Raspberry Jam Part 25

"When?"

"This morning--when I made up her room."

"Had you ever seen it before?"

"No, sir."

"Why did you think it belonged to Miss Ames?"

"I didn't think anything about it. I found it there, and I supposed it belonged to Miss Ames, and I put it away."

"Why did you put it in the medicine chest?"

The girl looked up, surprised.

"That seemed to me the proper place for it. Whenever I find a bottle of camphor or a jar of cold cream--or anything like that--I always put it in the medicine chest. That's where such things belong. So I thought it was the right place for the little dropper. Did I do wrong?"

"No, Maggie," Driscoll said, kindly, "that was all right. Now tell us exactly where you found it."

"I did tell you. On the floor, just beside Miss Ames' bed. Near the head of the bed."

"Well, Miss Ames--I guess it's up to you. What were you doing with this thing?"

"I didn't have it at all! I never saw it before!"

"Come, come, that won't do! How could it get there?"

"I don't know, but I didn't put it there." The old lady trembled pitifully, and looked from one to another for help or guidance.

"Of course, she didn't!" cried Eunice. "You sha'n't torment my aunt!

Cease questioning her! Talk to me if you choose--and as you choose--but leave Miss Ames alone!"

She faced her inquisitors defiantly, and even Shane quailed a little before her scornful eyes.

"Well, ma'am, as you see, I ain't got much choice in the matter. Here's the case. You and your aunt and Mr. Embury was shut in those three rooms. n.o.body else could get in. Come morning, the gentleman is dead--murdered. One of you two done it. It's for us to find out which--unless the guilty party sees fit to confess."

"I do! I confess!" cried Aunt Abby. "I did it, and I'm willing to go to prison!" She was clearly hysterical, and though her words were positive, they by no means carried conviction.

"Now, that's all bosh," declared Shane. "You're sayin' that, ma'am, to shield your niece. You know she's the murderer and--"

Eunice flew at Shane like a wild thing. She grasped his arm and whirled him around toward her as she glared into his face, quivering with indignation.

"Coward!" she flung at him. "To attack two helpless women--to accuse me--me, of crime! Why, I could kill yon: where you stand--for such an insinuation!"

"Say, you're some tiger!" Shane exclaimed, in a sort of grudging admiration. "But better be careful of your words, ma'am! If you could kill me--ah, there!"

The last exclamation was brought forth by the sudden attack of Eunice, as she shook the big man so violently that he nearly lost his balance.

"Say, you wildcat! Be careful what you do! You are a tiger!"

"Yes," Aunt Abby giggled, nervously. "Mr. Embury always called her 'Tiger'."

"I don't wonder!" and Shane stared at Eunice, who had stepped back but who still stood, like a wild animal at bay, her eyes darting angry fire.

"Now, Mrs. Embury, let's get down to business. Who's your lawyer?

"I am," declared Alvord Hendricks. "I am her counsel. I represent Mrs. Embury. Eunice, say nothing more. Leave it to me. And, first, Shane, you haven't enough evidence to arrest this lady. That dropper thing is no positive information against her. It might be the work of the servants--or some intruder. The story of that housemaid is not necessarily law and gospel. Remember, you'd get in pretty bad if you were to arrest Mrs. Sanford Embury falsely! And my influence with your superiors is not entirely negligible. You're doing your duty, all right, but don't overstep your authority--or, rather, don't let your desire to make a sensational arrest cloud your judgment."

"That's what I think, Mr. Hendricks," said Driscoll, earnestly; "we've found the method, but I'm by no means sure we've found the criminal.

Leastways, it don't look sure to me. Eh, Shane?"

"Clear enough to me," the big man growled; but he was quite evidently influenced by Hendricks' words. "However, I'm willing to wait--but we must put Mrs. Embury under surveillance--"

"Under what!" demanded Eunice, her beautiful face again contorted by uncontrollable anger. "I will not be watched or spied upon!"

"Hush, Eunice," begged Elliott. "Try to keep yourself calm. It does no good to defy these men--they are not really acting on their own initiative, but they are merely carrying out their duty as they see it."

"Their duty is to find out who killed my husband!" and Eunice gave Shane another stormy glare. "They cannot do that by accusing two innocent women!"

"If you two women can be proved innocent, n.o.body will be more glad than me," Shane announced, in a hearty way, that was really generous after Eunice's treatment of him. "But it beats me to see how it can be proved. You admit, ma'am, n.o.body could get into Mr. Embury's room, except you and Miss Ames, don't you?"

"I don't admit that at all, for the murderer DID get in--and DID commit the murder--therefore, there must be some means of access!"

"Oho! And just how can you suggest that an intruder got in, and got out again, and left those doors fastened on the inside?"

"That I don't know--nor is it my business to find out."

"Maybe you think a flyin' machine came at the window, ma'am! For nothin' else could negotiate a ten-story apartment."

"Don't talk nonsense! But I have heard of keys that unlock doors from the outside--skeleton keys, I think they are called."

"Yes, ma'am, there are such, sure! But they're keys--and they unlock doors. These doors of yours have strong bra.s.s catches that work only on the inside, snap-bolts, they are. And when they're fastened, nothing from the other side of the door could undo 'em. But, I say--here you, Ferdinand!"

The butler came forward, his face surprised rather than alarmed, and stood at attention.

"What do you know of events here last night?" Shane asked him.

"Nothing, sir," and Ferdinand's face was blankly respectful.

"You'd better tell all you know, or you'll get into trouble."

"Could you--could you make your question a little more definite?"

"I will. When Mr. and Mrs. Embury came home last night, were they in good humor?"

"I don't know, sir."

"You do know! You know your employers well enough to judge by their manner whether they were at odds or not. Answer me, man!"