In the Onyx Lobby Read online

  CHAPTER IX

  The Library Set

  But it proved no easy matter to trace the whereabouts of Sir HerbertBinney between the hours of twelve and two on the night he met histragic death.

  The detectives were aware that he said a pleasant good-night to thechorus girls he had entertained at supper, and had left the Magnifique,alone, about midnight, but then all trace was lost. Naturally enough,for peaceable citizens are not noticed if they follow a beaten or usualpath.

  Nor could it be discovered whether he came into the onyx lobby alone, oraccompanied by the person or persons responsible for his death. Theabsence of the weapon precluded all thought of suicide, therefore, hehad been murdered and the murderer was still at large.

  There was no witness to his dying moments but the night porter, BobMoore. His testimony was not doubted, for, so far, no reason wasapparent for his having any ill will toward the victim of the tragedy.

  The two police detectives on the case worked well together. Corson wasthe more clever minded of the two, and Bates more energetic and active.But they felt decidedly baffled at the stone wall they found themselvesup against.

  Sir Herbert had left the Hotel Magnifique, walking. Where had he gone orwhom had he met? A highwayman or thug was improbable, for such a personwould not follow a victim into his own home before attacking him. Thisadded plausibility to the written statement incriminating women.

  Angry or vindictive women might accompany him to the lobby of his ownhotel, pleading or threatening in their own interests and then, in theirfinal despair at gaining their point, stab him and run away.

  Which, the detectives concluded, was just what had happened, and thething now, was to find the women.

  In default of any other way to look, they were still investigating thewomen employed in The Campanile.

  But they had narrowed their search down to a few of those. Principallyof interest was Julie Baxter, the telephone girl,--but more for thereason of her relations with Moore, than because of her own admissions.

  A persistent quizzing of Moore had proved to the detectives'satisfaction that he did not know where Julie was the night of themurder, and that he was himself anxiously worried at her refusal totell.

  For the girl would not tell even her _fiance_ where she had been. Shepersisted in her story that she had been up to no harm but she wasdetermined to keep her secret. This, in connection with her strong willand blunt manner, convinced the detectives that, though she need nothave been criminally implicated, she, at least, knew definite andindicative facts about the murder.

  Moore said he was in a quandary. Full of detective interest, he longedto work on the case, and felt sure he could be of use to the police, butthe attitude of Julie deterred him.

  "You see, she's my girl," he said frankly to Corson. "And she does actqueer! I don't understand her, but I can't dig into this thing and mayberun up against something she doesn't want me to!"

  "You have faith in her own innocence, then?"

  "Oh, yes,--that is, she wouldn't kill a man! And yet,--who can say that?In a fit of anger a woman would do anything,--more especially, if shewasn't alone."

  "What do you mean by that?"

  "I mean a woman, working alone, would hardly dare to kill a man,--but,accompanied, maybe egged on by another woman, she'd be daredevil enoughto----"

  "Who would? Julie Baxter?" Corson flung the question at him.

  "Yes," Moore declared, "Julie or any woman of her fierce, intensenature. I know Julie well, and I love her, and I'm going to see herthrough,--but it's quite in the picture that she knows something aboutthis thing."

  "You're pretty frank for a man engaged to----"

  "That's just it! I'm going to save her from herself! Julie isstubborn,--she's positively pig-headed, if she takes a notion. Now, ifshe's keeping something back,--and she is,--it's to shield some friend,or,--or to shield herself; but not from conviction of crime,--ratherfrom some circumstances that might falsely incriminate her--or some oneelse."

  "But if she knows who did this thing----"

  "Oh, she doesn't. At most, she only suspects. But I'll find out. She'smy girl, and I'm going to discover the truth about her,--and then aboutthe murder."

  "Oho, you're going to be a detective!"

  "Not so's you'd notice it. But I'm going to do a little sleuthing on theside and if I find out anything that will help justice along, I promiseto tell you,--let the chips fall where they may."

  "I haven't any too much faith in Moore's protestations," Corson confidedto Gibbs. "He's crazy to be a detective, but he's afraid he'll catch hisown girl in his net. That's the truth in a nutshell. I do think, though,he'd be good help to us, for he knows all about this house and itsoccupants, and I can't help thinking the murderers belong here."

  "I don't think so," returned Gibbs. "I'm sure they are rank outsiders.They were with him during those missing two hours and they followed himhome, hoping to get what they were after,--black-mail, most likely, andthen at the last minute opportunity presented itself and they killedhim."

