, looking up to find my sister smiling at me
+in a mischievous fashion.
+
+"Oh, you dear old goose!" she cried. "Do you suppose I can't see that
+you're already over head and ears in love with Janet Pembroke, and have
+been ever since the first day we came into the Hammersleigh?"
+
+"By Jove! that's so," I cried. "Laura, you know more about my affairs
+than I do. I thought my affection for that girl dated from this morning,
+but I see now you are right. I have loved her from the first moment I
+saw her."
+
+"And you can win her, if you go about it right," said my sister, with
+her little air of worldly wisdom that always amused me.
+
+"I hope so," I said fervently. "As soon as this dreadful affair is
+finished up, and Janet has decided upon her temporary home, I think we
+too want to get away from this place."
+
+"Yes," said Laura, with a sigh; "I hate to move, but I'd hate worse to
+stay here."
+
+In response to the urgent summons Leroy came back to New York the next
+morning.
+
+From his office he telephoned to Janet immediately upon his return,
+saying that he would come up to see her in the afternoon, and asking
+that George Lawrence should also be present.
+
+As Janet was now staying with us, the interview was held in our
+apartment. Although Mr. Pembroke's body had been removed to a mortuary
+establishment, Janet could not bear the thought of going back to her own
+rooms, and moreover, the girl was very glad to remain under the cheering
+influences of Laura's kindness and friendliness. And so, as Laura
+insisted upon it, Janet directed Mr. Leroy to come up that afternoon.
+
+This being arranged, Laura also telephoned me at my office, and I went
+home in ample time to receive our caller.
+
+As Miss Pembroke's lawyer I had, of course, a right to be present, and
+as George Lawrence was there too, it seemed more like an official
+interview than a social call.
+
+Leroy came in, looking exceedingly handsome and attractive. Indeed, I
+had forgotten what an unusually good-looking man he was. He had that
+combination of dark eyes and hair slightly silvered at the temples,
+which is so effective in middle age.
+
+Though not at all effusive in his manner, he seemed deeply moved, and
+greeted Janet with an air of gentle sympathy. His manner, however, did
+not meet a response in kind. Janet's air was cold and haughty and she
+merely gave him her finger tips, as if the very touch of his hand were
+distasteful to her.
+
+George Lawrence was a little more cordial in his reception of the
+lawyer, but it was plain to be seen that neither of the cousins felt
+very friendly toward him.
+
+Mr. Leroy acknowledged courteously his introduction to Laura and myself,
+and then he requested to be told the details of the tragedy.
+
+He listened attentively while we told him all about it, now and then
+asking a question, but expressing no opinions. His face grew very grave,
+indeed to me it seemed almost sinister, and a little mysterious.
+
+We had not yet finished relating the case, when our door-bell rang and
+Mr. Buckner was announced.
+
+Buckner was the District Attorney, and after receiving the Coroner's
+report he had come to make some further inquiries.
+
+I had never seen the man before, as I rarely had to do with a criminal
+case, but I liked his attitude and manner at once. He was exceedingly
+straightforward and business-like. He asked questions and conducted his
+inquiries as if it were merely a continuation of the inquest.
+
+He had of course learned from the coroner all that he knew about the
+case, and now he seemed to hope and expect that he would get new
+evidence from Leroy.
+
+However, Graham Leroy was not a satisfactory person to get evidence
+from. He answered the District Attorney's questions, directly and
+concisely, but he gave little or no information of any importance.
+
+Leroy had not seemed especially interested in hearing of the clues which
+I had collected from Mr. Pembroke's bedroom, but after a time I
+concluded to try the effect of showing him the key which I had in my
+pocket.
+
+"Good Heavens!" he exclaimed, with a start, "where did you get that?"
+
+The result of my sudden move was all I could have desired. Leroy's calm
+was shaken at last; his interest was aroused, and the strange expression
+that showed on his saturnine face proved that he was greatly agitated at
+the sight of that key. It seemed to me that fear possessed him, or that
+at any rate he was startled by some unpleasant thought.
+
+The District Attorney, who had been apprised by the Coroner of my
+tracing of the key, turned to Leroy with a hint of accusation in his
+manner.
+
+"You recognize that key, Mr. Leroy?" he said.
+
+"I do," returned Leroy, and though he spoke in quiet tones, he had
+difficulty in concealing his agitation.
+
+"Is it yours?"
+
+"It is not mine, but it was in my possession."
+
+"Whose is it?"
+
+"It belongs to Mrs. Altonstall, a client of mine. She gave it to me, to
+get some papers for her from a safety deposit box."
+
+"And you lost it?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"When did you have it last, to your knowledge?"
+
+"I had it on Wednesday. I went to Utica, Wednesday night, and next
+morning I missed the key. I concluded that I must have left it at my
+office, but when I returned there I could not find it, and I felt
+considerable alarm, for one does not like to lose the key of a client's
+box."
+
+"No," said Mr. Buckner, grimly; "it is not a good thing to do. And where
+do you think you lost it?"
+
+"I've no idea; but as it was in my pocket, and I must have pulled it out
+unintentionally, and dropped it unknowingly, it may have happened in the
+train or on the street or anywhere. Where was it found?"
+
+"This is the key of which we told you; the key that was found in Mr.
+Pembroke's bed yesterday morning."
+
+"What! Impossible!" cried Leroy and his face turned white and his dark
+eyes fairly glared. "How could Robert Pembroke have come into possession
+of that key?"
+
+"We don't assume, Mr. Leroy, that Mr. Pembroke ever had this key in his
+possession. As it was found in the bed, not under the pillow, but beside
+the body of the dead man, we think it seems to indicate at least a
+possibility that it was dropped there by the murderer as he leaned over
+his victim."
+
+This came so near to being a direct accusation, that I fully expected
+Leroy to exclaim with anger. But instead, though his face grew even
+whiter than before, he said very quietly: "Am I to understand that as an
+implication that I may be guilty of this crime?"
+
+Though uttered in low even tones, the words expressed horror at the
+thought.
+
+"You are to understand," replied Mr. Buckner, "that we ask you for a
+frank and honest explanation of how your key, or rather your client's
+key, happened to be where it was found."
+
+"I cannot explain it," said Leroy, and now he had entirely controlled
+his agitation, and his face was like an impassive marble mask.
+
+"You cannot or you will not?"
+
+"I cannot. I have not the remotest idea where I lost that key, but by no
+possibility could I have lost it in Mr. Pembroke's bedroom, because I
+was not there."
+
+"When were you last in Mr. Pembroke's room?"
+
+"I was there Tuesday evening, and I may possibly have dropped the key
+there then."
+
+"But you said you remembered having it Wednesday morning."
+
+"I might be mistaken about that; perhaps it was Tuesday morning that I
+positively remember having it."
+
+Clearly Leroy was floundering. His words were hesitating, and though it
+was evident that his brain was working quickly, I felt sure he was
+trying to conceal his thoughts, and not express them.
+
+"Supposing then that you may have dropped this key in Mr. Pembroke's
+bedroom when you were calling on him Tuesday evening, you would not be
+likely to have dropped it in the bed, would you?"
+
+"Certainly not. I saw Mr. Pembroke in his room only a few moments, after
+having already made a longer call in the drawing-room."
+
+The involuntary glance which Leroy shot at Janet and the color which
+flamed suddenly in the girl's face, left me in no doubt as to the
+purport of the call he had made in the drawing-room on Tuesday evening.
+I knew as well as if I had been told, that he had been asking Janet to
+marry him; I knew that his interview with Mr. Pembroke afterward had
+probably related to the same subject; and though I was glad that his
+suit had not been successful, yet I felt jealous of the whole episode.
+However, I had no time then to indulge in thoughts of romance, for the
+District Attorney was mercilessly pinning Leroy down to an exact account
+of himself.
+
+"Had the bed been turned down for the night, when you were in Mr.
+Pembroke's room on Tuesday evening?"
+
+"I didn't notice especially, but I have an indistinct impression that
+the covers had been turned back."
+
+"In that case it would have been possible for you to drop the key in the
+bed without knowing it, but very far from probable. Did you lean over
+the bed for any purpose?"
+
+"No; of course I did not. But perhaps if I did drop the key in the room,
+and Mr. Pembroke found it, knowing it to be a valuable key, he may have
+put it under his pillow, for safety's sake."
+
+"That again is possible; but improbable that he would have done it two
+nights, both Tuesday and Wednesday nights! Moreover, Mr. Leroy, you said
+at first that you were sure you had the key Wednesday morning. And not
+until you inferred that you were suspected of implication in this
+affair, did you say that it might have been Tuesday morning you had it.
+Now, can you not speak positively on that point?"
+
+Leroy hesitated. Though his face rarely showed what was passing in his
+mind, yet though at this moment no one who saw him could doubt that the
+man was going through a fearful mental struggle. Indeed, he sat silent
+for so long, that I began to wonder whether he intended to answer the
+question or not. Lines formed across his brow and his stern lips
+fastened themselves in a straight line. He looked first at Janet and
+then at George, with a piercing gaze. Finally he shook his head with a
+sudden quick gesture, as if flinging off a temptation to prevaricate,
+which was almost too strong to be resisted.
+
+"I can speak positively," he said, and the words seemed to be fairly
+forced from him. "I had that key last to my knowledge on Wednesday
+morning, when I made use of it at the Sterling Safety Deposit Company."
+
+
+
+
+XVII
+
+CAN LEROY BE GUILTY?
+
+
+It was as if a bomb had burst. We all sat appalled, for at the first
+thought it seemed as if this admission proclaimed Graham Leroy a guilty
+man. The picture flashed into my mind. This strong man, capable I felt
+sure, of the whole range of elemental passions, killing, for some reason
+unknown to me, his client, who was equally capable of rage and angry
+passion. I seemed to see him bending over his victim, and inadvertently
+dropping the tell-tale key from his pocket. But I think it was an effect
+of the dramatic situation that conjured up this picture in my mind, for
+it was immediately dispelled as Janet's voice broke on the tense
+silence.
+
+"I cannot fail to see the trend of your implications, Mr. Buckner," she
+said, and her tones were haughty, and even supercilious; "I suppose you
+are daring to insinuate that Mr. Leroy might have been in my uncle's
+room on Wednesday night, late. But let me remind you that I myself put
+the chain on the door at eleven o'clock, after which it was impossible
+for Mr. Leroy to enter."
+
+The old argument: "How could he get in?"
+
+And though this argument _seemed_ to turn suspicion toward Janet, it
+did not in the least do so to my mind.
+
+Of course, I had no answer to the question, but that did not change my
+conviction that Janet was innocent. Could Leroy be guilty? I didn't
+know, and I didn't much care, if only suspicion could be turned away
+from Janet!
+
+It was by an effort that I brought my attention back to the conversation
+going on.
+
+"Will you tell me, Mr. Leroy, where you were on Wednesday night?" went
+on the District Attorney, making no recognition of Janet's speech beyond
+a slight bow in her direction.
+
+"I went to Utica," answered Leroy.
+
+"At what time?"
+
+Again there was a lengthy interval of silence, and then Leroy said, in a
+low voice, "Rather late in the evening."
+
+"On what train?"
+
+"On a late train."
+
+"The midnight train?"
+
+"Yes;" the answer was fairly blurted out as if in utter exasperation.
+
+Although the rest of his hearers started at the realization of all that
+this implied, Mr. Buckner proceeded quietly. "Where were you between
+eleven and twelve o'clock, on Wednesday night?"
+
+"I refuse to say."
+
+"I think I must insist upon an answer, Mr. Leroy. Were you at the
+station long before train time?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You reached the station then but a short time before the train left?"
+
+"That is right."
+
+"Did you go directly from your home to the station?"
+
+"Perhaps not directly, but I made no stop on the way."
+
+"What did you do then, since you say you did not go directly?"
+
+"I walked about the streets."
+
+"Why did you do this?"
+
+"Partly for the exercise, and partly because I preferred not to reach
+the station until about time for my train to leave."
+
+"And did your walking about the streets bring you anywhere near this
+locality?"
+
+"That I refuse to answer."
+
+"But you must answer, Mr. Leroy."
+
+"Not if it incriminates myself."
+
+"Then your refusal to answer is the same as affirmative. I shall assume
+that you were in this locality between eleven and twelve o'clock on
+Wednesday night."
+
+"What if he was?" broke in Janet; "no matter how much he was in this
+locality, he couldn't get into our apartment, and so it has not the
+slightest bearing on the case!"
+
+"That is so," said George Lawrence; "unless it can be proved that Mr.
+Leroy was able to enter through a locked and chained door, I think it is
+none of our business where he may have been at the time the crime was
+committed."
+
+"You're all working from the wrong end," said Leroy, suddenly. "Of
+course the murder was committed by some professional burglar, who
+effected his entrance in some way unknown to us. Forget, for a moment,
+the question of how he got in, and turn your energies to finding some
+clever and expert housebreaker who is at large."
+
+"What could be the motive of a professional burglar?" said Mr. Buckner.
+
+"The robbery of the money," I broke in eagerly, delighted that Leroy
+should have started suspicion of this sort.
+
+"Can you tell us anything regarding a large sum of money which it is
+assumed Mr. Pembroke had in his possession the night he was killed?" Mr.
+Buckner asked of Leroy.
+
+"I can tell you that I took him a large sum of money,--ten thousand
+dollars,--on Tuesday evening.
+
+"He had asked you to do this?"
+
+"He had; giving the reason that he wished to pay it to some man who was
+coming to get it, and who wanted cash."
+
+"J. S.!" I said, involuntarily.
+
+"That's the murderer!" declared Laura. "I've suspected that J. S. from
+the very beginning. Why don't you look him up, Mr. Buckner, if you want
+to find the criminal?"
+
+"All in good time, Mrs. Mulford," the district attorney answered, but I
+knew that he had seen the letter which the Coroner had shown me, stating
+that J. S. would not come on Wednesday evening as he had telegraphed.
+Still, if J. S. had come, and with evil intent, the letter might have
+been a blind. But again, if J. S. had come for money, and had received
+it, why should he kill Mr. Pembroke? Truly, there was no logical
+direction in which to look, save toward Janet, and that way I declined
+to look.
+
+Mr. Buckner did not seem inclined to ask any more definite questions. I
+concluded he wished to take time to think the matter over by himself.
+
+"It seems to me this way," he said; "we have a great many clues to work
+from, and until they're traced to more definite conclusions we are
+unable to attach suspicion to anyone. We know that Mr. Pembroke was
+killed at or about midnight. We know the apartment was securely locked
+and fastened at that time. We must assume, therefore, that whoever did
+the deed could not get into the house between eleven and twelve,--he
+must have been in the house, therefore, before the door was chained."
+
+"If by that you mean Miss Pembroke," burst out George Lawrence, angrily,
+"I'll have you know----"
+
+"I don't necessarily mean Miss Pembroke," said Mr. Buckner, but he said
+it so gravely, that I knew his suspicions, notwithstanding Leroy and his
+key, were in Janet's direction. "I am thinking just now of the
+possibility of an intruder who might have come in much earlier, and
+secreted himself in the house until midnight."
+
+"Then he must have stayed in the house until morning," said Lawrence.
+
+"He might have done so," agreed Mr. Buckner.
+
+"But it is incredible," said Leroy, "that the burglar would have
+remained after the deed was done. Why would he not take off the chain
+and go away as silently as he came?"
+
+"It might be," said Mr. Buckner, thoughtfully, "that he meant to cast
+suspicion upon the inmates of the house themselves."
+
+So he did hark back to Janet after all! He meant us to understand that
+he thought the crime was committed either by Janet, or by somebody who
+planned to throw suspicion on Janet. Either theory seemed to me absurd.
+
+I was glad when Mr. Buckner at last took his departure. He was certainly
+at sea regarding the matter. He suspected Janet, to be sure; but he also
+had doubts concerning the entire innocence of Graham Leroy. And surely
+that key was a bit of incriminating evidence, if ever there were such a
+thing.
+
+And yet, when it came to a question of evidence, what could be more
+incriminating than that chained door as a proof against Janet? And so
+Mr. Buckner went away leaving the rest of us to discuss the new turn
+events had taken.
+
+It must have been the result of Mr. Buckner's implied accusation of
+Leroy that gave us all a feeling of loyalty and helpfulness toward the
+man. I don't think anyone present suspected him of crime. But the key
+matter was inexplicable, and too, Leroy's manner and speech had not been
+frank or ingenuous. If he really had been in Robert Pembroke's bedroom
+on Wednesday night, he could not have acted differently under the fire
+of Mr. Buckner's questions. And though each of us, I felt sure, was
+considering the possible explanation of the key, yet it was difficult
+to speak of it without embarrassment.
+
+But Leroy himself introduced the subject.
+
+"Confounded queer about that key," he said, but he said it thoughtfully,
+more as if talking to himself than to us.
