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22 chapters
CHAPTER I KITTY!
CHAPTER I KITTY!
M iss Susan Baird let her gaze rest on her companion in speculative silence. Apparently, her last jibe had failed of its mark, judging from the man’s unchanged expression. With a vexed sigh she proceeded to pour out another cup of tea. They were an oddly matched pair. Miss Baird, still erect in spite of her seventy years, her small slight figure tucked into one corner of the carved, throne-shaped chair which was her habitual seat when in her library, appeared dwarfed in comparison with the broad
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CHAPTER II THE SUMMONS
CHAPTER II THE SUMMONS
T he broad streets of Washington City presented a lively scene as Dr. Leonard McLean drove his car with increasing slowness down Connecticut Avenue, crowded with government employees hastening to their offices. The congestion was even greater than usual owing to the downpour of rain as the drenched pedestrians swarmed around the street car stops in their endeavor to board cars, already packed to their limit, and arrive promptly at nine o’clock at their various destinations. McLean slowed down to
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CHAPTER III DETAILS
CHAPTER III DETAILS
I nspector Mitchell and Dr. McLean watched the taxicab, in which rode Major Leigh Wallace and Coroner Penfield, until it passed out of sight on its way to Washington, before reëntering the Baird mansion. “Major Wallace seems in bad shape,” commented Mitchell, as they crossed the hall toward the library. “I thought you would never bring him back to consciousness, Doctor.” “This library wasn’t a pleasant sight for well man to encounter, Mitchell, let alone a man in the major’s condition,” replied
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CHAPTER IV SUICIDE?
CHAPTER IV SUICIDE?
T he reception was in full swing and Mrs. Amos Parsons contemplated her crowded drawing room in a spirit of happy self-congratulation. She had just welcomed a newly accredited ambassador and introduced a Cabinet officer to the ambassador’s charming wife and she felt that her feet were at last securely placed upon the ladder of success. The scene was typical of the national Capital. The World War had rudely interrupted the “calling” days of the hostesses of Washington, but with the advent of peac
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CHAPTER V AT THE MORGUE
CHAPTER V AT THE MORGUE
C oroner Penfield adjusted his glasses and gazed at the six men who composed the jury, as they filed into their places, and then turned to look at the spectators assembled in the room reserved for the coroner’s inquests at the District of Columbia Morgue. Not only Washington society was taking a deep interest in the inquiry into the death of Miss Susan Baird, but many other citizens of the national Capital, to whom the name of Baird meant nothing, and who had been unacquainted with the spinster
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CHAPTER VI TESTIMONY
CHAPTER VI TESTIMONY
T here was craning of necks and bending of heads as the Morgue Master opened the door leading to the room where the witnesses waited to be called, and every eye was focussed on Kitty Baird as she stepped into the court room. “Don’t look so startled, Kitty,” whispered Dr. Leonard McLean in her ear. He had retained his seat by the door, expecting to leave at any moment. “This inquest is only a legal formality.” “But these people—the publicity,” she faltered. “Move on, Miss, move on,” directed Hume
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CHAPTER VII MRS. PARSONS HAS CALLERS
CHAPTER VII MRS. PARSONS HAS CALLERS
CORONER’S INQUEST RETURNS OPEN VERDICT Miss Susan Baird Killed by Party or Parties Unknown M rs. Amos Parsons laid down her evening newspaper and stared at her own reflection in the upright, silver-framed mirror standing on the table by her side. So absorbing were her thoughts that she did not observe a velvet-footed servant remove the tea tray and carry off the soiled cups and saucers. The French clock on the high mantel of the drawing room had ticked away fully ten minutes before she stirred.