  "Must have been prepared for it, as they had a weapon, used it deftly,and carried it off."

  "They did that, and there's an important clew. None of those littlechorus babes could have stabbed with that deft touch, which the doctorvows shows skilled medical or surgical knowledge."

  "Maybe, and maybe it was a chance blow. Well, I'm going off on a newtack. I'm going up to see the dead man's people and get, if I can, somenew angle on the case."

  Corson went up to the Prall apartment and found the members of thathousehold in a high state of excitement.

  Miss Letitia Prall paused in what was evidently an angry harangue andsomewhat grudgingly accorded a greeting to the caller.

  "Must you have an interview just now, Mr Corson?" she asked, acidly."I'm sure you know all we can tell you."

  "I'm not sure of that, Miss Prall. There are, I think, some points yetto be cleared up."

  "The whole case is yet to be cleared up. I can't see that you detectiveshave solved any part of the puzzle."

  "I doubt it can be solved in parts. I think we must ferret about hereand there and at last we will strike the truth all at once."

  "Well, can't you go and strike it somewhere else?" spoke up the pertvoice of Eliza Gurney. "We have much to attend to, with funeralarrangements and business matters."

  "As to business matters, you are sole heir, I understand, Mr Bates?"

  "Yes, I am so informed by the lawyer who has my uncle's will in hiskeeping," answered Richard, with an air of cold politeness.

  "And you will take up the Bun business?"

  "He will not," Miss Prall replied for him. "He will devote himself tohis great work of inventing--Mr Bates is a genius and now he will havethe means and the opportunity to carry on his life work."

  "Just so. And you will be getting married?"

  "Of course he will," Miss Prall still gave the responses; "not atpresent, of course, but as soon as he finds the right young lady----"

  "He won't have to look far afield for that!"

  "Leave me out of the conversation," Richard growled. "These privateaffairs of mine in no way affect your detective work."

  "But, you must pardon me if I seem intrusive, I am assuming that we areat one in this matter of investigation?" Corson spoke sharply.

  "Of course," agreed Bates.

  "Then I must ask if you are engaged to Miss Everett."

  "He is not!" Miss Prall almost shrieked the words. "He is not and neverwill be. The death of his uncle, deplorable as are the circumstances,leaves Mr Bates free to pursue his occupation with all his time andattention. He will not think of other matters for a year at least, andthen the lady in the case will _not_ be Miss Everett!"

  The Grenadier sat stiffly upright, and her black beady eyes, darted fromher nephew's face to that of the detective as if challengingcontradiction from either of them.

  Bates replied only by a shrug of his shoulders, but Corson said, "Iassume then, Miss Prall, that outside t
he natural shock of the tragedyyou feel a certain relief that your nephew is now the heir to greatwealth and can pursue his career? But I understand his uncle wished himto associate himself with the Bun business."

  "Quite so," Letitia snapped. "The late Sir Herbert was deeply interestedin my nephew, but he did not understand or appreciate his achievementsand possibilities in his own chosen line. Wherefore, I am rejoiced thatnow my nephew can proceed unhindered."

  "But, I believe the late Sir Herbert favored the match between Mr Batesand Miss Everett?"

  "Drop that!" Richard blazed forth. "Leave that lady's name out of thisconversation!"

  "Yes, indeed!" Letitia cried; "I forbid the mention of the name ofEverett in my presence!"

  "Yet it may be necessary," Corson went on, calmly. "You know, MissPrall, the ends of justice may call for the mention of a name----"

  "What in the world can the mention of that name have to do withjustice?" Eliza broke in. "You don't connect the Everetts with themurder, do you?"

  "I don't connect any one with the murder, as yet," Corson replied, "butit is my great desire to find some connection, and so I have to makeinquiries."

  "If that's your motive, I still must request that you omit the name ofEverett from your conversation," said Bates. "Look here, Corson, are yougetting anywhere, or aren't you?"

  "I am," was the quiet reply; "now, Miss Prall, you'll be obliged toanswer a few questions, whether you like it or not."

  Corson's tone, though courteous, was severe, and the Grenadier, whilenot frightened, gave him a look of curiosity and intense interest.

  "Go on," she said, briefly.

  "This feud between yourself and Mrs Everett is a matter of longstanding, I believe. You can't, therefore, object to my reference to it.What was its cause?"

