The Argosy — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

198 THE ARGOSY. ‘‘Very well,’’ I answered, considerably mollified. ‘‘ But if you will pardon me for saying so, we frequently find that two heads are better than one, so if there is no objection, I should prefer to have Jones remain.’’ I took the book in my own hands. ‘Now, doctor,’’ I began, ‘‘ here is Julia Mason, registered on the first of October. What was she like? ’”’ The doctor read from the book over my shoulder. | ‘‘ Thirty years of age. Brunette. Experienced in’’—etc., etc. ‘© Does that coincide with your recollection of her?’’ I asked of Jones. ‘* Perfectly,’’ he replied. ‘“ Here is Martha Preston, on the 28th of September,’’ I continued. As in the previous case, the doctor read her description from the book, as it had been registered by Jones, and Jones himself vouched for its accuracy. I made a mental calculation as to the possible time of Miss Seaford’s application, if made, and found that, as the third from the last application was registered under the date of September r5th, it could not possibly have been she. But I was not yet willing to give up. ‘‘ Jones,’’ I said, addressing myself to the clerk, ‘‘ Bella Seaford, who was found murdered last night, inquired of the janitor of the Baxter Build- ing, a week ago last Wednesday, the way to this hospital, stating that she was a trained nurse. Now does it ever happen that women apply here and neglect to register ?’’ Dr. Throck had seated himself as I began to direct my question to Jones. ‘*T do not recall any such case very recently, sir. Certainly not in the past month.’’ I had one more card to play, for I sea not wish to leave a stone unturned. I drew the morning paper from my pocket, containing a very poor picture of the murdered girl. ‘‘T want you to study that, Jones,’ I pat ‘and say if you have any remembrance of any person answering anywhere near that likeness,’’ Before he could reply or take the paper into his own hands, Dr. ‘Throck grasped it with more interest than he had yet displayed. ‘* No,’’ he declared, and I noticed that the paper trembled ene in his hand as he spoke, ‘‘ no such person ever applied here.’’ I glanced toward Jones. ‘“T saw the picture in the papers this morning, sir, and I am certain I never saw the face before,’’ he said. The doctor folded up the paper and handed it to me, as I thought, with a slight sigh of relief or fatigue ; I could not tell which. I was at my wits’ end by this time. ‘* Will you walk over to the morgue with me, doctor, and see the body ?”’ I asked, as a last resort.. ‘‘ This picture is not at all like her, and it may be possible you could place her better in your mind.’’ He had been steadily growing more nervous during the conversation, which I attributed to the possible fact that he was overworked or had other matters waiting for his attention. When I made the request that he walk over to the morgue and view the body, he pleaded so many excuses that I Ecomichook (Eo)