The Million-Dollar Suitcase Part 43

"And that was the last time you saw Thomas Gilbert alive?" c.u.mmings summed up for her.

"I hadn't finished," she objected mildly. "After Worth was gone, I went back into the study and pleaded with Thomas for a long time. I pointed out to him that if I'd sinned, I'd certainly suffered, and what I asked was no more than the right any human being has, even if they may be so unfortunate as to be born a woman."

d.y.k.eman looked exquisitely miserable; but c.u.mmings was only the lawyer getting rid of an unwanted witness, as he warned her,

"Not the slightest need to go into your personal matters, Mrs. Bowman.

We know them already. We knew also of your visit to Mr. Gilbert's study that night, and that you didn't go there alone. Had the testimony been of any importance to us, we'd have called in both you and James Edwards."

I could see that her deep concern for another steadied Laura Bowman.

"How do you know all this?" she demanded. "Who told you?"

"Your husband, Doctor Bowman."

Up came the red in her face, her eyes shone with anger.

"He did follow me, then? I thought I saw him creeping through the shrubbery on the lawn."

"He did follow you. He has told us of your being at the study--the two of you--when young Gilbert was there."

"See here, c.u.mmings," I put in, "if Bowman was around the place, then he knows that Worth left before the crime was committed. Why hasn't he told you so?"

"He has," c.u.mmings said neatly; and I felt as though something had slipped. Barbara kept a brave front, but Mrs. Bowman moaned audibly.

"And still you've charged Worth Gilbert? Why not Bowman himself? He was there. As much reason to suspect him as any of the others. Do you mean to tell me that you won't accept Mrs. Bowman's testimony--and Dr.

Bowman's--as proving an alibi for Worth Gilbert? I'm ready to swear that he was at Tait's at five minutes past ten, was there continuously from that time until a little after midnight, when you yourself saw him there."

"A little past midnight!" c.u.mmings repeated my words half derisively.

"Not good enough, Boyne. We base our charge on the medical statement that Mr. Gilbert met his death in the small hours of Sunday morning."

I looked away from Barbara; I couldn't bear her eye. After a stunned silence, I asked,

"Whose? Who makes that statement?"

"His own physician. Doctor Bowman swears--"

"He?" Mrs. Bowman half rose from her chair. "He'd swear to anything.

I--"

"Don't say any more," c.u.mmings cut her off. And d.y.k.eman mumbled,

"Had the whole history of your marital infelicities all over the shop.

Too bad such things had to be dragged in. Man seems to be a worthy person--"

"Doctor Bowman told me positively," I broke in, "on the Sunday night the body was found, that death must have occurred before midnight."

"Gave that as his opinion--his opinion--then," c.u.mmings corrected me.

"Yes," I accepted the correction. "That was his opinion before he quarreled with Worth. Now he--"

"Slandering Bowman won't get you anywhere, Boyne," c.u.mmings said. "He wasn't here to testify at the inquest. Man alive, you know that nothing but sworn testimony counts."

"I wouldn't believe that man's oath," I said shortly.

"Think you'll find a jury will," smirked c.u.mmings, and d.y.k.eman croaked in,

"A mighty credible witness--a mighty credible witness!"

While these pleasant remarks flew back and forth, a thumping and b.u.mping had made itself heard in the hall. Now something came against our door, as though a large bundle had been thrown at the panels. The k.n.o.b rattled, jerked, was turned, and a man appeared on the threshold, swaying unsteadily. Two others, who seemed to have been holding him back, let go all at once, and he lurched a step into the room. Doctor Anthony Bowman.

A minute he stood blinking, staring, then he caught sight of his wife and bawled out,

"She's here all right. Tol' you she was here. Can't fool me. Saw her go past in the hall."

I looked triumphantly at d.y.k.eman and c.u.mmings. Their star witness--drunk as a lord! So far he seemed to have sensed nothing in the room but his wife. Without turning, he reached behind him and slammed the door in the faces of those who had brought him, then advanced weavingly on the woman, with,

"Get up from there. Get your hat. I'll show you. You come 'long home with me! Ain't I your husband?"

"Doctor Bowman," peppery little old d.y.k.eman spoke up from the depths of his chair. "Your wife was brought here to a--to a--"

"Meeting," c.u.mmings supplied hastily.

"Huh?" Bowman wheeled and saw us. "Why-ee! Di'n' know so many gen'lemen here."

"Yes," the lawyer put a hand on his shoulder. "Conference--over the evidence in the Gilbert case. No time like the present for you to say--"

"Hol' on a minute," Bowman raised a hand with dignity.

"c.u.mmings," said d.y.k.eman disgustedly, "the man's drunk!"

"No, no," owlishly. "'m not 'ntoxicated. Overcome with 'motion." He took a brace. "That woman there--'f I sh'd tell you--walk into hotel room, find her with three men! Three of 'em!"

"How much of this are these ladies to stand for?" I demanded.

"Ladies?" Bowman roared suddenly. "She's m' wife. Where's th' other man?

Nothing 'gainst you gen'lmen. Where's he? I'll settle with him. Let that thing go long 'nough. Too long. Bring him out. I'll settle him now!"

He dropped heavily into the chair c.u.mmings shoved up behind him, stared around, drooped a bit, pulled himself together, and looked at us; then his head went forward on his neck, a long breath sounded--

"And you'll keep Worth Gilbert in jail, run the risk of a suit for false imprisonment--on that!" I wanted to know.

"And plenty more," the lawyer held steady, but I saw his uneasiness with every snore Bowman drew.

Barbara crossed to speak low and earnestly to d.y.k.eman. I heard most of his answer--shaken, but disposed to hang on,

"Girl like you is too much influenced by the man in the case. Hero worship--all that sort of thing. An outlaw is an outlaw. This isn't a personal matter. Mr. c.u.mmings and I are merely doing our duty as good citizens."

At that, I think it possible that d.y.k.eman would have listened to reason; it was c.u.mmings who broke in uncontrollably,