initials only-第2部分

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uld　not　refrain　from　whispering　a　few　words　into　my　husband's　ear。

〃The　doctor　has　just　gone　up　…　her　doctor；　I　mean。　　He's　simply　dumbfounded。　　Says　that　she　was　the　healthiest　woman　in　New　York　yesterday　…　I　think　…　don't　mention　it；　that　he　suspects　something　quite　different　from　heart　failure。〃

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　　asked　George；　following　the　assistant　manager　down　the　broad　flight　of　steps　leading　to　the　office。　　Then；　as　I　pressed　up　close　to　Mr。　Slater's　other　side；　〃She　was　by　herself；　wasn't　she；　in　the　half　floor　above？〃

〃Yes；　and　had　been　writing　a　letter。　　She　fell　with　it　still　in　her　hand。〃

〃Have　they　carried　her　to　her　room？〃　　I　eagerly　inquired；　glancing　fearfully　up　at　the　large　semi…circular　openings　overlooking　us　from　the　place　where　she　had　fallen。

〃Not　yet。　　Mr。　Hammond　insists　upon　waiting　for　the　coroner。〃　　（Mr。　Hammond　was　the　proprietor　of　the　hotel。）　　〃She　is　lying　on　one　of　the　big　couches　near　which　she　fell。　　If　you　like；　I　can　give　you　a　glimpse　of　her。　　She　looks　beautiful。　　It's　terrible　to　think　that　she　is　dead。〃

I　don't　know　why　we　consented。　　We　were　under　a　spell；　I　think。　　At　all　events；　we　accepted　his　offer　and　followed　him　up　a　narrow　staircase　open　to　very　few　that　night。　　At　the　top；　he　turned　upon　us　with　a　warning　gesture　which　I　hardly　think　we　needed；　and　led　us　down　a　narrow　hall　flanked　by　openings　corresponding　to　those　we　had　noted　from　below。　　At　the　furthest　one　he　paused　and；　beckoning　us　to　his　side；　pointed　across　the　lobby　into　the　large　writing…room　which　occupied　the　better　part　of　the　mezzanine　floor。

We　saw　people　standing　in　various　attitudes　of　grief　and　dismay　about　a　couch；　one　end　of　which　only　was　visible　to　us　at　the　moment。　　The　doctor　had　just　joined　them；　and　every　head　was　turned　towards　him　and　every　body　bent　forward　in　anxious　expectation。　　I　remember　the　face　of　one　grey　haired　old　man。　　I　shall　never　forget　it。　　He　was　probably　her　father。　　Later；　I　knew　him　to　be　so。　　Her　face；　even　her　form；　was　entirely　hidden　from　us；　but　as　we　watched　（I　have　often　thought　with　what　heartless　curiosity）　a　sudden　movement　took　place　in　the　whole　group　…　and　for　one　instant　a　startling　picture　presented　itself　to　our　gaze。　　Miss　Challoner　was　stretched　out　upon　the　couch。　　She　was　dressed　as　she　came　from　dinner；　in　a　gown　of　ivory…tinted　satin；　relieved　at　the　breast　by　a　large　bouquet　of　scarlet　poinsettias。　　I　mention　this　adornment；　because　it　was　what　first　met　and　drew　our　eyes　and　the　eyes　of　every　one　about　her；　though　the　face；　now　quite　revealed；　would　seem　to　have　the　greater　attraction。　　But　the　cause　was　evident　and　one　not　to　be　resisted。　　The　doctor　was　pointing　at　these　poinsettias　in　horror　and　with　awful　meaning；　and　though　we　could　not　hear　his　words；　we　knew　almost　instinctively；　both　from　his　attitude　and　the　cries　which　burst　from　the　lips　of　those　about　him；　that　something　more　than　broken　petals　and　disordered　laces　had　met　his　eyes；　that　blood　was　there　…　slowly　oozing　drops　from　the　heart　…　which　for　some　reason　had　escaped　all　eyes　till　now。

Miss　Challoner　was　dead；　not　from　unsuspected　disease；　but　from　the　violent　attack　of　some　murderous　weapon；　As　the　realisation　of　this　brought　fresh　panic　and　bowed　the　old　father's　head　with　emotions　even　more　bitter　than　those　of　grief；　I　turned　a　questioning　look　up　at　George's　face。

