Part 3 (1/2)
”She thinks she saw somebody near the river, but she is not sure; in fact, she is so scared that she is all mixed up. She has told the police a thousand times that she had nothing to do with the crime.”
”Did Miss Langmore see anybody?”
”She saw a Doctor Bird pa.s.s in his buggy and a farmer named Carboy go by on foot.”
”When was this?”
”While she was at the piano. She doesn't know the exact time.”
There was a pause and the detective gave a faraway look out of the window and down the bustling thoroughfare.
”So far as you are aware, Mr. Case, did Mr. Langmore have any personal enemies?”
”I never heard of any.”
”He was rich?”
”Yes.”
”What was his business?”
”He was a dealer in patents and a promoter. Some thought he was rather eccentric, but I never found him so. He used to have an office here in New York but gave that up a year ago.”
”Well, what is your idea of this crime?”
”I haven't any. But I know Margaret Langmore is not guilty.”
”Evidently if they suspect her they have concluded that Mrs. Langmore was killed first.”
”That is their idea, but it looks to me as if both were killed at about the same time, although I know that couldn't very well be.”
”No, not if one was upstairs and the other down. Do you think it possible that one killed the other and then committed suicide?”
At this Raymond Case started back.
”I had not thought of that!” he cried. ”If it is true then that clears Margaret.” Evidently he was thinking only of the girl he loved--everything else concerning the mystery was of secondary consideration.
”Such a thing is possible, although not probable, unless the two had a bitter quarrel between themselves. Every crime must have a motive.
People do not commit murder unless there is a reason for it or unless they are insane. Motives may be divided into three cla.s.ses--jealousy, revenge, or gain. In this instance I think we can throw out jealousy--”
”Mrs. Langmore was jealous of Margaret.”
”And wasn't the young lady jealous of her stepmother in a way?”
”But she is not guilty--I'll stake my life on her innocence.”
”Then let us come down to revenge or gain. You say nothing was stolen.
Was there a safe in the house?”