CHAPTER VIIIPRO AND CON
Atsight of John Hale towering head and shoulders above the others in the outer office of Latimer and House, Stockbrokers, the senior partner hastily excused himself from several persistent clients and sent his messenger to bring John Hale into his private office.
“Well?” he demanded without further greeting. “Well, has the night brought counsel?”
John Hale tipped the revolving chair he was occupying back to its limit before replying.
“The night brought nothing but sleeplessness,” he groaned. “Whichever way you look at it, Frank, it’s a damnable situation. Judith’s bonds missing from her father’s safe and discovered in her husband’s possession, and Austin found stabbed to death within a few feet of the opened safe in which her bonds were kept. My God! Frank,”—he bent nearer and Latimer saw the beads of perspiration standing on his brow,—“do you realize all that that implies?”
“You mean that Joe Richards opened the safe, stole the bonds and, caught in the act by Austin, killed him?” asked Latimer.
“Yes, that’s about it.” John Hale twirled his walking stick about. “Well, it tallies, doesn’t it?” and only by an effort of will did he hide a touch of eagerness.
Latimer pondered a moment before replying. “Yes, it tallies,” he agreed, “but you have no evidence to substantiate it. For instance, to open the safe Richards had to know the combination.”
“Well, he might have picked it up.”
“True, he might have, but you will have to prove that he did.”
“I prove it?” John Hale’s heavy brows met in a scowl. “That’s the detective’s job, not mine.”
“I used the pronoun to imply the prosecution, and not in its personal application,” Latimer explained. “Where was Richards on Tuesday night?”
“Playing billiards at the club.”
“Have you proof of the exact time he left there?”
“No, but I’ll get it,” and John Hale’s tone implied grim determination.
“Then suppose you make inquiries at theclub,” suggested Latimer; “but be guarded, John. Every one’s attention is focused on Austin’s murder and you might start an ugly scandal.”
John Hale reddened. “Well, what if I do?” he grumbled. “The situation couldn’t be much worse than it is to-day,”—shooting a defiant look at his friend. “Austin murdered under mysterious circumstances, and the police haunting our house, not to mention the morbid sight-seers who gather about it. I cannot stir out of the place without encountering curious glances. Even at the club there’s excitement whenever I appear—and the newspaper men!” He struck the desk a resounding blow with his clenched fist. “Damn it! If Richards murdered Austin he’ll swing for it—I don’t care if he’s married Judith a dozen times over.”
“Easy, easy,” cautioned Latimer. “Cool down, John, and let us discuss this matter rationally. What have we discovered against Richards?”
“That he was playing the market, that he was in need of funds, and that he had in his possession bonds belonging to Judith which had been stolen on Tuesday night from my brother’s safe, near which we found Austin’s body in the small hours of Wednesday morning.” John Halemoderated his excited manner. “Pretty damning evidence.”
“As far as it goes,” agreed Latimer. “Now, to make it conclusive you must prove: first, that Richards was at your house between Tuesday midnight and oneA. M.Wednesday; and secondly, that he knew the combination of your brother’s safe. Recollect, it was not forced open.”
“I’ll make it my business to find out.” John Hale reached for his hat and his gloves which he had tossed on the desk. “I am also going to have inquiries made regarding Richards’ career.”
“An excellent idea,” exclaimed Latimer. “But you had better employ a private detective agency, John, rather than the local police. Try the Burroughs Company, they handled some work for our firm when Johnston, the bank cashier, hypothecated stock belonging to us.”
“Where’s their office?” asked John Hale, jotting down the name on the back of an envelope.
“In the Fendall Building, corner of John Marshall Place.”
John Hale completed the address and replaced the envelope in his breast pocket.
“Listen, Frank,” he began. “Austin’s murder was unpremeditated—the weapon usedproves that. No man would deliberately kill another with a pair of shears.”
Latimer shook his head in doubt. “You are taking a great deal for granted,” he protested.
“Not a bit of it,” vigorously. “Austin caught Richards going through the safe and Richards grabbed the first thing handy—Judith’s shears.” Latimer said nothing, and after a brief pause John Hale continued. “The crime was committed by some one familiar with the habits of our household—the police claim that. No better time could have been selected for rifling Robert’s safe. He was ill in bed, and Agatha and I were attending the French Embassy reception and, by the way, we decided to go only at the last moment—that’s an important point.”
“You mean——”
“Richards was present when I told Agatha that I would take her to the reception, and he left the house immediately afterward.” John Hale was becoming excited again. “Thus, Richards knew that the coast would be clear.”
“Hold on, he was aware that Judith was at home, and the servants, also,” objected Latimer.
