IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES
As the attorney, in response to the summons from Mr. Thornton,
hastened from the corridor into the main hall, five gentlemen were
slowly ascending the broad stairway, conversing together in subdued
tones. One, younger than the others and evidently more familiar
with the surroundings at Fair Oaks, stepped quickly in advance of
the rest and extended his hand to Mr. Whitney in silent greeting.
This was Dr. Hobart, Hugh Mainwaring's physician and one of his most
intimate friends, although a number of years his junior. Following
him were Mr. Elliott and Mr. Chittenden, of the firm of Mainwaring
& Co., while bringing up the rear were the coroner and a gentleman,
somewhat below medium size and of modest appearance, whom the
attorney greeted very cordially and afterwards introduced to Mr.
Thornton as Mr. Merrick. Proceeding at once to the library, they
were joined a moment later by Ralph Mainwaring and his son. The
necessary introductions followed, and Mr. Mainwaring having given
the butler instructions to admit no one into the library, Mr. Whitney
made a brief statement regarding the discovery of the murder, and
all passed into the room in the tower.
Dr. Hobart at once bent over the prostrate form with genuine sorrow.
The millionaire broker had been one of his earliest patrons, and
their acquaintance had soon ripened into a mutual attachment,
notwithstanding the disparity in their ages. After a long look at
the face of his friend, he gave place to the coroner, who was also
a physician. They partially lifted the body and both examined the
wound, the small man who had accompanied the coroner looking on
silently. It was found that the bullet had entered just above the
right eye and had passed through the brain in a slightly downward
direction, coming out near the base upon the same side. The most
careful search failed to disclose the bullet, and attention was
next directed to the revolver lying upon the floor near the right
hand. It was a Smith & Wesson, thirty-two calibre, with but one
empty chamber, that from which the fatal bullet had probably
been discharged.
"Can any of you gentlemen tell me whether or not this belonged to
the deceased?" inquired the coroner, holding up the revolver.
There was an instant's pause, and Mr. Whitney replied, "I know
that Mr. Mainwaring owned a revolver, but, having never seen it,
am unable to answer your inquiry. Perhaps his secretary could
give you the desired information."
"I have often seen a revolver lying in Mr. Mainwaring's desk,"
said the secretary; "but I doubt whether I could identify it, as
I never observed it closely. I should judge, however, that this
was the same size and make."
"Would it not be well to see if it is still there?" suggested
the attorney. "I suppose you have a key to the desk."
"I have, sir," he replied, at the same time producing it. Crossing
the room, he unlocked and opened the desk. An instant later, he
announced, as he closed the desk, "It is not here."
There was a subdued murmur, and Mr. Thornton was heard to exclaim,
"Suicide! That has been my impression all along."
Ralph Mainwaring glanced inquiringly at the attorney, who shook
his head emphatically, while the coroner once more inspected the
wound with an air of perplexity.
"Doctor," inquired Ralph Mainwaring, "in your opinion, how long has
life been extinct?"
"I should judge about eight or nine hours," replied Dr. Hobart.
"What would you say, Dr. Westlake?"
"That would be my judgment, also."
"You would say that death was instantaneous?" questioned the
attorney.
"Without a doubt. It could not have been otherwise?" Ralph
Mainwaring consulted his watch. "It is now half after nine; in your
judgment, then, this must have occurred about one o'clock this
morning?"
"About that time."
"At what hour was Mr. Mainwaring last seen by any one in this
house?" asked the coroner.
"As nearly as we have ascertained thus far, at about twelve o'clock."
"Twelve? Indeed! By whom? and where?"
"By his private secretary, and in the library adjoining."
"Very well," said the coroner, after a pause, during which he had
made a memorandum of certain details which he considered of special
importance; "the undertaker can now be summoned as I believe he is
waiting below, and we seem to have ascertained all the facts possible
in this direction; and, Mr. Whitney, I will next see the valet, whom
you say was the one to discover the situation this morning."
In the slight confusion and delay which ensued, Mr. Elliott and Mr.
Chittenden took their departure, with the usual expressions of
condolence and regret, followed a few moments later by Dr. Hobart,
who was accompanied downstairs by young Mainwaring.
Meanwhile, Mr. Merrick, having made a close scrutiny of the lifeless
form, had been slowly walking back and forth in the tower-room and
library, his hands in the pockets of his short sacque coat and his
eyes apparently riveted on the floor. Several times in the library
he paused and, bending downward, seemed to be intently studying the
carpet; then, after two or three turns about the room, he sauntered
towards the windows and doors, examining the fastenings of each in
turn, and, on reaching the door opening into the southern hall,
suddenly disappeared.
"A very mysterious case!" commented the coroner, when he had finished
his interview with the valet. "Thus far nothing can be learned which
throws much actual light on the subject one way or another, but if
anybody can unravel the mystery, Merrick can."
"Merrick!" repeated Mr. Thornton, turning to Mr. Whitney in surprise.
"Is Mr. Merrick a detective?"
"He is. I did not introduce him as such, for the reason that in a
case of this kind he usually prefers to make his first visit incognito
if possible."
