|
Main
- books.jibble.org
My Books
- IRC Hacks
Misc. Articles
- Meaning of Jibble
- M4 Su Doku
- Computer Scrapbooking
- Setting up Java
- Bootable Java
- Cookies in Java
- Dynamic Graphs
- Social Shakespeare
External Links
- Paul Mutton
- Jibble Photo Gallery
- Jibble Forums
- Google Landmarks
- Jibble Shop
- Free Books
- Intershot Ltd
|
books.jibble.org
Previous Page
| Next Page
Page 40
"Yes--that is, I thought it was. That's what I want to tell you.
After you left with Manton and Werner the rest of the company
packed up and pulled out in the two studio cars. I was a little
in doubt what to do about Phelps, but he settled it himself by
announcing that he was going to town. The coroner came and issued
the permit to remove the body and that was taken away. I think
the house and the presence of the dead girl and all the rest of
it got on Phelps's nerves, because he was irritable and
impatient, unwilling to wait for his own car, until finally I
drove him to the station myself."
"Was anyone, any of those on our list of possible suspects at
least, alone in the room--or in the house?"
"Not while I was there," Mackay replied. "I took good care of
that. Then, when everyone was gone and while Phelps was waiting
for me, I detailed two of my deputies to stay on guard--one
inside and one outside--for the night. I thought it sufficient
precaution, since you had made your preliminary examination."
"And--" Kennedy nodded, seeking to hurry the explanation.
"And yet," added Mackay, "some one entered the house last night
in spite of us."
Kennedy fairly swore under his breath. He seemed to blame himself
for some omission in his investigation the previous afternoon.
"How did it happen?" I asked, rather excitedly.
"It was about three o'clock, the guards tell me. The man inside
was dozing in a chair before the living-room fireplace. He was
placed so he could command a view of the doorway to the library
as well as the stairs and reception hall. All at once he was
awakened by a shot and a cry from outside. He jumped up and ran
toward the library. As he did so the portieres bellied in toward
him, as if in stiff sudden draught, or as if some one had darted
into their folds quickly, then out. With no hesitation he drew
his own weapon, rushing the curtains. There was no one secreted
about them. Then, with the revolver in one hand, he switched on
the lights. The room was empty. But one pair of French windows at
the farther end were wide open and it was that which had caused
the current of air. He ran over and found the lock had been
forced. It was not even an artistic job of jimmying."
"What about the deputy posted outside?" prompted Kennedy.
"That's the strange part of it. He was alert enough, but it's a
big house to watch. He swears that the first thing he knew of any
trouble was the sharp metallic click which he realized later was
the sound made by the intruder in forcing the catch of the French
window. It was pretty loud out in the quiet of a Tarrytown night.
"He started around from the rear and then the next thing he
caught was the outline of a shadowy slinking figure as a man
dropped out of the library. He called. The intruder broke into a
run, darting across the open space of lawn and crashing through
the shrubbery without any further effort at concealment. My man
called again and began to chase the stranger, finally firing and
missing. In the shrubbery a sharp branch whipped him under the
chin just as he obtained a clear view of the outlined figure of
his quarry and as he raised his weapon to shoot again. The
revolver was knocked from his hand and he was thrown back,
falling to the ground and momentarily stunned. Whoever broke into
the library got away, of course."
"What did the intruder look like?" There was an eagerness in
Kennedy's manner. I grasped that the case was beginning to
clarify itself in his mind.
Mackay shook his head. "There was no moon, you know, and
everything happened swiftly.
"But was he tall or short or slender or stout--the deputy must
have got some vague idea of him at least."
"It was one of my amateur deputies," Mackay admitted,
reluctantly. "He thought the man was hatless, but couldn't even
be sure of that."
Previous Page
| Next Page
|
|