The Argosy — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

200 THE ARGOSY. '“ How large a person was she, Jones?”’ Whether something in the form of the woman at the morgue reminded Jones of it, or whether he saw a good chance to take a sly dig at his supe- rior, or whether it was one of those mysterious accidents which seem like the workings of an inscrutable Providence, will never be known, but the effect of Jones’ reply upon the doctor astonished me, accustomed as I am-to thrill- ing surprises. ‘ Oh,’’ was his careless retort, ‘‘ she was just such another in shape and _ form as that veiled lady who called on you one day last week.’’ The doctor turned pale, affected a sickly smile, and leaned back in his chair. ‘“ You are not feeling well today, doctor,’’ I remarked. ‘‘ You are work- ing too hard, I guess.’’ Even then I had no thought of connecting him with the murder, my highest ambition being simply to recall the woman to his recollection. ~ Yes, I need rest,’’ he said in thick tones. ‘‘ My head bothers me.”’ As he spoke, he rubbed his left hand across his forehead. I started in amazement, and every pulse thrilled with the intensity of the discovery I made. The middle finger of his left hand was a stub ! CHAPTER III.—TIGHTENING THE COoRDs. I WALKED back and talked with the chief. He was dumbfounded. Still we had nothing tangible to work on after all. I mentioned all the circum- stances of my visit to Dr. Throck: his apparent unwillingness to assist in the investigation ; his nervousness during the discussion ; his refusal to view the body ; the janitor’s statement that she had, on the Wednesday following her arrival, inquired the way to the Samaritan ; the statement of the janitor’s wife that she had mailed a letter addressed, ‘‘ Heury T ” - the fact that a veiled lady had called upon Dr. Throck, and the evident confusion, not to say positive shock, which the very mention of that visit by Jones occasioned ; last, but not least, the absence of the first two joints of the middle finger of the doctor’s left hand. ‘* Nothing to warrant an arrest in all that, Bright,’’ remarked the chief. ‘‘ It is sensationally circumstantial and undoubtedly points the right way, but you must have better information upon which to base a charge of murder.’’ | By quiet inquiry we learned that Dr. Throck had been in the city only about six months. He was young, handsome, and in addition to being a good physician, was possessed of a magnificent tenor voice, and had there- fore succeeded, not only in attaining an enviable private practice besides his hospital duties, but had also becomie a social favorite among the better class. There was no secret about his antecedents. His last place of residence was a small city in Massachusetts where he had charge of the local hospital. I forwarded a picture of the woman and a description of the case to the chief of police at that point, requesting all obtainable information. Eomichook (Eo)