+
+"It is queer," I said, eagerly taking up the subject; "if you had it
+Wednesday morning, and it was found in Mr. Pembroke's room Thursday
+morning, there must be an explanation somewhere."
+
+"Yes; there must;" and Graham Leroy's lips closed as if in a sudden
+determination to say nothing more about that matter.
+
+"Can't you suggest any explanation?" asked George Lawrence.
+
+"No, I can't," and the decision in Leroy's tones forbade any further
+reference to the key. "But I am here now," he went on, "to read to you,
+Mr. Lawrence, and to you, Miss Pembroke, the will of your late uncle.
+Except for a few minor bequests, you two are equal heirs. Mr. Lawrence
+is executor, and therefore I will conduct the legal formalities with
+him, and I need not trouble Miss Pembroke with such matters. Of course,
+it goes without saying that anything I can do in the investigation of
+this awful tragedy will be done. Of course, you will want legal advice
+Miss Pembroke, since the authorities seem to consider you under
+surveillance."
+
+I waited a moment, to give Janet opportunity to speak first concerning
+me, and she did so. Her beautiful face was pale, but her dark eyes
+flashed, as she said: "I feel sure I shall need legal counsel, Mr.
+Leroy, and therefore I have retained Mr. Landon as my lawyer."
+
+Graham Leroy was astounded. I could read that, in the sudden start he
+gave, and the half-breathed exclamation which he suppressed. But in a
+moment, he recovered his poise, and spoke with a cold dignity. "I
+suppose, Janet, you had some good reason for preferring Mr. Landon's
+services to my own."
+
+"I had," returned Janet, in tones as icy as his own; "also, Mr. Landon
+and Mrs. Mulford have been exceedingly kind to me, and I am sure
+whatever emergency may arise, if the case is brought to trial, Mr.
+Landon will use his best efforts in my behalf."
+
+If Leroy was angry at her preferring me to himself, he lost sight of it
+for the moment, in the shock given him by Janet's words.
+
+"The case brought to trial!" he exclaimed. "Why, there is no case as
+yet. What do you mean?"
+
+Janet looked at him steadily. "I may be tried," she said, "for the
+murder of my Uncle Robert."
+
+"What nonsense!" cried George Lawrence; "they'll never dare do such a
+thing as that!"
+
+"They'll dare fast enough," said Leroy; "but they shall never do it!
+They'll try me first!"
+
+A sudden light broke over me. Leroy's hesitation and dubious statements
+might have this meaning. He might himself suspect Janet of the crime,
+and he might be determined to be let himself thought guilty in her
+place. This didn't quite explain the key, but I hadn't thought it out
+thoroughly yet, and if for quixotic reasons he wanted to make it appear
+that he was implicated, he had certainly made a good start. Alas, every
+new development pointed or might be construed to point toward Janet. I
+longed for a frank talk with Leroy, but I knew that would be
+impracticable. For if he intended to muddle the case and direct
+suspicion toward himself in order to turn it away from Janet, he would
+pursue those same tactics with me. And beside, although he hid it, I
+well knew that he was chagrined and angry at the fact of my being chosen
+for Janet's lawyer instead of himself. So I discarded any hope I might
+have formed of getting the truth out of Leroy, and left that to the
+official authorities.
+
+At present, Leroy's intention seemed to be to discard all question of
+crime or criminal, and attend to the business in hand of Mr. Pembroke's
+will.
+
+I myself saw no necessity for immediate proceedings in this matter, but
+Leroy insisted upon it, and insisted too, that both Janet and George
+should go with him at once into the Pembroke apartment, where, he said,
+there were papers and documents necessary at the moment.
+
+The fact that I was not invited to accompany them, was made so patent
+that I had no desire to intrude my presence, although as Miss Pembroke's
+lawyer I could have done so. But I concluded that one reason for Leroy's
+haste to get at those papers, was his wish to get rid of me. Nor was it
+entirely to be wondered at that he should want an interview alone with
+the two cousins. I was a comparative stranger to him, my sister an
+entire stranger; whereas he had been for years a friend of the Pembroke
+household. And so the three went away to the apartment across the hall;
+and I was left alone with Laura.
+
+The door had scarcely closed behind them, before Laura spoke her mind.
+"That Leroy is the guilty man," she said; "don't say, 'how did he get
+in?' for I don't know, and I don't care! But he's the one who killed Mr.
+Pembroke, and he had his own motive for doing so, which we know nothing
+about."
+
+"While all that may be true, Laura," I said, in a conciliatory way, for
+she was very much excited, "yet you must not make such positive
+statements, with so little to base them on. Leroy may have a guilty
+knowledge of the matter, but I don't believe he murdered Mr. Pembroke,
+and I do believe he's letting himself be suspected to shield Janet."
+
+"Nothing of the sort," declared Laura; "he's a bad man! I don't have to
+see him twice to know that. And if he isn't guilty, and if he's letting
+himself be suspected,--then it's to implicate Janet and not to save
+her!"
+
+"Laura, you're crazy. How could his implication also implicate her?"
+
+"Why, don't you see? if they think Mr. Leroy committed the crime,
+they'll try to find out how he got in. And then they'll conclude that
+Janet let him in. Because you know, Otis, there was really no other way
+anybody _could_ get in. And then, you see, they'll conclude that Mr.
+Leroy and Janet acted together, and are both guilty."
+
+"Laura, you argue just like a woman; you say anything that comes into
+your head, and then back it up with some other absurd idea! Now,
+sister, talk to me in this strain all you want to, but let me beg of
+you never to say these things to anyone else."
+
+Laura looked a little offended, but she was too fond of me ever really
+to resent anything I said to her, so she smiled, and forgave my
+aspersions on her reasoning powers.
+
+But I couldn't help remembering that Janet had told me that Leroy was
+untrustworthy, and not entirely reliable, and now that Laura, with her
+woman's intuition, had denounced him, I began to wonder myself what sort
+of a man Leroy really was.
+
+
+
+
+XVIII
+
+THE ROOMS IN WASHINGTON SQUARE
+
+
+In sheer desperation, I resolved upon an interview with Inspector
+Crawford. I hadn't a very high opinion of him as a detective, but I had
+reached the pitch where I must do something.
+
+I telephoned to him, but it was only after some persistence that I could
+persuade him to give me even a little of his valuable time. Finally he
+agreed to a fifteen-minute interview at his own home.
+
+It was not far to his house, and as I walked over there I wondered why
+he seemed so averse to a discussion of the Pembroke case. He had
+impressed me, when I saw him that morning, as one of those busybodies in
+the detective line who are always willing to dilate upon their clues and
+their deductions, their theories and their inferences.
+
+But as soon as I began to talk with Mr. Crawford I learned that he had
+little interest in the Pembroke case, because he considered its result a
+foregone conclusion.
+
+Inspector Crawford was not an especially cultured man, nor of a
+particularly affable nature, but he was possessed, as I soon learned, of
+a certain stubbornness which manifested itself mainly in adhering firmly
+to his own decisions.
+
+"I know Miss Pembroke killed her uncle," he said, "because nobody else
+could by any possibility have done it. I examined the windows myself.
+Those which were fastened were absolutely immovable from the outside,
+and those which were unfastened had the same sort of catches, and the
+black woman declared she had unfastened them from the inside in the
+morning. The window opening on the fire escape had a double lock, the
+dumb-waiter was securely bolted on the kitchen side, the night-latch and
+chain were on the front door, and, therefore, my dear sir, to get into
+that apartment without breaking something was as impossible as if it had
+been hermetically sealed."
+
+"Some one might have cut out a pane of glass and replaced it," I
+suggested.
+
+The inspector looked at me with a glance almost of pity.
+
+"It's my business to make sure of such things," he said. "Of course I
+thought of that, and examined every window-pane. Had one been put in
+with fresh putty during the night, I should certainly have detected it.
+If you examine them, you will find both putty and paint hard and
+weather-stained."
+
+My respect for Mr. Crawford's detective ability rose rapidly, and I
+frankly told him so.
+
+He smiled disinterestedly.
+
+"I'm not one of those spectacular detectives," he said, "who pick up a
+handkerchief in the street, and declare at once that it was dropped by a
+cross-eyed lady with one front tooth missing, who was on her way to
+visit her step-daughter now living in Jamaica, Long Island, but who
+formerly was a governess in a doctor's family in Meriden, Connecticut."
+
+I laughed at this bit of sarcasm, but was too vitally interested in the
+subject in hand to care for amusing side issues.
+
+"Do you say then, inspector," I continued, "that there was positively no
+way for any one else to get into that apartment, and that therefore Mr.
+Pembroke necessarily met his death at the hands of his niece or the
+colored servant?"
+
+"Or both," added Mr. Crawford.
+
+"You assert that as your unqualified opinion?"
+
+"I assert it as an incontrovertible fact," said Inspector Crawford, in
+his decided way, "and, though it needs no backing up of evidence, the
+evidence all points unmistakably to the same fact. There are motive,
+opportunity, and a weapon at hand. What more is there to say?"
+
+"There is only this to say," I declared, maddened by his air of
+finality: "that Miss Pembroke did not do it; that neither she nor the
+black woman knows who did do it; and that I take it upon myself to prove
+this when the occasion shall arise to do so."
+
+Again the inspector looked at me with that compassionate expression that
+irritated me beyond words.
+
+"Mr. Landon," he said, "I have no desire to be personal, but may I ask
+you, if you were as absolutely disinterested in the Pembroke case as I
+am, would you not incline to my opinion?"
+
+This silenced me, for I well knew that but for my interest in Janet
+Pembroke I should inevitably be forced to Mr. Crawford's point of view.
+
+"Ah!" he said. "I thought so. Now let me tell you, Mr. Landon--and I am
+indeed sorry to tell you--that there is no possible way to get that girl
+acquitted, and that your best plan is to work simply for the lightest
+possible penalty. If you can plead self-defence, temporary insanity, or
+even somnambulism, I advise you to do so."
+
+"I thank you, inspector, for your advice, and regret to say that I
+cannot follow it. I shall plead 'not guilty,' and I shall prove my
+case."
+
+The inspector began to look interested, for, though a man may not boast
+of his own reputation, I may say that Mr. Crawford knew me as a lawyer
+of long practice and wide experience; and knew, too, that I had been
+successful in cases where wise and anxious judges had scarcely dared
+hope for it.
+
+"I hope it may be so," he said. "It does not seem to be possible, but,
+of course, no man's judgment is infallible. Might I be allowed, however,
+to ask your line of defence?"
+
+"I don't know exactly, myself," I confessed; "but I think it will
+implicate George Lawrence."
+
+"But he couldn't get in."
+
+"Inspector, if any one is implicated other than those two women, it must
+necessarily be some one who 'couldn't get in.'"
+
+"That is true," said the inspector; "but, all the same, a murder can't
+be committed by a man who can't get in."
+
+"That is no more impossible," I said stanchly, "than a murder committed
+by either of those two women."
+
+Again the inspector contented himself with a smile.
+
+"I have no reason," I went on, "for suspecting George Lawrence, except
+that he could be said to have a motive. I admit, as you say, that it
+does not seem possible for him to have entered the apartment, unless one
+of the women let him in."
+
+"Let him in!" echoed the inspector. "I hadn't thought of that! Ah, now
+I see your idea. If George Lawrence is the man who did the deed and was
+let in by his cousin, while she might have been accessory, she might not
+have known of the deed at all."
+
+"That is possible, inspector," I agreed; "but had she let George in, she
+must have again put the chain on the door after he went out. This is
+scarcely compatible with the assumption that she knew nothing of what
+had happened in the meantime."
+
+"No," declared the inspector, in his decided way. "Your suggestion,
+however, leads to a new line of investigation. But say George Lawrence
+_had_ gone to the Pembrokes' apartment last night, and _had_ come away
+again, the elevator boy would have known it, and would have given
+evidence this morning; that is, unless he had been bribed, which is, of
+course, possible. But all this will be brought out at the trial."
+
+"Not so fast, inspector," I said, feeling a grim delight in bringing him
+up with a round turn. "George Lawrence can prove a complete and perfect
+alibi, attested by responsible witnesses."
+
+Inspector Crawford looked thoroughly disgusted. "Then the whole matter
+stands where it did at first," he said, "though, of course, we must
+remember that, since the women could have let in George Lawrence, they
+could, of course, have let in any one else, had they been so minded. But
+all this is in your province, rather than in mine, and if you can find
+anybody who is likely to have gone in there last night, with or without
+criminal intent, I think for your own sake you had better make
+investigation along that line."
+
+"Mr. Crawford," I said, "I would not have mentioned to you even the name
+of George Lawrence in this connection if I could have done what I wanted
+to without your assistance. I want to go to George Lawrence's apartment,
+and make a search of his rooms. I have not a definite reason for doing
+this, but I feel that it may lead to something. I cannot say I suspect
+George Lawrence of the crime. I cannot doubt his alibi, nor can I
+imagine how he could have gotten into the apartment had he wanted to.
+But I do know that he had, or at least might possibly have had, a motive
+for desiring his uncle's death, and upon that perhaps irrelevant fact I
+base what I shall not call a suspicion, but an interest into looking
+into his affairs. I could not go through his rooms alone, but as an
+inspector you will be allowed to do so, and I want to go with you and at
+once."
+
+I may have been mistaken in Mr. Crawford's inclination toward detective
+work. Although he had seemed indifferent when he had been so sure of his
+conclusion, the mere opportunity of searching for clues seemed to stir
+him to action, and, to my surprise, he was not only willing but anxious
+to go with me at once.
+
+As I knew Lawrence would spend the entire afternoon in his work of
+looking over Mr. Pembroke's papers, I felt that the coast was clear for
+an hour or so, at least. So together we took a Broadway car, and were
+not long in reaching Washington Square.
+
+The inspector's badge, of course, gained him access at once to George's
+apartment, and I followed him into the rooms, feeling that if there was
+anything even remotely approaching a clue, I must and would find it.
+
+Though not luxurious, Lawrence's quarters were exceedingly comfortable.
+There was a studio, not large, but well lighted and furnished in a way
+that showed its use as a living-room, and perhaps for small social
+functions as well. A bedroom and bath completed the suite, and the
+inspector told me to begin my search.
+
+"Let us examine the place," he said, "independently of each other, and
+afterward we can compare notes. I confess I have little hope of finding
+evidence of any sort. Of course I don't for a moment think that, even
+had Lawrence killed his uncle, he would have broken off that hat-pin and
+brought it home here to incriminate himself."
+
+"Of course not," I assented; "but, by the way, where _is_ the other half
+of that hat-pin?"
+
+The inspector gave his queer smile. "Assuming a woman to have done the
+deed," he said, "we must assume her to be clever enough to dispose of a
+piece of a broken hat-pin."
+
+My heart sank at his words, for I saw how deeply rooted was his belief
+in Janet's guilt, and I feared a judge and jury might look at it in the
+same way.
+
+Silently we began our search. I took the studio, and the inspector the
+bedroom, first; afterward we were to go over each other's ground.
+
+In one way, it seemed a dreadful thing to be poking round among a man's
+personal belongings; but again, since the cause of justice demanded it,
+I felt no hesitancy in doing so.
+
+I took little interest in the sketches on the walls or the odd bits of
+junk and curios on the tables. No man with anything to conceal would
+leave it in those obvious places.
+
+And yet I was not looking for anything George might have concealed, but
+rather for some straw which might show the direction of the wind of
+evidence.
+
+For the first time in my life, I felt like the detective in fiction, and
+I scrutinized carefully the floor and the rug. It seemed to me that all
+the clues I had ever read of had been discovered on the floor; but the
+trouble was that this floor offered so many unexpected substances that
+the result was distracting. But by no stretch of the imagination could I
+look upon them as clues. I certainly discovered many things upon the
+floor that told their own story; but the stories were of no importance.
+Cigarette or cigar ashes were in such quantity as to indicate recent
+masculine guests. An artificial violet and a bit of fluffy feather
+trimming showed perhaps an afternoon tea, or a reception which feminine
+guests had attended. Lead-pencil shavings here and there betokened the
+untidiness of an artist, and splashes of ink or water-color, though
+numerous, proved merely that Lawrence had spoken the truth regarding his
+profession.
+
+Though disheartened by my non-success, I kept on until I had examined
+every square inch of floor. I found nothing unexplainable to the most
+ordinary intellect, except a few tiny bits of broken glass on the
+hearthstone. So infinitesimal were these fragments that I almost missed
+them, and, though I could not think them of any importance, I took them
+up on a bit of white paper and examined them by the light. They were of
+a pinkish purple color, and I wondered if they could be bits of a
+druggist's phial which had contained poison. The notion was absurd
+enough, for Mr. Pembroke had not been poisoned, and, moreover, even
+granting my hypothesis a true one, those few specks of glass would
+represent only a small fraction of a broken bottle.
