Part 30 (2/2)
The poison had gone directly into the blood, as does the venom of a snake, and had brought death in the same way. In fact, it was the opinion of Colonel Ashley that some form of snake poison was used, though what it was, no one could say.
And so pa.s.sed out and beyond Singa Phut, and the charge of murder, having been quashed by a higher tribunal than that of the county court, the matter was soon forgotten.
The colonel's theory, that some fellow countryman had supplied the East Indian means of escaping the electric chair, was generally accepted.
And that Singa Phut was guilty of having killed his partner in a sudden fit of pa.s.sion following one of their frequent quarrels was also believed by those who cared to exercise any thought in the matter.
”But what gets me, though,” said the colonel, ”is where does Singa Phut fit in with the watch in Mrs. Darcy's hand. That watch! Ah, there's a link I haven't had time to examine as I'd like to. I must see to it.”
The colonel fell into a reverie. His eyes went to the closet where he had put away his fis.h.i.+ng rods.
”Oh, friend Izaak!” he murmured, ”How basely I have deserted you! But I'm coming back. Yes, I'll stop this detective work. I'll wire for Kedge to-night to come on and take up the case. He can do it as well as I. I'll get Kedge!”
He started for the telephone to dictate a telegram. And then, as he chanced to look out of the window, a different expression came into his face.
Down on the sidewalk he saw Amy Mason walking slowly along. The girl's pretty face was drawn and careworn. Evidently the anxiety over Darcy was beginning to tell on her.
The old detective shook his head slowly.
”Oh, I suppose I can't back out now,” he sighed. ”I've gone too far.
It would look like quitting, and I never was a quitter!”
He straightened up to his soldierly height.
”Besides,” he went on, ”Kedge would only mix matters up now. He wouldn't know what to do, even if I told him. Kedge is all right for some things, but-- Oh, well, I'll keep on with the case!”
This was the day following the discovery of the suicide of the East Indian in his cell, and any intentions Colonel Ashley may have had of subjecting to a close examination the queer watch had to be postponed.
He had ventured to keep it after Donovan had shown it to him, ready to make some plausible excuse if it was called for, but the arrest of the East Indian, and the preparation of the case for trial, in connection with the prosecutor's office, evidently made Donovan forget, for the time being, that the watch was not among other criminal relics in his closet.
As a matter of fact, Colonel Ashley had had it in his possession since that night Donovan went out with his friend, the stool pigeon. And now, carrying out a plan he had made, the colonel, one bright May morning, put the odd timepiece in his pocket and started for the Darcy jewelry store, intending to have Kettridge look at the mechanism and other parts of the watch.
But when the detective reached the establishment he saw, to his surprise, a great crowd gathered out in front--a crowd that needed the services of several policemen to keep it from stopping traffic in the roadway.
”h.e.l.lo! More trouble at the place,” mused the colonel, quickening his steps. ”I wonder what's up this time?”
He inquired casually from those on the outskirts of the throng, and received enough information to justify the getting out of several extra newspapers.
”Burglar tried to blow up the safe and got blowed up himself.”
”Hold-up man shot three of the girls behind the diamond counter and then killed himself.”
”Naw! Somebody tried to set fire to the place!”
”Aw, only one of the girls fainted; that's all.”
These opinions came mostly from boys or young men. No one seemed to know exactly what had happened. The colonel spied Mulligan, the officer who had been the first official on the scene at the murder of Mrs. Darcy, and nodded in friendly fas.h.i.+on. The bluecoat escorted the colonel through the crowd into the store.
”I guess you'll be interested,” said Mulligan.
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