Part 31 (2/2)
”But he is in prison.”
”Ah!” said the detective, with bright eyes. ”So is his master, Lucifer, in the lower regions. He's there, but he has a long arm. Morphy's tool in this affair is probably the telephone repair-man. You saw him. Mr.
Nichols saw him. I saw him. We all agree that he does not look the part of a scoundrel and a scoundrel's tool. But,” Drew paused and spread out his hands; ”but,” he continued, ”that's the reason he was chosen for Morphy's murderous work. You can't send a thug into a drawing room--or a library. You can't cut a sharp slice with a dull tool. This trouble-hunter is all that the name implies--a hunter of trouble. I don't doubt that we have the case rounded up, save for bringing him in.
Morphy, we can get at any time. He's in prison and he's getting very close to the little green door that leads to the electric-chair. One slip to-night, and we have him!”
”Miss Stockbridge must go south after the funeral,” said Nichols. ”She can't be jeopardized! She is nervous and has suffered acutely. I for one am sorry we let her stay here. It is the place she should not be.
They know where to look for her!”
”They're beat to-night,” a.s.sured Drew, rising and stretching his arms.
”My! my!” he added, ”this is slow, sleepy work. I'd ask for tea, but I think it's best we stay locked in here. Don't you, Miss Stockbridge?”
”Marie can get some. There's a service-waiter running up to her room.
Suppose I order tea, or coffee, and cakes. It might cheer us up?”
Drew held out a warding arm as Loris rose and started toward the writing room. ”I'll tend to it,” he said. ”You stay right here close up to Mr. Nichols. We're taking no chances at all.”
The detective parted the portieres and knocked upon the maid's door as he turned the key with his left hand. He waited as she gave the order through a silver-plated speaking tube. He heard the service-waiter rising. He leaned forward and took the tray with a sharp glance about the maid's room. It was as clean and as neat as a work basket. A French novel, with a vivid portrait of a poilu carrying a very sharp bayonet on its cover, lay in the center of a white counterpane on the bed.
”Good-night!” he said as he closed and carefully locked the door. He reached downward and caught up the tray. He started across the writing-room. He paused in its center as he heard:
”Burrrr! Burrrr! Burrrrr!”
Shrillingly the perfumed air of the suite vibrated with the silver notes of the telephone. Drew hesitated, with the tray balanced in his hand. He took one step forward as Loris swished across the sitting-room, lifted the hard-rubber receiver and voiced a soft, ”h.e.l.lo!”
Drew let go of the tray and sprang forward. He parted the portieres and watched Loris' face. It changed between seconds to a flushed mask of crimson-fear. She staggered back, dropped the receiver, and cried ”Harry!” as she sank to the floor.
Drew darted across the rugs and s.n.a.t.c.hed up the instrument. He heard a low, chuckling laugh that died to a whisper and then to nothingness. He flipped the receiver back on the hook. He turned with a savage twist.
He stared across the room toward Loris, who had risen to her knees and whose head was against Nichols' olive-drab breast.
”What was said?” he questioned sharply.
A ma.s.s of turbaned, midnight-hued hair uncoiled and fell about the girl's white face. Glorious eyes dulled, then glowed, with the fire which was pulsing within her. Her lips trembled and went blanched as she throated brokenly:
”The man--the man at the other end said.... He said that his master had ordered my coffin.... He said that I had only a few hours to live....
He said that he would call me up again.... For me to be ready then, to meet my Master and my--doom.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
”A SILENT PRISONER”
Loris Stockbridge finished speaking with a low sob which went straight to the detective's heart. He advanced across the room and ran his arm about her supple waist. ”We'll help her to the divan,” he told Nichols.
”That's it! Right over here and in the corner. She's all right. I'll tend to that threat which came over the wires.”
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