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CHAPTER VIII THE CASE OF THE GILA MONSTER
CHAPTER VIII THE CASE OF THE GILA MONSTER
U naware that he had a place in Mrs. Parsons’ meditations as well as in her conversation with Major Leigh Wallace, Ted Rogers parked his car near the entrance to “Rose Hill.” His ring at the front door bell was answered by Mandy, the ebony shadow of Oscar, her husband. “Kin yo’ see Miss Kitty?” She repeated the question after him. “Why, I ’spect yo’ kin, Mister Rodgers. Jes’ step inside, Sah, an’ I’ll go find Miss Kitty.” Closing the front door and putting up the night latch with much jingling,
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CHAPTER IX MRS. PARSONS ASKS QUESTIONS
CHAPTER IX MRS. PARSONS ASKS QUESTIONS
W ashington society, or such portions of it as had known Miss Susan Baird in her lifetime, was agog over the latest development in the Baird tragedy; while Washingtonians personally unacquainted with the spinster were equally interested from motives of curiosity in the filing of her will. And all Washington, figuratively speaking, rubbed its eyes and read the newspapers assiduously, without, however, gaining much satisfaction. News from Police Headquarters was scant, and reporters resorted to th
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CHAPTER X RUMORS
CHAPTER X RUMORS
T he clerks in the outer office of “Craige and Lewis, Attorneys” looked up as the hall door opened with an unmistakable wrench and Ben Potter precipitated himself into the room. He brought up with some abruptness before the chief clerk’s desk. “Take my card at once to Mr. Craige,” he directed. “Tell him I’m in the devil’s hurry—late for an appointment now. Thank you,” as an office boy hurried forward with a chair. “I prefer to stand.” The chief clerk, with one look at Potter’s determined express
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CHAPTER XI I. O. U.
CHAPTER XI I. O. U.
T ed Rodgers shut off his engine, sprang from the car and in ten strides had gained the old negro’s side. “Stop a moment!” And at the stern command in his voice Oscar halted. “I am convinced that you know more of Miss Susan Baird’s death than you have admitted, Oscar, and—” his voice deepened, “you are going to tell me the truth.” Oscar cast a frightened glance upward. Rodgers’ determined expression was not one to encourage evasion. “Suttenly, Sah, suttenly. Wha-what truf do yo’ wish, Sah?” he s
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CHAPTER XII A WORD OF WARNING
CHAPTER XII A WORD OF WARNING
K itty Baird regarded the butler with astonishment. “Mrs. Parsons is not at home,” she repeated. “Why, Oscar brought me a telephone message from her asking me to be here at noon and to lunch with her.” She consulted her watch. “Are you quite certain that she is not in, James?” “Quite, Miss Kitty.” The butler’s solemnity of manner matched his severe black clothes, which fitted his somewhat spare form with the neatness of a glove. “Mrs. Parsons had forgotten a meeting of the Neighborhood House Com
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CHAPTER XIII BRIBERY
CHAPTER XIII BRIBERY
A resounding knock on the side door, through which she had entered the library a few minutes before, caused Kitty to start violently and her hand reached out instinctively to catch the mantel-piece to steady herself. For a second she rested her weight against it, then, controlling her nervousness, she thrust the mauve paper into the pocket of her coat and with reluctance moved over to the side door. Callers did not usually announce their presence in that manner. Miss Susan Baird had never permit
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CHAPTER XIV AND CORRUPTION
CHAPTER XIV AND CORRUPTION
K itty paused before her bureau and inspected herself in the mirror. It had been a relief to change from her street clothes to a dressing gown. She had spent nearly an hour lying on the couch in her bedroom trying to piece together the puzzling events of the afternoon. On reëntering the house she had gone at once to the servants’ quarters; from there she had searched every room, even to the attic. To all appearances Oscar was not in the house. She had then waited in the library, hoping to catch
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CHAPTER XV BOUND IN RED TAPE
CHAPTER XV BOUND IN RED TAPE
“ W har yo’ goin’, Honey, at dis time o’ night?” Mandy’s voice was raised in shocked expostulation and Kitty could not refrain from a smile. She had interrupted the old servant in the act of arranging her bedroom for the night when she had entered a moment before and taken her heavy overcoat and hat out of the closet. “Mr. Rodgers is going to run me over to see my godfather, Mr. Craige,” she explained as she arranged her veil. “Don’t wait up for me, Mandy; I have the key of the side door and can
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CHAPTER XVI A STARTLING ENCOUNTER
CHAPTER XVI A STARTLING ENCOUNTER
T ed Rodgers ran down the three steps leading to the porte-cochère of “Hideaway,” and opened the door of his car. “Wouldn’t you like to drive?” he asked, turning to Kitty standing in the doorway with Charles Craige. Kitty’s hesitation was brief. “Indeed I would!” she exclaimed. “I feel all keyed up—” Craige smiled indulgently. “Get as much pleasure as you can,” he advised. “You deserve the good things of life, Kitty. Now, put your aunt’s tragic death out of your mind—for to-night, at least,” obs
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CHAPTER XVII “K. B.”