  "Oh, it's so old now, that its cause is sunk in oblivion." Letitiasmiled sourly. "But it has been added to by other causes as time wenton, and thus new fuel has kept the fire burning."

  "Keep the home fires burning," said Richard, with a mocking smile at hisaunt, who heeded it not.

  "And so," she went on, "the feud, as it has come to be called, is asstrong and well-nourished as ever."

  "Yet you two ladies elect to live under the same roof."

  "To nurse the feud along," Bates asserted, and the Grenadier noddedassent.

  "However," she added, "Mrs Everett is about to move away."

  "What!" cried Richard.

  "Yes," repeated his aunt, evidently pleased with the fact, "she is goingsoon."

  "Thus," offered Corson, "you will be relieved of two undesirable peopleat once."

  "Meaning Mrs Everett and her daughter?" queried Eliza.

  "Not at all. Meaning Mrs Everett and Sir Herbert Binney."

  "Oh!" gasped Miss Prall. "Don't put it that way!"

  "Why not? Since it's the truth. You now can have the pleasure of seeingyour nephew pursue----"

  "Don't talk about me as if I weren't here!" exclaimed Richard. "Or as ifI were a minor or an incompetent! I'm devoted to my aunt; I love, honorand obey her, but I'm a man with a mind of my own. And when it runscounter to the desires or plans of my aunt--well, we must fight it outbetween ourselves. However, Mr Corson, I can't see that the affairs ofmy aunt and myself, or the affairs of my aunt and her fellow-feudist,Mrs Everett, have any connection with or bearing on the murder of SirHerbert Binney. If they seem to you to have such a bearing, I think itis right that you should tell us all about it."

  "I take it, then, that we are working in unison,--at least, in concord?"

  "You may certainly assume that as far as I am concerned," said Bates,but the two women present seemed by their silence to reserve judgment.

  "First, Miss Prall, I'd like to hear from you what plans Sir Herberthad, so far as you know, regarding the sale of his great bakerybusiness."

  "I know a great deal about that, Mr Corson, as Sir Herbert not onlydiscussed the matter with me, but did me the honor to ask my advice,considering that my judgment was of value."

  "No doubt. And you advised him?"

  "I advised him to sell out to Crippen,--of _Crippen's Cakes_. You knowof the firm?"

  "Yes, indeed; who doesn't? It's the largest of its sort in the country."

  "Unless one excepts the Vail Bakery. But that's bread."

  "And aren't buns bread?"

  "That was part of the controversy. However, Sir Herbert and Mr Vail hadtheir bout before the matter was taken up by the Crippen people. Mr Vaildidn't see his way clear to combine his bread with Sir Herbert's buns.But Mr Crippen thought the buns would go well with his cake business,and they were on the point of coming to an agreement in the matter.Indeed, Sir Herbert told me he expected to see Mr Crippen lastevening----"

  "He didn't. I've interviewed Mr Crippen and he told me so."

  "Might they not have met after the Magnifique supper?"

  "What!" Corson looked at Miss Prall in surprise. "You mean----"

  "Oh, nothing,--nothing connected with the--the tragedy, of course. Butperhaps the interview did occur, and for some reason Mr Crippen doesn'twant it known--can't you see, Mr Corson, that it's a queer thing thatnobody comes forward to tell where Sir Herbert was those last two hoursof his life? Well, mightn't he have been with Mr Crippen,--remember, hetold me he expected to see him,--and whatever their conference resultedin, might not Mr Crippen have wished it kept quiet----"

  "And so, denied it? Why, it might be so, Miss Prall,--but in such aserious case Mr Crippen would hesitate before he would be anything butsincere in his story. It's a risky matter to falsify when a murder caseis being investigated!"

  "I know it," and Miss Prall smoothed the folds of her gown placidly."But, you see, I know Mr Crippen."

  "Oh, come now, Auntie," broke in Richard, "just because Crip was an oldbeau of yours, don't say things against him."

  "I'm not saying anything against him, Ricky, I only say I know him. Ifthat's a damaging admission, it's his fault, not mine."

  The Grenadier set her lips in a straight line, and looked sternly atCorson. "You can draw any deductions you wish, Mr Corson," she went on,acidly, but positively; "I tell you that I know Mr Crippen very well,and I wouldn't believe a word he says, unless I had the corroboration ofanother."

  "Be careful, Letitia," warned Miss Gurney.

  "You shut up, Eliza! I'll say what I choose."

  "Do, Miss Prall," urged Corson. "You're decidedly interesting. May I beforgiven if I look about a little. What unusual curios and treasures youpossess."