It　was　fixed　with　a　purpose　I　had　no　trouble　in　understanding。



II

〃I　KNOW　THE　MAN


Yet　he　made　no　effort　to　detain　Mr。　Slater；　when　that　gentleman；　under　this　renewed　excitement；　hastily　left　us。　　He　was　not　the　man　to　rush　into　anything　impulsively；　and　not　even　the　presence　of　murder　could　change　his　ways。

〃I　want　to　feel　sure　of　myself；〃　　he　explained。　　〃Can　you　bear　the　strain　of　waiting　around　a　little　longer；　Laura？　　I　mustn't　forget　that　you　fainted　just　now。〃

〃Yes；　I　can　bear　it；　much　better　than　I　could　bear　going　to　Adela's　in　my　present　state　of　mind。　　Don't　you　think　the　man　we　saw　had　something　to　do　with　this？　　Don't　you　believe　…〃

〃Hush！　　Let　us　listen　rather　than　talk。　　What　are　they　saying　over　there？　　Can　you　hear？〃

〃No。　　And　I　cannot　bear　to　look。　　Yet　I　don't　want　to　go　away。　　It's　all　so　dreadful。〃

〃It's　devilish。　　Such　a　beautiful　girl！　　Laura；　I　must　leave　you　for　a　moment。　　Do　you　mind？〃

〃No；　no；　yet　…〃

I　did　mind；　but　he　was　gone　before　I　could　take　back　my　word。　　Alone；　I　felt　the　tragedy　much　more　than　when　he　was　with　me。　　Instead　of　watching；　as　I　had　hitherto　done；　every　movement　in　the　room　opposite；　I　drew　back　against　the　wall　and　hid　my　eyes；　waiting　feverishly　for　George's　return。

He　came；　when　he　did　come；　in　some　haste　and　with　certain　marks　of　increased　agitation。

〃Laura；〃　　said　he；　〃Slater　says　that　we　may　possibly　be　wanted　and　proposes　that　we　stay　here　all　night。　　I　have　telephoned　Adela　and　have　made　it　all　right　at　home。　　Will　you　come　to　your　room？　　This　is　no　place　for　you。''

Nothing　could　have　pleased　me　better；　to　be　near　and　yet　not　the　direct　observer　of　proceedings　in　which　we　took　so　secret　an　interest！　　I　showed　my　gratitude　by　following　George　immediately。　But　I　could　not　go　without　casting　another　glance　at　the　tragic　scene　I　was　leaving。　　A　stir　was　perceptible　there；　and　I　was　just　in　time　to　see　its　cause。　　A　tall；　angular　gentleman　was　approaching　from　the　direction　of　the　musicians'　gallery；　and　from　the　manner　of　all　present；　as　well　as　from　the　whispered　comment　of　my　husband；　I　recognised　in　him　the　special　official　for　whom　all　had　been　waiting。


〃Are　you　going　to　tell　him？〃　　was　my　question　to　George　as　we　made　our　way　down　to　the　lobby。

〃That　depends。　　First；　I　am　going　to　see　you　settled　in　a　room　quite　remote　from　this　business。〃

〃I　shall　not　like　that。〃

〃I　know；　my　dear；　but　it　is　best。〃

I　could　not　gainsay　this。

Nevertheless；　after　the　first　few　minutes　of　relief；　I　found　it　very　lonesome　upstairs。　　The　pictures　which　crowded　upon　me　of　the　various　groups　of　excited　and　wildly　gesticulating　men　and　women　through　which　we　had　passed　on　our　way　up；　mingled　themselves　with　the　solemn　horror　of　the　scene　in　the　writing…room；　with　its　fleeting　vision　of　youth　and　beauty　lying　pulseless　in　sudden　death。　I　could　not　escape　the　one　without　feeling　the　immediate　impress　of　the　other；　and　if　by　chance　they　both　yielded　for　an　instant　to　that　earlier　scene　of　a　desolate　Street；　with　its　solitary　lamp　shining　down　on　the　crouched　figure　of　a　man　washing　his　shaking　hands　in　a　drift　of　freshly　fallen　snow；　they　immediately　rushed　back　with　a　force　and　clearness　all　the　greater　for　the　momentary　lapse。

I　was　still　struggling　with　these　fancies　when　the　door　opened；　and　George　came　in。　　There　was　news　in　his　face　as　I　rushed　to　meet　him。

