Part 71 (1/2)

”For publication. Now give me the real facts--under that overcoat of yours.”

Dr. Surtaine started, and winced as the movement tweaked the raw nerves of his wound. ”There's nothing else to tell,” he said.

”You brought me here to lie for you,” said the journalist. ”All right, I'm ready. But if I'm to lie and not get caught at it, I must know the truth. Now, when I see a man wearing an overcoat over a painful arm, and discover what looks like a new bullet hole in the wall of the room, I think a dead body may mean something more than heart disease.”

”I don't see--” began the charlatan.

But Hal cut him short. ”For G.o.d's sake,” he cried in a voice which seemed to gouge its way through his straining throat, ”let's have done with lies for once.” And he blurted out the whole story, eking out what he lacked in detail, by insistent questioning of his father.

When they came to the part about the Relief Pills, Ellis looked up with a bitter grin.

”Works out quite logically, doesn't it?” he observed. Then, walking over to the body, he looked down into the face, with a changed expression.

”Poor little girl!” he muttered. ”Poor little Kitty!” He whirled swiftly upon the Surtaines. ”By G.o.d, _I'd_ like to write her story!” he cried.

The outburst was but momentary. Instantly he was his cool, capable self again.

”You've had experience in this sort of thing before, I suppose?” he inquired of Dr. Surtaine.

”Yes. No! Whaddye mean?” bl.u.s.tered the quack.

”Only that you'll know how to fix the police and the coroner.”

”No call for any fixing.”

”So all that I have to do is to handle the newspapers,” pursued the other imperturbably. ”All right. There'll be no more than a paragraph in any paper to-morrow. 'Working-Girl Drops Dead,' or something like that.

You can sleep easy, gentlemen.”

So obvious was the taunt that Hal stared at his friend, astounded. Upon the Doctor it made no impression.

”Say, Ellis. Do something for me, will you?” he requested. ”Wire to Belford Couch, the Willard, Was.h.i.+ngton, to come on here by first train.”

”Couch? Oh, that's Certina Charley, isn't it? Your professional fixer?”

”Never mind what he is. You'll be sure to do it, won't you?”

”No. Do it yourself,” said Ellis curtly, and walked out without a good-night.

”Well, whaddye think of that!” spluttered Dr. Surtaine. ”That fellow's getting the big-head.”

Hal made no reply. He had dropped into a chair and now sat with his head between his hands. When he raised his face it was haggard as if with famine.

”Dad, I'm going away.”

”Where?” demanded his father, startled.

”Anywhere, away from this house.”

”No wonder you're shaken, Boyee,” said the other soothingly. ”We'll talk about it in the morning. After a night's rest--”