+
+But he might have dropped it, my imagination rambled on, and smashed it,
+and then swept up all the fragments, as he thought, but overlooked these
+specks.
+
+At any rate, I put the paper containing the bits in my pocket, and went
+on with my search. Feeling that I had finished the floor, I examined all
+the furniture and decorations, paying no attention to Lawrence's desk or
+personal belongings.
+
+Mr. Crawford came in from the bedroom. "I've done up my room," he said,
+"and there's nothing there at all, not even a revolver. Now, if you're
+through here, we will change territory."
+
+"I can't find anything," I returned, and as I spoke the inspector went
+straight to the writing-desk.
+
+"If there is nothing here," he said, "I give it up."
+
+With a practised hand he ran swiftly through Lawrence's papers.
+
+"H'm!" he said. "Our young friend has been dabbling in stocks. Bought
+L. & C. Q. on a margin. That's bad, for it dropped 'way down day before
+yesterday. That ought to help along your 'motive,' Mr. Landon, for as
+sure as I sit here George Lawrence must have lost many thousands in Wall
+Street on Wednesday."
+
+"It is corroborative," I said, "but that's all. Granting Lawrence's
+motive for desiring to inherit his uncle's money at once, there is no
+real evidence that he helped matters along by putting the old gentleman
+out of the way."
+
+"Not a bit," agreed Inspector Crawford; "and you mark my word, Mr.
+Landon, if there was any reason for suspecting young Lawrence, it would
+have turned up before this."
+
+"I'm not so sure of that," I returned; "and it isn't exactly evidence
+I'm after, but merely a hint as to how he could have done it."
+
+"Ah!" said the inspector, smiling again. "He couldn't have done it save
+with the knowledge and assistance of his cousin."
+
+
+
+
+XIX
+
+A TALK WITH JANET
+
+
+I went home decidedly disheartened. As usual, the Inspector's
+positiveness and incontrovertible reasoning depressed my spirits,
+because I felt convinced, although against my will, that he might be
+right.
+
+But when I entered our apartment, and found Laura and Janet waiting for
+me, I forgot my troubles in the happiness of seeing Janet in my home.
+
+The girl must have been of an adaptable temperament, for surely our
+household was totally unlike the one she had been accustomed to, and yet
+she seemed perfectly at home and at ease with us.
+
+She wore black, but her robes of soft trailing silk, with a sort of
+transparent net by way of a yoke, did not seem so unsightly as heavy
+crape-trimmed dresses had always appeared to me.
+
+Indeed the soft dull black was very becoming to Janet, and threw out her
+creamy white skin in beautiful relief. Her large dark eyes and dusky
+hair completed the harmony of black and white, and her scarlet lips were
+the only touch of color in the picture.
+
+The evening was a trifle chill, and Laura had a wood fire blazing in
+the grate, for even in the short time we had lived in the Hammersleigh,
+my energetic sister had succeeded in substituting open fires for the
+ornate but unsatisfactory gas logs.
+
+And so it was a cosy picture of home life that met my eyes, as I entered
+after my expedition down to Washington Square.
+
+Of course, I couldn't mention my afternoon's experiences just then, for
+it was almost dinner time and I knew Laura's aversion to unpleasant
+subjects of conversation at the dinner table.
+
+And so I did my part toward making the meal a cheery and pleasant
+occasion; and it was less difficult than might have been expected to
+avoid all reference to the tragedy.
+
+Both women were quite willing to follow my lead, and our talk was of all
+sorts of pleasant matters, and now and then even verged toward
+lightness. I realized, as I was sure Laura did too, that Janet was a
+delightful conversationalist. She was both receptive and responsive. She
+caught a point easily and was quick at repartee. Moreover, she was
+gentle and refined, and it is needless to say that my love for her grew
+apace with my discovery of her merits.
+
+After dinner we returned to the drawing-room, and with her usual tact,
+Laura contrived a household errand of some nature that took her away
+for a time, and left me alone with my client.
+
+I was all unwilling to break the charm of the pleasant atmosphere we had
+created, but I knew it must be done if I were to free Janet from
+suspicion.
+
+Determined to learn from her some facts which would help me, I told her
+at once that I desired a straightforward talk with her.
+
+Immediately her manner changed. She became once more reserved, haughty
+and rebellious. But I had no choice save to go on.
+
+"I am so sorry," I said, "that you resent my questioning you about these
+things. For surely, Miss Pembroke, you must understand, and it is my
+duty to make you understand that your position is serious. Now whether
+you want to or not, won't you please be honest with me, and confide more
+fully in me what knowledge you may have bearing on the case?"
+
+"I can't be honest," she replied, with a sigh that seemed to come from
+her very soul; "I truly can't. Whatever you learn must be without my
+assistance."
+
+"Why can you not be honest? Are you afraid to be?"
+
+"I cannot answer that question, either. I tell you, Mr. Landon, that I
+have no information of any sort to give you."
+
+"Then I must ask you a few definite questions, and you must answer them.
+Why did you not mention the letter that came to your uncle from Jonathan
+Scudder?"
+
+"Who told you about that?"
+
+The girl started up as if I had accused her of something serious, and
+indeed perhaps it was.
+
+"The Inspector found the letter in your room," I replied; "as you were
+not willing to be frank in these matters, the law took its rights and
+searched the whole place for any possible light on the subject."
+
+"And you consider that that letter throws light on the subject?"
+
+"Only to the extent of proving that you purposely suppressed that
+letter; and I ask you why?"
+
+"And I refuse to tell you why."
+
+"Miss Pembroke, don't do that. Truly, you injure your own cause by
+refusing to tell these things. You have taken me for your lawyer; now if
+you want me to help you, indeed I may almost say to rescue you, from the
+danger you are in, you must help me in any way that you can."
+
+My earnestness seemed to have an effect. The girl's face softened and
+her voice trembled a little as she said, "Perhaps it would be better
+for me to tell you all,--but,--no, I can't, I can't!" She hid her face
+in her hands, and her whole slender form shook with emotion. But she did
+not cry, as I had feared she would. Instead, she raised her head with a
+sudden determined gesture. "There was no reason," she said, with an air
+of indifference which I knew was assumed; "I simply forgot it, that's
+all."
+
+"You forgot it!" I said, looking her straight in the eyes, so earnestly,
+that her own eyes fell before mine.
+
+I knew she could not persist in a falsehood long, and sure enough in a
+moment she said, "Well, at least I didn't exactly forget it, but I
+thought it was of no consequence."
+
+"You thought it was of no consequence! when only last evening we were
+discussing J. S. with your cousin, and wondering who he could be. At
+that time you had read the letter from Jonathan Scudder, saying that he
+would not come here Wednesday evening as he had telegraphed that he
+would do. Why did you not tell us of it?"
+
+"Perhaps it wasn't the same J. S.!" Janet smiled at me as she said this,
+and I felt sure the smile was to distract me from my serious purpose,
+and win me to a lighter mood. And she nearly succeeded, too, for again
+I saw gentleness in her smile, and when to Janet Pembroke's beautiful
+face was added the charm of gentleness, it was irresistible indeed.
+
+But by a mighty effort I refrained from being cajoled, and I said
+sternly, "You knew it was the same J. S., because the letter referred to
+the telegram."
+
+"That's so," she said, musingly; "I never thought of that. I fear I'm
+not very clever at deception."
+
+"I fear you are not," I answered, gravely, "and I thank Heaven for it.
+Now, if you will just put all these matters into my hands, and tell me
+what I ask, you will have no further cause for deception, and, I hope,
+no more trouble."
+
+"What do you ask?" she said, and never before had she looked so lovely.
+She spoke in a low tone and had she been the most finished coquette she
+could not have appeared more alluring. I was tempted almost beyond my
+strength to clasp her in my arms and say, "I ask only for you," but I
+knew were I to precipitate matters in that way I might antagonize her,
+and so lose what slight chance I had of helping her.
+
+"I ask," I said, in low even tones, "that you will tell me frankly why
+you made no mention of the letter from Jonathan Scudder?"
+
+"Because I wished suspicion to rest upon J. S.!" The words were quick
+and incisive, and fairly cut into the air as she enunciated them clearly
+and emphatically.
+
+"Do you know Jonathan Scudder?"
+
+"I do not. I never heard the name until I read that letter. But I know
+J. S. to be an enemy of my uncle, and why may it not be that he came and
+killed Uncle Robert, even after he sent that letter? Perhaps he sent it
+for a blind."
+
+"Miss Pembroke, you do not believe J. S. came at all on Wednesday night.
+You know he did not, and you are making this up simply that suspicion
+may be turned in his direction. Is not this true?"
+
+"Yes," faintly murmured the girl, "you asked me to be frank, and I have
+been."
+
+She was making an awful admission, and she was perfectly well aware of
+it. Fear clutched at my heart. If she herself had killed her uncle, how
+natural to endeavor to throw suspicion on an unknown man. Again, if
+Leroy were implicated, or if they had been companions in wrong-doing how
+equally plausible a ruse!
+
+Her face was white now to the very lips. Her hands trembled, and her
+eyes darted frightened glances, as if she knew not which way to turn
+next.
+
+"Miss Pembroke," I said, very gently, "I'm more sorry than I can tell
+you, that you persist in secrecy. But since you do I will speak for you.
+You want to throw suspicion on J. S., in order to divert it either from
+yourself or from someone else whom you wish to shield."
+
+"How do you know that?" cried Janet, looking up with startled eyes.
+
+"It is not difficult to guess," I said, bitterly. "Nor is it difficult
+to guess the identity of the one you might wish to shield."
+
+"Don't!" breathed Janet, clasping her hands; "don't breathe his name
+aloud!"
+
+"I will!" I said, thoroughly angered now; "it is Graham Leroy, and you
+do love him, in spite of your pretended dislike of him!"
+
+I paused suddenly, for a new thought had struck me. If Leroy were the
+murderer, and if Janet had admitted him to the house, and willingly or
+unwillingly been cognizant of his deed, then she would act exactly the
+way she had acted! She would try to shield him, try to avert suspicion
+from him, but of course she could not have him for her lawyer, and
+though she still loved him, she could not but scorn him.
+
+The suddenness of these thoughts so overwhelmed me that for a moment I
+did not look at her. When I did, I was amazed at the change in her
+face. From a white pallor it had turned to an angry red, and my heart
+fell as I realized that she was angry at me for discovering her secret.
+
+"Don't look like that," I pleaded; "only tell me the truth, and I will
+help you,--I will help you both. At any rate, I know that _you_ were
+guiltless, even if you have a guilty knowledge of Leroy's deed."
+
+"You needn't assume me guiltless," Janet said, and her low voice
+destitute of inflection, sounded as if she were forcing herself to
+recite, parrot-like, a lesson already learned. "I had motive, and Mr.
+Leroy had none."
+
+"He may have had a dozen motives, for all I know," I said, rather
+harshly, for I was beginning to realize that if she cared enough for
+Leroy to proclaim herself guilty, my hopes were small indeed. "He may
+have wanted that money himself, and come back to get it!" This was a
+mean speech on my part, and utterly unfounded, but I was so angry at
+Janet for shielding Leroy's name, that I cared little what I said.
+
+"Oh, Mr. Leroy never wanted money; he's a very rich man."
+
+"Who did want the money then? Did you?" I was fast forgetting my
+manners, and my determination to win Janet's confidence by kindliness,
+but I had not expected to have Leroy thus flung in my face.
+
+"Yes, I wanted money," said Janet, "you learned that from Charlotte's
+evidence."
+
+"You are the strangest girl!" I said, staring at her, "you won't tell me
+the simple things I ask, and then you fire a statement like that at me!
+What do you mean? That you really wanted a large sum of money?"
+
+"Yes; ten thousand dollars." The girl whispered this, and it seemed to
+my bewildered fancy as if she said it without even her own volition. It
+seemed forced from her by some subconscious process, and I was both
+amazed and frightened. But I tried not to show my feelings, for if I
+would learn the truth of this surprising revelation, I must move
+carefully.
+
+"Did you want that much?" I said, in a casual way, as if it were a mere
+nominal sum. "What did you want it for?"
+
+"As if I should tell you that!" and this astounding piece of humanity
+tossed her head, and smiled almost roguishly at me.
+
+"Never mind what you wanted it for," I said, "but you did want it,
+didn't you? And you asked your uncle for it, and he refused you."
+
+"He said that if,--if I would,--would--oh, what am I saying!" She broke
+off with a little gasp, as if she had almost betrayed a secret. But I
+knew.
+
+"He said he would give it to you, and more too, if you would marry Mr.
+Leroy, didn't he?"
+
+"Yes," Janet replied, and this time she spoke in a simple, natural voice
+and looked at me frankly.
+
+"But, as you wanted the money to give to Mr. Leroy, and didn't want to
+marry him, your uncle's proposition didn't please you?"
+
+Janet looked at me in a bewildered way. "Yes," she stammered,
+"yes,--that was it."
+
+But I was learning my girl at last. For some reason she was telling a
+string of falsehoods! My faith in her made me believe that she was doing
+this for some definite and, to her, justifiable purpose. And yet, though
+my suggestion about Leroy seemed to me to be in line with her plans, and
+though she had said yes to it,--yet I knew it was not the truth. My
+rapidly increasing love for her gave me an insight into her nature, and
+though I might not be able to persuade her to tell me the truth, yet I
+could discern when she spoke truly and when falsely.
+
+"I give it up," I said to her, suddenly adopting a lighter tone; "I can
+do nothing with you tonight in our relations of client and lawyer. Let
+us drop the whole dreadful subject for the rest of this evening, and let
+us pretend that we are just good friends, with no troublesome questions
+between us.
+
+"Yes," agreed Janet, with a smile of delight, "let us do that; but
+anyway, I don't see why the troublesome questions that come between us
+as lawyer and client, should interfere with our friendship."
+
+"Nor do I, bless you!" I exclaimed, and with a lightened heart I put
+aside my burden of doubt and fear for the present. And soon Laura came
+back, and we all chatted pleasantly, without reference to anything
+gruesome or dreadful.
+
+Laura had not heard our foregoing conversation, and had not, as I feared
+I had, additional reasons to wonder at Janet Pembroke.
+
+But, we were both charmed with the girl's vivacity and entertaining
+powers. She did or said nothing which savored too much of gayety to
+harmonize with her black gown, and yet her little whimsical speeches and
+her gentle wistful smiles won our hearts anew, and made both Laura and
+myself feel bound to her without regard to the cloud that hung above her
+head.
+
+
+
+
+XX
+
+THE INITIALED HANDKERCHIEF
+
+
+The funeral of Robert Pembroke was to be held Saturday afternoon. The
+man had so few friends that elaborate services were not arranged for.
+Indeed it was to take place from the mortuary chapel, and would
+doubtless be attended by a very small assembly.
+
+Of course Laura and I would go, out of respect for our friends, although
+we had never known Mr. Pembroke himself.
+
+I did not see Janet before I went downtown Saturday morning, as Laura
+was taking great care of the girl, and never allowed her to appear early
+in the morning.
+
+When I reached my office, I found a letter which was signed James
+Decker.
+
+It was a bit illiterate, but it revealed to me the fact that its writer
+had attended the National Theatre on the night of October sixteenth and
+as he had occupied a seat H 3, he was behind G 3, he wanted very much to
+know in what way it was to his advantage to announce the fact to me.
+
+I telephoned Mr. Decker at the address he gave, and he agreed to come to
+see me within the next hour.
+
+He came very soon, and entirely fulfilled the mental picture I had
+already drawn of him. Flashy clothing, red necktie and hat on the back
+of his head were his distinguishing characteristics, with voice and
+manner to correspond.
+
+"What's up, pard?" was his unduly familiar greeting, but though I did
+not respond in his vernacular, I had no wish to criticise it.
+
+I explained to him that I wanted to know anything he could tell me about
+the occupants of seats one and three G on the night in question.
+
+"Sure, I can tell ye all about 'em," he declared; "they was pals of
+mine, Billy Rivers and Bob Pierson. They was eight of us went, and we
+had aisle seats of four rows, right in front of each other. What about
+them two chaps? they're all right, Guv'nor, I'll go bail for that!"
+
+"I've no doubt of it, Mr. Decker," I responded, heartily; "and as this
+is just a little private matter between you and me, I'm going to ask you
+for their addresses, but I am going to assure you that this will get
+them into no trouble, unless they deserve it; and that if you so desire,
+your name need not be mentioned in the matter."
+
+"Great Mackerel! I don't care how much you mention my name, and like's
+not Bob and Bill won't care either. They're straight, mister, good pals
+and good men."
