Part 23 (1/2)
”I'm a fool,” he said, ”but--I'm all in!”
CHAPTER IX
Investigation
Nor did Thorpe's nerves grow calmer. Both Mrs. Crane and Julie tried to soothe him, but he was jumpy and his mouth twitched spasmodically.
The women endeavored to change the subject and talked of other things, whereupon Thorpe sat, brooding,--his dark, handsome face strained and despairful.
”Now, McClellan,” Julie said, at last, decidedly, ”it's awful enough, goodness knows, but I'll go crazy if you sit there like that any longer!
Let's think what's to be done. In the first place, there's Carly to be considered. She's worse hit than you are. Oh, I know you and Gilbert were great friends and all that,--but I think he and Carly were more than friends.”
”Julie,” said her mother, ”don't a.s.sume more than you know. Carly hasn't forgotten Peter,--of that I'm sure.”
”No; and I don't say there was anything definite between her and Gil Blair, but I think it would have come in time. Gilbert was crazy over her, even before they all went on that trip, and when Peter didn't come back, I think Gilbert felt he had a right to win Carly if he could.”
”Oh, he had right enough,” Mrs. Crane conceded, ”but--I suppose I'm a bit jealous of my son's memory. However, I'm sorry for poor little Carly, if she did care for Gilbert in that way.”
And then Carlotta came in. Shelby was with her; he had heard the news and had gone straight to Carlotta's home, and they had come over to the Cranes' together.
Carlotta's eyes were red with weeping, but she was even more indignant than sad.
”Who could have killed Gilbert?” she cried, ”and why should any one do so?”
”Killed him!” cried Julie, ”what _do_ you mean?”
”Why, yes,--haven't you heard? Gilbert was poisoned.”
”Oh, Carlotta! Who said so?”
”Kit told me;--tell them about it,--I can't.”
So Shelby told them.
”Mr. Crane telephoned me,” he said, ”only about half an hour ago. He said the doctor found that Gilbert was poisoned, either by himself----”
”Oh, he never did it himself!” Carlotta cried out. ”Why should he? He was just on the eve of the great compet.i.tion,--and he was so excited about it, and so hopeful,--it's absurd to say he killed himself!”
”Of course it is,” agreed Julie. ”But are they sure it was poison? Mac thought it was acute indigestion,--or a stroke, or something like that.”
”No,” Shelby said. ”Mr. Crane said there was no doubt about it, I mean about the poisoning. But don't be too sure that Gilbert didn't take it himself. It might have been by mistake, you know. And anyway it's a mistake to theorize much until we know more of the details. I'm going up to Blair's place. Coming along, Thorpe?”
”No,--no,--I don't believe I will,--I'll stay here a while, if Mrs.
Crane will let me.”
”Of course,” said Mrs. Crane, in her kind, motherly way, ”Mac is all broken up. And no wonder! The shock of finding Gilbert dead----”