Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 24: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

306 of tapestry he could not fathom, nor what its significance might be, but he felt cer- tain that the rest of the deck would not be - brought to light within those four walls. His supposition proved to be a correct one, for he found no playing-cards nor games of any description save a set of rare old ivory chessmen which he unearthed from a lower drawer of one of the bookcases. He took a final survey of the room and opened the door to return to the inspector, when just as he did so he beheld a dark, clerical- appearing form noiselessly pass across the hall from the other side of the staircase. It halted before the door of the break- fast-room for an appreciable minute, as though listening intently, then opened it, and McCarty heard a deferential voice ut- ter the conventional: “‘ I beg pardon, sir!” There was a murmur of indistinguishable words, and the man passed within, closing the door behind him. In his turn, Mc- Carty advanced to it and listened, and so it came that he heard the inspector’s ques« tions and learned the identity of the in- truder. At the valet’s refusal to state his whereabouts during the night, McCarty ’ quietly entered. “Possibly not.” The inspector’s curt tones held a hint of menace. ‘“ Your pref- erence, however, will not be consulted, and I warn you that you had better be candid with us now.” “ Perhaps,” Mr. Alexander’s thin, ner- vous tones broke in, ‘it would be best to wait until Mrs. Creveling arrives.” To McCarty’s keen gaze it seemed that a glance of warning shot from the eyes of Creveling’s late partner to the valet, but the latter’s demeanor did not change even as Inspector Druet turned wrathfully upon the author of the suggestion. - “T am conducting this inquiry, sir!” he thundered. Then to the man before him — he added: ‘‘ Your employer has been found dead, shot through the heart. Do you still persist in your refusal—?”’ “ Mr. Creveling dead!” The valet start- ed back a step or two. ‘“‘ I—I overheard Mr. Alexander say something about ‘ mur- der,’ as I stopped at the door just now, but I didn’t think—! This ts horrible! —who shot him?” Digitized by (Go ogle” ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. He passed one hand across his lips as though to hide some uncontrollable evi-- dence of emotion, but his eyes were fixed watchfully, unchangingly upon his interro- gator. ‘That is what we are endeavoring to.as- certain,” retorted the inspector. ‘‘ Did you know of your employer’s intention to come here to his house last night?” “Yes, sir.”” The valet had hesitated for a shade of a second. “I was here earlier in the evening; it was I who received the caterer’s men and arranged the table for supper.” McCarty smiled to himself. The man Hill was on the defensive, and his very caution was proving his own undoing. ‘Who was Mr. Creveling’s guest?” The curt question seemed to vibrate on the air like the echo of a single sharp note struck upon a gong, and the face of George Alexander tensed visibly as he waited for its reply, but the valet merely shrugged. ‘““T do not know, sir.” “You did not remain, then, to wait upon the table?” _* No, sir. As I have said, I went to Mr. Creveling at his club.” | “You did not return here?” “Not . until ten minutes ago.” valet’s voice rang out firmly. “When you saw Mr. Creveling at his club did he mention who was to be his guest here? Did he at any time say any- thing which would lead you to infer the identity of this person?” _“ He did not, sir.” Hill’s tone was still firm, but for a moment his eyes shifted and then returned as inscrutable as ever to those of the inspector. The ‘Where have you been staying since | Mr. Creveling has made his home at his club?” “Here, sir.” It was evident that the valet intended to render no assistance to the inquiry beyond the terse and liter4l re- plies demanded of him, but Inspector Druet persisted. ‘You were acting as caretaker also?”’ “No, sir. Two of the other servants— Rollins and his wife, the butler and cook— Who - remained here for that; the rest of the staff except Mrs. Creveling maid were dismissed — Original frome oramtt (ClOOO KS te i. CW 7m