Part 19 (1/2)
”And the chambermaid who attended to their rooms?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Then you may answer this question, and we will excuse you. How was the gentleman dressed when you saw him?”
”In a linen duster and a felt hat.”
”Let the jury remember that. And now let us hear from Richard Clapp. Is Richard Clapp in the room?”
”I am, sir,” answered a cheery voice; and a lively young man with a shrewd eye and a wide-awake manner popped up from behind a portly woman on a side seat and rapidly came forward.
He was asked several questions before the leading one which we all expected; but I will not record them here. The question which brought the reply most eagerly antic.i.p.ated was this:
”Do you remember being sent to the Hotel D----with several packages for a Mrs. James Pope?”
”I do, sir.”
”Did you deliver them in person? Did you see the lady?”
A peculiar look crossed his face and we all leaned forward. But his answer brought a shock of disappointment with it.
”No, I didn't, sir. She wouldn't let me in. She bade me lay the things down by the door and wait in the rear hall till she called me.”
”And you did this?”
”Yes, sir.”
”But you kept your eye on the door, of course?”
”Naturally, sir.”
”And saw----”
”A hand steal out and take in the things.”
”A woman's hand?”
”No; a man's. I saw the white cuff.”
”And how long was it before they called you?”
”Fifteen minutes, I should say. I heard a voice cry 'Here!' and seeing their door open, I went toward it. But by the time I reached it, it was shut again, and I only heard the lady say that all the articles but the shoes were satisfactory, and would I thrust the bill in under the door.
I did so, and they were some minutes counting out the change, but presently the door opened slightly, and I saw a man's hand holding out the money, which was correct to the cent. 'You need not receipt the bill,' cried the lady from somewhere in the room. 'Give him the shoes and let him go.' So I received the shoes in the same mysterious way I had the money, and seeing no reason for waiting longer, pocketed the bills and returned to the store.”
”Has the jury any further questions to ask the witness?”
Of course not. They were ninnies, all of them, and----But, contrary to my expectation, one of them did perk up courage, and, wriggling very much on his seat, ventured to ask if the cuff he had seen on the man's hand when it was thrust through the doorway had a b.u.t.ton in it.
The answer was disappointing. The witness had not noticed any.