Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

300 eleven. A few mmutes ago I was aroused hy my telephone and told that I was ur- gently needed here at once. I expostulated, but could gain no further informatron, so I dressed and came.” “ Did you recognize the voice over the wire?” Mr. Alexander paused thoughtfully and then replied with conviction: | “No. but it was totally strange to me, and when I demanded my informant’s identity he hung up the receiver. I am quite sure I have never heard it before.” CHAPTER IV. INQUIRIES. ° HE inspector. turned involuntarily and glanced at his subordmate, but Mc- Carty’s face was blandly inscrutable. “Mr. Alexander,” began Inspector Druet, “ your informant was unauthorized by the police department, and we have no more knowledge than you as to his identity, but your presence here is more than wel- come in this emergency. Certain suspicious circumstances, the details of which you will learn tater, caused an investigation of the house between the hours of two and three this morning by the regular officer on this beat. The premises were found to be de- serted although a light was burning and the remains of supper for two are spread out in the breakfast room. In the study, or den, there lies the body of a man in evening clothes, shot through the heart, and it has been identified as that of Mr. Creveling.” “ Eugene—shot!” the banker gasped. “‘ Impossible! Good God, I cannot believe it! Why, only yesterday we had a-long conference at the office! But who could have done this thing?” “The pistol—an army .44—lies within touch of his fingers,” replied the inspector. “You «mean to insinuate that he killed. himself?” Mr. Alexander bristied, but he seemed to shrink even more within his light spring overcoat. ‘“‘ Ridiculous! What rea- son could he have for such an act? His affairs were never in better shape; the con- It was that of a man, of course, © ~*~ ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY, ference at the office yesterday was in re- gard to a large loan we contemplated mak- ing which would have brought us in high- ly advantageous returns and he had no other problems or troubles, no entangie- ments ‘of any kind!” “ Come and see him for yourself.” The inspector turned and led the way ‘to the study, with Mr. Alexander followmg and McCarty bringing up the rear. As they entered Clancy and the two detectives stepped aside, exposing the motiontess form outstretched upon the floor, and with a shocked exclamation the banker recoiled. “It is he! But Eugene never killed him- self! Of that I am as sure as though I had been present when the deed was done!” “Why are you so certam, Mr. Alex- ander?” the inspector asked. “There could have been no reason,” the other repeated. “No one ever loved life better than he nor knew how to enjoy it to the full. He had an unassailable position in the soctal and financial world, a beauti- ful wife, a host of friends— Oh, it is un- thinkable!” Yet the pistol is almost within his grasp,” Inspector Druet reminded the banker. ‘“ Was he night or left-handed?” _ “ Right, but any one could have placed the weapon there after the crime was com- mitted to make it look like a case of sui- cide,” Alexander responded defensively. ‘“ Besides, who ‘telephoned to me, and why?” “That we must ascertain later.” The i m- spector shrugged. “Do you recognize the pistol, Mr. Alexander? Have you ever seen it in Mr. Creveling’s possession?” “I have not, sir.” The banker shook his head decisively. ‘‘It may have been his, of course. A man whose home was filled with valuable objects of art and whee wife’s jewels constituted a huge fortune in themselves, would be naturally supposed to guard against burglary, but he could have had no personal reason for such an article of self-protection.” The sound of another motor-car outside and‘ the ringing of the front door bell put a stop for the time being to any further questioning by the inspector, and as one of the assistants of the chief medical examiner a = > al fro THE OHIO STATE UNWOHE ale DOOKS ©