Death at the Excelsior

oom to an impressive suite bright with polished wood, clicking typewriters, and other evidences of success. Where once Mr. Snyd

had gambled. The fee offered was, judged by his present standards of prosperity, small. But the bizarre facts, coupled with something

the methods of the agency. Mr. Snyder himself, in common with most of his assistants, relied for results on hard work and plenty of common sense. He had never been a detective

where inexperience could do no harm, and where the brilliant guesswork which Oak

case was going to have the beneficial result of lowering Oakes' self-esteem. If failure achieved this

y, and partly as a pose. He was a lean young man, with dark eyes and a thin-lipped mouth, and he looked q

aid Mr. Snyder. "I'v

placed the tips of his fingers together. He nodded c

oarding-house down in Southampton. You know the sort of place-retired sea captains and so on live there. All most respectable. In all

d?" Oake

isadventure' was the verdict, and I don't blame him. I don't see how it could ha

win

nyway, you may dismiss the window. I remember the old lady saying the

as interested. "What was th

ghed. "Snake b

serted him. He uttered

at's inc

ed that the fellow had been killed by snake poison-co

ob

affair, when the door was opened there was no sign of any cobra. It couldn't have got out through the door, because the door was locked. It couldn't have got out of t

nature and unworthiness of the last two cases to which he had been assigned. He had even said that he hoped some day to be given a

details," said Oakes,

ced that it is murder. But, if we exclude ghosts, I don't see how any third party could have taken a hand in the thing at all. However, she w

that you pose as a ship's chandler or something of that sort. You will have to be something maritime or they'll be suspicious of you. And if your visit produces no other results, it

shortly. The i

the handcuffs snapped on their wrists. "Crime investigation isn't an exact science. Success or failure depends in a large measure on applied common sense, and the possession of a great deal of specia

fer to trust to my own methods." Oakes rose, his face purposeful. "I'd bett

enially. "I hope your visit to the Excelsior will be pl

fresh cigar. "Dashed young fool," he murmu