Death at the Excelsior

taring with wide, unbelieving eyes at a tele

ER MYSTERY. RETU

rang the bell. "Send Mr. Oakes to

nsoluble problem would reflect the highest credit on the Agency, and there were picturesque circumstances connected

e within a mile of a reasonable solution of the mystery. He had desired only that his failure would prove a valuable educational experience for him. For he believed that failure at this particular point in his career would make Oakes a more valuable asset to the

stones, marked the progress of his afternoon, when the door opened and young Oakes entered. Mr. Snyder could not

elegram," sai

It surprised yo

the question, but he had resigned himself to

idn't gather from your report that you had even found

terous theory for one moment. I just put it in to round out my rep

ploding with wrath, e

all about it," he said,

cigar fall delicately to the floor-another action which seemed significant to his employe

ng," Oakes said, "was t

very dull

truck me as rat

door had been locked on the inside, and the one window was very high up. At first sight, it looked extremely unpromising. Then I had a chat with some of the other boarders. Th

. Snyder, which I have found valuable that, in nine

ow you there," Mr.

sible that there should have been any reasonable explanation of the man's death. Most men would have worn themselves out guessing at wild theories. If I

ain amount of gloating, but there could be no doubt th

trary opinions, Mr. Snyder, I simply decline to believe in a murder unless there was a motive for it. The first thing I set myself to ascertain was-what was the motiv

o think better of it and Oakes proceeded: "I then tested the suicide theory. What m

last few days in the wrong house by any chance, have you? Y

ll right. As the medical evidence proved, he died of the b

red at him. "H

ond any possibi

see the

hook hi

in heaven

make a jury convict Mr. Sna

his. How did your cobra fro

," replied Oak

in that? You say yourself t

killed Captain Gunner there, and left traces of its presence outside. Therefore, as the window was the only exit, it

t left traces of it

out. In fact, there is enough cover to hide any small object like the body of a dog. That's why it was not discovered at first. The maid at the Excelsior came on it the morning after I sent you my repo

idn't find

aped through the door of the yard, which was standing ajar. That was a couple of days ago, and there has been no furth

how a cobra got to Southampton

it? I told you it

you kno

ly this man would send the captain a present as a mark of his esteem. The last present he sent was a crate of bananas. Unfortunately, the snake must have got in unnoticed. That's why I t

at, but he was a fair-minded man, and he was forced to admit

"To be completely frank, when you started out, I didn't think y

be pleased at anything. However, she has invited me to dinner with her tonight. I im