CHAPTER XVII “K. B.”
I nspector Mitchell looked at the policeman standing in front of his desk with approval. “You have done well, Donovan,” he exclaimed. “Exactly at what hour was Major Leigh Wallace seen leaving ‘Rose Hill’ on Sunday afternoon?” “Mrs. Murray claims that it was about five o’clock or a little after,” Donovan replied, consulting his notes. “And why hasn’t she reported this before?” “She’s been ill with the grippe, and all news of the murder was kept from her,” the policeman answered. “She told her bo
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CHAPTER XVIII ELUSIVE CLUES
CHAPTER XVIII ELUSIVE CLUES
I nspector Mitchell felt extremely pleased with himself as he hurried along Seventeenth Street in the direction of the Munitions Building. In his interview with Mrs. Augustus Murray of Georgetown, an hour before, he had been unable to shake her confidence in her claim that she had met Major Leigh Wallace leaving the Baird mansion on Sunday afternoon about five minutes past five o’clock. Mrs. Murray supplemented her original statement with the information that the Major never had the decency to a
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CHAPTER XIX SUSPICION
CHAPTER XIX SUSPICION
I t was not often that Charles Craige was late in keeping an appointment with Mrs. Parsons. But the pretty widow had occasion to glance repeatedly at her parlor clock with ever increasing annoyance before she heard the butler ushering some one upstairs. She masked her displeasure under a smiling face. “Ah, Charles, what has detained you?” she asked, as he bent low over her hand and kissed it. “Pressing business,” he answered. “I am deeply sorry to be late, Cecelia. Judge McMasters simply would n
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CHAPTER XX THE FEET OF THE FURTIVE
CHAPTER XX THE FEET OF THE FURTIVE
M andy was not happy in her mind. No matter how tempting the dishes she cooked, her beloved “Miss Kitty” failed to eat more than “jes’ scraps,” as Mandy expressed it in her disgust. But Kitty’s heart as well as her thoughts were centered in the sickroom and she did not linger elsewhere. Weakened through loss of blood and shock, Ted Rodgers had lain partly conscious all through the morning, taking no interest in his surroundings and only rousing when Kitty spoke to him. But even to her he address
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CHAPTER XXI MOUCHETTE, THE SEVEN-TOED
CHAPTER XXI MOUCHETTE, THE SEVEN-TOED
W hen Nina Potter reëntered the library a few minutes later she found Charles Craige playing with the Angora cat, Mouchette. With a word of greeting she moved over to the fire and held out her hands before the blaze. Craige, who had risen at sight of her, observed her effort to avoid his gaze. “I feel chilled,” she confessed, and a shiver shook her from head to foot. “You have a bad cold,” Craige remarked. “Was it wise to linger in the garden—?” Nina, intent on her own thoughts, never noticed th
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CHAPTER XXII GREED
CHAPTER XXII GREED
C harles Craige sat staring into vacancy, while beads of perspiration trickled down his ghastly face. Several drops slipped into his eyes and half blinded him. Raising his hands he brushed them away. The action brought the handcuffs encircling his wrists into view. He regarded them apathetically, then his uncomprehending gaze traveled over the horror-stricken men and women grouped about his chair. It was not until he saw Kitty Baird that the situation dawned upon him. Before the others suspected
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