The Argosy — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

THREE THEORIES OF A CRIME. 199 immediately charged him again in my mind with an entire lack of natural interest in the case. ‘‘ Let Jones go,’’ he said finally ; ‘‘ he sees every applicant, and it may be that he can help you.’’ He spoke the last sentence as if it hurt him. I took Jones along at once. On the way, I mentioned the apparent reluctance with which Dr. Throck entered into the matter. ‘“T am surprised, too,’’ agreed Jones, ‘‘ for he is usually deeply interested in all such matters, and gladly offers every assistance in his power. He is not feeling well today, though, as he was, hastily summoned out of the city night before last, and came back this morning looking like a ghost.”’ ‘“Where did he go?’’ I asked mechanically, for I really did not care about the information. «“ He never said a word about that,’’ was the reply. ‘‘If I did not know him so wellI should certainly think he had been on a spree, for he was dread- fully upset and querulous all morning ;’’ and Jones laughed as he mentioned some of the strange actions of his superior. I was very busy with my own thoughts, and paid but little attention to his garrulity, until he mentioned a previous occasion upon which Dr. Throck was considerably upset. It was whena lady had called upon him about a week before. ‘‘Did you see her?’’ I asked alertly. ‘‘ I did not see her face,’’ he answered. ‘‘ She was heavily veiled. They had quite an interview, and when she left the doctor looked as if he could not recall his own name.”’ ‘‘ What day was that?’’ I asked, endeavoring not to betray too much interest. ‘“ That was—yes, that was the day I cut my hand, for I was doing it up when she passed me going into the doctor’s private office. That was a week ago Wednesday.”’ We detectives school ourselves to hide our thoughts and control our features, but I had all I could do to disguise the new light that I discerned in the dark clouds of mystery hanging about the case of Bella Seaford. Fearful lest Jones should detect my interest in this last piece of informa- tion, I changed the subject to other matters. ‘There is the body,’’ I said, as I had the slab upon which it reposed pulled out of the cooler, and removed the sheet. Jones looked over it carefully, and I could -see that I was doomed to disap- pointment so far as he was concerned. ‘“ Never saw her before ?’’ I inquired. ‘“ Never !”’ he replied. I pushed the slab back to its place and returned to the hospital. ‘“ Any success?’’ queried the doctor. ‘“ None whatever,’’ I answered. Jones waxed loquacious, and started in to give a complete description of the woman. It seemed to me that it was with the intention of heading off his volubility, or, it may be, of pre- tending an interest in the case which I could see he did not feel, that Dr. Throck asked : Eomichbooks (S@)