+
+There was something about the candid gaze of Decker that made me feel
+confidence in his words. I had a conviction then and there, that whoever
+murdered Robert Pembroke it was neither Bob nor Bill, the good friends
+of James Decker. But in a way, it was a disappointment, for it only
+proved one more clue worthless. Where those two ticket stubs came from,
+or how they got into Robert Pembroke's bedroom, I didn't then stop to
+think; although I had hazy ideas of tracing some sort of connection with
+the elevator boy or janitor and these people. But for the moment, all I
+could do was to take these men's addresses, and present Mr. Decker with
+a sufficient honorarium to pay him for the trouble and exertion of
+coming to see me.
+
+I went home at noon, pondering over those ticket stubs. After all,
+perhaps I had been terribly taken in. Perhaps this Decker man made up
+the whole story for the purpose of getting the fee which he knew I was
+pretty sure to give him. Perhaps his two pals were as imaginary as they
+were good, and perhaps he was only a clever adventurer who had succeeded
+in fooling a less clever lawyer! Well at any rate, I had done no harm,
+and I had the men's addresses. Later on, I would tell the District
+Attorney the whole story, and if he chose to follow it up he could do
+so.
+
+From the funeral of Robert Pembroke I went straight to the District
+Attorney's office.
+
+I had come to the conclusion that I must do something, and that I must
+do it quickly. I knew Buckner was only waiting till the funeral was over
+to push his investigations; and I knew too, that unless some new
+evidence was forthcoming from somewhere, his procedure must inevitably
+result in the arrest of Janet.
+
+I must find that new evidence, which must at least turn the trend of
+suspicion in some other direction. I could think only of the
+handkerchief that I had found in Mr. Pembroke's bedroom. This had never
+been accounted for in any way, and surely it must mean something.
+
+The other articles I had found had proved of little value so far. The
+ticket stubs promised little or nothing, for I could not feel that the
+man Decker or his friends were implicated. The time-table gave me no
+idea of where to look for any clue. It was useless to refer it to the
+Lackawanna Railroad. Moreover, East Lynnwood was not on that road, nor
+was Utica, and these were the only two places that had so much as been
+mentioned in connection with the affair.
+
+The torn telegram, in connection with the letter, seemed to mean
+nothing; or if it did, it pointed toward Janet's deception in regard to
+it.
+
+The money was gone, and that, too, in the minds of some people, again
+suggested Janet's wrong-doing. The key, while it might seem to implicate
+Leroy, was far from being a definite clue, and if it meant Leroy, it
+might also mean Janet's complicity.
+
+The hair-pin I left out of consideration, and as a last resort, I
+determined to run down the owner of that handkerchief.
+
+I rehearsed all these conclusions to the District Attorney, and he
+smiled a little superciliously. It is strange how the police officials
+scorn the interesting clues so beloved of the detective mind.
+
+However, Buckner said nothing in opposition to my plan, and at my
+request handed me the handkerchief. We had little conversation but it
+was plain to be seen that he was assured of Janet's guilt and saw no
+other direction in which to look for the criminal.
+
+"Go ahead and investigate that handkerchief business," he said, "but
+you'll find it leads to nothing. That handkerchief might have been left
+there by any caller during the last week or so; and as we know Mr.
+Pembroke had frequent callers, that is of course the explanation."
+
+I couldn't believe this, because, though now crumpled from passing
+through many hands, when I had found the handkerchief it was
+comparatively fresh, and looked as if it had but just been shaken from
+its laundered folds. This would seem to indicate that it had not been in
+the room long, and moreover had it been left there several days before,
+it would have been found by Charlotte or by Janet, and laid aside to be
+restored to its owner.
+
+I put it in my pocket, and after a short further conversation with Mr.
+Buckner, I was convinced afresh of Janet's impending danger, so that I
+went away spurred to my utmost endeavor to find some new information.
+
+I examined the handkerchief carefully, but saw only what I had already
+observed; that it was unusually fine and dainty for a man's possession,
+and that the embroidered letters were of exquisite workmanship and
+unique design.
+
+I took a taxicab and began a systematic canvass of the best shops in the
+city that provided wearing apparel for fastidious men.
+
+The results were not encouraging. One after another, the haberdashers
+informed me that the handkerchief had not come from their shops.
+Indeed, they opined that the work had not been done in this country, but
+that the handkerchief had been bought abroad. However, as I was about to
+give up my search, one interested shopkeeper told me of a small and very
+exclusive establishment from which that handkerchief might have been
+obtained.
+
+With my hopes a trifle buoyed up, I went at once to the address given
+me, and to my delight the affable cleric recognized the handkerchief.
+
+"Yes," he said, "that is one of ours. We have them hand-embroidered for
+one of our best customers. He has used that design for many years. Did
+he recommend you to come here?"
+
+"No," said I, "I'm not ordering handkerchiefs for myself. Moreover, I
+was not sent here by the owner of this one, nor do I know his name. Are
+you willing to tell it to me?"
+
+"I see no reason why I shouldn't. That handkerchief belongs to Mr.
+Gresham,--William Sydney Gresham. It is one of the best bits of work we
+ever put out, and we are a little proud of it."
+
+"It's beautiful work," I agreed, "and now will you give me Mr. Gresham's
+address?"
+
+Although not especially keen-witted, the clerk looked a little surprised
+at this, and hesitated for a moment. But when I told him that the matter
+was important, he made no further objection, and gave me Mr. Gresham's
+club address.
+
+Needless to say I went directly there, and by good luck I found Mr.
+Gresham, pleasantly passing the before dinner hour with some of his
+friends.
+
+I went to him, introduced myself and asked for a moment's private
+conversation. He looked surprised, but consented, and with a courteous
+manner led me to a small room, where we were alone.
+
+"Be seated, Mr. Landon," he said, pleasantly; "what can I do for you?"
+
+He was a handsome man and well set up. He was especially well dressed,
+in clothes of English cut, and his whole appearance showed attention to
+details. His face betokened a strong, manly character and his gaze was
+clear and straightforward.
+
+Without preliminaries, I showed him the handkerchief and said, simply,
+"Is this your handkerchief, Mr. Gresham?"
+
+"It certainly is," he said, taking the linen square, and glancing at the
+letters; "did you find it? I thank you very much for restoring my
+property,--though of no great value."
+
+"Had you missed it?" I said, looking at him closely.
+
+"Bless my soul, no! A man has several handkerchiefs, you know, and I
+dare say I might lose two or three without missing them. Excuse me, Mr.
+Landon, but aren't you attaching undue importance to such a trifle as a
+lost handkerchief?"
+
+"I don't know yet, Mr. Gresham, whether this particular loss of yours
+will prove to be a trifling matter or not. Do you know Robert Pembroke?"
+
+"The man who was murdered a few days ago?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"No, I never knew him; but I read in the papers of the poor fellow's
+death and thought it most shocking. I trust they will discover the
+murderer and avenge the crime."
+
+If Mr. Gresham were implicated in the affair, he certainly carried off
+this conversation with a fine composure. But I resolved to startle his
+calm if I could.
+
+"Then can you explain, Mr. Gresham," I said, "how this handkerchief of
+yours happened to be found on the bed of the murdered man the morning
+after the murder?"
+
+"Great Heavens, no! nor do I believe it was found there!"
+
+"But it was, for I myself found it."
+
+"My handkerchief! In Mr. Pembroke's bedroom! Impossible!"
+
+The man spoke with an angry inflection and a rising color, and I
+watched him narrowly. Either this was the just indignation of an
+innocent man, or else it was the carefully rehearsed dissimulation of a
+clever wrong-doer. My instinct and my reason told me he was innocent,
+but my inclinations so strongly hoped for some hint of his guilt, that I
+persevered.
+
+"Yes, Mr. Gresham, I found it in that room, and on that bed in less than
+twelve hours after Mr. Pembroke was killed."
+
+"You did! and you think therefore that I killed him, or at least that I
+was in his room! Why, man, I have already told you that I never knew Mr.
+Pembroke, and have certainly never been to his house, nor do I even know
+where he lives!"
+
+This was all very well if it were true, but how was I to know whether
+this fine gentleman were lying or not. To be sure his face, voice and
+manner gave every effect of outraged innocence, but was that not just
+what a clever criminal would show?
+
+"Where were you late last Wednesday night?" I asked him bluntly.
+
+"By Jove! I don't know! I may have been in a dozen places. I go where I
+choose, and I don't keep a diary of my doings!"
+
+"But try to think, Mr. Gresham," I said, more gently; "were you here at
+this club?"
+
+"I may have been and I may not. I may have been motoring, or dining out,
+or at the theatre, or anywhere. I tell you I don't know where I was."
+
+"It will be to your own interest to remember," I said, speaking
+sternly, for now I began to suspect the man.
+
+"Why do you say that?"
+
+"Because when a man's handkerchief is found under such circumstances, it
+is advisable for the man to prove that he was not there too."
+
+"Lest I be suspected of the murder of a man whom I never saw, and never
+even heard of until after he was dead?"
+
+"We have only your own word for that," I returned, coldly; "but the
+rather definite clue of your handkerchief found in Mr. Pembroke's
+bedroom requires investigation, and I am here for that purpose."
+
+"The deuce you are! Well, Mr. Landon, you are barking up the wrong tree!
+May I refer you to my man of business, and ask you to excuse me from a
+further discussion of this matter?"
+
+"You may not! I am here, Mr. Gresham, if not exactly in an official
+capacity, yet with the authority of a lawyer employed on this case. And
+if I may advise you, merely as man to man, I think it will be better
+for you to question your memory a little more closely, and endeavor to
+recollect where you were on Wednesday night."
+
+"Oh, suppose I can hark back to it. Let me see; I believe I motored up
+to Greenwich for the night. No, that was Tuesday night. And Thursday
+night I went to the theatre. Well, then it must have been Wednesday
+night that I was at the Hardings' to dinner. Yes, I was. I dined at the
+home of James S. Harding. And that you can verify from him. Now are you
+satisfied?"
+
+"What time did you leave Mr. Harding's?"
+
+"I don't know; about eleven or twelve, I suppose."
+
+"And then where did you go?"
+
+"Good Heavens! I can't remember every corner I turned! I think I stopped
+here at the Club before I went to my diggings; yes I'm sure I did."
+
+"Then there must be Club members, or even stewards by whom you can prove
+an alibi."
+
+"Prove an alibi! Look here, Mr. Landon, I positively refuse to carry
+this conversation further. I know nothing of your Mr. Pembroke or of his
+murderer. I know nothing about that handkerchief, which you say you
+found there, except the fact that it is mine. Now if your people want to
+arrest me, let them come and do it; but until they do, kindly spare me
+further questioning, which I do not admit to be within your rights.
+Allow me to wish you good morning."
+
+Though most anxious to believe this man guilty, it was difficult to do
+so, and yet I was quite willing to believe that his somewhat
+grandiloquent attitude was all a bluff. However, I had found the owner
+of the handkerchief, and I had learned all I could from him. And so,
+with a conventional leave-taking, I left him and went home.
+
+
+
+
+XXI
+
+FLEMING STONE
+
+
+At dinner and during Saturday evening, Janet seemed so sad and depressed
+in spirits, that I seconded Laura's efforts to divert her mind from all
+thoughts of the tragedy.
+
+It was not so difficult as it might seem, for the girl's strange
+temperament was volatile, and her thoughts were easily led to any
+subject we suggested. We talked of books and music, and finally of
+personal acquaintances, discovering that we had a few in common.
+Although I did not know the Warings personally they were acquaintances
+of some friends of mine, and I gathered from Janet's remarks that
+Millicent Waring was one of her intimates.
+
+The evening passed pleasantly enough, but after Laura had carried Janet
+away to rest for the night, I sat and pondered deeply over my case.
+
+Try as I would, I could not feel that Mr. Gresham had any guilty
+knowledge of the affair; and if he had, I could think of no way to turn
+suspicion in his direction. Except, of course, through the handkerchief,
+which now seemed to me an insoluble mystery.
+
+And except for the slender hope resting upon that handkerchief, I had
+nothing to offer in the way of evidence against any person or persons
+other than the girl I loved. It was then that I bethought me of Fleming
+Stone. I had recently heard of the marvellous work this great detective
+had done in the Maxwell case, and I wondered that I had not thought of
+him before. Beside his powers the efforts of minor detectives paled into
+insignificance. His services were expensive, I knew, but George Lawrence
+had authorized the employment of a detective, and I did not believe he
+would object to the outlay. Then, too, my client was now a rich woman,
+or would be, as soon as the estate was settled.
+
+I admitted my own inability to read the mystery in the clues I had at my
+disposal, but I felt sure that Stone could do so.
+
+Then the horrible thought struck me, what if Stone's inexorable finger
+should point toward Janet! But this I would not allow myself to
+consider, for I could not believe it possible; and, moreover, without
+Stone's intervention, the law was determined to accuse Janet, anyway,
+therefore Stone's help was the only possible chance I could see for
+help.
+
+And so I went to bed with a hopeful heart, that since truth must
+triumph, and since Fleming Stone could discover the truth if any one
+could, that Janet's exoneration was practically assured.
+
+I was uncertain whether or not to tell Janet of my decision to consult
+Fleming Stone. And all Sunday morning I hesitated about the matter.
+
+It was late Sunday afternoon before I concluded that it would be better
+to inform her of my plan, and this conclusion was really brought about
+more by opportunity than by decision.
+
+Laura had gone out, and Janet and I sat alone in our pleasant library.
+The girl looked so sweet and dear, in her pathetic black robes, that my
+heart yearned to comfort her. Her face was sad and very gentle of
+expression; her dark eyes showing that wistful look that I had learned
+to watch for. The corners of her red mouth drooped a little, and she
+looked like a tired child who ought to be protected and cared for
+against all misfortune.
+
+"I thought George would come up this afternoon," she said, as she stood
+looking idly out of the window, where her slight black-robed figure made
+a lovely picture against the background of the gold-colored silk
+curtain.
+
+"I'm glad he didn't," I said involuntarily; "I'm glad to have you to
+myself."
+
+She looked up startled, for I never before expressed a hint of my
+personal feeling toward her. What she read in my eyes must have been
+intelligible to her, for her own lids dropped, and a soft pink blush
+showed faintly on her pale cheeks.
+
+"Do you mind that I want you to myself?" I said, going to her side.
+
+"No," she replied and again she gave me a fleeting glance that proved
+her not entirely unconscious of my meaning, and not offended by it.
+
+"Janet," I went on, taking both her hands in mine, "it may seem dreadful
+to tell you now, when I've known you but a few days, but I must tell you
+that I love you. You know it, of course, and believe me, dear, I'm not
+asking you to respond,--yet. Just let me love you now, until this
+wretched business is finished, and then, after that, let me teach you to
+love me."
+
+"It's too late for you to do that," she whispered, and then, overcome
+with this sudden knowledge, I clasped her in my arms and realized the
+meaning of the tenderness in her eyes and the wistful droop of her
+scarlet lips.
+
+"You darling," I murmured, as I held her close; "you precious,
+contradictory bit of feminine humanity! This is the most blessed of all
+your contradictions, for I never dreamed that you already loved me."
+
+"But you can't doubt it now, can you?" she returned, as she rested,
+contentedly, in my embrace.
+
+"No, dearest, you are not easy to understand, there is much about your
+nature that puzzles me, but when that true, sincere look comes into your
+eyes, I _know_ you are in earnest. Oh, Janet, my darling, how happy we
+shall be after all this troublesome mystery is cleared up, and you and I
+can devote our whole life to caring for each other."
+
+"I shall be so glad to be happy," she said, with a wistful little sigh,
+and I remembered that her life, so far, had given her little or no joy.
+
+"Sweetheart," I said, "my life purpose henceforth shall be to give you
+happiness enough to make up for the sad years you have spent.
+
+"You can easily do that, my dear," and the tenderness in her eyes fairly
+transfigured her. And then, with a pretty impetuous gesture, she hid her
+face on my shoulder.
+
+"But it doesn't seem possible," I said, after a time, "that you can
+really love me when you've known me but a few days."
+
+"That doesn't count in a love like ours," said Janet, speaking almost
+solemnly. "It is not the kind that requires time to grow."
+
+"No," I agreed, "it was born full grown. I always told Laura that when
+I fell in love it would be at first sight, and it was. The marvellous
+part, dear, is that you care, too."
+
+"Care!" she exclaimed, and the depths of love in her eyes gave me a hint
+of her emotional nature; "but," she went on, "this is all wrong. You
+must not talk to me like this, and I must not listen to it. I am under
+suspicion of having committed a crime. Surely you cannot love me until I
+am freed from that."
+
+"But you are not guilty?"
+
+I asked the question not because of any doubt in my own mind, but
+because I wanted for once to hear her own statement of her innocence.
+
+"That I shall not tell you," she said, and her eyes took on a faraway,
+inscrutable look, as of a sphinx; "that you must find out for yourself.
+Or rather, no, I don't want you to find out. I want it always to remain
+a mystery."
