VII. THE LETTERS
Before a table strewn with papers, in the room we have already mentionedas given over to the use of the police, sat Dr. Heath in a mood toothoughtful to notice the entrance of Mr. Gryce and Sweetwater from thedining-room where they had been having dinner.
However as the former's tread was somewhat lumbering, the coroner'sattention was caught before they had quite crossed the room, andSweetwater, with his quick eye, noted how his arm and hand immediatelyfell so as to cover up a portion of the papers lying nearest to him.
"Well, Gryce, this is a dark case," he observed, as at his bidding thetwo detectives took their seats.
Mr. Gryce nodded; so did Sweetwater.
"The darkest that has ever come to my knowledge," pursued the coroner.
Mr. Gryce again nodded; but not so, Sweetwater. For some reason thissimple expression of opinion seemed to have given him a mental start.
"She was not shot. She was not struck by any other hand; yet she liesdead from a mortal wound in the breast. Though there is no tangibleproof of her having inflicted this wound upon herself, the jury willhave no alternative, I fear, than to pronounce the case one of suicide."
"I'm sorry that I've been able to do so little," remarked Mr. Gryce.
The coroner darted him a quick look.
"You are not satisfied? You have some different idea?" he asked.
The detective frowned at his hands crossed over the top of his cane,then shaking his head, replied:
"The verdict you mention is the only natural one, of course. I see thatyou have been talking with Miss Challoner's former maid?"
"Yes, and she has settled an important point for us. There was apossibility, of course, that the paper-cutter which you brought to mynotice had never gone with her into the mezzanine. That she, or someother person, had dropped it in passing through the lobby. But this girlassures me that her mistress did not enter the lobby that night. Thatshe accompanied her down in the elevator, and saw her step off atthe mezzanine. She can also swear that the cutter was in a book shecarried--the book we found lying on the desk. The girl remembersdistinctly seeing its peculiarly chased handle projecting from itspages. Could anything be more satisfactory if--I was going to say,if the young lady had been of the impulsive type and the provocationgreater. But Miss Challoner's nature was calm, and were it not for theseletters--" here his arm shifted a little--"I should not be so sure ofmy jury's future verdict. Love--" he went on, after a moment of silentconsideration of a letter he had chosen from those before him, "disturbsthe most equable natures. When it enters as a factor, we can expectanything--as you know. And Miss Challoner evidently was much attachedto her correspondent, and naturally felt the reproach conveyed in theselines."
And Dr. Heath read:
"Dear Miss Challoner:
"Only a man of small spirit could endure what I endured from you the other day. Love such as mine would be respectable in a clod-hopper, and I think that even you will acknowledge that I stand somewhat higher than that. Though I was silent under your disapprobation, you shall yet have your answer. It will not lack point because of its necessary delay."
"A threat!"
The words sprang from Sweetwater, and were evidently involuntary. Dr.Heath paid no notice, but Mr. Gryce, in shifting his hands on his canetop, gave them a sidelong look which was not without a hint of freshinterest in a case concerning which he had believed himself to have saidhis last word.
"It is the only letter of them all which conveys anything like areproach," proceeded the coroner. "The rest are ardent enough and, Imust acknowledge that, so far as I have allowed myself to look intothem, sufficiently respectful. Her surprise must consequently have beengreat at receiving these lines, and her resentment equally so. If thetwo met afterwards--But I have not shown you the signature. To the poorfather it conveyed nothing--some facts have been kept from him--but tous--" here he whirled the letter about so that Sweetwater, at least,could see the name, "it conveys a hope that we may yet understand MissChalloner."
"Brotherson!" exclaimed the young detective in loud surprise."Brotherson! The man who--"
"The man who left this building just before or simultaneously with thealarm caused by Miss Challoner's fall. It clears away some of the cloudsbefogging us. She probably caught sight of him in the lobby, and inthe passion of the moment forgot her usual instincts and drove thesharp-pointed weapon into her heart."
"Brotherson!" The word came softly now, and with a thoughtfulintonation. "He saw her die."
"Why do you say that?"
"Would he have washed his hands in the snow if he had been in ignoranceof the occurrence? He was the real, if not active, cause of her deathand he knew it. Either he--Excuse me, Dr. Heath and Mr. Gryce, it is notfor me to obtrude my opinion."
"Have you settled it beyond dispute that Brotherson is really the manwho was seen doing this?"
"No, sir. I have not had a minute for that job, but I'm ready for thebusiness any time you see fit to spare me."
"Let it be to-morrow, or, if you can manage it, to-night. We want theman even if he is not the hero of that romantic episode. He wrote theseletters, and he must explain the last one. His initials, as you see,are not ordinary ones, and you will find them at the bottom of all thesesheets. He was brave enough or arrogant enough to sign the questionableone with his full name. This may speak well for him, and it may not. Itis for you to decide that. Where will you look for him, Sweetwater? Noone here knows his address."
"Not Miss Challoner's maid?"
"No; the name is a new one to her. But she made it very evident that shewas not surprised to hear that her mistress was in secret correspondencewith a member of the male sex. Much can be hidden from servants, but notthat."
"I'll find the man; I have a double reason for doing that now; he shallnot escape me."
Dr. Heath expressed his satisfaction, and gave some orders. Meanwhile,Mr. Gryce had not uttered a word.