〃Tell　me　…　tell；〃　　I　begged。

He　tried　to　smile　at　my　eagerness；　but　the　attempt　was　ghastly。

〃I've　been　listening　and　looking；〃　　said　he；　〃and　this　is　all　I　have　learned。　　Miss　Challoner　died；　not　from　a　stroke　or　from　disease　of　any　kind；　but　from　a　wound　reaching　the　heart。　　No　one　saw　the　attack；　or　even　the　approach　or　departure　of　the　person　inflicting　this　wound。　　If　she　was　killed　by　a　pistol…shot；　it　was　at　a　distance；　and　almost　over　the　heads　of　the　persons　sitting　at　the　table　we　saw　there。　　But　the　doctors　shake　their　heads　at　the　word　pistol…shot；　though　they　refuse　to　explain　themselves　or　to　express　any　opinion　till　the　wound　has　been　probed。　　This　they　are　going　to　do　at　once；　and　when　that　question　is　decided；　I　may　feel　it　my　duty　to　speak　and　may　ask　you　to　support　my　story。〃

〃I　will　tell　what　I　saw；〃　　said　I。

〃Very　good。　　That　is　all　that　will　be　required。　　We　are　strangers　to　the　parties　concerned；　and　only　speak　from　a　sense　of　justice。　It　may　be　that　our　story　will　make　no　impression；　and　that　we　shall　be　dismissed　with　but　few　thanks。　　But　that　is　nothing　to　us。　　If　the　woman　has　been　murdered；　he　is　the　murderer。　　With　such　a　conviction　in　my　mind；　there　can　be　no　doubt　as　to　my　duty。〃

〃We　can　never　make　them　understand　how　he　looked。〃

〃No。　　I　don't　expect　to。〃

〃Or　his　manner　as　he　fled。〃

〃Nor　that　either。〃

〃We　can　only　describe　what　we　saw　him　do。〃

That's　all。〃

〃Oh；　what　an　adventure　for　quiet　people　like　us！　　George；　I　don't　believe　he　shot　her。〃

〃He　must　have。〃

〃But　they　would　have　seen　…　have　heard　…　the　people　around；　I　mean。〃

〃So　they　say；　but　I　have　a　theory　…　but　no　matter　about　that　now。　I'm　going　down　again　to　see　how　things　have　progressed。　　I'll　be　back　for　you　later。　　Only　be　ready。〃

Be　ready！　　I　almost　laughed；…　a　hysterical　laugh；　of　course；　when　I　recalled　the　injunction。　　Be　ready！　　This　lonely　sitting　by　myself；　with　nothing　to　do　but　think　was　a　fine　preparation　for　a　sudden　appearance　before　those　men　…　some　of　them　police…officers；　no　doubt。

But　that's　enough　about　myself；　I'm　not　the　heroine　of　this　story。　In　a　half　hour　or　an　hour　…　I　never　knew　which　…　George　reappeared　only　to　tell　me　that　no　conclusions　had　as　yet　been　reached；　an　element　of　great　mystery　involved　the　whole　affair；　and　the　most　astute　detectives　on　the　force　had　been　sent　for。　　Her　father；　who　had　been　her　constant　companion　all　winter；　had　not　the　least　suggestion　to　offer　in　way　of　its　solution。　　So　far　as　he　knew　…　and　he　believed　himself　to　have　been　in　perfect　accord　with　his　daughter　　…　she　had　injured　no　one。　　She　had　just　lived　the　even；　happy　and　useful　life　of　a　young　woman　of　means；　who　sees　duties　beyond　those　of　her　own　household　and　immediate　surroundings。　　If；　in　the　fulfillment　of　those　duties；　she　had　encountered　any　obstacle　to　content；　he　did　not　know　it；　nor　could　he　mention　a　friend　of　hers　　…　he　would　even　say　lovers；　since　that　was　what　he　meant　…　who　to　his　knowledge　could　be　accused　of　harbouring　any　such　passion　of　revenge　as　was　manifested　in　this　secret　and　diabolical　attack。　They　were　all　gentlemen　and　respected　her　as　heartily　as　they　appeared　to　admire　her。　　To　no　living　being；　man　or　woman；　could　he　point　as　possessing　any　motive　for　such　a　deed。　　She　had　been　the　victim　of　some　mistake；　his　lovely　and　ever　kindly　disposed　daughter；　and　while　the　loss　was　irreparable　he　would　never　make　it　unendurable　by　thinking　otherwise。

Such　was　the　father's　way　of