Part 31 (1/2)
Sam dropped the chocolate that he was just conveying to his mouth, and handed the box to the detective with great alacrity.
”There's something in it, I'm sure,” he said, after a careful scrutiny, ”and I'm willing to bet the stuff is poisoned!”
A final moan from the poor little dog fully justified him in his decision.
”The dog is dead,” said one of the clerks in a solemn voice. ”So there isn't a shadow of doubt but what the candy is poisoned.”
CHAPTER XXVIII.
A PAINFUL SITUATION.
To say that Sam was disappointed would be describing his feelings very mildly, but in an instant the discomfiture was forgotten in a new sensation--he had suddenly thought of Miss Marvin's good fortune.
Suppose she had kept the box and eaten the candy! The thought frightened Sam out of all further idea of secrecy.
In an instant he had related how he came by the candy, and the clerks were looking at each other with questioning glances.
”'Tain't the first box of candy she's had sent her,” said one. ”I heard Fairbanks say that she got them often from Jim Denton.”
”Yes, she's cut Mag Brady out for good in that direction. Well, why shouldn't she? She's new and as pretty as a picture!”
”But, surely, Jim Denton didn't send this box,” said the detective. ”If he's sweet on the girl he wouldn't want to poison her.”
”Well, hardly, Tyler,” laughed another of the lunchers.
”Perhaps he intended it for Mag,” suggested another. ”If he's tired of the girl he may be trying to fix her.”
”Pshaw! He doesn't have to resort to such measures as that! What could a poor girl do to injure Jim Denton? No, Tyler, you'll have to look somewhere else for your poisoner, I reckon,” said one of the oldest men in the whole establishment.
”Who gave you the box in the first place?” asked the detective of Sam.
”I mean, who told you to give it to Miss Marvin?”
Sam spoke up promptly, for he had nothing to hide.
”A kid gave it to me at the door--a messenger boy--who said he was in a tearing hurry.”
”Did you sign for it?” asked the detective, looking sharply at the boy.
”Naw, I didn't sign nothin'; he didn't have no ticket.”
”Then he wasn't a messenger at all,” was the reply, ”and you are a big dunce, Sam Watkins, that you didn't know it!”
”Well, I thought it was straight, anyhow,” whispered the boy. ”How was I to guess that some one was tryin' to pisen Miss Marvin?”
Ben Tyler took the box carefully and replaced the wrapper; then, telling Sam to follow, he went straight to Mr. Denton's office.
”Now, Sam, tell Mr. Denton exactly what you have told me,” said the detective, after he had stated what had happened.
Sam repeated his story without the slightest variation. Mr. Denton cross-questioned him, but there was nothing further to learn. A boy had handed the box to Sam and told him to give it to Miss Faith Marvin.