Part 18 (2/2)

I remembered the cleverness shown by the guilty person in placing the needle in the curtain. It seemed unlikely that this could be an accident. ”Isn't it possible,” I suggested, ”that this is a plant; that the tube was put there deliberately, to throw us off the track?”

”It's quite likely,” he admitted. ”On the other hand, Walter, the very smartest criminal will do some foolish little thing, enough to ruin the most careful plans and preparations.” He turned to McGroarty. ”Who rode in your car yesterday?”

”Mine's the princ.i.p.als' car,” boasted McGroarty. ”Going out I had Miss Lamar, Miss Loring, Mr. Gordon, Mr. s.h.i.+rley, and Mr. Werner. Coming back Mr. Werner was with you, and Miss Lamar--well, there was only Miss Loring and Mr. Gordon and Mr. s.h.i.+rley.”

”Did you notice how they acted?”

”They never says a word to each other on all the trip back, but I didn't think it strange after what happened, although usually they're always joking and laughing.”

”You brought the three to the studio here?”

”Yes. They had to get out of make-up.”

”Did you leave the car then?”

”No, I hit it right for the garage.”

”Were you away from the car at Tarrytown?”

”Sure! That was a long wait. Peters, Manton's chauffeur, and I found a couple of horseshoes and we were throwing them most of the time.”

”How long was the machine alone here in the yard this morning?”

”A couple of hours, maybe. I knew the old boiler was safe enough, and that if they wanted me they'd look over in McCann's.”

”Well,” Kennedy extended his hand, ”I thank you, and I won't forget you, McGroarty.”

As soon as the chauffeur was out of earshot I faced Kennedy rather eagerly, to forestall him if he had arrived at the same conclusion as myself.

”See! It's just as I thought yesterday!”

”How's that, Walter?”

”Werner! He rode out in that machine, but not back. In Manton's car he was worried all the time. He probably knew he had dropped the tube.

Then he hurried up ahead of us and wiped the needle--” I stopped, lamely.

Kennedy smiled. ”See, you're jumping at conclusions too fast. You remember now that we decided that the towel has nothing directly to do with the poison. In a way you cannot a.s.sume that this ampulla has, either, although I myself feel sure on that point. But in any case no one is eliminated. It is true Werner did not return in the same automobile. It is also true that he had little opportunity to drop it while others were in the car with him. When McGroarty was away from the car anyone could have lost it, or--as you suggested a moment ago--planted it there deliberately to divert suspicion.”

I felt the beginnings of a headache from all these confused threads of the mystery. ”Can't--Isn't there anyone we can say is innocent, at least, even if we cannot begin to fasten the guilt upon somebody?” I pleaded.

Kennedy shook his head. ”At this stage the one is as hard as the other.

I consider myself lucky to have collected as much material as I have for the a.n.a.lysis of the poison.” He tapped his pocket significantly.

”Yoo-hoo!” A frankly shrill call in a feminine voice interrupted. We both turned, to see Marilyn Loring hastening toward us.

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