Part 15 (1/2)
”That's it! Not a young chorus chicken, but an older woman, or women.
Adventuresses, you know.”
”Yes, that's what I mean. I suppose your first move is to trail his steps of last evening.”
”Yes, and I must get about it before the trail gets cold. I've so many ways to look. You know, Peters, he wasn't liked by the girls of this house.”
”Well do I know that,--and small wonder. The girls in this house are as nice a bunch of young ladies as ever lived. And the tenants are decent men,--they don't chuck an elevator girl under the chin or try to kiss her every time they ride up or down in her car alone with her!”
”And Sir Herbert did?”
”That he did! I heard it time and again. All the girls were right down mad about it. They're not that sort of girls.”
”But I suppose they're not the sort of girls to stab him in their righteous wrath?”
”Oh, good Lord, no! Though there's one of 'em, now,----”
”Which one?”
”No, I'll mention no names. Why, I've no right to hint at such a thing.”
”But if you know anything----”
”I don't. Go ahead with your investigations. If there's anything to start your suspicions, let me know which way you're looking.”
Corson went downstairs again, and rounded up all the girls employed in the house who might be apt to come in contact with the tenants.
Daisy Lee, an elevator girl, and Julie Baxter, a telephone girl, were the only ones who seemed to have rancorous or vindictive feelings toward the dead man.
Daisy, a frail, pale girl with a soft pretty face and lovely eyes, said frankly she was glad he was dead, for he bothered the life out of her with his attentions.
”He'd wait till I took other people up or down,” she said, angrily, ”so's he could ride with me alone, and then he'd kiss me.”
”Why didn't you report his actions to the management?” Corson said, sharply.
”Well,” Daisy blushed and hesitated.
”Speak up, Day!” said Julie. ”I'll tell you, sir. She didn't tell 'cause he brought her candy and flowers if she wouldn't.”
”That's so,” Daisy admitted, pouting. ”I like flowers and candies as well as anybody, and they're scarce nowadays.”
”Where were you last night?” Corson inquired, suddenly.
”Home and in bed,” declared Daisy, and when Julie gave her a quick, surprised look she said, defiantly, ”Well, I was!”
”And where were you?” The detective turned to Julie.
”Home and in bed,” she said also, but her tone was not convincing.
Corson was about to ask further questions of them, but just then Mr Vail came down in the elevator, and the detective turned to him.