+
+"What, Janet! you don't want me to find out who killed your uncle!"
+
+"Oh, no, no!" and her voice rang out in agonized entreaty; "please
+don't, Otis; _please_ don't try to find out who did it!"
+
+"But then, dear, how can you be freed from suspicion? and I want to tell
+you, Janet, I want to tell you now, while I hold you in my arms,--I
+want to tell you in the same breath that I tell you of my love,--that
+you will be accused of this crime, unless the real criminal is
+discovered."
+
+"How do you know I'm not the real criminal?"
+
+"I know it for two reasons. First, because I love you, and I'm telling
+you so; and second, because you love me, and----"
+
+"I'm not telling you so," she interrupted, and a look of pain came into
+her dear eyes as she tried to resist my embrace.
+
+"You don't have to tell me, dear," I said, quietly, "I know it. But you
+must tell me who it is that you are trying to shield by your strange
+ways and words. Is it Leroy? It can't be Charlotte."
+
+"I'm not shielding anybody," she cried out; "the jury people proved that
+I must have killed Uncle Robert myself, and so, you see, I must have
+done so."
+
+"Now you're talking childishly," I said, as I soothed her, gently; "of
+course you didn't kill him, darling; but you do know more about it than
+you have yet told, and you must tell me, because I'm going to save you
+from any further unpleasantness. I wish I could understand you, you
+bewitching mystery! You are surely shielding some one. It can't be that
+absurd J. S. I hardly think it can be the man of the handkerchief; oh,
+but I haven't told you about that yet. It can't be George,--because he
+has a perfect alibi."
+
+"I suppose if it were not for that alibi, George might be suspected,"
+said Janet slowly.
+
+"Indeed he might, but as there are people to swear to his presence in
+another part of town at the time of the crime, he is beyond suspicion. I
+wish you had such an alibi, dearest."
+
+"Oh, I wish I did! Otis, what do _you_ think? You know I was locked in
+that house and nobody could get in. You know I didn't kill Uncle Robert.
+Now who did?"
+
+"Janet," I said, very seriously, "I don't know. And I have nearly lost
+hope of finding out. So I will tell you what I have decided to do; I'm
+going to consult Fleming Stone."
+
+"Fleming Stone? Who is he?"
+
+"He is probably the cleverest detective in the city. I feel sure that he
+can solve our mystery, if he will undertake it."
+
+"Oh, don't have a detective!" she cried; "at least, not that Mr. Stone.
+He can find out everything!"
+
+"And don't you want everything found out?" I asked, looking at her
+intently.
+
+"No!" she cried vehemently. "I don't! I want Uncle Robert's death
+always to remain a mystery!"
+
+"It can't be a greater mystery than you are!" I exclaimed, for the words
+were wrung from me as I looked at the girl's face, which had again taken
+on that white, impassive look.
+
+It was at that moment that Laura returned, and as she entered the
+library, Janet fled away to her own room.
+
+Laura looked at me questioningly, and I told her quite frankly all that
+had passed between Janet and myself.
+
+She kissed me tenderly, like the dear sister that she is, and said;
+"Don't worry, Otis; it will come out all right. I know Janet much better
+than you do. She is innocent, of course, but she is so unnerved and
+distraught with these dreadful days, that I'm only surprised she bears
+up as well as she does. Leave her to me, and you go and get your Fleming
+Stone, and use every effort to persuade him to take the case."
+
+As it had been my life-long habit to take Laura's advice, especially
+when it coincided with my own inclination I started off at once to hunt
+up Fleming Stone.
+
+I knew the man slightly, having run across him a few times in a
+business way, and I knew that not only were his services exceedingly
+high-priced, but also that he never took any case unless of great
+difficulty and peculiar interest. I hoped, however, that the
+circumstances of the Pembroke affair would appeal to him, and I
+determined to use every effort to interest him in it.
+
+By good fortune, I found him at home, and willing to listen to a
+statement of my business.
+
+[Illustration: FLEMING STONE]
+
+Fleming Stone's personality was not at all of the taciturn, inscrutable
+variety. He was a large man, of genial and charming manner, and
+possessed of a personal magnetism that seemed to invite confidence and
+confidences. I knew him well enough to know that if I could win his
+interest at all it would be by a brief statement of the mystery as a
+puzzle, and a request that he help me solve it.
+
+"Mr. Stone," I began, "if three persons spent the night in an apartment
+so securely locked on the inside that there was no possible means of
+ingress, and if in the morning it was found that one of those three
+persons had been murdered at midnight, would you say that the guilt must
+rest upon either one or both of the other two persons?"
+
+At any rate, I had succeeded in catching the man's attention.
+
+As there was no question of personal feeling in my statement, he seemed
+to look at it as an abstract problem, and replied at once:
+
+"According to the facts as you have stated them, the guilt must
+necessarily rest upon one or both of the other two persons. But this is
+assuming that it really was a murder, that there really was no mode of
+ingress, and that there really were no other persons in the apartment."
+
+Having secured Fleming Stone's interest in the abstract statement, I
+proceeded to lay before him the concrete story of the Pembroke affair.
+
+He listened gravely, asking only one or two questions, and when I had
+told him all I knew about it he sat thinking for a few moments.
+
+At last, unable to control my impatience, I said: "Do you now think the
+guilt rests upon either one or both of those women?"
+
+As I have said, Mr. Stone was not of the secretive and close-mouthed
+style of detective, and he said in his frank and pleasant way: "Not
+_necessarily_, by any means. Indeed, from what you have told me, I
+should say that the two women knew nothing about the crime until the
+morning. But this, of course, is a mere surmise, based on _your_ account
+of the case."
+
+As I had told him the facts as I knew them, with all their horrible
+incrimination of Janet, I was greatly relieved at his words.
+
+"Then," said I, "will you take up the case, and find the criminal as
+soon as may be? Money is no object, but time is precious, as I strongly
+desire to avoid any possibility of a trial of Miss Pembroke."
+
+"Have you any other clues other than those you have told me?"
+
+"I haven't told you any," I said, in some surprise; "but we certainly
+have several."
+
+He listened with the greatest attention, while I told him in rapid
+succession of the key, the time-table, the ticket stubs, the torn
+telegram, the handkerchief, and finally, the missing money.
+
+"Have you traced these to their sources?" he inquired.
+
+"We have, and each one led to a different man."
+
+I then told him of Jonathan Scudder, of Graham Leroy, of James Decker,
+and of William Sydney Gresham, and he listened with a half-smile on his
+pleasant, responsive face.
+
+"Of course you can see all these clues for yourself," I went on, "and I
+feel sure, Mr. Stone, that by an examination of them, you can deduce
+much of the personality of the criminal."
+
+"I don't care to see them," was his astonishing answer; "I have already
+deduced from them the evidence that they clearly show."
+
+"Your statement would amaze me," I said, "except that I had resolved not
+to be surprised at anything you might say or do, for I know your methods
+are mysterious and your powers little short of miraculous."
+
+"Don't credit me with supernatural ability, Mr. Landon," said Stone,
+smiling genially. "Let me compliment you on the graphic way in which you
+have described that collection of clues. I can fairly see them, in my
+mind's eye lying before me. Were not the ticket stubs bent and broken
+and a good deal soiled?"
+
+"They were," I said, staring at him.
+
+"And was the time-table smudged with dirt, and perhaps bearing an
+impress of tiny dots in regular rows?"
+
+"Now I know you're a wizard!" I exclaimed, "for that's exactly what I
+did see! such a mark on the first page of that time-table!"
+
+"It might easily not have been there," said Stone, musingly; "I confess
+I chanced that. It was merely a hazard, but it helps. Yes, Mr. Landon,
+your collection of clues is indeed valuable and of decided assistance in
+discovering the identity of the person or persons unknown."
+
+It struck a chill to my heart that Fleming Stone seemed to avoid the use
+of a masculine pronoun. Could he, too, think that a woman was
+implicated, and if not, why didn't he say the man who committed the
+crime, instead of dodging behind the vague term he had used. With a
+desperate idea of forcing this point, I said; "The Coroner believes that
+since the weapon used was a hat-pin, the criminal was a woman."
+
+"Why did you say it was a hat-pin?" said Fleming Stone, and I realized
+that his brain was already busy with the subtleties of the case.
+
+"The doctors stated that it was part of a hat-pin, the other end of
+which had been broken off."
+
+"Did you see the pin that was extracted from the wound?"
+
+"I did."
+
+"How long was it?"
+
+"Almost exactly four inches."
+
+"And are you prepared to affirm that it is part of a hat-pin, and not a
+complete pin of a shorter length?"
+
+"I am not. The thought did not before occur to me. But as it had no head
+on it, we assumed that it was probably the half of a broken hat-pin. It
+is by no means the first instance on record of using a hat-pin as a
+murderous weapon."
+
+"No," said Fleming Stone; "and yet that does not prove it a hat-pin. May
+it not have been a shawl-pin, or some shorter pin that women use in
+their costumes?"
+
+"It may have been," said I; "but women do not wear shawls nowadays. At
+any rate, any pin of that length would seem to indicate a woman's
+crime."
+
+"Well, as a rule," said Fleming Stone, smiling, "we men do not pin our
+garments together; but I dare say almost any man, if he wanted one,
+could gain possession of such a pin."
+
+How true this was, and how foolish we had been to assume that a woman's
+pin _must_ have meant a woman's crime! A picture passed through my mind
+of Laura's dressing-table, where I could have procured any kind of a
+pin, with no trouble whatever.
+
+"Moreover," went on Fleming Stone, "the great majority of hat-pins used
+in America will not break. They will bend, as they are usually made of
+iron, though occasionally of steel."
+
+I looked at the man with growing admiration. How widespread was his
+knowledge, and how logical his deduction!
+
+"I should have to see the pin," said Stone, "before drawing any
+conclusion from it. You did not examine it closely, you say?"
+
+I had not said so, but I suppose he deduced it from my slight knowledge
+of its characteristics.
+
+"I did not examine it through a microscope," I replied.
+
+"You should have done so. If it were really a broken hat-pin, it would
+show a clean, bright break at the end; whereas, were it a shorter pin
+which had lost its head, it would show at the end a fraction of an inch
+of duller steel, and perhaps an irregular surface where the head had
+been attached."
+
+"I can see that you are right, but I cannot see why it should make much
+difference which it was."
+
+"My dear sir, according to your statement, the only clue we have to work
+upon is the weapon which was used. The weapon is always an important
+item, if not the most important, and it cannot be scrutinized too
+closely or examined too minutely, for, sooner or later, it is almost
+always certain to expose the criminal."
+
+"I had thought," I said humbly, "that I possessed a degree of detective
+instinct, but I now see I was mistaken. I assumed the pin to be a
+hat-pin, and thought no more about it."
+
+"It may be one," said Stone, "and the only way to find out is to see it.
+Of course I must also examine the apartment, and then, if necessary,
+question some of the parties concerned. But at this moment I have little
+doubt in my mind as to who killed Robert Pembroke. I will take the case,
+because, though unusual, it promises to be a short one. I think I may
+safely say that by to-morrow night at this hour we will not only have
+discovered the criminal, but obtained a confession. But I will say the
+criminal has been very, very clever. In fact, I think I should never
+have conceived of such various kinds of cleverness combined in one
+crime. But, as is often the case, he has outwitted himself. His very
+cleverness is his undoing."
+
+Surely the man was a wizard! I looked at him without a word after he had
+made his astounding announcement. I had no idea whom he suspected, but I
+knew he would not tell me if I asked, so I thought best to express no
+curiosity, but to leave the matter in his hands, and await his further
+pleasure.
+
+"You can go at once to see the apartment," I said; "but to look at the
+pin we shall have to wait until morning, as I think it is in charge of
+the coroner."
+
+"It must all wait till morning," said Fleming Stone, "as I have other
+work that I must attend to this evening."
+
+I accepted my dismissal, and, making an appointment to call for him the
+next day, I turned my steps homeward.
+
+I had purposely said nothing to Fleming Stone of my suspicion of George
+Lawrence. Indeed, it was scarcely strong enough to be called a
+suspicion, and, too, the mere idea of his going into the apartment
+implied the idea of his being let in by Janet. Therefore, I had
+contended myself with telling Stone the facts as I knew them, and
+suppressing my own opinion. Also, it seemed a dreadful thing to cast
+suspicion on Lawrence, when I had no evidence of any sort.
+
+
+
+
+XXII
+
+A CALL ON MISS WARING
+
+
+When I arose next morning I assured myself that I was in all probability
+the happiest man in the city. With Fleming Stone's assurance that that
+very night should see the Pembroke mystery cleared up, and with the
+knowledge in my heart that Janet loved me, I felt that my future outlook
+was little less than glorious.
+
+I had given up all ambition to be a detective; I even had little care as
+to the outcome of Fleming Stone's investigation--granting, of course,
+that Janet and George were in no way implicated. I could have given
+myself up to the happy dreams which are usually said to be indulged in
+by men of fewer years than my own, but I remembered my appointment and
+hastened away to meet Fleming Stone.
+
+Though I had a vague feeling of fear as to the result of this day's
+work, yet I knew it must be gone through with, and I prepared to face
+whatever might be before me.
+
+Together we went to the District Attorney's office.
+
+Mr. Buckner was much impressed by the fact of Fleming Stone's
+connection with the case, for it was well known that the great detective
+accepted only puzzling problems. It was quite evident, however, that the
+District Attorney could see no reason for more than one opinion as to
+the Pembroke tragedy.
+
+"Here are the clues," said Mr. Buckner, as he arranged the collection on
+his desk.
+
+The torn telegram was not among them, and I realized that Buckner had
+excluded that, because the letter from Jonathan Scudder practically
+denied it.
+
+Fleming Stone glanced at the key and the handkerchief with the briefest
+attention. He picked up the ticket stubs and the time-table, but after a
+moment's scrutiny he laid them down again, murmuring, as if to himself,
+"Clever, very clever!"
+
+"Mr. Buckner," he said at last, "these clues seem to me all to point to
+the same criminal, and a most ingenious person as well."
+
+"You speak in riddles, Mr. Stone," said the District Attorney, "I
+confess I thought these articles of but slight importance, as they have
+been traced each to a different owner."
+
+"Even so," said Stone, "they are distinctly indicative, and form a large
+share of the evidence piling up against the criminal. But a far more
+important clue is the weapon with which Mr. Pembroke was killed. Will
+you show me that?"
+
+Buckner took the pin from a drawer and offered it to Mr. Stone, saying,
+"There is the weapon. If the head of the hat-pin had been left on, it
+might be traced to the woman who used it. But as she broke it off, this
+small portion cannot be traced. She doubtless broke the head off
+purposely, thus proving herself, as you have already remarked, Mr.
+Stone, a very clever criminal."
+
+Mr. Stone took the pin, glanced at it a moment, and then, taking a
+magnifying-glass from his pocket, examined it carefully.
+
+"It is not a hat-pin," he said, "nor is it part of a hat-pin. The pin as
+you see it there is its full length. The head has been removed, not
+accidentally, but purposely. It had been removed, and carefully, before
+the pin was used as a weapon."
+
+"May I ask how you know this, sir?" asked the coroner respectfully.
+
+"Certainly," said Stone, in his affable way. "If you will look at the
+end of the pin through this glass, you will see unmistakable signs that
+the head has been removed. For about an eighth of an inch you note a
+slight discoloration, caused by the attaching of the glass head. You
+also see on one side a minute portion of glass still adhering to the
+steel. Had the head been accidentally or carelessly broken off, it is
+probable that more glass would have adhered to the pin. The head was
+therefore purposely and carefully removed, perhaps by smashing it with
+something heavy or by stepping on it. The fragment of glass that is
+attached to the pin is, as you may see if you will hold it up to the
+light, of a violet color. The pin, therefore, I'm prepared to assert, is
+one of the pins which first-class florists give away with bunches of
+violets bought at their shops. I have never seen these pins with
+violet-colored heads used for any other purpose, though it is not
+impossible that they may be. I say a first-class florist, because it is
+only they who use this style of pin; the smaller shops give black-headed
+ones. But the larger flower dealers make a specialty of using purple
+tin-foil for their violet bunches, tying them with purple cord or
+ribbon, and placing them in a purple pasteboard box. To harmonize with
+this color scheme, they have of late years provided these violet-headed
+flower pins. All this is of importance in our quest, for it ought to be
+easier to trace a violet pin than the more universally used hat-pin."
+
+How different Fleming Stone's manner from the bumptious and know-it-all
+air of the average detective! He was quite willing to share any
+information which he gained, and seemed to treat his fellow-workers as
+his equals in perspicacity and cleverness.
+
+We had learned something, to be sure. But as the coroner had no other
+objects of evidence to show us, and there seemed nothing more to be
+learned from the pin, Fleming Stone turned into the street, and I
+followed him.
