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26 chapters
THE CURVED BLADES
THE CURVED BLADES
By CAROLYN WELLS Author of “A Chain of Evidence,” “The Gold Bag,” “The Clue,” “The White Alley,” Etc. WITH A FRONTISPIECE IN COLOR BY GAYLE HOSKINS PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 1916 COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY FRANK A. MUNSEY COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PUBLISHED FEBRUARY, 1916 PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY AT THE WASHINGTON SQUARE PRESS PHILADELPHIA, U. S. A. COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY FRANK A. MUNSEY COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PUBLI
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I MISS LUCY CARRINGTON
I MISS LUCY CARRINGTON
“Garden Steps” was one of the show-places of Merivale Park, Long Island. In summer it was an enchanting spot, and the dazzling white marble steps which led to the sunken gardens justified their right to give the place its name. Other stone steps gave on terraces and flower banks, others still led to the Italian landscape gardens, and a few rustic steps of a wooden stile transported one to an old-fashioned garden, whose larkspur and Canterbury bells were the finest of their sort. The house seemed
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II A CLASH OF TONGUES
II A CLASH OF TONGUES
True to its reputation for calming the impulses of the turbulent spirit, the music soothed Miss Carrington’s ruffled temper, and she waxed amiable and even gay. Enthroned on her favorite red velvet chair, resplendent in an elaborately decorated gown of sapphire blue satin, with her bright auburn locks piled high and topped by an enormous comb of carved tortoise-shell, she dominated the little group and gave orders that must be obeyed. She wore, among other jewels, a magnificent rope of pearls. S
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III THE TRAGEDY
III THE TRAGEDY
The house faced the east, and, built on an English model, was far wider than deep. A broad hall ran through the centre from front to back, and on either side there were successive rooms whose windows looked out on equally beautiful scenes, both front and back. On the right of the hall, as one entered, was the long living room, and beyond it, the library and music room. The other side of the hall was a reception room, opening into the sun parlor, and on to the conservatory, and back of these, the
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IV A PAPER SNAKE
IV A PAPER SNAKE
On the third floor was the bedroom of the maid, Estelle, and before its locked door stood Pauline and Anita, demanding admittance. There was no response from inside, until Pauline said sternly, “Unless you open this door at once, Estelle, the police will force it open.” The key turned, the door moved slowly ajar, and Estelle’s face appeared, wearing an expression of amazement. “What is it you say, Miss Pauline? The police? Why?” The maid was making a very evident effort to appear composed, and w
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V A MAN’S GLOVE
V A MAN’S GLOVE
Inspector Brunt and the young detective, Hardy, were interviewing the members of the household in the library, and the task was not an easy one. The two girls were distinctly at odds, and Gray Haviland, whether authoritatively or not, persisted in assuming a major rôle. “It seems to me,” Haviland said, “that it is the most remarkable mystery that has ever occurred in the experience of you police people. Now, I think the wisest plan is to call in a big detective,—no offence, Mr. Hardy,—but I mean
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VI A NEIGHBOR’S CALL
VI A NEIGHBOR’S CALL
“Oh, is it not terrible? What can I say to comfort you!” Mrs. Frothingham’s distressed tones and her air of eager, intense sympathy met with little response from Pauline. Haviland had been called from the room on an errand and Anita’s willingness to receive the neighbor’s condolences did not seem acceptable. The overdressed, forward-mannered widow continued to direct her attention entirely to Pauline, and that young woman merely surveyed her visitor coolly and replied in monosyllables. “Thanks,”
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VII THE INQUEST
VII THE INQUEST
Next morning the inquest was proceeding. The great living-room at Garden Steps was crowded with listeners, drawn hither by sympathy, interest or curiosity. And each class found ample to satisfy its motive. The mere fact of being within that exclusive home, within those heretofore inaccessible doors, was enough to thrill and delight many, and observation and scrutiny were as well repaid as was the listening to the astounding revelations that were poured into their ears. Coroner Scofield’s jury wa
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VIII ANITA’S STORY
VIII ANITA’S STORY
Instead of showing surprise at this statement, the Coroner broke the breathless silence that followed it, by saying: “Will you please explain what you mean by ‘stealthily?’” “Just what I say,” returned Haviland, bluntly. “She went slowly, now and then pausing to listen, twice drawing back around a corner and peeping out, and then coming forth again; she wore no shoes and carried no light; she went down the big staircase in the manner I have described, and after about ten minutes, returned in the
