Death Points A Finger Part 18

Brasher stepped out and in a short time he returned saying gruffly:

"He says it hasn't been cleaned for about four or five years."

Then he changed his tone and asked with a faint imitation of his former enthusiasm:

"But we got him, Professor, we got him. Gee what a swell break for us that you was there." He added generously. "I'm sure I couldn't 'a' seen what you seen, Professor."

Professor Brierly was still in an absent minded mood. He was looking at the watch. Suddenly he said:

"Mr. Brasher, may I have this watch for a few hours. I will return it."

Brasher looked at the chief of police who nodded.

Chapter XI

Jimmy stayed in Lentone while Professor Brierly went on to his own camp. Jimmy called up his office where he knew that a dog watch would be kept all night.

The sleepy voice that identified itself as Duke Wellington became crisp when Jimmy gave his name. The entire office was now a throb and expectant of news from the Canadian border.

"Just a flash, Duke. I'll file a story in time for the first edition tomorrow morning. They picked up 'Chicago' Boyle here near the New Hampshire border; Boyle was in a job in Yonkers some time ago where he got into a house the same way the killer got into Miller's Folly; chimney, rope and climbing irons. Boyle's alibi is fishy, Duke, awfully weak.

"A member of this Tontine group, William Flynn, who lives in Pleasantville decided he had to go home. There was quite a scene about it in Judge Higginbotham's camp. This thing is getting on the nerves of most of them. They're all up in the air. They weren't going to let him go. Finally they compromised by letting him go under escort, get me. A policeman from Lentone and a trooper are going to escort him to the Ma.s.sachusetts line, where someone else will take it up.

"McCall, the D.A., arranged with the police authorities to watch him while he's in New York, to see that nothing happens. Better cover that, Duke, have a man pick him up with escort when he gets off the train. Any news at the New York end?"

"Naw, police handing out a lotta applesauce about soon having the bird who b.u.mped off Schurman. I think they picked up about thirty-five a.s.sorted crooks on this Schurman killing. I'll say this for 'em, I never saw 'em so busy since that bird b.u.mped off a couple cops and a kid. That all, Jim?"

"Yep. Think I'll go up to Professor Brierly's camp and if he hasn't got anything to say, I'll hit the hay. Tell Hite, if he calls, that I'll file a full story, will you?"

Jimmy's eyes glinted with amus.e.m.e.nt when he came to the wharf of McCall's camp. It was still daylight and he had no difficulty recognizing some of the high lights in his profession on the porch and on the wharf. A number of them had simultaneously arrived at the conclusion that they would fare better perhaps camping on Professor Brierly's trail than they would in following the Higginbotham group and the meager information that the police were willing to divulge.

They surged about him when he stepped off the boat. He soon convinced them he would share with them every bit of news he got from Brierly, the police, or the Tontine group as it was now called. All of them now had the story of Boyle's arrest.

Jimmy listened with a grin as they told him of their experience when they tried to pump Professor Brierly. One of them sported a black eye. He had used language that Matthews did not like and the blonde young giant had punched him in the eye and threatened to clean out the entire group if they didn't let the Professor alone.

Jimmy a.s.sured them earnestly that Matthews meant what he said.

After convincing themselves that they could get no more news at this source the crowd melted and the camp was left to the peace of a Canadian summer night.

Professor Brierly was fingering Boyle's watch with a perplexed frown on his fine features as Jimmy stepped into the living-room.

The old man looked up as the reporter entered the large room with its soft lights.

"What about the watch, Professor? Can you tell as much about it as you can about the rope and twine?"

Professor Brierly snapped at him:

"Are you trying to be funny, young man? Are you trying to convey the impression, are you implying that you do not believe what the microscope showed me when--"

"Pardon me, Professor. I worded my question wrong. No, remarkable as it sounds, I believe every word you say, of course. But--"

"There is nothing specially remarkable about it, Mr. Hale. The true value of the microscope in scientific criminal investigation is just now beginning to be appreciated. The watch, now--" Once more the puzzled frown that had appeared several times creased his brows. He continued slowly:

"There is nothing in the watch that places it in or near the farm or farmyard from which the heavy rope, the twine and the fish line seem to have come. There is certainly nothing that places it in a department of a hat factory where dyed particles of felt hats may be found in great profusion."