+
+"Could not the head have been broken off after the pin was used to
+commit the murder?" I inquired.
+
+"No," said Stone; "it would be impossible to break off a glass head with
+one's fingers under such conditions. It could have been done by some
+instrument, but that is not likely. And then, too, there would probably
+have been bits of glass on the pillow."
+
+"Bits of glass!" I exclaimed. "Bits of violet-colored glass! Why, man
+alive, I have them in my pocket now!"
+
+"Let me see them," said Stone. "It may save us quite a search."
+
+It took more to excite Fleming Stone's enthusiasm than it did mine, and
+he seemed almost unaware of the importance of my statement; but when I
+took a white paper from my pocket, unfolded it, and showed him the
+specks of glass I had found in Lawrence's apartment the night before,
+his flashing eyes showed that he thought it indeed a clue. But he only
+said quietly: "You should have mentioned this in your statement of the
+case. Why did you not?"
+
+"The real reason is that I forgot it," I admitted, frankly. "But I had
+no idea it was important evidence, for I never dreamed these bits could
+be the head of a pin. I thought them a portion of a broken bottle. You
+know druggists use small phials of that color for certain
+prescriptions."
+
+"Some druggists use bottles of this color for poison," said Fleming
+Stone, "but that doesn't affect our case, for Mr. Pembroke was not
+poisoned. But it may easily be the head of the pin we were talking
+about. Where did you find this glass?"
+
+"In George Lawrence's studio," I replied, looking a little shamefaced at
+my own obvious stupidity.
+
+"Well, you _are_ a clever detective!" said Fleming Stone; but so genial
+was the smile of mild amusement he turned upon me, that I could not feel
+hurt at his sarcasm.
+
+"You didn't even tell me that you examined young Lawrence's studio, and
+you haven't yet told me why you did so. I assume you have no intent to
+conceal anything from me."
+
+"I have not," I said. "I'm mortified--first that I did not realize the
+importance of this broken glass, and next because I didn't mention the
+incident to you. It was a stupid blunder of mine, but I assure you it
+was not intentional."
+
+"It may mean much, and it may mean nothing," said Fleming Stone, "but it
+must be investigated. Where, in the studio, was the glass?"
+
+"On the marble hearthstone," said I.
+
+"Where it might easily have been broken off the pin by a boot heel, or
+other means. But we must not assume more than the evidence clearly
+indicates. Tell me more of young Lawrence. Was he what is known as a
+ladies' man? Would he be likely to take bunches of violets to his
+feminine friends?"
+
+"I know the man very slightly," I answered, "but I should judge him to
+be rather attentive to the fair sex. Indeed, I know that the day before
+yesterday he escorted a young lady to a matinée, and that night he dined
+and spent the evening at the home of the same girl."
+
+"Do you know this young lady?" he asked.
+
+"I know her name," I replied. "It is Miss Waring, and she lives in
+Sixtieth Street."
+
+"And your own home is in Sixty-second Street?"
+
+"Yes. If necessary, I can telephone to my sister, and she will ask Miss
+Pembroke for Miss Waring's address."
+
+"Do so," said Fleming Stone; and I knew from the gravity of his
+expression that he was rapidly constructing a serious case against
+somebody.
+
+I obtained the desired information over the telephone, and then, with
+Fleming Stone, boarded a car going uptown. Though still
+pleasant-mannered and responsive, Stone seemed disinclined to talk, so
+the journey was made almost in silence.
+
+When we reached Miss Waring's, Mr. Stone sent up his card, asking her to
+grant him an interview as soon as possible.
+
+In a few moments Millicent Waring appeared. She was a dainty little
+blonde, with what is known as a society manner, though not marked by
+foolish affectation.
+
+Fleming Stone introduced himself and then introduced me, in a pleasant
+way, and with a politeness that would have been admired by the most
+punctilious of critics.
+
+"Pray do not be alarmed, Miss Waring," he began, "at the legal aspect of
+your callers."
+
+"Not at all," said the girl, smiling prettily. "I am pleased to meet one
+of whom I have always stood in awe, and to discover that in appearance,
+at least, he is not a bit awe-inspiring."
+
+Whether Miss Waring was always so self-poised and at her ease, or
+whether it was Fleming Stone's magnetic manner that made her appear so,
+I did not know, but the two were soon chatting like old friends. My
+part, apparently, was merely that of a listener, and I was well content
+that it should be so.
+
+"You know Mr. Lawrence?" Mr. Stone was saying. "Mr. George Lawrence?"
+
+"Oh, yes," said the girl; "and I have read in the paper of a dreadful
+tragedy in his family."
+
+"Yes; his uncle, I believe. You have seen Mr. Lawrence recently, Miss
+Waring?"
+
+"Last Wednesday I went with him to a matinée. After the theatre he
+brought me back here. Then he went home, but he came back here to dinner
+and spent the evening."
+
+"At what time did he leave?"
+
+"At eleven o'clock precisely."
+
+"How do you know the time so accurately?"
+
+"Because as he came to say good-night I was standing near the mantel,
+where there is a small French clock. It struck the hour, and I remember
+his remarking on the sweet tone of the chime, and he counted the strokes
+to eleven. He then went away at once."
+
+"You mean he left the drawing-room?"
+
+"Yes; and a moment later I saw him pass through the hall, and he nodded
+in at me as he passed the drawing-room door on his way out. Why are you
+asking me all this? But I suppose it is part of the red tape in
+connection with the dreadful affair."
+
+"Is Mr. Lawrence a particular friend of yours? You must pardon the
+question, Miss Waring, but you also must answer it." Fleming Stone's
+smile robbed the words of any hint of rudeness.
+
+"Oh, dear, no!" said Miss Waring, laughing gaily; "that is, I like him,
+you know, and he's awfully kind and polite to me, but he's merely an
+acquaintance."
+
+"Did you go anywhere on your way to and from the theatre?"
+
+"No, I think not--oh, yes, we did, too; just before we went into the
+theatre Mr. Lawrence insisted on stopping at the florist's for some
+violets. He said no matinée girl was complete without a bunch of
+violets."
+
+"And did you pin them on your gown?" asked Stone, as if in a most casual
+way.
+
+"No, indeed," said Miss Waring; "I never do that. It spoils a nice gown
+to pin flowers on it."
+
+"And what did you do with the pin?"
+
+"What pin?"
+
+"The pin that a florist always gives you with violets."
+
+"Oh, yes, those purple-headed pins. Why, I don't know what I did do with
+it." The girl's pretty brow wrinkled in her endeavor to remember, and
+then cleared as she said: "Oh, yes, it comes back to me now! When I said
+I wouldn't use it, lest the flowers should spoil my gown, I handed it to
+Mr. Lawrence, and he stuck it in his coat lapel--underneath, you
+know--for, he said, perhaps I might change my mind. But, of course, I
+didn't, and I'm sure I don't know what became of the pin. Do you want
+one? I have dozens of them up-stairs."
+
+"No," said Fleming Stone; "and I don't think we need encroach further on
+your time, Miss Waring. I thank you for your goodness in seeing us, and
+I would like to ask you to say nothing about this interview for
+twenty-four hours. After that you need not consider it confidential."
+
+I believe Fleming Stone's manner would have wheedled a promise out of
+the Egyptian Sphinx, and I was not in the least surprised to hear Miss
+Waring agree to his stipulations.
+
+When we again reached the street Fleming Stone observed: "Without going
+so far as to designate our attitude toward George Lawrence by the word
+'suspicion,' we must admit that the young man had a motive, and, that
+there is evidence whether true or not, to indicate his having had in his
+possession a weapon at least similar to the one used."
+
+The doubt I had felt all along of Lawrence was, of course, strengthened
+by Miss Waring's disclosures; but to have George accused was only one
+degree less awful than to have suspicion cast on Janet. And, too,
+notwithstanding the strange and somewhat complicated evidence of the
+violet pin, Lawrence had told me he had a perfect alibi. And then,
+besides this, how could he have gained entrance to the apartment at the
+dead of night, unless Janet had let him in? I could not bring up this
+last point, lest Fleming Stone should immediately deduce Janet's
+complicity; but I would learn how he proposed to prove George's guilt
+when George was able to prove his presence at another place at the time
+of the fatal deed.
+
+"But," I said, "evidence is of little use so far as Mr. Lawrence is
+concerned, for he has a perfect alibi."
+
+
+
+
+XXIII
+
+LAWRENCE'S STATEMENT
+
+
+To my surprise, instead of seeming baffled by my statement, Fleming
+Stone gave me a quizzical glance.
+
+"A perfect alibi?" he repeated. "How do you know?"
+
+"He told me so," I said confidently.
+
+"Why did he tell you that? Did he expect to be accused?"
+
+"No," I replied; "I do not think he did. You know, Mr. Stone, I never
+met young Lawrence till since this affair; but, unless I am no judge of
+human nature, he is a frank, honest sort of chap, with a whole lot of
+common sense, and he said to his cousin, in my presence, that in the
+course of legal proceedings he might easily be called upon to give an
+account of his own movements the night of the murder, but that he was
+prepared to prove a perfect alibi. Therefore, you see, we cannot suspect
+him, notwithstanding the coincidence of the violet-colored glass."
+
+"He can prove a perfect alibi," again repeated Fleming Stone, and again
+that strange little gleam of satisfaction crept into his eyes. It
+irritated while it fascinated me, and I wondered in what direction his
+suspicions would next turn.
+
+"Did he tell you," he asked, "the nature of this alibi?"
+
+I was struck with a sudden thought. For some reason, the detective even
+yet suspected George, and all I said seemed to strengthen rather than
+allay his suspicion. I would, therefore, give the suspected man a chance
+to speak for himself.
+
+"He did," I answered; "but instead of repeating to you at secondhand
+what he told me, would it not be better to go down to his place and let
+him tell it for himself?"
+
+"Very much better," said Stone heartily; and again we started downtown.
+It was well on toward noon, and it seemed to me we had made no definite
+progress. After Fleming Stone had told me he would discover the criminal
+that day, I couldn't help imagining a sudden bringing to book of some
+burly ruffian whose face was well known in the rogues' gallery, but
+unfamiliar to those in my walk of life. But Stone's sudden interest in
+George Lawrence filled me with a vague fear that the trail he was
+evidently following might somehow implicate Janet before he had
+finished. However, as I was feeling convinced that George's own
+testimony would affect Fleming Stone more favorably than my own version
+of it, I felt glad indeed that we were bound on our present errand.
+
+And so we came again to the house in Washington Square where Lawrence
+lived.
+
+The young man was at home, and received us in his studio. He seemed no
+whit embarrassed at the detective's visit, greeted me pleasantly, and
+expressed himself as quite willing to tell us anything we wanted to
+know.
+
+"Of course you understand," began Fleming Stone, "that with so few
+possible witnesses, it is necessary to make a somewhat thorough
+examination of each one."
+
+"Certainly," said George, whose own affability of manner quite equalled
+that of the celebrated detective.
+
+"Then," went on Stone, "I will ask you, if you please, to detail your
+own occupations on last Wednesday."
+
+"Beginning in the morning?" asked George.
+
+"If you please."
+
+"Well, let me see. I didn't get up very early, and after I did rise I
+stayed around here in my studio until luncheon time. During the morning
+I worked on several sketches for a book I am doing. About twelve o'clock
+I went uptown and lunched with a friend, a fellow-artist, at a little
+German restaurant. After that I went and called for Miss Millicent
+Waring, whom I had invited to go with me to a matinée. I had expected
+Mrs. Waring to accompany us, but as she was ill she allowed Miss Waring
+to go with me alone, although it is not Miss Waring's habit to go about
+unchaperoned."
+
+I couldn't help feeling a certain satisfaction in listening to young
+Lawrence's story. I was glad that his habits and his friends were all so
+correct and so entirely free from the unconventionality which is
+sometimes noticed in the social doings of young artists.
+
+"We went to the matinée," continued George, "in Mrs. Waring's carriage,
+which also came for us, after the performance."
+
+"One moment," said Fleming Stone. "You stopped nowhere, going or
+coming?"
+
+"No," said Lawrence; "nowhere."
+
+"Except at the florist's," observed Stone quietly.
+
+It may have been my imagination, but I thought that George started at
+these words. However, he said in a cool, steady voice:
+
+"Ah, yes, I had forgotten that. We stopped a moment to get some violets
+for Miss Waring."
+
+"And after the matinée you drove home with Miss Waring?"
+
+"Yes," said Lawrence; "and left her at her own door. She invited me to
+come back to dinner, and I said I would. As the Warings' house is only
+two blocks away from the Pembroke's, I thought I would run in for a few
+moments to see Janet. I did this, and Janet seemed glad to see me, but
+Uncle Robert was so crusty and irritable that I did not care to stay
+very long. I left there about six, came back here to my room, and
+dressed for dinner. From here I went directly back to the Warings',
+reaching there at 7.30, which was the dinner hour. There were other
+guests, and after dinner there was music in the drawing-room. I stayed
+until eleven o'clock. As I said good-night to Miss Waring, the clock
+chanced to be striking eleven, so I'm sure of the time. From the
+Warings' I came right back here on a Broadway car. I reached this house
+at 11.25, it having taken me about twenty-five minutes to come down from
+Sixtieth Street and to walk over here from Broadway."
+
+"How do you know you reached this house at exactly 11.25?" Fleming Stone
+asked this with such an air of cordial interest that there was no trace
+of cross-questioning about it.
+
+"Because," said George easily, "my watch had stopped--it had run down
+during the evening--and so as I came into this house I asked the hall
+boy what time it was, that I might set my watch. He looked at the
+office clock, and told me. Of course you can verify this by the boy."
+
+"I've no desire to verify your statement, Mr. Lawrence," said Stone,
+with his winning smile. "It's a bad habit, this letting a watch run
+down. Do you often do it?"
+
+"No," said Lawrence; "almost never. Indeed, I don't know when it has
+happened before."
+
+"And then what next, Mr. Lawrence?"
+
+"Then the hall boy brought me up in the elevator, I let myself into my
+rooms, and went at once to bed."
+
+"Then the first intimation of your uncle's death you received the next
+morning?"
+
+"Yes, when Janet telephoned to me. But she didn't say Uncle Robert was
+dead. She merely asked me to come up there at once, and I went."
+
+"What did you think she wanted you for?"
+
+"I thought that either uncle was ill or she was herself, for she had
+never telephoned for me before in the morning."
+
+"I thank you, Mr. Lawrence," said Fleming Stone, "for your frank and
+straightforward account of this affair, and for your courteous answers
+to my questions. You know, of course, that it is the unpleasant duty of
+a detective to ask questions unmercifully, in the hope of being set upon
+the right track at last."
+
+"I quite appreciate your position, my dear sir, and I trust I have given
+you all the information you desire. As I have told Mr. Landon, I have no
+taste for detective work myself, but I suppose it has to be done by
+somebody."
+
+After polite good-byes on both sides, we left Lawrence in his studio,
+and went down-stairs. Mr. Stone insisted on walking down, though it was
+four flights, and I, of course, raised no objection.
+
+When we reached the ground floor he stepped into the office, which was a
+small room just at the right of the entrance, and not far from the
+elevator.
+
+After a glance at the office clock which stood on the desk, Mr. Stone
+addressed himself to the office boy.
+
+"Do you remember," he said, "that Mr. Lawrence came in here last
+Wednesday night?"
+
+"Yes, sir," said the boy; "I do."
+
+"At what time was it?"
+
+"Just twenty-five minutes after eleven, sir."
+
+"How can you fix the time so exactly, my boy?"
+
+"Because when Mr. Lawrence came in, his watch had stopped, and he asked
+me what time it was by the office clock."
+
+"Couldn't he see for himself?"
+
+"I suppose he could, sir, but, any way, he asked me, and I told him;
+and then I took him up in the elevator, and he was setting his watch on
+the way up. Just before he got out he said: 'Did you say 11.25?' and I
+said, 'Yes.'"
+
+"The office clock is always about right, I suppose?" said Mr. Stone,
+and, taking his watch from his pocket, he compared the two. There was
+but a minute's difference.
+
+"Yes, sir, just about right; but that night I thought it was later when
+Mr. Lawrence come in. I was surprised myself when I see it wasn't half
+past eleven yet. But, of course, I must have made a mistake, for this
+clock is never more than a couple of minutes out of the way."
+
+"What time does your elevator stop running?"
+
+"Not at all, sir, we run it all night."
+
+"And other men came in after Mr. Lawrence did that night?"
+
+"Oh, yes, sir; lots of them. These is bachelor apartments, you know, and
+the men come in quite late--sometimes up till two or three o'clock."
+
+Apparently Fleming Stone had learned all he wanted to know from the boy,
+and after he had thanked him and had also slipped into his hand a bit of
+more material reward, the interview was at an end.
