DR. LORD ASTOUNDED.
That the mystery connected with Mr.
Rogers’ death was not known by the son,
Nick was now convinced.
His visit to Worcester had been very
fruitful, however, and the great detective
returned to Boston armed with facts that
he knew would soon enable him to unravel
that mystery.
From Anita’s passionate exclamations
about himself, he learned that the Moreno
gang would endeavor to get him out of
the way, and he smiled grimly as he said
to himself:
"They have a big contract on their
hands."
A few minutes later he rang the bell at
Dr. Lord’s door and handed the domestic
one of his cards containing his real name
and profession.
When the doctor made his appearance
and saw Nick, he said:
"You have come early for your vial.
But I must ask you to wait some little
time, as a gentleman from New York has
just called."
"Nick Carter?" interjected Nick.
The doctor started.
"How do you know that?" he asked.
Nick arose from his seat, took another
card from his pocket, and, handing it to
his bewildered companion, said:
"I am Nick Carter."
"You!" exclaimed the doctor, who
dropped into an arm-chair and looked at
his visitor with astonishment. "Why,
Mr. Carter, you are just the man I wanted
to see. I was about to telegraph for you.
I am in serious trouble."
"I dare say it is about the Rogers murder
case," said Nick.
The doctor was again astounded.
When he recovered his equanimity, he
said:
"And the surgical instrument maker
scheme--what was the meaning of that,
Mr. Carter?"
"I cannot explain to you, sir, why I
adopt certain methods which I find necessary
to employ in the business of my profession.
It will, however, answer your
question sufficiently to inform you that
my adoption of the role of surgical instrument
maker was connected with this same
case concerning which you telegraphed
for me. And now, sir, will you be good
enough to state your business?"
"You seem to have divined it already."
"Then you do not require my services?"
"You have so surprised me, Mr. Carter,
that I scarcely know what to say."
Nick was watching him narrowly.
"Shall I tell you what you want me
for?" he asked.
"It would not surprise me one bit if you
could. But, Mr. Carter, let me ask you
one question: What do you know about
the woman Alvarez?"
"Everything."
"Everything?"
"Yes, doctor. And now will you tell me
what you know about her?"
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Perhaps I had better explain," said
the doctor. "On the morning after Mr.
Rogers’ death--some time after Dr. White
and I had made our examination of the
body, the woman Alvarez called. She insisted
that she was Sam Rogers’ wife."
"Yes, they were married," interrupted
Nick.
"Really?"
"Yes. But go on."
"She appeared to be terribly excited.
She said she had evidence that her father-in-law
did not die of heart disease. I assured
her that she was mistaken. Whereupon
she took from her pocket a little vial
similar to the one which I asked you to
allow me to examine yesterday."
Nick was all attention.
The fruit was ripening fast, and he
firmly believed that it would very soon be
ready to pluck.
"I analyzed the contents," continued
the doctor. "I discovered that it was indeed
a terrible poison."
"What did the woman say when she
showed you the vial?" asked Nick.
"She became very excited again, and
said:
"‘I found this in my father-in-law’s
room. You have poisoned him! I will
have you arrested!’
"I was fearful of scandal, for I am to be
married to Mr. Rogers’ daughter, so I
tried to calm her. I said I would do anything
to hush up the ridiculous suspicion."
"Ah!" sighed Nick, and the doctor
continued:
"When I said that she screamed:
"‘You are guilty, or you would not
make such a proposition. But I have here
the proofs of your villainous crime to get
hold of Miss Rogers’ money at once.’
"This annoyed me, and I requested her
to leave the house at once, which she did.
She returned again, however, that same
evening. The moment I saw her the idea
entered my mind that she came to blackmail
me, and I determined to humor her--to
find out, if possible, who she was.
She came fully prepared this time. She
said that a private examination had been
made by young Rogers and it was discovered
that his father had been poisoned.
There was an appearance of truth in this;
for, after her first visit, I wanted to make
a more critical examination of the body,
and Sam refused to allow it. You see,
Mr. Carter, I was in a very delicate position."
"I should say so!" said Nick.
"Therefore," added Dr. Lord, "I listened
to her without offering a word of
denial or assent. Her plans were very
cleverly laid, you see. She said that if I
would consent to sign a certain agreement,
she would bind herself not to disclose the
fact about the vial or any of the other
evidence, which she said she had in her
possession, that directly pointed to me as
Mr. Rogers’ murderer. I asked time to
consider, though I had not the slightest
intention of permitting her to blackmail
me. She consented, and gave me until
yesterday morning, when, she said, her
brother would call."
"And he did call?"
"Yes."
"I know it. I saw him."
Dr. Lord really felt uncomfortable. He
could not understand why or how Nick
knew so much about the affair, unless it
was that he was watching him. However,
he continued:
"He brought with him the copy of an
agreement. I told him that I could not
decide just then, but that, in any event, I
would not sign the agreement as it then
stood. I wanted to see just how far he
would go."
"Bravo!" interrupted Nick. "Did he
leave a copy of the document with you?"
"No. I was just starting for Mr. Rogers’
funeral, and he promised to come for my
answer at ten o’clock to-day."
"He won’t be here," said Nick. "But
I have heard enough, doctor. What do
you wish me to do?"
"I want to be protected from this gang
of blackmailers, but I do not want it made
public."
"If young Rogers knows of it, it will
be hard to hide the affair," said Nick.
"I shouldn’t be surprised if he did, if
that woman is his wife."
Dr. Lord looked the picture of misery.
He got up from his chair and walked
up and down the room two or three times.
He then stopped suddenly before Nick
Carter and cried:
"For God’s sake, do something--anything
to prevent this outrageous lie reaching
Miss Rogers’ ears! Let them take the
money. Yes, I will add to it; but spare
me my honor and my love."
He sat down, grief-stricken and miserable.
And then Nick went to him and extending
his hand, he said:
"Brace up, doctor. You have nothing
to fear, nor need you feel even worried."
The doctor took Nick’s hand in his and
expressed his warmest thanks.
He was pouring out his gratitude, when
Nick interrupted him by saying:
"Do you remember the terms of the
agreement they wished you to sign,
doctor?"
"Yes. It stipulated that upon condition
that the Alvarez woman or her brother
would not breathe a suspicion about the
finding of the hypodermic syringe point,
I was to pay to her the sum of fifty thousand
dollars on the morning of my marriage
with Miss Rogers. I need not tell
you that signing such a document would
incriminate me and give them a perpetual
handle for blackmail."
"You only know one-half of their
scheming, doctor. But they are clever.
They wished to make certain of at least
one person from whom they could levy
tax. However, the question of Mr. Rogers
death must be sifted to the end, and if
young Rogers is in any way implicated,
I may need your assistance."
"You shall have it if it is necessary.
But it strikes me, Mr. Carter, that the
first thing to be ascertained is, was Mr.
Rogers murdered?"