"Very well; you have taken the responsibility in this matter. You
understand, of course, Mr. Whitney, that we want no amateur work in
a case like this."
"Mr. Merrick is no amateur," said the attorney, quietly; "he is one
of the most trusted and one of the surest men on the force."
"Before we go any farther," interposed Ralph Mainwaring, "I suggest
that we ascertain whether or not there has been a robbery. We can
at least satisfy ourselves on that point."
"Acting on your suggestion, we will examine the safe," said Mr.
Whitney; "though I, for one, am not inclined to think there has been
any robbery. Without a knowledge of the combination, the safe could
not be opened unless force were employed; and it certainly bears no
evidence of having been tampered with."
"Proceed with your investigation, Mr. Whitney," said the quiet voice
of the detective, who had entered unobserved from the smoking-room;
"unless I am greatly mistaken, the person we are after is some one
pretty familiar with various 'combinations' in these apartments."
There was a general expression of surprise, and all turned towards
Mr. Merrick for an explanation, but a glance at his impassive face
convinced them that questions would be useless.
With a few swift turns the secretary unlocked the safe and the
ponderous doors swung open, showing books and papers in their
accustomed places. Everything appeared in perfect order; but as the
attorney began a rapid examination of the interior, he suddenly
uttered a sharp exclamation, while, as he continued his search, his
manner betrayed considerable excitement.
"Anything wrong, Mr. Whitney? anything missing?" queried Ralph
Mainwaring.
"Everything is missing!" the other exclaimed, after a moment's pause,
turning around with a pale face and holding in his hand an empty
cash box; "there is absolutely nothing left but an old cheque-book,
a few drafts, and some other papers of no value whatever except to
Hugh Mainwaring himself!"
Half a score of questions were instantly raised: "Was there a large
amount of money in the safe?" "Did it contain anything of great
value?"
Scott, standing silently in the background, seemed to see
again the brilliant gems flashing in the sunlight, as he had
seen them in his search on the preceding day, but he said
nothing.
"There was a considerable amount of cash," the attorney was saying.
"Mr. Mainwaring deposited a large sum there when he last came out
from the city, and," he added more slowly, "the old family jewels
were kept in the safe."
"The Mainwaring jewels!" echoed both the Englishmen. "Impossible!
incredible!" While Ralph Mainwaring exclaimed, "Why, they were
worth a fortune several times over in themselves!"
"I am aware of that," answered the attorney. "I often remonstrated
with Mr. Mainwaring, but to no purpose; for some reason which he
never explained he always kept them there."
"I would never have believed him capable of such recklessness," said
Mr. Thornton.
"Recklessness!" exclaimed Ralph Mainwaring; "it was the biggest
piece of imbecility I ever heard of! What is your opinion now, Mr.
Whitney, regarding a robbery in connection with this case?"
"That there has been a robbery I am forced to admit," the attorney
replied, courteously but firmly; "but my opinion of the matter is
still unchanged. I regard the robbery as only incident to the
murder. I do not yet believe it to have led to the deeper crime."
"Do you know, Mr. Scott, whether any one beside yourself understood
the combination of the safe?" Ralph Mainwaring inquired.
"I do not, sir," the secretary replied, conscious that all eyes had
turned upon him at the inquiry and that the detective was observing
him closely.
Meanwhile Ralph Mainwaring loudly lamented the missing jewels, until
it was evident to all that their loss, for the time at least, had
completely overshadowed all thought of the tragedy they were
investigating.
"They must be recovered at all hazards and at any price," he said,
addressing the detective. "There were single gems in that
collection which cost a fortune and which have been heirlooms in
the family for generations."
After further search which failed to disclose anything of importance,
or any clue regarding either the murder or the robbery, arrangements
were made for the inquest to be held at three o'clock that afternoon,
and the party was about to leave the apartments, when Mr. Whitney
paused.
"One moment, gentlemen; there is one more point I would like
investigated. I maintain that we have not yet discovered the most
essential clue to this case--something to throw light on the
possible motive which prompted the murder of Hugh Mainwaring. I
now wish to make a final trial. Mr. Scott, will you once more open
Mr. Mainwaring's desk for us and take out the will that was deposited
there yesterday?"
Ralph Mainwaring started. "The will? You surely do not think--"
"I think it might be safer in our own possession," said the attorney,
with a peculiar smile.
"And right you are!" added Mr. Thornton, approvingly. "I wonder you
had not thought of that yourself, Mainwaring."
Meanwhile, Scott, having opened the desk in compliance with the
attorney's request, had looked for the will where he had last seen it
on the preceding day, and, failing to find it, was searching through
the numerous receptacles containing Mr. Mainwaring's private papers.
The silence around him became oppressive, and suddenly looking up,
he encountered the glance of both Mr. Whitney and the detective, the
former with an expression of triumph in his keen eyes. Perplexed and
bewildered, Scott exclaimed in a mechanical tone,--
"The will is gone; it is nowhere to be found!"
"I thought as much," said the attorney, quietly.