The Mystery Girl

, he found the Medical Examiner and

r of authority. He looked at Gordon Lockwood from beneath

ut he knew the question was justifi

ke in at that glass door, being unable to get in any ot

, though, to get in and o

not," Lockwo

l you there must have been-

es met the Examiner's with a gaze fu

en, how came h

he corner of the great mantelpiece; "but since you ask me, I will repeat that there was

ll you suggest what may have bec

, not so disturbed by the question as

d just below his right ear. The jugular vein was pierced, and he bled to death. A plexus of nerves was pierced also, and this fact doubtless

he exhibited its full possibilities. It annoyed Doctor Marsh, who was accustomed to having his statements accep

he was surely the last person I would expect to kill himself. Especially at the present time-when

r Marsh, impatiently. "The point is, if

e," Lockwood agreed, "but it may yet be discovered, whi

severely. "The police will be here soon, and I've no doubt they will learn th

tly round hole. Now, most daggers or poniards are flat-bladed. I'm not sure a real weapon i

," suggested

rger-but not so larg

e deed," Marsh mused. "A slate-pencil mig

ed Doctor Greenfield. "I kne

, and shows no sign of having been used for a criminal purpose. If, as Mr. Lockwood insists, this is a suicide

not have done that!" de

acious implement of murder, but it was difficult to believe it had been used in that way. For the bills and memoranda it contained were, to all app

side of Waring's neck seems to me to have been made with an instrument sligh

said Lockwood, "

the Examiner, sudd

s calm was a trifle shaken. "I should say in

tions of strange weapons that you can't remem

ard at him and Lockwood

ometime, somewhere, seen a round-blade

ory," Marsh told him, and

whole, and they had reason to be. Under a worthwhile chief the

atter in charge, went straight to

the medical men had done, but merely to fi

forehead?" he asked, look

as queer," said Greenfield.

peered throug

out, myself," he

oked more

s forehead, that looked as if it

eter, and it was red and sunken into the flesh, a

sign or seal of the murderer himself. For a dead man couldn't do it, and there's no sense in assuming that Doctor War

d say," Doctor G

'm not sure it is a brand-such a mark could hav

ed Morton. "Even a lunatic murderer wouldn'

from the water tray, and fitted it

actly," he said, "

s superior way. "Why would any one mar

the secretary sharply. "Can you suggest a

less he fell over on som

and it's a smaller round, anyway. There's no one of these desk fittings that could possibly have m

ide," Lockwood

eep an eye on this cool chap, who must have so

siness, I must make inquiries of the family-the h

gerness. Why should the secretary be so obviously pleased to lea

aid, "how about robbery?

looked

ide, of course robbery didn't occur to me." He loo

policeman, and then asked the secretary where he

g-room, and there they found Mrs.

rs, Emily Bates was composed and met

locked up, I know John Waring never killed himself! Why would he do it?

et you must see the difficulties in the way of a murder theory. I

rung her hands and burst into tears. "Oh, don't as

e more gently, "but at least, tell me all you

er table, la

er suppe

d I watched him as he took a tray of water pitcher and glasses

ou hea

speak. I heard a paper rust

t came righ

n him. I told him exactly wh

those ins

supper dishes and that, and then to stay about, on du

had done these

to the butler, attended to the Doctor. But Sunday after

Nogi has d

und this morning. Nor ha

dge that Doctor Waring died about midnight. We must therefore admit the possib

he had preserved a stony calm, his face now showed deep attenti

" Morton asked, in that sudden an

secretary returned, quietly, "

could have got into the study. But he couldn't.

ed. "I heard Doctor

" asked the det

ay about te

were yo

indow nook outsid

hear anything that w

e-he desired absolute privacy, and freedom from interruption or overhearing. No, I

did you last s

ing him a number of books from the shelves, and selecting from his files s

d t

I might leave for the night. But I remaine

d you d

ngly busy and if a caller came, I could probably atte

ny one

on

emained un

own, and it was later than I tho

to the Doctor b

my rule, when he is busy, and if he makes no response, or merely murmurs g

nd to your ra

o be almost inaudible. I thought nothing of it. Since he did not call out. 'Come i

reached h

s but a few steps over to th

kwood, are not sure Doctor Waring responded to your good-night

I did

s gone-he cannot be questioned. So, Mr. Lockwood, the last person whom we know definitely to h

ght or nine," said

l window. Now, we have no positive ev

ckwood sta

. Nogi went in, but no one k

u suppose for a minute, that if there had been anything wrong with Doctor War

fraid of death. Their one idea is to flee from it. If that Japanese serv

. He handed me my overcoat and hat,

. Lockwood, we have on

od looked at

th hauteur. "Nor shall I say a word, at present, in self defence. Your imp

Bates-I'm mighty sorry to bother you-but I must ask you a few questions. And if I size y

u seem to suspect Mr. Lockwood of wrong-doing without a protest! Do

ll benefit financially by Doctor Waring's death? To whom is his fortun

see how it can help you to solve the mystery to get such information

uld there be, Mrs. Ba

nces who were disappointed at his election to the C

enemies? It's my impression tha

n, and if Doctor Waring was murdered-which I can't

ntment among the other faction at the result of the election, but i

" Morton returned. "What is it

have just noticed that although there is a pinhole in Docto

Bates cried. "He had on

by pin was worth an immense sum of money!

," said Lockwood. "Are you sure it's m

Higby, and then all the

, who was deeply chagrined that he ha

od?" said Doctor Marsh. "Any

ordon Lockwood pulled open

hundred dollars in cash here las

ory," said Detective Morton, wi