EZRA TAKES A NAP
Mrs. Bascom stared from Ezra to Dr. Smith incredulously. She had
anticipated the doctor’s statement as to Sylvia’s condition would
startle the inspector, but instead he took it calmly, did not even
ask for details as if he were already aware of them.
‘Ezra Sewell,’ she exploded at last, ‘do you mean to stand there, not
even interested enough to ask what was wrong with her? You act as
if----’
Sewell stopped her with a commanding gesture for silence, listened
intently, then spoke quickly and sharply.
‘That’s the judge’s car comin’ back. Go down an’ keep ’em from
lookin’ out back until we get away, Ellen. Mum’s the word till I can
call you up an’ explain.’
Seizing the doctor by the arm, he hurried him down the stairs and out
the back way, pausing until he heard Mrs. Bascom’s voice addressing
the men at the front of the house, then urging the astonished
physician out through the barn and thus away from it by the orchard.
Not until they had safely gained Ezra’s car, parked on the back road,
did the latter speak.
‘Doctor, I guess you must think I’m actin’ like a crazy loon, but
you’ll have to trust me a bit. I’ll just say this. Ellen’s a right
smart woman, an’ between her an’ me, before another day’s over,
things will be all straightened out clear. Just you be patient an’
keep your mouth shut tight on all this.--Take my car an’ drive back.
Leave it at the jail. I won’t need it for a while.’
‘But, Ez, don’t you even want to know about Miss Hawley? She’s
been----’
‘Never mind now. Think I could guess pretty accurate myself! We’ll
talk that over later on. Now, git!’
Sewell turned abruptly away, retracing his steps toward the barn.
As they had left it a moment ago, he had been careful to see that
the French window they used was not latched behind them. Now he
stepped through it again into King’s workshop. Withdrawing a clean
handkerchief from his pocket, he wiped off the hinges and lock of the
rear window, then performed the same operation on the one at the side
of the room near where the guests had sat. This done, he rolled the
cloth into a ball, wrapped it in a piece of paper, and retraced his
steps to the road, setting off toward the village at a brisk walk.
Fifteen minutes later he called Mrs. Bascom on the jail telephone and
seemed gratified by the apparent calmness of her tone.
‘Ellen, just answer yes or no to what I ask you, see?--Now, can any
one hear what I’m sayin’ except you?--Good. Then here’s what I’d
suggest doin’. Keep _every one_ away from Sylvia, even Martha. Lock
yourself in with her if necessary, but try not to arouse suspicion
an’, whatever you do, don’t let ’em know if she comes to. Otherwise,
try to act natural, an’ if you ever played a part, play that one for
all you’re worth.
‘Nothin’ will happen to-night--that I’ll guarantee. I’ll be up there
if I can, but don’t go out of your way to talk to me, an’ don’t leave
your room to-night--not for anythin’.--Understand all that?--I’m
bankin’ on you a lot, Ellen B.--That’s all.’
He hung up the receiver abruptly, next calling Dr. Smith and
listening gravely to his diagnosis of Sylvia’s condition.
‘Think she’ll be able to stand a little talkin’ an’ excitement by
to-morrow?--That’s good.--Well, I’m askin’ you to do somethin’
else for me now, Doctor. Pete here will be over shortly with a
handkerchief of mine. It’s kind of oily. Could you soak it out
somehow an’ find out what kind of oil it is?--Fine.--I’ll pick you
up to-morrow mornin’ about nine o’clock, an’ we’ll go up to King’s
house, where I guess everythin’ can be settled right prompt. See you
then.’
Pete had been listening to this conversation, so received the
handkerchief with a silent nod, as Sewell beckoned him to follow to
Ruel’s cell where he paused outside, speaking quite briskly.
‘Son, it’s all over but the shoutin’ now, I hope, though there may be
quite some of that.’
‘You mean--you know who killed King?’
‘Yep. But I ain’t tellin’ you or any one else--yet. Now here’s what
I came to say. I’ve still got to prove it an’ you’ve got to help me.
You an’ Pete here have an all-night job ahead of you. Now take this
calm, Ruel. The truth is, Sylvia’s comin’ around all right, but she’s
been pretty bad. Some one went an’ doped her, drugged her to keep her
mouth shut.’
‘Doped--Sylvia?’ Ruel shouted, shaking the bars as if to wrench them
from the masonry. ‘Who? Why? Let me out of here, Ez. I’ll----’
‘Shut up!’ commanded Sewell sharply. ‘I told you she was all right
now an’ I also said I needed your help. If you can’t control
yourself, I’ll say no more--leave you here an’ get some one as is
willin’ to act sensible.’
This threat sobered Ruel at once, but he gripped the bars until his
knuckles showed white.
‘Ellen B. helped to discover that, an’ she’s lookin’ after Sylvia
now.’