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IX FURTHER TESTIMONY
IX FURTHER TESTIMONY
Count Henri Charlier was being questioned, and he was distinctly ill at ease. His French savoir faire was not proof against definite inquiries as to his intentions regarding the late Miss Carrington, and indefinite allusions concerning his movements on the night of her death. He had related, straightforwardly enough, his visit at Garden Steps that evening and his departure at or about midnight. He denied his engagement of marriage, but admitted that he had paid Miss Carrington such attentions as
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X BIZARRE CLUES
X BIZARRE CLUES
It was Saturday. The funeral of Miss Carrington had been held the day before and the imposing obsequies had been entirely in keeping with her love of elaborate display in life. The casket was of the richest, the flowers piled mountain high, the music, the most expensive available; for the young people in charge had felt it incumbent on them to arrange everything as Miss Lucy would have desired it. It was a pathetic commentary on the character of the dead woman that while all who mourned her felt
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XI FLEMING STONE
XI FLEMING STONE
“Yes, I have often heard the idea expressed that the more bizarre the clues appear, the easier the solution of the mystery. And this is frequently true.” Fleming Stone looked from one to another of the interested group of listeners. They sat in the library,—Pauline, Anita, Gray Haviland and the young detective, Hardy. Haviland had carried out his plan of cabling Carrington Loria for authority to employ Mr. Stone, and had received a reply to use his own judgment in all such matters and charge the
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XII ESTELLE’S STORY
XII ESTELLE’S STORY
At the invitation of Haviland, Fleming Stone was a house guest at Garden Steps. Pauline had raised objections to this, but with Carr Loria’s authority back of him, Gray had insisted, and Pauline unwillingly consented. Stone himself recognized the fact that Pauline disliked him, or at any rate disliked having him on the case, but he ignored it and showed to her the same gracious manner and pleasant attitude that he showed to all. Anita, on the other hand, seemed charmed with Stone. She lost no op
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XIII BATES, THE BURGLAR
XIII BATES, THE BURGLAR
Brought before the magistrate, Bates told a coherent though amazing story. It seems he was Estelle’s lover, and had long ago persuaded her to let him know when Miss Carrington had a quantity of jewelry in the house, that he might essay a robbery. The plan was simple. Estelle had promised to slip downstairs at three o’clock and raise a window for his entrance, and later, but before any one else was about, she was to slip down and lock it again. In the meantime, they assumed, the burglary would be
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XIV WHO GAVE THE POISON?
XIV WHO GAVE THE POISON?
Though Fleming Stone’s acumen and quick perception had led to a swift apprehension of Bates, his next steps were not taken so rapidly. He spent much time in the boudoir of Miss Carrington, as if striving to make the walls tell what their traditional ears had heard. The upset breakfast tray had been removed, but nothing else disturbed. Estelle had owned up, after Bates’ arrest, that she did drop the tray, in her fright at the sight of the dead lady, and that she afterward denied it lest she be su
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XV PAULINE’S PURCHASE
XV PAULINE’S PURCHASE
Alone, Fleming Stone wrestled with the problem of the giving of that poison. The library at Garden Steps had been turned over to him for a study and no one entered the room unless summoned. Stone sat at the mahogany table-desk, but his eyes rested unseeingly on the beautiful fittings of polished silver and glass. On a memorandum block he wrote down the names of possible and probable suspects. To be sure, he thought, every one in the house might be deemed possible, as well as some who were not in
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XVI THE TWO GIRLS
XVI THE TWO GIRLS
“Miss Stuart,” and Fleming Stone’s voice, though gentle, had a ring of decision, “if I am to go on with this case, I must insist on your entire confidence, and absolute,——” he hesitated over the word, “truthfulness.” The two were alone. After the altercation between Pauline and Anita, Stone had requested the others to leave them, and he determined to get at the truth of this marvelous statement about the purchase of the snake. “I understand, and you are quite right,” murmured Pauline, her manner
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XVII THE OVERHEARD CONVERSATION
XVII THE OVERHEARD CONVERSATION
Awaiting the arrival of Anita Frayne, Stone thought rapidly. Forming his judgments, as always, more by impressions than by words, he found himself believing in Pauline Stuart. She had bought the paper snake, she had lied about it, but many women would have done the same. Knowing that the purchase of the toy meant definite suspicion, wouldn’t any innocent girl have feared and dreaded that exposure? If she had been guilty, she would scarcely have dared deny the facts of buying it, lest it be prove
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XVIII FLED!
