Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 18, 1925 — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

THE DUKE “Tt was not, in my opinion.” Here Myers sprang his coup. Instead of next taking Mrs. Meredith through the agonizing moments that had ensued aiter she heard the report, includ- ing her fainting fit, he adroitly switched clear back to where she had first come up the front stairs. ‘As you came through the long hall on the library floor, to reach the stairs to go to your own or Mics Dale’s room for this chat, did you hear voices in the library?” a4 Yes.”’ ‘“ Did you hear any of the conversation?” ‘‘ Unintentionally.” ‘“ Just what did you hear and how did you come to hear it?” “T was just putting my foot on the first step—”’ Her voice trailed off into a spectral whis- per. Her face grew livid. Myers hastily pressed a glass of water to her lips. Then she seemed to find calmness in sheer despair. ‘Vou were standing with one foot on the bottom stair,” said Myers, ‘‘ and you heard conversation in the library. Could you dis- tinguish the words?” “T heard a voice which was not my nephew’s utter two words.” ‘“ What were they?” ‘“* Dorothy Dale.’ I paused, involuntarily in my surprise—” ‘“ Why were you surprised that the name of your guest should be mentioned by your nephew’s caller?” ‘Because while I did not know the man, yet he had nevertheless mentioned the name of my guest. So, I paused, involuntarily—” ‘Very naturally, Mrs. Meredith. Now, did you hear anything more than those two words?” “Yes. I next heard my nephew's voice. He said: ‘ What do you mean?’ ” “Did the caller’s voice reply?” “Yes, he said: ‘You know mean!’ ” “Did your nephew speak again?” “Yes. He said: ‘You hound! Do you mean to insinuate—that I could entertain —any dishonorable motives—toward that divine girl?’ ” Myers permitted her to pause. what I OF DISDAIN. 199 “ Did you hear anything more?”’ “I didn’t want to hear anything more. I hurried upstairs.” ““ And that,” purred.the prosecutor, ‘‘ was. why you went to Miss Dale’s room, to have a chat with her, before going to bed, wasn’t tee “ Ves.” ‘“Now, what did you say to Miss Dale in that chat and what did Miss Dale say to you?”’ ‘ Objected to as incompetent and imma- terial,” said Howard. ‘“ Any conversation, with others than Mr. Fitch, especially with- out Mr. Fitch’s knowledge, is not compe- tent evidence.”’ “Tt may throw light on what led up to the death of a man in his presence,” said Myers. ‘“ This is not a trial of Mr. Fitch —it is a judicial inquest to establish what caused the death of Ordway Marshall.” Coroner Cleves permitted Mrs. Meredith to answer, ‘““T did not tell Miss Dale what I had overheard. I mentioned the man in the li- brary with Claude, and described him. I said he was a stranger to me and asked her if she knew who it was.” ‘““Miss Dale replied?” “Yes, she looked up from her book and said: ‘Why, from the sort of a beard he wears, I think it is Mr. Ordway Marshall. He was a friend of my father’s and some- times acted as an attorney for him, before father died, I think.’ ” ‘“ Anything more?” “No. I said it looked like rain outside, and bade her good-night and went back to. my room.” ‘“ And, almost as soon as you entered it, you heard this report of a shot from the region of the library?” “Yes, sir.” “Have you discussed this matter with Miss Dale since the shooting?” ‘No, sir. I have been too distraught.” The witness was excused. James Montgomery Hardy turned tri- umphantly to Hank Thomas and whis- pered: ‘‘ Bloodhound Myers followed the scent closely. I told you he was worth- while in homicide cases. I know his rec- ord.” GEomichbooks (Eo)