‘God bless Ellen B.,’ muttered Ruel fervently.
‘You said it, son. Now, then, there’s nothin’ to worry
about--absolutely nothin’. To-night Pete here will let you out of
that cell. You an’ him sneak up to King’s house, an’ don’t get seen
doin’ it either. When it’s dark, you hide in the bushes on this side
of it, Pete on the farther side. There’s a man in the house who might
try to sneak away, though I don’t think so. However, it’s up to you
two not to let him--to see that no one leaves durin’ the night--no
one.’
The men nodded, Pete with apparent languor, though his eyes sparkled
with interest, Ruel with set jaw and tense muscles. Sewell glanced at
the latter quizzically as he remarked, ‘Guess no one will get away on
your side, Ruel!--An’ incidentally, I guess these are your last hours
in jail, so make the most of ’em.--Get along on that errand now,
Pete.’
When the latter had gone, Sewell went into the office, took out his
little box of clues, tied them in a neat bundle, and stowed them back
in the safe again. Next he seated himself at the desk to write.
There were long pauses for thought and many lines were rewritten
several times. At last he sank back in his chair, read the result
of his labors twice, then tore the pages into bits. Thus Sewell
marshaled his facts and arguments in preparation for the following
day.
A telephone call to the judge made an appointment for the latter to
come to the jail at half-past seven that evening, then Sewell set
about preparing supper, whistling and humming quite light-heartedly.
Prompt to the minute, Judge Brant’s car drew up before the jail and
he bustled into the office, smoking a long fragrant cigar.
‘Here I am, Sewell. Have one?’ He offered a cigar to the inspector as
he settled down in the empty chair, drawn up into the light of the
lamp.
‘No, thanks, Judge. I ain’t used to highfalutin smokes. A corncob is
more suitin’ to me, an’ don’t take my mind off things by makin’ me
think how much I ought to be enjoyin’ the smoke.’
The judge chuckled. ‘Well, Inspector, is this another of your
conferences?’
‘Yep, sort of. More talkin’, Judge, but perhaps you’ll get some
actin’ for a change to-morrow.--How’s everythin’ up to the house?’
‘About the same. Mrs. Bascom had a headache and is staying in her
room; Miss Hawley is still asleep. It is certainly unfortunate--her
condition, just at this time.’
‘Ain’t it?--especially when she might be able to clear up
things--about the will business, for instance.’
Judge Brant nodded skeptically. He doubted this statement, but did
not bother to deny it. His face, lighted by the full glare of the
lamp, showed lines of worry, appeared weary and puzzled as if his
thoughts were troubling him, and his eyes rather avoided Sewell’s.
‘I suppose this case ain’t been run accordin’ to detective methods,
exactly,’ said the latter, clearing his throat noisily. ‘I’ll admit I
ain’t a go-gettin’ sleuth like in King’s stories, but to me, it ain’t
been the kind of thing such methods could apply to, if you know what
I mean. For instance, there’s been too few clues. Again, there’s been
too much of this keepin’ things secret, not offerin’ information like
people ought to, if they are anxious to clear up a mystery.’
‘To whom do you refer?’ asked the judge rather absently, as if only
half interested in Sewell’s words.
‘You!’
‘Me? I--I don’t understand!’ His interest no longer wavered. His
eyes, narrowed and searching, fixed upon Sewell’s, his cigar spilled
ashes unnoticed upon his immaculately brushed clothes.
‘About King. Why didn’t you tell me what you knew, Judge?’
‘What I knew?’ echoed the latter, but his face flushed with the
effort to keep his voice calm.
For reply, Ezra fumbled in his pocket and placed upon the table
between them the slip of paper that he had abstracted from the
judge’s portfolio. The latter glanced down at it, unable to conceal a
start of surprise.
‘I don’t see what you are driving at, Sewell. I suppose you found
that in my room. Well, it’s just a--a case in which I was interested.’
‘I’m kind of interested in it too--about King, alias Jameson, eh?’
The judge’s bluster, like a pricked bubble, vanished. ‘You--you know
that?’
‘An’ a good deal more. An’ I repeat, why didn’t you tell me?’
The judge stared incredulously at the inspector, but this time his
eyes did not waver under the other’s scrutiny. He became intent,
nervous, as he leaned forward, his fingers crushing the paper into a
ball.
‘You’re insinuating I had something else to conceal--some knowledge
of the murder, I suppose? I swear to you it’s not true. I had a
reason for keeping this knowledge from you, but not the one you’re
imputing.’
‘I guess I believe you, Judge, but tell me about it,’ replied Sewell,
knocking out the ashes from his pipe and preparing to refill it.
‘How much do you know?’ countered the judge.
‘What the police records an’ newspapers told.’
