The House Opposite

d me that there was a lady in the waiting-room who wanted to see me. There was something so peculiar about the way he imparted this v

was drawn down over her face. Her costume, especially considering the excessive heat, and that the clock pointed to 9.15, was alone enough to excite comment; but to a singularity in dress she added an even greater singularity of manner. Sh

y astonishment I recognised the handsome, rotund features of

, I no disturb yo

madame; what c

s the door, "I so afraid zat my 'usban' 'e co

he be angr

ant me to show you zis," she answered, p

at he doesn't

ch as large as the palm of my hand; "and zat is not all," she continued, and, a

eally s

is happen?"

said, smiling co

eer fall,"

not serious, but, owing to neglect,

elief, when I had thoroughly cleansed the cut. I was

zat, 'e know I come here, and zen 'e angry.

to say that your husband is such a brute that he objects to your havi

he drew herself haughtily up, a

e; 'e verra nice man;

all

her head and looked at me through the thick lashes of her half-closed eyes; "'e man, you know

ttend to it yourself, you must come in here every day, and I will dress it for you. Your husband cannot carry

can, ven my 'usban' 'e go out sometime," and, after carefully wra

had been pretty roughly handled, and that she should consider such tre

iscover what it could be. As I did so, a white face, not a foot away, peered suddenly into mine. I was so startled that I fell back a step, and before I recovered myself the creature was gone. I rushed out into the hall, and, unfastening the front door as quickly as I could, dashed into the street. Not a soul was in sight! The slight delay had given the fellow a chance to escape. Who could it have been? I wondered. A burglar, tempted by my open window? Or Argot, perhaps? This latter supposition was much the more alarming. What if he h

er man-a man who also loved her-had been summoned by her to fill the place I coveted. The consciousness of his devotion would uphold her during her illness, and his company help to while away the weary hours of convalescence. And here was I, tied to my post, and forced to abandon the field to another without even a struggle. For I felt it would be little short of murder to desert my patients while the thermometer stood high in the nineties and most of the other doctors were out

, which he has been expecting to do for some time past; and that, of course, would explain his not having been heard from. The possibility of May Derwent's having been, even indirectly implicated in the murder, was thus finally disposed of. But I had been so sure, from the very

e events of the previous night, and, as I had no time to hunt up th

ese over when I heard the door open, and, glancing up, my eyes fell upon-Argot! I stared at him for a moment in silence. Could this reserved and highly respectable person be my visitor of the night before? Never, I concluded. He stood respectfully near the doo

ome about a ve

I inq

e seen m

rtain how much he knew, I decided that it wou

oman, not?" he demande

ted. What could he be l

e he touched his forehead significantly, while he

urprise me," w

ld some time,

dee

gs; she verra good vife-sough

this for? What do you want me

be sorry, so she 'ave t'rowed herself down and 'ave 'urt 'erself. She lika ze mens

apparition of the night before could be identical, and there and then I de

is slightly hyste

stead, Chicago, I made out. Could this be the missing hat? It seemed incredible. Argot would never dare display so openly such a proof of his guilt! But if he were demented (which I firmly believed him to be) would not this flaunting of his crime be one of the things one might expect of an insane man? I had b

of the fellow. "I quite understand;" and, ris

f the detective. I had a good deal of difficulty in finding him, and, after telephoning all over creation, at last met him accidentally, not far from the Rosemere. I was so excited that I hailed him from a

it?" he

bow and led him into the house. He sank

up?" he

y small triumph to the full, "I only wanted to

have

re a straw hat bearing the name of a Chicago hatter, and with the in

t?" He spoke quietly, but I n

at this moment, but when I las

allowed it-" He paused,

u can easily get it again. It is not far off. But, I assure you, I have no inten

t here?" deman

at Argot would be a li

was evidentl

le, and of their separate visits to me. Neither did I fail to mention the st

, and stared gravely bef

sure that the white face

acknow

ing me that a hat-pin is hardly a masculine weapon, and that, therefore, I ought to look for a murderess, and not a

led by a hat-pin. I think he was pierced through the heart by a s

learn, I always say. I shall at once call

ion him afterwards? I am convinced he is insane, and likely to beco

arrested till I have something to go on. The hat you saw may

t on bearding him,

arital jealousy, while I," patting his portly person, "am not likely to c

to cut your thro

bly get to me before he has quite finished me." He

Argot is innocent, and that a woman, and a mi

ke you. I bet you fifty dollars

he recorded the bet with great care. He looked at me for a moment l

e, apparently absorbed in watching something in the gutter. The detective remained only a minute or so in the building, and when he came out he gave me a sli

ss Derwent, I was glad to say, was out of the question. He himself had proved to me by the most convincing arguments that Mrs. Atkins could not be guilty. And who else w