  "I do; but this is no time to examine or comment on those. If you havequestioned me all you wish,--though, for my part, I don't think you'vequestioned me at all,--suppose we consider this interview at an end."

  "Why, Aunt Letitia, have you no wish to find out who killed UncleHerbert?" asked Richard.

  "I can't say that I have. He's dead; no punishment of his murderer canbring him back. He was no relative of mine, nor was he such a friendthat I'm thirsting to avenge his life. For my part, I only want to havethe matter hushed up. The unavoidable publicity and notoriety are mostdistressing!"

  "I haven't questioned you much, I admit, Miss Prall," observed thedetective, "but I have found out a great deal since I have been here."

  "Yes?" she returned, coolly, with a haughty nod.

  "Yes; are you interested to know what I have learned?"

  "I am not. It is all beneath my notice. I assume you will use yourinformation in any way you see fit--but the way, nor the result,interests me not at all."

  "Don't talk like that, Letitia," and Eliza looked deeply concerned. "MrCorson will think you a hard-hearted woman."

  "He has my permission to do so."

  "Oh, stop, Auntie!" Bates cried, earnestly. "You get yourselfmisunderstood by such talk. You're not hard-hearted,--except regardingyour foolish feud. In all other ways you're normally kind and generousminded."

  "Thank you, Rick, but I don't care for compliments."

  Corson was fingering some library appointments on the large
table nearwhich he sat.

  "These brass sets are convenient things," he remarked, referring to anelaborate array of fittings spread out on the large green blotting pad."These long clipping shears are most useful, and the pen-holder, letteropener and ink eraser, all to match, are of admirable workmanship."

  "Yes," said Miss Prall, carelessly, "I had the set made to order. It is,I think, unique."

  "Why are you interested in them?" Miss Gurney said, abruptly.

  "Oh," Corson returned, easily, "I love desk fittings. They always have apeculiar fascination for me. I have several sets myself, but none sofine or costly as these."

  "Why don't you stick to your subject, Corson?" said Bates, a littleimpatiently. "Are you and Gibbs going to make a success of this case ornot? And I wish you'd let me know all you've done. You have a frank airabout your disclosures, but I can't help thinking you're sounding us."

  "Sounding you?" and Corson looked mystified.

  "Yes; as if you suspected us of knowing more than we've told. I assureyou _I_ don't."

  "No, I never dreamed that you did. You've been most outspoken, Mr Bates,and, while I can't plume myself much as yet on my findings or those ofMr Gibbs, you must remember that the matter is not many days old, and itis not what is called an 'open and shut' case."

  "No; and yet, it ought to be. For a man who does not belong to thiscountry to come over here and be killed, seems to imply not such a verylarge number of possible suspects."

  "As to that," and Corson sighed, "I don't know of even one possiblesuspect. I wish I did,--it might lead to others. But we have theassurance that the deed was done by women; that simplifies the search."

  "Yes and no, to that," spoke up Miss Prall. "Sir Herbert, of course,wrote that in good faith, but may he not have meant by the influence ofwomen, or at the orders or desire of women,--and not, necessarily, thatwomen committed the actual deed?"

  "Granting all that," returned Corson, "it is the women we want. If theyhired gunmen,--as they may be called,--we must find out the identity ofthe women all the same. And if they actually committed the deed----"

  The ringing of the telephone interrupted his speech and proved to be amessage for the detective to come downstairs at once.

  Corson went and on reaching the ground floor he was met by Gibbs, whotook him to a small reception room and closed the door.

  "Here you are," Gibbs said, and handed the other a paper-wrapped parcelwhich when opened proved to contain a long sharp paper-cutter. Theblade, apparently hastily wiped, still showed traces of what wasunmistakably blood.

  "Where'd it come from?" Corson said, staring at the thing.

  "A boy connected with the service department found it stuck between thepalings of a fence near the delivery entrance. It may have been placedthere by the murderer of Sir Herbert Binney."

  "Where is this entrance? Why wasn't this found sooner?"

  "The place is around the corner,--a sort of obscure entrance on the sidestreet, used only by the tradesmen, for delivery. A cleaner found thisjust a short time ago."

  "Well," said Corson, very gravely, "this is the paper-cutter belongingto a set of writing implements on Miss Prall's library table; and I havejust come from there, and I noticed that, though the sheath of this wasup there, the paper-cutter was missing!"