‘Then there is a little more I can add.’ There was a distinct relief
in his tone now. ‘I found it out only yesterday when I was in Boston.
That number in King’s dressing-gown pocket--when I first saw it I
felt sure I ought to recognize it, yet couldn’t. It’s been puzzling
me. Yesterday I remembered certain private documents King had given
me some weeks ago. They were kept separate from his other papers,
so I had almost forgotten them. When I looked them over, I found a
letter addressed to me which I had opened before and put aside. It
contained an instruction that in case any peculiar accident should
occur to him, I was to go to a certain safety-deposit box in a bank.
This was to be done only in case I should think it necessary.
‘I had not understood his instructions at the time, and he refused
to explain them. That’s why they made little impression on me. But
the safety-deposit box number was the same as that on the slip--his
prison number.
‘I obtained the specified paper, found it was his confession of
his imprisonment. But in it he denied all the charges against him,
disclaimed any knowledge of either the murder or the underhanded
business of his partner. Two other facts were important. First, he
admitted learning, by chance, where his partner had hidden some of
his illicit gains. There was no way of returning them or making
restitution, so he said nothing about it at the trial. He obtained
them when he was released, and made a fresh start. Part of the funds
he used for this purpose, but later paid them back scrupulously,
devoting the entire fund to charity--to helping others in distress,
and so on. His accounting of it is all there, and it was his moral
restitution, I suppose.
‘The second fact bears on his death, or so it seems to me. He stated
that for some months he had been receiving slips of paper with his
prison number on them--nothing more. He feared this was blackmail and
left this explanation, obviously in case--well, in case of his sudden
death through other than natural causes.’
‘That corroborates things pretty well, especially Ellen B.’s ideas.
An’ it was just like him to go an’ choose that special number for his
lock box.--Interestin’--kinks of human nature, ain’t they? But why
didn’t you tell me?’
‘The revelation of his past stunned me. It was like defaming the
dead to bring it all to light again. I knew I should tell you, but I
hesitated, tried to believe it would not be necessary. Oh, I might
as well tell the whole truth. I feared you would not be discreet,
Sewell. Frankly, I did not have much confidence in you, feared you
might let it all become known unnecessarily, so meant to get a
detective of whom I was more certain. I apologize, sincerely. I’ve
misjudged you and----’
‘Never mind that part. It’s done no real harm, lettin’ some others
think I’m a lazy sort of fool too.’
‘You mean you know who is guilty?’
‘I do. Bein’ a good listener comes in handy sometimes, Judge, an’
often words do speak louder than actions. But I’m wanderin’ from the
road. You haven’t told any one else?’
‘Not a soul. And you? Must the world be told?’
‘Not if I can help it. You seem to forget he was my friend, too, an’
the same to lots of others hereabouts.’ Sewell’s words were sharp and
indignant, but only for the moment. ‘Well, Judge, that clears up your
end quite satisfactory. Maybe I can count on you to help as well as
be--er--discreet, seein’ as we understand each other, eh?’
‘Absolutely. If there is anything I can do----’
‘Seems to me I’ve heard you say them words before,’ remarked Ezra
pointedly, ‘but this time I’ll take ’em at face value an’ trust
you’ve told me everythin’. Just forget about what we’ve been sayin’,
see? If any one asks you why I called you down here, say--well, tell
’em it was one of my usual blunderin’ conferences!’
‘I’ll play up, Sewell. But who is the person you suspect? Do I know
him?’
‘Certain sure, but I ain’t quite ready to tell you--yet. You might be
more help not knowin’, see? But I figure it won’t be long before you
do. This much I’ll say--it’s some one as is in King’s house now!’
‘Then why don’t you arrest him?’
‘Don’t worry. I will when the time’s ripe. Look here, Judge, I’ve got
two things you can do to help. The first is, sleep light to-night an’
keep one ear an’ eye open. I don’t want any one leavin’ that house
to-night. The other request is simpler--drive me up to the house now
for a spell.’
‘Of course, I will--and that answers for both,’ nodded the judge, his
whole attitude having been completely revolutionized. ‘You may be
sure I’ll watch carefully too. Ready to go right away?’
Ezra pocketed his pipe without knocking out the smoking ashes, took
up his battered felt hat, then blew out the light and followed the
judge to his waiting car. He nodded to Pete, who was loitering on the
curb, gossiping with one of the villagers, then they drove off in
silence. Yet, when Basil Stacey and Dr. New arose to greet them from
King’s piazza, Sewell became even more loquacious than usual. After
they had talked for some time, he suggested they play a game of cards.
‘You needn’t look so darned shocked,’ he added with a chuckle at
their startled expressions. ‘I’m human, an’ it’s good to relax with
a game once in a while. Sometimes I’ve wished we had more company
down at the jail for that reason, ’cause two can’t play much, an’,
besides, I know all the ways Pete cheats! To-night I kind of feel
like breakin’ out a bit, throwin’ over the traces for relief, you
might say, seein’ as the detective will be takin’ over my job
to-morrow, I guess.’
