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Page 121
At this moment Doctor Nagoya, whom I could barely recognize in
the inverted photography, seized one of the rattlers. It was a
close-up and we could see the reptile dart out its forked tongue,
seeking to get at the hands of the Japanese, locked firmly about
its neck. Then another man walked into the picture, holding a
jar. At once the snake struck at the glass. As it did so it was
possible to see drops of the venom projected into the jar.
Other details followed and there were views of other sorts and
breeds of snakes, from the poisonous to the most harmless. The
principal scene, however, had been the one showing the venom.
"Lights up!"
The operator threw the switch again, stopping the film and at the
same time lighting the projection room. Kennedy stepped forward
and turned to face us.
"There was this negative in the vaults." He spoke rapidly. "It
bore a certain name on the film, as editor. Some one knew that
proof of the possession of this knowledge of snakes might prove a
powerful link in the chain against him. If that had been a
positive instead of a negative, you would have recognized Doctor
Nagoya's 'assistant.' There was a double motive in blowing that
vault--to destroy the company and to protect himself. In fact,
all the rest of the negative was destroyed. Only by chance I
saved this piece--the very one that he wanted to destroy."
Everyone waited breathlessly for Kennedy's next move. Suddenly
Kennedy flushed. I could see that he became genuinely angry.
"In this room," he exclaimed, "there sits the most unscrupulous,
cold-blooded, inhuman being I have ever known. Yet he maintains
silence, believing still that he can defy the scientific evidence
of his crimes. I have not yet mentioned, however, the real proof
of his guilt."
Kennedy picked up one of the little envelopes, one which
contained a blood smear. "During the explosion this morning a
number of you were cut by falling glass. You will remember that I
bound up your cuts, carefully cleansing each one and wiping away
the blood. That gave me a sample of the blood of everyone but
Miss Loring and Mr. Shirley. Subsequently, without their
knowledge, I obtained a sample from each of them. Thus I have a
specimen from everyone concerned, or possibly concerned in the
murders."
He glanced about, but even now there was no telltale revelation.
"I have analyzed these and one shows that the person from whom I
obtained the sample has been inoculated with antivenin. The mark
on the envelope is the same as the mark on the envelope
containing the towel fibers, a double proof. Furthermore, I am
prepared to show that it is the same blood as the blood upon the
portiere." He faced me. All at once his voice carried the
sharpness of a whip. "Walter, relieve Mackay at the door and take
his weapon. Let no one out. Mackay, come here!"
An instant later the district attorney leaned over. He glanced at
the mark indicated by Kennedy, then whispered a name. The next
instant Kennedy rose. "I thought so," he muttered.
Raising his voice, he addressed all of us.
"Here is a man who thought crime so long that he believed he
could get away with--murder! Not only did he commit a second
murder and plan a third to cover the first, but he planted
evidence against nearly all of you. He dropped the ampulla in
McGroarty's car to implicate any one of four people. He coolly
stole a cigarette case to put it where it would be found after
the film fire and clinch suspicion.
"For all this, what justification has he had? Jealousy, jealousy
of the narrowest, most primitive, sort actuated him. Not only was
he willing to kill Stella Lamar, but he sought to destroy every
foot of negative in which she had appeared. He was jealous of her
success, greater than his, jealous of her interest in other men,
greater than her interest in him. Her divorce was maneuvered
directly by him simply because he thought it would hurt and
humiliate her, and for no other reason.
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