The Curved Blades
hold in the library, and the task was not an easy one. The two girls were distinctly at od
e experience of you police people. Now, I think the wisest plan is to call in a big detective,-no off
such suggestion would come better from me. I am now mistre
hed, "but you know Carr Loria is equally in a
arr's absence gives
out for the interests of her heirs, at least, for the absent one. I'm
en notified yet?" a
to the city to be sent to him in Egypt. But I don't k
re i
r somewhere, so much that sometimes he is away from communicati
d you te
killed by a blow on the head by a burglar, which fractured her skull. I asked him if he would
o w
ria has been begging us to make the trip, and at last Aunt Lu
now
can be found, and punished, I see no reason why I, at least, shou
ched air, as if now they were no longer members of
in the same capacity I served Miss Carrington. He'll need a representative in this countr
ho was half engrossed looking over his memoranda,
Gray were looking, amazed, at a man who came into the room. He was the detective
it?" crie
r, just under the edge of the tassel trimmin' of the lounge. The
was rudely made, of black cloth, a mere bag
there is no further doubt that Miss Carrington was murdered by a burglar. This is a burglar's weapon; this it was that crushed the sh
id Detective Hardy,
in the same room and not deduce a burglarious assault that proved fatal? The thief may have been scared off or decided he didn't want the loot, but that doesn't affect th
have been a maniac or an eccentric to put that snake round my aunt's neck after he ki
-excuse me, Mr. Brunt, but I can't think it such a simple case as you do,-t
been disturbed by the discovery of the black-jack. "Will you now please give me some det
areful precautions against burglary. She had a house full of valuable furniture, curios, and art works
is it to loo
wife, who is the cook, had
l me, any of you, why Miss Carrington was ar
rror, except when necessary, to have her hair dressed. It is almost unbelievable that she should delibera
ewels during the ev
heard her say, pearls must be worn occasionally to keep them in condition. But she a
you mea
n her room, to say good-night to h
hat t
n't it, Anita? We went upstairs about midnight,
uline looked up in surprise. Then, recollecting the last word
iss Stuart and myself that it would be our last night beneath this roof! Th
did she thu
e eyes looked straight at the Inspector with a patheti
n it," put in P
before, but never so earnestly. She meant it last night, I am sure. And
what'
Pauline; "those fooli
yne," and the Insp
said I little knew what was going to happen to her, and she said 'to-
ily, "they merely meant that she
her, "she distinctly said somethi
iously! If we are to repeat idle conversations, suppose I say
!" shriek
e killed, too. I know you didn't mean to kill her, but I've just a
ho killed poor Miss Lucy, why rake up our foolish words spoken under the intense provocation of her exhibiti
learning some points from the conversation not addressed to him.
, "was, as you know, found clasped in
of the glove he handed it back; "no, it is a size smalle
can be? It is highly impro
. "But if it was not left by the intruder, where co
y was awfully fond of anything of his. She kept one of his
eory points to a sort of gentleman burglar, a 'Raffles,' you know, and I think he
ry idea!" and Paulin
se explain
urglar persuade her to wear that pap
roomy pocket-book; "In the bedroom we noticed a glass of milk and bes
In case of insomnia, she had ready a ligh
uched," said Brunt, "but the pla
t is what Estelle usually prepared for
ington's l
act as maid for Miss Stuart and myself also, at such
the breakfast tray, that
rly cup of tea, before she dress
this morning? Did she not t
says she saw Miss Lucy at the mirror, and thinking her eng
She took that tray, probably, about eight. Pauline went up at nine. What was Estelle doing all that time? Why didn't she go in to dress Miss Carrington? I tell you, Mr. Inspector, there's a lot of queer work to be explained, and with all due respect to the force, I'm prett
said Miss Stuart; "we can't ass
e small legacies, and there are a few charities. That, Mr. Brunt, is the gist of the will. Do you not agree with me, that as I was the man of business for
cided by them. Now, here's another point. I noted in the course of our investigation in the boudoir a quantity of powder fallen on the floor nea
bit of using face powder,-even cosmetics. It is not strange
, on the hard floor, near the rug, was a muddled spot, as if some one
that you began to say something bearing on this while we were in th
ing. When I went to my aunt's room, and found what I did find,-I was so excited and nervous I scarce knew what I di
h wh
rely slapped at it, and the
d you d
eal reason. I was not thi
e one from possible suspicion?" The words wer
ou mean? Was it not t
foot that you saw, the
stockinged foot I could not judge. Might not the burg
stairs, and there is no doubt that the tracks are those of the assailant of Miss Carrington. With your permission, Mis
the room, Haskins appeared to announce
Billionaires
Romance
Romance
Romance
Romance
Billionaires