Part 9 (1/2)
And, with a carefully concealed grin on his face, s.h.a.g drew the black-lettered paper from under his waistcoat, and laid it on the bed beside the ”Complete Angler.”
CHAPTER IV
SPOTTY
”Well, now,” observed Detective Thong, and, somehow or other, his voice sounded really cheerful, ”let's see where we're at, Mr. Darcy. Have you looked over the stock all you want to?”
They were in a room in the rear of the jewelry store--the city and county detectives, the reporters and James Darcy--with Policeman Mulligan on guard near the cut gla.s.s and silver gleaming in the showcases. On guard near a dark red stain in the floor, scarcely dry--it was still soaking into the wood. The body of the murdered woman had been taken away, followed by a sigh of relief from James Darcy, who, try as he did, could not keep his eyes from seeking it.
”The stock is checked up as well as I can do it in a short time,”
replied the jewelry worker, who had spent some time going over the store under the watchful eyes of Carroll and Thong. ”I'm not sure anything is taken. If there is, as I said, it can't be much. But I'll go over everything more carefully, checking up the books. That will take a few days, but I can do it while I'm here arranging for the funeral.”
”Not here you can't do it,” broke in Carroll, with a short laugh.
”Not here?” There was startled amazement in Darcy's question.
”No.”
”Why not?”
”Because you won't be here. You'd better come with us. You'll have to, in fact. The captain'll want to have a talk with you, and I guess the prosecutor the same. How about it, Jim?” and he looked over at Haliday, from the Court House. He was examining the side door leading to the alley.
”Oh, sure! he'll have to be held--as a witness, anyhow,” was the easy answer, and in the same breath he added: ”Not a mark! Not a scratch on the place! It was an inside job all right!”
”Held? I'll have to be--held?” faltered Darcy.
”Of course,” said Thong. ”And, while you're at it, take a friend's advice, and keep your mouth shut.”
”You mean anything I say might--might be used--against me?”
”Oh, I wouldn't put it that way exactly. That's moving picture stuff--theater business, you know. We don't go in for that--not me and Carroll. But don't talk too much. Of course you'll have to answer a lot of questions, and the easier you do the better for you. But wait until they're asked. Maybe it's against my interests to say that, but I've sort of took a notion to you. Now you'd better get ready to leave.”
”You mean lock the place up?”
”Oh, no, somebody'll have to stay here.”
”Not me!” interrupted Mulligan. ”I haven't had my breakfast. I was jest comin' in off dog-watch when I happened to see what was goin' on here--the crowd an' everythin'. I ain't goin' to stay!”
”Well, 'phone in then and get somebody,” advised Carroll testily.
”Somebody's got to be here until we can look around more.”
”I'll stay for a while.” said Haliday. ”I'd like to look about a bit myself. I'll probably have to get the case ready for the prosecutor.”
”Well, let's be going then,” suggested Thong. ”Shall I ring for the wagon?”
His partner shook his head after a look at Darcy.
”The trolley'll be all right for him,” he said in a whisper. ”We can get out the back way and avoid the crowd,” for the street in front of the jewelry store was still thronged, in spite of the ever increasing rain. ”As for King, he's asleep, and I guess we can put him to bed here. If we try to carry him out there'll be more of a push than there is now. Let him sleep it off,” and he glanced at a huddled figure in a corner chair.
”Who's asleep?” broke in the thick voice of the wastral. ”Whash matter you fellers, anyhow? Man comes in get li'l preshent for his wife--wife sits up all night waitin'--she's 't.i.tled to li'l preshent. Wheresh my gold knife, Darcy? I give it to you--have 'grave--Pearl's name--wheresh my knife?”