Argosy All-Story Weekly — 'The Metal Monster' — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

106 She made a slight gesture as if about to rise and terminate the interview, but Mc- Carty stayed her. “It’s more than that, ma’am. I was with the inspector when he talked with Mrs. Creveling, and, as I said, she won't have it that he killed himself, not even by accident. If a motive can’t be proved for suicide it’s apt to make a lot of trouble for the department and bring notoriety on all their friends.” “You don’t mean that Mrs. Creveling fancies some one actually killed her hus- band!” cried Mrs. O’Rourke in shocked amazement. ‘“ She must be hysterical, the blow has come so suddenly—” McCarty shook his head. “T’ve seen many a hysterical woman when I was connected with the force, ma’am, and she was far from it. I’d say Mrs. Creveling was the most level-headecl one in the whole business, and she took the news without the flicker of an eyelash. From the minute she heard he had been shot she set her mind on finding his pos- sible murderer, and she was so determined about it that she’s called in the biggest man in his line in the country, the crim- inalist, Wade Terhune.”’ “Terhune! I’ve heard of him, of course,” Mrs. O’Rourke observed. After a pause she added: ‘‘ No one can blame her for wanting to be sure, to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that her husband was responsible for his own death when it oc- curred in such a dreadful, mysterious way; but if the medical examiner, as you say, has proved that it was a case of suicide, she is only harrowing herself needlessly. Why should she think that any one would want to take Mr. Creveling’s lifer”’ “For the same reason that you say the idea of his killing himself is almost incred- ible, as far as I can make out, ma’am; that he had no cause,” McCarty responded. ““ My experience before I retired, though, taught me that there’s many a trouble in a man’s life that no one knows anything about, However, since this is a case of suicide, the sooner the inspector estab- lishes a motive for it the quicker the. thought of its being anything else will die out of Mrs. Creveling’s mind, and the more ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. ready she'll be to drop an investigation that’s bound to bring annoyance to a lot of innocent people. Your name and Mr. O’Rourke’s being mentioned as among their best friends, the inspector sent me to ask you in gonfidence if Mr. Creveling had seemed to be troubled about anything late- ly, and if he’d maybe dropped a hint as to what might have been on his mind.” “No, I couldn’t say that Mr. Creveling betrayed any sign that would lead one to think he was worried, much less that he contemplated suicide,” Mrs. O’Rourke said slowly. “If anything, he has seemed to be in more than his usual spirits, but I have seen little of him during the latter part of the season. Mrs. Creveling has been away, you know. My husband ran into him frequently about town, I believe: _he would be better able to answer your question. Oh, here he is now!” | The front door closed with a mufiled jar and strong but springy footsteps crossed the hall. The next instant the curtains at the entrance to the drawing-room were thrust aside and a tall young man stood looking in upon them. McCarty caught his breath. If the chubby little Lady Peggy had changed al- most beyond recognition, John Cavanaugh O’Rourke had not. The same clean-cut, freckled, sensitive face, the same thatch of brick-red hair still irrepressibly curly, the same clear gray eyes with the boyish twinkle barely subdued in them! Mc- Carty could with difficulty restrain the ex- clamation which leaped to his lips. CHAPTER: XIV. FROM THE LONG AGO. “f OME in, John.” Mrs. O’Rourke rose from her chair. ‘“ This man has been sent here by some official of the police department to make inquiries about Eugene, to learn if we know of any reason why he killed himself. I told him that you would be able to answer his ques- tions better than I—”’ ‘“There’s no answer!” Mr. O’Rourke came forward frankly. ‘‘ There doesn’t seem to be a reason in the world why ‘the econrniclacclks co mn \