+
+We went out into the street again, and Fleming Stone said: "Now I
+should like to examine the Pembrokes' apartment."
+
+"And shall you want to interview Miss Pembroke?" I inquired.
+
+"Yes, I think so," he replied; "but we will look over the apartment
+first."
+
+"We'll have something to eat first," I declared; "and if you'll come
+home with me, I'll guarantee that my sister will give you quite as
+satisfactory a luncheon as you could obtain in the best hotel in the
+city."
+
+"I've no doubt of it," said Stone pleasantly; "and I accept your
+invitation with pleasure. Will you wait for me a minute, while I
+telephone?"
+
+Before I had time to reply he had slipped in through a doorway at which
+hung the familiar blue sign.
+
+In a minute or two he rejoined me, and said: "Now let's dismiss the
+whole affair from our minds until after luncheon. It is never wise to
+let business interfere with digestion."
+
+As we rode up home in the car, Mr. Stone was most agreeable and
+entertaining. Not a word was said of the Pembroke case--he seemed really
+to have laid aside all thought of it--and yet I couldn't help a sinister
+conviction that when he telephoned it had been a message to
+headquarters, authorizing the surveillance, if not the arrest, of
+somebody. It couldn't be Lawrence, in the face of that alibi; it
+couldn't be Janet, for he knew next to nothing about her connection with
+the matter; it couldn't be Charlotte, of course; and so it must have
+been "some person or persons unknown" to me.
+
+I felt no hesitancy, so far as Laura was concerned, in taking home an
+unexpected guest, for it was my habit to do that whenever I chose, and I
+had never found Laura otherwise than pleased to see my friends, and
+amply able to provide hospitality for them. But, as we neared the house,
+I remembered Janet's strange disinclination to employ a detective, and
+her apparent horror at the mention of Fleming Stone's name.
+
+Feeling that honesty demanded it, I told Fleming Stone exactly what
+Janet had said on this subject when I had left the house that morning.
+Though apparently not disturbed personally by Miss Pembroke's attitude
+toward him, he seemed to consider it as of definite importance for some
+other reason.
+
+"Why should Miss Pembroke object to a detective's services," he said,
+"when, as you have told me, Mr. Lawrence said at your dinner table last
+night that he wanted to engage the best possible detective skill?"
+
+"I don't know," I replied. "I'm puzzled myself. But I admit, Mr. Stone,
+that Miss Pembroke has been an enigma to me from the first. Not only do
+I believe her innocent, but I have a warmer regard for her than I am
+perhaps justified in mentioning to a stranger; and yet she is so
+contradictory in her speech and action from time to time that I simply
+do not know what to think."
+
+Fleming Stone turned a very kind glance on me. "The hardest puzzle in
+this world," he said, "is a woman. Of course I do not know Miss
+Pembroke, but I hope she will consent to meet me, notwithstanding her
+aversion to detectives."
+
+"I think she will," I said; "and, besides, she is so changeable that at
+this moment she may be more anxious to see a detective than anybody
+else."
+
+"Let us hope so," he said somewhat gravely. "It may be much to her
+advantage."
+
+
+
+
+XXIV
+
+THE CHAIN OF EVIDENCE
+
+
+Laura greeted us cordially; and Miss Pembroke, with a politeness which,
+though slightly constrained, was quiet and non-committal. But, as I had
+hoped, Fleming Stone's winning manner and charming conversational
+ability seemed to make Janet forget her aversion to detectives. At the
+luncheon table various subjects were touched upon, but it was not long
+before we drifted into a discussion of the theme uppermost in all our
+minds. I could see that although Fleming Stone was apparently talking in
+a casual way, he was closely studying Janet's face as he talked.
+
+I noticed that when any reference was made to George Lawrence, Janet
+seemed perturbed, and, although Mr. Stone said flatly that George could
+not have entered when the door was chained, this did not seem to lessen
+Janet's concern. But when Stone referred to George's perfect alibi,
+Janet looked relieved, as if freed from a great fear.
+
+It was entirely due to Fleming Stone's tact that the conversation was
+kept at a light and airy level. I was intensely conscious of a growing
+portent of evil. A cloak of gloom seemed to be settling around me, and
+it was only with the utmost effort that I could control my nervous
+apprehensions. What was going to happen, I did not know, but I felt
+intuitively that a climax was fast approaching, and at last I found
+myself sacrificing all other sympathies to the hope that Janet might be
+spared.
+
+I could see that Laura was equally agitated, although she too was
+outwardly calm. Janet, as always, was a puzzle. She seemed alternately
+depressed or gladdened in proportion as the drift of suspicion seemed
+directed toward or away from her cousin George.
+
+In a word, Fleming Stone's personality dominated us all. We were but as
+strings of an instrument upon which he played, and we responded
+involuntarily to his impulses or at his will.
+
+Into this surcharged atmosphere came another element with the entrance
+of George Lawrence. He looked handsome and debonair as usual, and
+informally begged of Mrs. Mulford permission to share our after-dinner
+coffee.
+
+"We're glad to have you," said Laura, in her affable way, "and, as we
+have finished luncheon, we will have our coffee in the library, where we
+can be more comfortable."
+
+Although Lawrence seemed perfectly at ease, and unconscious of any
+reason to fear Fleming Stone's investigations, I couldn't help feeling
+that his air of ease was assumed. It was not so much any signs of
+nervousness or sensitiveness about him, as it was the pronounced absence
+of these. It seemed to me that he was playing a part of straightforward
+fearlessness, but was slightly overdoing it.
+
+Fleming Stone talked to Lawrence casually, referring once to his perfect
+alibi. George remarked that though he had no fear of suspicion falling
+in his direction, it gave him a feeling of satisfaction to know that he
+could satisfactorily account for his whereabouts at the time the murder
+was committed.
+
+"And now," said Mr. Stone, after the coffee service had been removed, "I
+think I will make my examination of the apartment opposite. It is not
+probable that I will discover anything in the nature of a clue, but as a
+detective I certainly must examine the scene of the crime. I would
+prefer to go alone, if you will give a key. I will rejoin you here after
+my search."
+
+Janet gave Mr. Stone her key, and without further word he crossed the
+hall alone to what had been the Pembrokes' apartment.
+
+After Fleming Stone's departure a strange chill fell on the mental
+atmosphere of our little party. George Lawrence seemed to lose his
+careless air, and a grayish pallor settled on his face, notwithstanding
+his apparent effort to appear as usual. Janet watched her cousin
+closely, and she herself seemed on the verge of nervous collapse. Laura,
+like the blessed woman she is, strove bravely to keep up, but I saw that
+she too felt that the end was near. As for myself, remembering Fleming
+Stone's promise, I seemed to be possessed, to the exclusion of all else,
+of a great fear for Janet.
+
+It could not have been more than ten minutes, if as much as that, before
+Fleming Stone returned.
+
+As he entered our library he seemed to have lost his professional
+aspect, and I thought I had never seen a sadder or more sympathetic
+expression than I read in his eyes.
+
+"Mr. Lawrence," he said, without preamble, "it is my duty to arrest you
+for the murder of your uncle, Robert Pembroke."
+
+For a moment there was no sound, and then, with a pathetic,
+heart-breaking little cry, Janet said: "Oh, I hoped so that it wasn't
+_you_!"
+
+To my surprise, Lawrence tried to deny it. Guilt seemed to me to be
+written in every line of his face, yet, with a palpable effort, he
+assumed an air of bravado and said: "I told you I might be accused, but
+I can prove a perfect alibi."
+
+"Mr. Lawrence," said Fleming Stone, more sternly than he had yet spoken,
+"you have over-reached yourself. That very phrase, 'I can prove a
+perfect alibi,' gave me the first hint that your alibi was a
+manufactured one. An innocent man can rarely prove a perfect alibi. Not
+one man in a hundred can give accurate account to the minute of his
+goings and comings. Your alibi is _too perfect_; its very perfection is
+its flaw. Again, the idea of _proving an alibi_, or, rather, the idea of
+using that phrase, would not occur to an honest man. He would know that
+circumstances must prove his alibi. It was that which proved to me that
+Mr. Leroy and Mr. Gresham were innocent. I am informed that Mr. Leroy
+refused to tell exactly where he was at the time this crime was
+committed. Had he been guilty he would have had a previously prepared
+and perfectly plausible alibi. Then Mr. Gresham said frankly that he
+didn't know where he was at the particular hour about which Mr. Landon
+questioned him. Had he been the criminal, and left his handkerchief
+behind him by way of evidence, he, too, would have prearranged a story
+to tell glibly of his whereabouts. No, a perfect alibi should ordinarily
+lead to grave suspicion of the man making it, for it is ordinarily a
+concocted fiction. Again, it would have been a strange coincidence had
+your watch happened to run down, which you admit is a most unusual
+circumstance, at the only time in your whole life when you had a reason
+for its doing so. Your watch did _not_ run down; you pretended that it
+did so as to get an opportunity to fix the time--the _apparent_ time--in
+the mind of the hall boy at your apartment. This is what you did: You
+returned to your apartment much later than 11.25. In the absence of the
+boy, probably while he was up with the elevator, you stepped in and
+changed the time on the office clock. You went out again, and after a
+moment came in as if just reaching home. You then asked the boy the
+time, and he told you, although he had supposed it to be much later.
+Again you overdid your work when, while going up in the elevator, you
+asked the boy again, as if to make sure of the time, but really to fix
+it firmly in his mind, that he might witness for you. Some time later,
+during the night, you probably slipped down-stairs, eluding the
+elevator, and corrected the clock. All this is corroborated by the fact
+of your calling Miss Waring's attention to the time when you left her
+house. You carefully brought to her notice that it was then exactly
+eleven o'clock, which it was."
+
+George Lawrence sat as if petrified; for the moment I think he was
+really more amazed at Fleming Stone's marvellous discoveries than
+alarmed at his own danger. He did not attempt to deny what Stone had
+said; indeed, he could not, for under the peculiar magnetism of the
+speaker's gaze Lawrence seemed hypnotized, and his silence had tacitly
+affirmed each point as it was brought out against him.
+
+Suddenly he drew himself together with a bold shrug, as if preparing for
+a last desperate effort.
+
+"Your deductions are true in part," he said. "I did change the clock, as
+you so diabolically discovered, and I suppose I did overdo matters when
+I accounted for every minute too carefully. But, though it was a
+manufactured alibi, and though I had reasons of my own for wanting to
+account for my movements that night, it has nothing to do with Robert
+Pembroke's death, and couldn't have had; for, as you all know, though I
+have a latch-key, the door was chained all night."
+
+"Leaving that question, for a moment," said Fleming Stone, "let us
+consider these clues, which though apparently leading in various
+directions, point, Mr. Lawrence, directly and indubitably to yourself.
+When I was told by Mr. Landon of the several clues picked up in Mr.
+Pembroke's bedroom, the morning after his murder, I was impressed at
+once by their number and variety. It was extraordinary to find so many
+objects, unrecognized by any member of the household, in the murdered
+man's bedroom. Then, when I learned that some of these had been traced,
+and each so-called clue led to a different suspect, I saw at once that
+the situation was prearranged. The various clues were placed where they
+were found, exactly as a mine is 'salted' in expectation of prospectors.
+You, Mr. Lawrence, deliberately and with intent to throw suspicion in
+various directions, and thus baffle detectives,--you placed this key,
+this handkerchief, this time-table, and these torn tickets in the room
+where they were found. All this shows not only cleverness and ingenuity,
+but carefully prearranged plans. Where you obtained those precious
+'clues,' I do not know, but at a guess I should venture to say that you
+picked up the ticket stubs in the street, as they show evidences of
+pavement dirt. The time-table has a distinct imprint of the roughened
+surface of the steel stair-binding. I think that as you came up the
+stairs, intent upon your deadly errand, you chanced to find that
+time-table, and left it behind you as one more distracting piece of
+evidence. But these details are of no importance. You salted the mine
+successfully, and by the diversity of your clues you led the honest
+efforts of the detectives in devious paths. But, after all, the missing
+money and the pin, used as a weapon, are the real clues. We have traced
+the pin,--to you. We have traced the money,--to you. We have eliminated
+all possible suspicion of anyone else, and if you have anything to say
+by way of defense, or in any way concerning the matter, you may speak
+now."
+
+"I have only to say," said Lawrence, "that you have exhibited a
+marvelous ingenuity in building up this fabrication of falsehoods, but
+your whole structure falls to the ground in face of the positive
+evidence of the chain on the door. For though I have a latch key to the
+apartment, entrance is impossible when the chain bolt is on."
+
+"Oh," cried Janet, with a wail as of utter despair. "If your alibi is
+broken, George, then _I_ know how you got in that door!"
+
+It was my turn to feel despair. Since the alibi was broken, Janet was
+practically confessing her complicity in the matter.
+
+"What do you mean, Janet?" said George sharply. "I couldn't get in
+unless you had let me in, and you _didn't_."
+
+"No," said Janet quietly; "I didn't. Nor did Charlotte. But I know how
+you got in--at least, how you could have got in."
+
+"I, too, know how you got into the apartment," said Fleming Stone; "and
+it was without the assistance, and without the knowledge, of either
+Miss Pembroke or her servant."
+
+Again that wonderful gaze of Fleming Stone's sad, serious eyes seemed to
+compel Lawrence to speak against his will.
+
+"How did I get in?" he said hoarsely, bending forward as with the
+breathless suspense of a man taking his last chance.
+
+"It is not an easy matter to explain," said Fleming Stone, "nor can I
+show the method in this apartment; but if you will all come with me
+across the hall, I will demonstrate to you the possibility of entering a
+chained door."
+
+Without a word, we all crossed the hall and entered the Pembroke
+apartment. It was a cheerful, sunny suite of rooms, and its beautiful
+furniture and appointments seemed meant for a happy home life rather
+than grim tragedy. Fleming Stone went first, followed by Laura and
+George Lawrence. I followed with Janet, and, emboldened by her look of
+pathetic appeal, I clasped her hand in mine. When we were all inside
+Fleming Stone closed the door, the night-latch of which, of course,
+snapped itself.
+
+Lawrence still acted as one hypnotized. Seemingly with no volition of
+his own, he followed Fleming Stone's movements, keeping his eyes fixed
+upon the detective as if literally unable to look elsewhere.
+
+After closing the door, Fleming Stone put on the night-chain. For the
+first time I looked at the chain carefully. It was a heavy brass chain,
+long enough, when the door was closed, for the end, on which was a sort
+of knob or button, to reach back to the opening provided for it, and
+then slide along the brass slot until it stopped at the other end and
+hung in a loop. It seemed to me no different from dozens of chains I had
+seen of the same sort.
+
+When it hung finally in position, Fleming Stone turned the knob and
+opened the door with a jerk, precisely as Charlotte had done on that
+memorable morning.
+
+"Is it not true," asked Mr. Stone, "that this door, with the chain on
+thus, has often been violently jerked open?"
+
+"Yes," said Janet; "Charlotte is very strong, and always pulls the door
+open sharply, forgetting the chain is there. And, too, Uncle Robert has
+often done the same thing, and his motions were always so vigorous that
+I thought sometimes he would break the chain."
+
+"There was no danger of breaking the chain," said Mr. Stone; "but the
+repeated jerks at it have so forced the end of the slot nearest the edge
+of the door, that the brass is sprung outward, and the knob on the end
+of the chain may be removed--not as easily as it can be at the other
+end, it is true, but with some ingenious handling."
+
+As he spoke, Fleming Stone, by some clever exertion, so twisted the knob
+on the end of the chain that it came out of the near end of the slot,
+with no necessity of pushing it back to the other end. I saw at once
+that this could be done also from the outside of the door, there being
+ample room when the door was ajar to slip one's hand in and free the
+chain in this manner.
+
+At this demonstration of an actual fact, Fleming Stone did not look at
+George Lawrence, but at Miss Pembroke.
+
+"You knew of this?" he said.
+
+"I feared it," replied Janet, and I think she would not have spoken but
+for those impelling eyes upon her. "I remember George was out one
+evening when he was living here, and I thoughtlessly put the chain on
+the door and went to bed. The next morning, when I found that he had let
+himself in in some way, I wondered at it, but concluded that I must have
+been mistaken, and had _not_ put the chain on. But I had noticed myself
+that the slot was sprung at this end, and I had been thinking that I
+would get a new and heavier chain bolt."
+
+My first thought was that Janet's puzzling demeanor was now explained,
+and I understood why she had so readily accepted my services. She had
+suspected George from the first, because she knew that with his
+latch-key and the defective chain-lock he could make his entrance. But
+his perfect alibi had deceived her, and relieved her fear, so that she
+was glad or sad according as his alibi was sustained or doubted. Janet's
+evidence, of course, left no doubt as to George's guilt.
