Argosy, Vol. 147, No. 1 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

* : Picket d Mr. Dunn, to follow at once, and also no- tify our family lawyer, Mr. Newbury. I— I felt that my daughter and I, alone out here with our guest, would need the support and assistance of my brother’s friends and associates in this terrible hour.” “You acted wisely, Mrs. Cayley.” Dr. Hood readjusted his spectacles, with which he had been meditatively tapping the table, and rose. “J need not caution you,’ he continued, “ that the news of this affair will travel wide and fast, and you will have a crowd of city reporters out here in no time. It would be better not to have any of your household make a statement, at least until the de- tective from the county seat comes to take charge of the case. My own investigation as medical examiner will be separate, of course, but I’ll try to keep you from being bothered any more than I can help.” “‘T am sure you will, doctor.” Mrs. Cay- ley rose also, and once more her handker- chief went to her eyes. “ The loss of my brother would have been grief enough to endure, but. to have the end come in such a sudden, hideous fashion—to know that the one who is responsible for it is at large, and that we must all be subjected to this horrible notoriety and disgrace, is almost more than I can face! I must try to be brave, though, for my little daughter’s sake.’ “That is right,” the doctor agreed soothingly. “ By the way, I should like to see your daughter now for a minute, if I may?” “But she can tell you nothing!” Mrs. Cayley’s hands tightened suddenly until the wisp of lace and linen between her fingers was ripped asunder. “ Mildred is just a child, and she is hysterical over this tragedy which has come upon us. It would be a waste of valuable time, I assure you, doctor, ‘and needless torture for her at present in her unnerved condition.” “I’m sorry, ma’am, but you'll have to realize that every one in this house—every ; one who was here last night or in any way connected. with: Mr. Benkard—will have to be question it D Tae tones, but before Mrs. Cayley = — = Se ‘ __ The note of a sounded once more ~ - bd poPhe Festee Pe ee ee ee § he a ee a te all a 55 ae Pies oe RETR : Fr - a * : zs . a oe, > ,cT > — ° rr? * S x . "4 a % 2 * — " id Sm Paes ) SSPICION. % lS * ir *, Fb ee bd oie « . a — i > 5 could expostulate farther es swift-driven car sounded from t and she hurried’ out into the pi the great front entrance dose, 4 flung wide. “Oh, it is Mr. Lane! I hhareily hope for your coming so soon, but Fe can: not tell you what it means to me to hieve§ " | here—and to Mildred, too.” aa Stoneham Lane leaped from his car, a tearing off his goggled cap he flung it as ide le, and held out both hands to her. He ise a man in the early forties, undeniably good- looking and faultlessly groomed, iho his face was pallid now and his eyes a gard. ; “ Dear lady, I found it hard to believe seam F indeed, I can scarcely realize yet that your 2 terrible message is true!”’ he exclaimed. have a summons for speeding in my pocket . and I very nearly ditched the car besides, — oe but I came as quickly as I could! Tell me, in Heaven’s name, that there has been some 2 % frightful mistake —that Joe has merely been — injured in some way—”’ ‘““He has been dead since—since almageal | midnight!” Mrs. Cayley gave him her — < a hands and then added quickly: “ This is © E Dr. Hood, the medical examiner. He will — § tell you what details we know, and he wants to talk to you, I believe. I will see you later, but now I—I am too much over-— 4 come—” BY . The doctor gravely acknowledged the i troduction. Neither of the trio observe the man in overalls who had followed ‘oat the patio, where he had been unobtrasivelams hanging about the library door, and who — now disappeared around the corner of the house in the direction of the terrace shak- ing his head perplexedly. | 3 He had just seated himself on the heap a of plaster-stained boards when a youthful figure in a pedestrian suit, with his da: oe curly head bare and his boyish face pale be- neath its healthy coat of tan, bounded up” . the stone steps from the beach. “ Hello, Geoff! It isn’t true, what they re saying around the Cove, that Mr. Benl ae e is dead! That he was murdered in pe night!” —. “ Reckon that’s about the size ori - M Ashe,” Geoff responded, pr t du cing corals books. com 4: Pag 5 3 es ft , rd ery