Part 2 (1/2)
”Humph, sick, eh? Did he say what made him sick?”
”He did not know. He thought it might be from leaning over the dead man, or from working in that position. I think the sudden sickness frightened him a little.”
”When the police arrived what did they find of importance?”
”Nothing.”
”Had anything been stolen?”
”Nothing, so far as they could learn.”
”Of course, you must have known these folks pretty well to take such an interest.”
”I knew Mr. Langmore very well and I was acquainted with his wife.”
Adam Adams knit his brow for a moment and tapped lightly on his desk with his forefinger.
”Have the police any idea as to how the murderer got into the house and got out again?” he asked.
At this question Raymond Case's face flushed.
”They do not think the murderer left the house,” he answered in a low tone.
CHAPTER II
LOVE UNDER A SHADOW
Raymond Case dropped back into his chair and buried his face in his hands. Adam Adams eyed him curiously and with something of a fatherly glance.
”It is plain to see what his trouble is,” thought the detective. ”He is in love.”
He was right, Raymond Case was furiously, desperately, hopelessly in love. He had met Margaret Langmore at Bar Harbor but a few short weeks before, and it had been a case of love at first sight upon both sides.
A few automobile rides and a few dances, and he had proposed and been accepted, and he had counted himself the happiest man in all this wide world. And now--
”Then they suspect the servant girl?” queried Adam Adams, knowing they did nothing of the sort.
”No!” came sharply. ”They suspect Margaret--Miss Langmore.”
”Ah!”
”Yes. It is--is preposterous--absurd, but they insist. And that is what has brought me to you. I want to prove her innocence to the world. Do that, and you can name your own price, Mr. Adams.”
”You have a high regard for the young lady--you are close friends?”
”More. I may as well tell you, though so far Margaret and I have kept the matter more or less a secret. I love her and we are engaged to be married.”
”Did Mr. Langmore know of his daughter's engagement?”