+
+He saw this himself, and, seemingly at the end of his resources, he
+exclaimed: "It's no use. I may as well confess. I did kill Uncle Robert,
+but it was not premeditated, or, at least, not until a few moments
+before the deed. I want to make my confession to my cousin. I owe it to
+no one else."
+
+But although Lawrence said this, he never once moved his eyes from
+Fleming Stone's face, and seemed really to make his confession to him.
+
+"It was a violet pin I used, not a hat-pin. I--I had it, by accident, in
+my coat lapel all Wednesday afternoon at the matinée. On account of
+disastrous losses in Wall Street that morning, I had determined to kill
+myself. I'm not of much account, any way, and I was desperate. I knew
+Uncle Robert would give me no money to repay my stock losses, for he
+always thought speculation no better than any other sort of
+gambling--and it isn't. As I sat in the theatre, unconsciously my
+fingers trifled with the pin, and I conceived a notion of using that to
+take my own life, instead of a revolver. I went home to dress for
+dinner, and, still having the pin in my mind, I transferred it from my
+frock coat to my evening coat. As I stood looking at it while in my
+room, it occurred to me that were it not for the head of the pin I might
+push it into my flesh so far as to hide it. It would then be assumed, I
+thought, that I had died a natural death, and both the family and my
+memory would be saved the stigma of suicide. Acting on this thought, I
+laid the pin on the hearthstone and crushed off its glass head with my
+heel. Without definite intention as to when or where I should carry out
+my plan, I put the pin in my coat and went on to Miss Waring's dinner.
+It was as I sat at the dinner table, and looked around at other men of
+my own age and class, that I suddenly realized I did not want to give up
+a life which held promise of many years of pleasure, could I but tide
+over my financial troubles. I knew, too, that at Uncle Robert's death I
+should inherit enough to make good my losses, and an ample fortune
+besides. It was then, I think, that the thought came to me, why should
+not Uncle Robert die instead of myself? He was old, he had no joy in
+life, he made my cousin's life a burden to her, and his death would free
+us both from his tyranny. I'm not saying this by way of excuse or
+palliation, but simply to tell you how it occurred. Like a flash I
+realized that if my own death by means of the headless pin might be
+attributed to natural causes, the same would be true of Uncle Robert's
+death. I knew I could get into the apartment in the same way I had done
+before, and I knew, too, that as the chain slot was even more pulled out
+of shape now than it was then, I could with some manipulation replace
+the chain before closing the door. I think I need not say that I had no
+thought of implicating my cousin, for I had no thought of the pin being
+discovered. The idea obsessed me. The deed seemed inevitable. My brain
+was especially active, and planned the details with almost superhuman
+ingenuity. I left Miss Waring's at eleven o'clock, calling her attention
+to the fact purposely. I walked over here rather slowly, planning as I
+walked. I resolved, as Mr. Stone has remarked, to leave a misleading
+clue or two behind me. I searched the pavement as I walked, for
+something that would answer my purpose, and was surprised to see how
+little may be gleaned along a New York street. I found the two ticket
+stubs, evidently thrown away by someone, and put them in my pocket. Near
+here, less than two blocks away, I saw a shining object on the sidewalk,
+and picked up a key, which I was more than surprised to have traced to
+Mr. Leroy. I suppose he dropped it when he was hanging around here,
+beneath my cousin's window, on his way to the midnight train. I then
+came on to this house, and, after loitering about a minute in the
+street, I saw the elevator begin to rise. The main front door is always
+open, and I came in and walked up-stairs. It is easy to evade the
+elevator, even if it passes. On the stairs I found the time-table. And
+then I came----"
+
+Lawrence stopped. Even his hardy bravado and indomitable will gave way
+before the picture that now came into his mind. His swaggering narrative
+ceased. His eyes fell, his mouth drooped, and he seemed on the verge of
+collapse.
+
+Fleming Stone's quiet, even voice broke the silence. "And the
+handkerchief?" he said.
+
+"It came in my laundry, by mistake," answered Lawrence, and he spoke
+like an automaton, his intelligence seeming to hang on the will of
+Fleming Stone.
+
+"You brought it with you on purpose?"
+
+"No; not that. When I left home my plans were entirely different, as I
+have told you. But I picked up the handkerchief hastily, and though
+noticing it was not my own, I thrust it into my pocket without thinking
+much about it."
+
+"And then when you wanted evidence to incriminate some one other than
+yourself, you thought of those unknown initials, and flung the
+handkerchief on the bed."
+
+"Yes," said Lawrence, still as if hypnotized by Stone's compelling
+glance.
+
+"And afterwards----?"
+
+"Afterwards--afterwards--I went out and got down-stairs the same way,
+having waited until the elevator was on the floor above. I felt like a
+man in a dream, but I knew that now I _must_ establish my alibi. This I
+did exactly as Mr. Stone has described. I took great chances in
+tampering with the office clock, but I knew the boy to be of a stupid,
+dull-witted type, and, too, he was always half asleep during night
+hours. Again I watched my chance to elude the elevator, and slipped
+down-stairs later to set the clock right again. I suppose I overdid it
+in asking the boy the time twice, and also in drawing attention to the
+clock when it struck eleven."
+
+"That is so," said Fleming Stone. "A perfect alibi is not possible
+unless it is a true one, and then it proves itself without any effort of
+anybody."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+But all this happened many years ago. It is indeed a painful memory, but
+time has blended away its poignancy. George Lawrence was arrested, but
+found the means to take his own life before his trial could be begun.
+Janet being left with a large fortune, went abroad at once and Laura
+accompanied her. The two became close friends, and when, some months
+later, I joined them in Italy, the course of true love began to run
+smoothly, and has continued to do so ever since.
+
+Nor has it been difficult to understand Janet. For all queerness and
+contradictoriness disappeared after the mystery was solved. It was all
+because she suspected her cousin that she had endeavored to suppress any
+evidence that might throw suspicion toward him. He had asked her to get
+money for him from Robert Pembroke. She had asked her uncle for this,
+and he had told her that if she'd marry Leroy, he would give her not
+only the money she asked for, but much more. Knowing, as she did, of the
+defective bolt, she knew there was grave reason to suspect George both
+of murder and robbery. But once convinced of his alibi, she hoped the
+guilt might be placed elsewhere.
+
+Also, of course, the life she led with her erratic and ill-tempered
+uncle affected her spirits, and made her lose temporarily the joyful and
+happy disposition that was really her own, and that was permanently
+restored after new scenes and new friends had caused her to forget the
+dreadful past.
+
+Janet has been my wife for many years now, and, though we live in New
+York, our home is far removed from the Hammersleigh; and though our door
+is securely locked, we have never had it guarded by what was to Fleming
+Stone A CHAIN OF EVIDENCE.
+
+
+
+
+_By ELIZABETH DEJEANS_
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Winning Chance
+
+  _Frontispiece in color by Gayle P. Hoskins._
+  _12mo. Ornamental cloth, $1.50._
+
+We have no hesitancy in pronouncing this powerful story one of the most
+impressive studies of our highly nervous American life that has been
+published in a long while. It is written with enormous vitality and
+emotional energy. The grip it takes on one intensifies as the story
+proceeds.
+
+
+The Heart of Desire
+
+  _Illustrations in colors by The Kinneys._
+  _12mo. Ornamental cloth, $1.50._
+
+A remarkable novel, full of vital force, which gives us a glimpse into
+the innermost sanctuary of a woman's soul--a revelation of the truth
+that to a woman there may be a greater thing than the love of a man--the
+story pictured against a wonderful Southern California background.
+
+
+The Far Triumph
+
+  _Illustrated in color by Martin Justice._
+  _12mo. Ornamental cloth, $1.25 net._
+
+Here is a romance, strong and appealing, one which will please all
+classes of readers. From the opening of the story until the last word of
+the last chapter Mrs. Dejeans' great novel of modern American life will
+hold the reader's unflagging interest. Living, breathing people move
+before us, and the author touches on some phases of society of momentous
+interest to women--and to men.
+
+
+
+
+_MYSTERY AND ACTION A'PLENTY_
+
+
+IN HER OWN RIGHT
+
+By JOHN REED SCOTT
+
+_Author of "The Impostor," "The Colonel of the Red Huzzars,"_
+_"The Woman in Question," "The Princess Dehra," etc._
+
+  Three colored illustrations
+  By CLARENCE F. UNDERWOOD
+  12mo. Decorated Cloth, $1.25 net.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In this new novel Mr. Scott returns to modern times, where he is as much
+at home as when writing of imaginary kingdoms or the days of powder and
+patches. Mr. Scott's last novel, "The Impostor," had Annapolis in 1776
+as its _locale_, but he shows his versatility by centering the important
+events of this romance in and around Annapolis of today.
+
+There are mystery and action a-plenty, and a charming love interest adds
+greatly to an already brilliant and exciting narrative.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+_CRITICAL OPINIONS_
+
+     "A brisk and cleanly tale."--_Smart Set._
+
+      "A sparkling, appealing novel of today."--_Portland Oregonian._
+
+      "Enjoys the exceptional merit of being a stirring treasure tale
+      kept within the bounds of likelihood."--_San Francisco Chronicle._
+
+      "A charming and captivating romance filled with action from the
+      opening to the close, so fascinating is the story
+      wrought."--_Pittsburg Post._
+
+      "Just such a dashing tale of love and adventure as habitual
+      fiction readers have learned to expect from Mr. Scott. A well told
+      tale with relieving touches of dry humor and a climax unusual and
+      strong."--_Chicago Record Herald._
+
+
+
+
+_By AMÉLIE RIVES._
+(PRINCESS TROUBETSKOY)
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The Quick or the Dead
+A STUDY!
+
+  12mo. Cloth. $1.00
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Barbara Dering
+A SEQUEL.
+
+  12mo. Cloth. $1.25
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The extraordinary sensation caused, at the time of publication, of these
+two books (they are one story) marked a new thing in literature. "The
+younger Set" who did not then read them will be surprised at their
+freshness and power of interest, and those who did and are now wise
+enough to renew their acquaintance may be surprised at the change in
+their own personal point of view in the comparatively few years since
+these books were written.
+
+
+
+
+_Romances by DAVID POTTER_
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+The Lady of the Spur
+
+The scenes of this delightful romance are set in the southwestern part
+of New Jersey, during the years 1820-30. An unusual situation develops
+when Tom Bell, a quondam gentleman highwayman, returns to take up the
+offices of the long-lost heir, Henry Morvan. Troubles thicken about him
+and along with them the romance develops. Through it all rides "The Lady
+of the Spur" with a briskness, charm, and mystery about her that give an
+unusual zest to the book from its very first page.
+
+  Third edition. Colored frontispiece by Clarence F. Underwood.
+  12mo. Cloth, $1.50.
+
+
+I Fasten a Bracelet
+
+Why should a young well-bred girl be under a vow of obedience to a man
+after she had broken her engagement to him? This is the mysterious
+situation that is presented in this big breezy out-of-doors romance.
+When Craig Schuyler, after several years' absence, returns home, and
+without any apparent reason fastens on Nell Sutphen an iron bracelet. A
+sequence of thrilling events is started which grip the imagination
+powerfully, and seems to "get under the skin." There is a vein of humor
+throughout, which relieves the story of grimness.
+
+  Frontispiece in color by Martin Justice.
+  12mo. Decorated cloth, $1.25 net.
+
+
+An Accidental Honeymoon
+
+A sparkling and breezy romance of modern times, the scenes laid in
+Maryland. The plot is refreshingly novel and delightfully handled. The
+heroine is one of the "fetchingest" little persons in the realms of
+fiction. The other characters are also excellently drawn, each standing
+out clear and distinct, even the minor ones. The dialogue of the story
+is remarkably good, and through it all runs a vein of delightful humor.
+
+  Eight illustrations in color by George W. Gage.
+  Marginal decorations on each page.
+  12mo. Ornamental cloth, $1.35 net.
+
+
+
+
+_By WILL LEVINGTON COMFORT_
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+She Buildeth Her House
+
+  "The Strongest American Novel"
+  _Chicago Journal._
+
+Seldom has the author of a first great novel so brilliantly transcended
+his initial success. A man and a woman inspiringly fitted for each other
+sweep into the zone of mutual attraction at the opening of the story.
+Destiny demands that each overcomes certain formidable destructible
+forces before either is tempered and refined for the glorious Union of
+Two to form One.
+
+  With colored frontispiece, by Martin Justice.
+  Decorated cloth, net $1.25
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+Routledge Rides Alone
+
+     "A gripping story. The terrible intensity of the writer holds one
+     chained to the book."--_Chicago Tribune._
+
+Mr. Comfort has drawn upon two practically new story places in the world
+of fiction to furnish the scenes for his narrative--India and Manchuria
+at the time of the Russo-Japanese War. While the novel is distinguished
+by its clear and vigorous war scenes, the fine and sweet romance of the
+love of the hero, Routledge--a brave, strange, and talented
+American--for the "most beautiful woman in London" rivals these in
+interest.
+
+  With colored frontispiece by Martin Justice.
+  12mo. Cloth, with inlay in color $1.50.
+
+
+
+
+PHRYNETTE
+
+BY
+MARTHE TROLY-CURTIN
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+  _With a frontispiece by FRANK DESCH_
+  _12mo. Decorated cloth, $1.25 net_
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Phrynette is seventeen, extremely clever and naive, and attractive in
+every way. The death of her French father in Paris leaves her an orphan,
+and she goes to London to live with an aunt of Scotch descent. Her
+impressions of the people, the happenings and the places she becomes
+familiar with, peculiarities of customs and every little thing of
+interest are all touched upon in a charming and original manner, while
+in places there is irresistible humor. Throughout there is a good solid
+love story, and the ending is all that is to be desired.
+
+     "A very charming novel."--_San Francisco Argonaut._
+
+      "Original, clever and extremely well-written."--_Pittsburg
+      Dispatch._
+
+      "Refreshingly original and full of wholesome mirth. To say that
+      the book is delightful reading is understating the
+      fact."--_Philadelphia Public Ledger._
+
+
+
+
+_A NOVEL OF THE REAL WEST_
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+"ME--SMITH"
+
+By CAROLINE LOCKHART
+
+  With five illustrations by Gayle Hoskins
+  12mo. Cloth, $1.20 net.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Miss Lockhart is a true daughter of the West, her father being a large
+ranch-owner and she has had much experience in the saddle and among the
+people who figure in her novel. ¶ "Smith" is one type of Western "Bad
+Man," an unusually powerful and appealing character who grips and holds
+the reader through all his deeds, whether good or bad. ¶ It is a story
+with red blood in it. There is the cry of the coyote, the deadly thirst
+for revenge as it exists in the wronged Indian toward the white man, the
+thrill of the gaming table, and the gentlenesss of pure, true love. To
+the very end the tense dramatism of the tale is maintained without
+relaxation.
+
+     "Gripping, vigorous story."--_Chicago Record-Herald._
+
+      "This is a real novel, a big novel."--_Indianapolis News._
+
+      "Not since the publication of 'The Virginian' has so powerful a
+      cowboy story been told."--_Philadelphia Public Ledger._
+
+      "A remarkable book in its strength of portrayal and its directness
+      of development. It cannot be read without being remembered."--_The
+      World To-Day._
+
+
+
+
+_By CAROLYN WELLS_
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+THE GOLD BAG
+
+"The Gold Bag" is so unlike the usual products of Miss Wells' pen that
+one wonders if she possesses a dual personality or is it merely
+extraordinary versatility, for she can certainly write detective stories
+just as well as she can write nonsense verse. The story is told in the
+first person by a modest young sleuth who is sent to a suburban place to
+ferret out the mystery which shrouds the murder of a prominent man.
+Circumstantial evidence in the shape of a gold mesh bag points to a
+woman as the criminal, and the only possible one is the dead man's niece
+with whom the detective promptly falls in love, though she is already
+engaged to her uncle's secretary, an alliance which the dead man
+insisted must be discontinued, otherwise he would disinherit the girl.
+The story is well told and the interest is cleverly aroused and
+sustained.
+
+  Second edition. With a colored frontispiece, 12mo.
+  Decorated cloth, $1.20 net.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+
+THE CLUE
+
+This is a detective story, and no better or more absorbing one has
+appeared in a long time. The book opens with the violent death of a
+young heiress--apparently a suicide. But a shrewd young physician waxes
+suspicious, and finally convinces the wooden-headed coroner that the
+girl has been murdered. The finger of suspicion points at various people
+in turn, but each of them proves his innocence. Finally Fleming Stone,
+the detective who figured in a previous detective story by this author,
+is called in to match his wits against those of a particularly astute
+villain. Needless to say that in the end right triumphs.
+
+  With a colored frontispiece, 12mo.
+  Decorated cloth, $1.50.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY
+PUBLISHERS PHILADELPHIA
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of A Chain of Evidence, by Carolyn Wells
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43351 ***