Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 76: what you’re looking at

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as it is known in most well-regulated homes, was unknown there. They slept there, and that was all. Peabody found Ralph Colfax at home, and the surviving member of the tribe re- ceived him with a certain rough-and-ready courtesy. ‘The detective presented himself aS a representative of the insurance com- pany, and said that his purpose was to as- certain the facts concerning the death of Vernon Colfax. He lit a Pittsburgh stogie and handed one to his host, and that little move established a fellowship at once. “ As I understand it,” said the detective, “you were with your brother on this un- fortunate trip?” “ Yes,” replied the other, ‘ but there isn’t much to add to what has already been pub- lished. It’s not a pleasant thing to say it, but Vernon has always been the black sheep of our family. He left home suddenly about a year ago. I believe that he went to South America, but I am not sure of the details because he was always reticent about himself and his personal affairs. All that I know is that he went away unexpectedly and—” “That,” interrupted Peabody, “ was just aiter he had taken out the insurance policy in your favor.” “It was not in my favor,’ was the prompt retort, “ and I don’t know why you make such an intimation. It was made out to his heirs.” “ But you are the only remaining heir?” ~ Well, yes,” was the grudging assent, “if you want to put it that way.” “ Pardon me for interrupting you,” said the detective in a pleasant voice, but with an unsmiling face, “ go ahead with your story.’ “Well, Vernon came home about a week ago and he seemed to be in pretty bad shape. He was a nervous wreck. I wanted 1im to see a doctor, but he wouldn’t listen | he suggestion. He lay around the house 2 a man who was tired of life.” yu didn’t send for the doctor, you id: any one else see him?” was the reluctant reply, “ Miss ad here c vening and spent _ he spoke it was with deliberation. “ Miss Amelia Fordson,” replied Ralph with the patient air of an adult who is try. ing to instruct a child, “is an old friend of the family. At one time she expected to marry Vernon, but there was never an actual engagement between them. He began to go wrong, and although she has always been very friendly and Sympathetic, the idea of their marriage became more and more im- possible.”’ “So when she heard that he was home after a long absence, she was naturally anx. ious to see him,” suggested Peabody Smith. “ Exactly. Yet it might have been better if she had not come. The effect upon both of them was bad. She left in tears and he was a nervous wreck. He said he couldn't Stay in the city any longer; that he had to be on the move. It was then that I sug- gested the Adirondacks. The trip up the Hudson on the Albany boat was only the first part of the journcy.” | * ‘You were-to go with him?” “Certainly. He wasn’t fit to go alone. Events have demonstrated that. TI tried to get adjoining rooms, but that was im- possible, and we were on different sides of the boat. On the morning of the departure I had a lot of little details to look after, and I sent Vernon on ahead in a taxicab. May- be that was a mistake, but he reached the boat all right and lay down in his berth at once. After that he refused to leave his Stateroom. I carried his meals to him, but he scarcely ate anything. But when I left him on that fatal night he seemed more composed than he had been at any time since his return home. The rest you know. The next morning we found his room empty. The man who had the adjoining cabin heard him groaning during the night, heard his door epen around twelve o’clock and then heard the splash as though a body had been thrown overboard.” The detective nodded his head solemnly and sat for some moments in reflective sl Jence. “ Mr, Colfax,” he said presently, ‘‘ what sort of a looking man was your brother?” Ralph rubbed his chin and gazed into space, as though he were trying to conjure up a picture of his dead relative. When ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. books.com