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Page 21
Osborne, anxious to narrate his triumph, needed no further urging.
"We felt sure," he began, "that it was a case of suicide, but were
perplexed to know why Mr. Darrow should wish to make it appear a
murder. Of course, we thought he might wish to spare his daughter
the shame such an act would visit upon her, but when this was
exchanged for the horrible notoriety of murder, the motive didn't
seem quite sufficient, so we looked for a stronger one--and found
it." "Ah! you are getting interesting," Maitland observed.
Osborne cast a furtive glance at Gwen, and then continued: "We
learned on inquiry that certain recent investments of Mr. Darrow's
had turned out badly. In addition to this he had been dealing
somewhat extensively in certain electric and sugar stocks, and when
the recent financial crash came, he found himself unable to cover
his margins, and was so swept clean of everything. Nor is this all;
he had lost a considerable sum of money in yet another way--just
how my informant would not disclose--and all of these losses
combined made his speedy failure inevitable. Under such conditions
many another man has committed suicide, unable to face financial
ruin. But this man had a daughter to consider, and, as I have
already said, he would wish to spare her the disgrace which the
taking of his own life would visit upon her, and, more than all,
would desire that she should not be left penniless. The creditors
would make away with his estate, and his daughter be left a beggar.
We could see but one way of his preventing this, and that was to
insure his life in his daughter's favour. We instituted inquiries
at the insurance offices, and found that less than a month ago he
had taken out policies in various companies aggregating nearly
fifty thousand dollars, whereas, up to that time, he had been
carrying only two thousand dollars insurance. Why this sudden and
tremendous increase? Clearly to provide for his daughter after
his act should have deprived her of his own watchful care. And now
we can plainly see why he wished his suicide to pass for murder.
He had been insured but a month, and immediate ruin stared him in
the face. His death must be consummated at once, and yet, by
our law, a man who takes his life before the payment of his second
annual insurance premium relieves the company issuing his policy of
all liability thereunder, and robs his beneficiary of the fund
intended for her. Here, then, is a sufficient motive, and nothing
more is required to make the whole case perfectly clear. Of course,
it would be a little more complete if we could find the weapon, but
even without it, there can be no doubt, in the light of our work,
that John Darrow took his own life with the intentions, and for the
purposes, I have already set forth."
"Upon my soul, gentlemen," exclaimed Maitland, "you have reasoned
that out well! Did you carefully read the copies of the various
policies when interrogating the companies insuring Mr. Darrow?"
"Hardly," Osborne replied. "We learned from the officials all we
needed to know, and didn't waste any time in gratifying idle
curiosity." A long-drawn "hm-m" was the only reply Maitland
vouchsafed to this. "We regret," said Osborne, addressing Gwen,
"that our duty, which has compelled us to establish the truth in
this matter, has been the means of depriving you of the insurance
money which your father intended for you." Gwen bowed, and a slight
enigmatical smile played for a moment about her lips, but she made
no other reply, and, as neither Maitland nor I encouraged
conversation, the two officers wished us a good-morning, and left
the house without further remark.
"I wish to ask you a few questions," Maitland said to Gwen as soon
as the door had closed behind Osborne and his companion, "and I beg
you will remember that in doing so, however personal my inquiries
may seem, they have but one object in view--the solution of this
mystery." "I have already had good proof of your singleness of
purpose," she replied. "Only too gladly will I give you any
information in my possession. Until this assassin is found, and my
father's good name freed from the obloquy which has been cast upon
it, my existence will be but a blank,--yes, worse, it will be an
unceasing torment; for I know my father's spirit--if the dead have
power to return to this earth--can never rest with this weight of
shame upon it." As she spoke these words the depth of grief she had
hitherto so well concealed became visible for a moment, and her whole
frame shook as the expression of her emotion reacted upon her. The
next instant she regained her old composure, and said calmly:
"You see I have every reason to shed whatever light I can upon this
dark subject."
"Please, then, to answer my questions methodically, and do not permit
yourself to reason why I have asked them. What was your father's age?"
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