XVIII FLED!
The days went by, leaving the mystery unsolved. Count Charlier was released from custody, there not being sufficient evidence to hold him. Bates was in jail awaiting the action of the Grand Jury, but it was recognized that he was not the murderer of Miss Carrington. Search for the poisoner had so far been fruitless, and the newspapers were clamoring for the arrest of somebody. But the Police Detectives were at their wits’ end, and even Fleming Stone was baffled. For hours, Stone sat thinking ove
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XIX LETTERS FROM THE FUGITIVE
XIX LETTERS FROM THE FUGITIVE
Pauline’s flight was deemed by many a confession of guilt. The District Attorney declared his intention of cabling a command to hold her for examination at Alexandria. Or, he said, perhaps it would be better to intercept her course at Gibraltar or Naples. The people at Garden Steps paid little attention to these suggestions, so absorbed were they in planning for themselves. “Poor child,” said Haviland, “she ran away in sheer panic. You don’t know Pauline as we do, Mr. Stone; she is brave in the
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XX IN THE BOUDOIR
XX IN THE BOUDOIR
Apparently, Fleming Stone paid little attention to this letter from Pauline. Really, every word engraved itself on his heart, as he read the lines, and when he gave the paper to Gray Haviland, it was only because he knew he would never need to refresh his memory as to the message Pauline had sent him. Stone also read the letter she had written to Gray, and his deep eyes clouded with pain at some of the lines. But he returned it to Haviland without comment, and then courteously dismissed the pair
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XXI FLEMING STONE’S THEORY
XXI FLEMING STONE’S THEORY
Alone in the library, Fleming Stone and Detective Hardy were in counsel. “I’m going to show you this thing as I see it, Mr. Hardy,” said Stone. “I frankly admit it’s all theory, I haven’t a particle of human testimony to back it, but it seems to me the only solution that will fit all points of the mystery. And I shall ask you to consider it confidential for the present, until I can corroborate it by unmistakable proofs.” Hardy nodded assent, his eyes fixed on the speaker in a sort of fascination
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XXII PAULINE IN CAIRO
XXII PAULINE IN CAIRO
On the first of March, about mid-afternoon, the Catalonia steamed into the harbor of Alexandria. Pauline, at the rail, watched the clearing outlines of mosques and minarets, as the beautiful city became visible. It was a glistening, dazzling strip, between the deep blue of the sea and the azure of the sky, and, breathless with delight, she gazed at the shining sunlit picture. Then the Arab pilot came aboard, and soon Pauline found herself in a shore-boat, swiftly making for the quay. She knew Lo
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XXIII TWO WILLS
XXIII TWO WILLS
For a few days Loria staid in Cairo, and devoted all his time to the amusement and entertainment of Pauline. Together they visited the Sphinx and the Great Pyramids. Together they made trips to Old Cairo and to the Ostrich Farm. Together they saw the Little Petrified Forest. But the immediate sights of Cairo, the tombs, mosques and bazaars, Loria told her, she could visit with Mrs. MacDonald or with their dragoman, after he and Ahri had gone on their trip up the Nile. Pauline was happy. At Carr’
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CAROLYN WELLS’
CAROLYN WELLS’
Baffling detective stories in which Fleming Stone, the great American Detective, displays his remarkable ingenuity for unravelling mysteries...
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J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY’S New and Forthcoming Books
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY’S New and Forthcoming Books
By GEORGE L. WALTON, M.D. 12mo. Cloth, $1.00 net. Dr. Walton’s slogan, “Why Worry,” swept the country. His little book of that title did an infinite amount of good. “Peg Along” is the 1915 slogan. Hundreds of thousands of fussers, fretters, semi- and would-be invalids, and all other halters by the wayside should be reached by Dr. Walton’s stirring encouragement to “peg along.” In this new book he shows us how to correct our missteps of care, anxiety, fretting, fear, martyrism, over-insistence, e
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