“Sure, and he knew that our servants retire early. Anna sees to the closing of the house, and she is very strict with the other servants.” JohnHale rose abruptly and emphasized his words by striking his cane against the floor. “And Richards knew that Judith would not be likely to hear him, and if she did—”
“Well, what then?” as John Hale paused.
“He probably had a plausible excuse handy. Oh, he could have manufactured some story which Judith would have swallowed,” retorted John Hale. “Remember, they haven’t been married long.”
Latimer frowned. “Who is going to tell Judith about the theft of her bonds?” he asked, rising also.
“It’s up to you.” John Hale moved uneasily and glanced away from his companion. “Judith came to you about her bonds.”
“Dash it all, John!” Latimer spoke with temper. “I’m damned if I will. Don’t you realize that Judith worships her husband?”
“Well, it’s not the first time a woman has been deceived in a man,” replied Hale cynically. “What did she marry for in such an all-fired hurry? I am sorry for Judith, but she must ‘dree her weird.’”
Whatever reply Latimer intended making was interrupted by the entrance of a clerk.
“This special delivery letter has just come foryou, sir,” he explained handing it to Latimer. Then, with a polite bow to John Hale, of which the latter took not the slightest notice, the clerk departed.
Latimer tore open the envelope and ran his eyes down the written page to the signature. An exclamation escaped him.
“It is from Judith,” he said. “Listen:”
Dear Frank:I gave my Valve bonds to Joe to use as he saw fit, and he tells me that he took the shares to you and you were kind enough to arrange the business for him, so I shall not need the $1,000 after all.Please don’t tell the family that I’ve become a bit of a gambler; Joe doesn’t quite approve of a woman speculating, but—he’s dear about it.Thanks for all your kindness.Faithfully,Judith Richards.
Dear Frank:
I gave my Valve bonds to Joe to use as he saw fit, and he tells me that he took the shares to you and you were kind enough to arrange the business for him, so I shall not need the $1,000 after all.
Please don’t tell the family that I’ve become a bit of a gambler; Joe doesn’t quite approve of a woman speculating, but—he’s dear about it.
Thanks for all your kindness.
Faithfully,
Judith Richards.
Latimer and John Hale stared at each other.
“Let me see that letter,” the latter demanded, and he read it twice before handing it back to Latimer. “What do you make of it?”
Latimer laughed heartily. “Thank God I shan’t have to break any unpleasant news to her,” he exclaimed. “But the inconsistency of women! To come to me for advice and then get her husband to do exactly what I advised her not to.”
“What was your advice?”
“To use the bonds as collateral at a bank and not sell them.”
John Hale studied him in thoughtful silence for a minute.
“When did Richards bring the bonds here, Frank?” he asked. “Was it some time after Judith left?”
“No; come to think of it, he must have been in the outer office when Judith was talking to me,” responded Latimer, and his face grew grave once again.
“And Judith states”—John Hale picked up his niece’s letter—“‘I gave my Valve bonds to Joe to use as he saw fit and he tells me that he took the bonds to you—’ Did Judith mention to you where she had the bonds?”
“Now that you speak of it, she did say that they were in her father’s safe.” Latimer eyed John Hale sharply. “What are you driving at?”
“Simply this, that if Richards was in your front office with the bonds in his possession, they could not have been where Judith thought them—in her father’s safe. Secondly,”—and John Hale’s voice deepened—“there was no time for Judith to return home, get the bonds and givethem to Richardsbeforehe sold them to your clerk here in your outer office. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes.” Latimer’s worried look returned. “By Jove, you think—?”
“That Judith has discovered that her bonds are missing.”
“Do you suppose your brother told her?”
“I hardly think so, for he swore me to secrecy,” replied John Hale. “No, Judith must have gone to get the bonds and found them missing from the safe.”
“But, good Lord! How did she know that her husband had brought the bonds to me?” demanded Latimer.
“Ask me something easy.” Hale swung his cane around and stepped briskly to the door. “But depend on it, Frank, I’ll find an answer to that question before I’m many hours older.” And he banged out of the door.
Latimer strode thoughtfully up and down his office, then reseated himself at his desk.
“What’s come over John?” he muttered. “He seemed anxious,”—he paused—“no, more than anxious,—determined,—to fix the guilt on Joe Richards.”
He leaned forward and eyed Judith’s letter, reading it slowly, conning over the words, andwhen he straightened up there was a gleam of frank admiration in his eyes.
“You are a loyal woman, Judith,” he exclaimed, unconscious that he spoke aloud. “As well as ‘a bit of a gambler.’”