When they saw his suggestion was made in earnest, they agreed to it
readily, starting for the smoking-room to set up a table and cards.
As they stepped toward the door, Sewell touched Basil’s arm and
motioned for him to hang back after the others.
‘Stacey,’ whispered the inspector authoritatively as he loudly
knocked out the ashes from his pipe as an excuse for delaying, ‘watch
out to-night. One of those men may try to leave. See that he doesn’t
quit the house, understand?’
‘You think that----’
‘I’m givin’ orders, not answerin’ questions, an’ if you know what’s
good for you, do as I say. Play up, now.’
Before the surprised Stacey could speak again, Sewell pushed him into
the hall toward the smoking-room.
‘What shall it be, gentlemen?’ asked the doctor as he shuffled the
cards.
‘Know whist? It’s kind of takin’ advantage of you, my bein’ the
champion of the county, but it’s about the only game I know.’
The others assented and the evening passed quickly. Ezra proved
his boast convincingly, the while flavoring the conversation with
stories and sly jokes so that no one had time to revert to the
mystery. A little after eleven, he stretched, yawned frankly, and
pushed back his chair.
‘You night owls can play as long as you want, but I’m goin’ to bed.’
‘Want me to drive you down, Sewell?’ asked Judge Brant.
‘No. Walkin’ will make me all the sleepier. Thanks for the game.’ He
smiled and jingled some newly acquired silver in his pocket.
At the doorway he addressed the doctor over his shoulder.
‘By the way, do you think there’s a chance of Miss Hawley bein’ up
to-morrow when the detective comes? I’m expectin’ him by the first
train.’
‘Rather doubtful, I’m afraid, Sewell.’
‘Wish she might. There’ll be questions to ask.’
‘Well, Mrs. Bascom said she was still--er--asleep when I stopped at
her door. That doesn’t look very hopeful.’
Sewell nodded and beckoned. While he had been speaking, he stepped
into the hall, the doctor naturally following him. Now they were out
of sight of the others and Ezra leaned close to whisper in his ear.
‘Can’t explain now, but I want those two men watched. Don’t let
either of ’em slip out of the house to-night. It’s important.’
Dr. New grabbed at Sewell to restrain him for a question, but the
latter eluded him and, placing a finger on his lips, hurried down the
hall, calling back aloud as he stood in the open door, ‘Good-night,
gentlemen, an’ thanks for a mighty pleasant an’ profitable evenin’.’
This remark was largely for the benefit of his two watchers, Ruel and
Pete, who should be on duty by now. As Ezra walked toward the road,
he glanced sharply about for them, but neither was visible, so he
nodded contentedly to himself, walked away out of sight of the house,
then cut into the field and circled back until he was in front of it
again. Here he squatted in the grass near a tree and waited, his eyes
fixed on the lighted hall.
A half-hour passed, and he began to nod gently, bringing his head
up with a jerk every now and then. After repeating this painful
process several times, he jabbed his thumb into his ribs viciously
and muttered, ‘Here you, Ezra, wake up. You’re a fine specimen of a
guard, you are.’
He glanced quickly at the house again. All the upper rooms were dark,
but the hall light burned brightly and a reflected light on the
bushes at one side showed the smoking-room was still illumined.
‘Hump! Wonder if they’re takin’ my remark serious an’ are goin’ to
play all night?’
He chuckled, and looked at his radium-dialed watch.
‘Gettin’ on to midnight. I never should have stayed up so late last
night. It ain’t good trainin’ for guard duty, leastwise not for an
old man like me.’
With a yawn he got stiffly to his feet, knowing it was too dark to be
seen from the house, stretched his arms and legs luxuriously, then
began to chuckle to himself heartily. A moment later he slapped his
leg softly, then slunk away in the general direction of the village.
Twenty minutes later he let himself into the dark jail and slipped
into his room, undressing without turning on the light. As he sank
back between the sheets of his bed, he snickered again.
‘Yep, you’re deliberately desertin’ your post, Ezra Sewell, but no
one will ever know it an’ you’ve earned a good night’s rest. Besides,
ain’t it a sign of a big man who can get others to do his work for
him?--Ha! I’d like to be a skeeter on the wall of that room so I
could see those three men, each watchin’ the other an’ suspectin’
him!--As to Ruel, it’ll do him good, havin’ a night out, an’ it’ll
keep him out of mischief, playin’ watch-dog hero. An’ Pete--well,
it’s time that lazy critter earned his salt. Yes, you take a good
snooze, Ezra, an’ to-morrow----’
The rest was lost in a yawn, quickly followed by rhythmic breathing
and a whistling snore.