"You mean, Professor," broke in McCall, "that a microscopic examination of the watch didn't show those characteristics?"

"Yes."

"Provided, Professor, Boyle is telling the truth about when his watch was cleaned. If the watch were thoroughly cleaned it would obscure--"

"Boyle told the truth, or the approximate truth about the time his watch was cleaned last. The watch shows evidence of that."

"What do you say about, Boyle, Professor?" pursued Jimmy.

"There is not a single shred of evidence against him. As I have heard you say, Mr. Hale, I would not convict a yellow dog on such evidence."

"Did you hear his alibi, Professor? It's certainly a flimsy excuse, if I ever heard one."

"True, it is flimsy. But I am half inclined to believe it because it is so flimsy. I watched him very carefully, as you no doubt did. I was impressed with the belief that the charge of murder surprised him. And it did not appear the surprise of a murderer who thought he had his trail well hidden.

"Boyle is rather above the average criminal. The murderer as we have seen, is a man of considerable resource. If caught, he is certain to have a better alibi than Boyle had, a more plausible alibi. Does Boyle strike you like the kind of man who, if he murdered a man, would not have a more plausible story? No, I tell you, its very lack of plausibility almost convinces me of its truth.

"Boyle is in a desperate situation and he knows it. He showed it by readily admitting that he was engaged in the illicit traffic of liquor, when apparently, the police were not at all concerned with this phase of his activities.

"But aside from all this, there is the watch; the watch is very important. It may be negative, it is true, but it is nevertheless very convincing. The rope and the twine and the fish line were positive evidence. Not evidence that the murderer owned the farm or farmyard perhaps, but evidence that the articles in question were at that farmyard a considerable time; evidence that the twine was in a hat factory.

"Place the rope, twine and fish line in Boyle's possession; place Boyle in a hat factory and you may convince me of his guilt of Miller's murder. Not otherwise."

He snapped shut the watch case, with an emphatic click. His brow cleared.

"Negative evidence is often very important, is it not? It helps clear one's mind. I think I am beginning to see. What a gorgeous plan it was. Did I say that I took back what I said about the man, responsible for these deaths not being subtle? I did? Well he is subtle, dangerously so."

"Do you mean, Professor," Jimmy leaned forward eagerly, "that you know the man who--"

"Not so fast young man. I do not know who it is, but I am beginning to think I know who it might be; who it can be. Is that dubious?" His eyes were now gleaming. The three men watching him knew the signs. His small shapely hand was pounding the arm of his chair softly. He became suddenly grave. He spoke to McCall:

"Did we hear Flynn say that he told his comrades when he came here that he would have to leave on an important errand today?"

McCall and Jimmy nodded. Professor Brierly's gravity became more profound. He sprang to his feet. He said emphatically:

"Call New York at once, Mr. McCall. Do not waste a minute. Tell them to take extreme precautions in watching Flynn. I believe Flynn is in the greatest danger. Oh, fool that I am! Why did I not think of it? At once, Mr. McCall, at once." He pounded the table impatiently. As McCall was turning the small crank to ring the operator, Professor Brierly added:

"After you've done that, McCall, see if you can get in touch with the train that Flynn took. Warn his guards."

When McCall came back to the table looking inquiringly toward the white-headed old scientist, the latter smiled slowly. "Thinking that I am getting into my dotage, young man? Flynn is in deadly danger. I will feel at ease about him only when he gets back here safely. His greatest danger is when he arrives in New York. He is probably safe on board the train but I do not know, I am afraid for him."

Jimmy went outside to see to the comfort of his youthful pilot.

Harry Stoy had made his bed on the ground near the wharf. He said he liked to sleep outdoors under the sky. When he returned Jimmy took his portable typewriter to his room where he wrote far into the night.

The entire household was wrapped in slumber when the telephone bell awoke them with its insistent buzz. McCall, cursing the impulse that had made him install a telephone in this out of the way camp, arose sleepily and took down the receiver.