Death at the Excelsior

f drawers, a strip of faded carpet, and a wash basin. But there was that on the floor which set this room apart from a thousand rooms of the same kind. Flat on his back, with his hands tight

r, looking down at him. One was a large policeman, who twisted his helmet nervously in his hands. The other was a tall

was a genial giant, a terror to the riotous element of the waterfront, but obviously ill at ease in the

quickly. He was afraid of Mother Pickett, as was everybody else along the waterfront. Her silence, her pale eyes, and the quiet decisiveness of

s. Pickett. She did not speak loudly,

ain. "It might have been

a sound of footsteps outside, and a y

opped to his knees beside the body and raised one of the arms. After a momen

urs," he announced. "W

e died last night. He never would be called in the morni

e of, sir?" ask

und. He called in to see me only a week ago, and I examined him thoroughly. But sometimes you can be deceived. The inquest will tell us." He eyed the body almost resentfully. "I can't understand it. The man had no right to d

oisoned?" asked Mr

ve drunk it from. He might have got it in capsule form. But why should he

of being a joker in these parts. Kind of sarcasti

urned to Mrs. Pickett. "What's become of Captain Muller? If he sh

he night with some frie

t right after supper,

thoughtfully about

I was out there two years, and I've seen a hundred cases of it. The poor devils all looked just like this. But the thing's ridiculous.

n key. I had been calling to him and he didn

e always very particular about that. If the doctor's right, and

's just as

e floor beside him

m. I've had some complaints about it from some of the gentlemen,

happened," Constable Grogan said. "Th

say it was

led. "You do

until after the inquest. Al

policeman. "I guess this ain't going to do the E

shrugged he

r go and notify the co

table Grogan was not greatly troubled with nerves, but he felt a decided

lsior, and, as Constable Grogan had hinted, it was not likely to increase the attractiveness of the house in the eyes of possible boarders. It was not the threatened pecuniary loss which was troubling her. As far as money

ad built up the model establishment, the fame of which had been carried to every corner of the world.

rm could come to the Excelsior from a single mysterious death bu

e doctor's voice further increased her despair. He was talking to the