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diff --git a/43351.txt b/43351.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6a18387..0000000 --- a/43351.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,8747 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Chain of Evidence, by Carolyn Wells - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: A Chain of Evidence - -Author: Carolyn Wells - -Illustrator: Gayle Hoskins - -Release Date: July 29, 2013 [EBook #43351] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CHAIN OF EVIDENCE *** - - - - -Produced by Annie R. McGuire. This book was produced from -scanned images of public domain material from the Google -Print archive. - - - - - - - - - -[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 matinee 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 matinee, 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 matinee. 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 matinee 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 matinee. 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 matinee," 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 matinee 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 matinee. 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 AMELIE 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. [pilcrow] "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. [pilcrow] 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 THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A CHAIN OF EVIDENCE *** - -***** This file should be named 43351.txt or 43351.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/4/3/3/5/43351/ - -Produced by Annie R. McGuire. 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