CHAPTER III. "WHY?"
Through the silent house echoed the vibration of the electric bell,sounding unnecessarily loud, it seemed. The maid who answered took thecaller's card to Miss Mary Carwell, Viola's aunt.
"He wants to see Miss Viola," the servant reported. "Shall I tell her?"
"You had better, yes. She went to lie down, but she will want to seeCaptain Poland. Wait, I'll tell her myself. Where is he?"
"In the library, ma am.
"Very well. I'll see him."
Mr. Carwell's sister literally swept down the stairs, her black silkdress rustling somberly and importantly. She was a large woman, and herbearing and air were in keeping.
"It was very good of you to come," she murmured, as she sank, with morerustling and shimmerings, into a chair, while the captain waited for herto be settled, like a boat at anchor, before he again took his place."Viola will be down presently. I gave her a powder the doctor left forher, and she slept, I hope, since we were both awake nearly all of lastnight."
"I should imagine so. The strain and shock must have been intense. Butplease don't disturb her if she is resting. I merely called to see if Icould do anything."
"Thank you so much. We are waiting for the doctors' report. It wasnecessary to have an autopsy, I understand?" she questioned.
"Yes. The law requires it in all cases of sudden and mysterious death."
"Mysterious death, Captain Poland!"
Mary Carwell seemed to swell up like a fretful turkey.
"Well, by that I mean unexplained. Mr. Carwell dropped dead suddenly andfrom no apparent cause."
"But it was heart disease--or apoplexy--of course! What else could itbe?"
"It must have been one or the other of those, Miss Carwell, I am sure,"the captain murmured sympathetically. "But the law requires that such afact be established to the satisfaction of the county physician."
"And who is he?"
"Dr. Rowland."
"Will there be a coroner's inquest, such as I have read about? Icouldn't bear anything like that."
"It is not at all necessary, Miss Carwell," went on the captain."The law of New Jersey does not demand that in cases of sudden andunexplained death, unless the county physician is not satisfied with hisinvestigation. In that matter New Jersey differs from some of the otherstates. The county physician will make an autopsy to determine the causeof death. If he is satisfied that it was from natural causes he gives acertificate to that effect, and that ends the matter."
"Oh, then it will be very simple."
"Yes, I imagine so. Dr. Rowland will state that your brother came to hisdeath from heart disease, or from apoplexy, or whatever it was, and thenyou may proceed with the funeral arrangements. I shall be glad to helpyou in any way I can."
"It is very kind of you. This has been so terrible--so sudden andunexpected. It has perfectly unnerved both poor Viola and myself, and weare the only ones to look after matters."
"Then, let me help," urged Captain Poland. "I shall only be too glad.The members of the golf club, too, will do all in their power. We hada meeting this morning and passed resolutions of sympathy. I have alsocalled a meeting of our yacht club, of which your brother was a member.We will take suitable action."
"Thank you. And when do you think we may expect the certificate from Dr.Rowland?"
"Very soon. He is performing the autopsy now, at the club. Dr. Lambertand Dr. Baird are with him. It was thought best to have it there, ratherthan at the undertaking rooms."
"I shall be glad when matters can proceed as they ought to proceed. Thispublicity is very distasteful to me."
"I can readily believe that, Miss Carwell. And now, if you will ask MissViola if I may be of any service to her, I shall--"
"Before I call her, there is one matter I wish to ask you about," saidMr. Carwell's sister. "You are familiar with business, I know. I wasgoing to ask Mr. Bartlett, as this seemed more in his line, but perhapsyou can advise me."
"I shall do my best, Miss Carwell. What is it?"
"One of the clerks came from my brother's office this morning with anote from the bank. It seems that Horace borrowed a large sum for somebusiness transaction, and put up as collateral certain bonds. He oftendoes that, as I have heard him mention here time and again to Mr.Blossom, when they sat in consultation in the library.
"But now it appears, according to the note from the bank, that moresecurities are needed. There has been a depreciation, or something--Iam not familiar with the terms. At any rate the bank sends word that itwants more bonds. I was wondering what I had better do. Of course I havesecurities in my own private box that I might send, but--"
"Why didn't Mr. Blossom attend to this?" asked Captain Poland, a bitsharply, it would have seemed to a casual listener. "That was his place.He knows all about Mr. Carwell's affairs."
"I asked the clerk from the office why Mr. Blossom--did you ever hearsuch an absurd name as he has?--LeGrand Blossom--I asked the clerk whythe matter was not attended to," went on Miss Carwell, "and he said Mr.Blossom must have forgotten it."
"Rather odd," commented the captain. "However, I'll look after it foryou. If necessary, I'll loan the bank enough additional securities ascollateral to cover the loan. Don't let it disturb you, Miss Carwell. Itis merely a small detail of business that often crops up. Securities inthese days so often fluctuate that banks are forced to call for more,and different ones, to cover loans secured by them. I'll attend to thematter for you."
"Thank you so much. And now I believe I may safely call Viola. She wouldnot forgive me if she knew you had been here and she had not seen you tothank you for your care of her yesterday."
"Oh, that was nothing. I was very glad--"
Captain Poland was interrupted by a ring at the door.
"Perhaps that is a message from the doctors now," suggested MissCarwell.
"It is Dr. Lambert himself," announced the captain, looking from awindow that gave a view of the front porch. "Dr. Baird is with him. Theymust have completed the autopsy. Shall I see them for you?"
"Please do. And please tell me at once that everything is all right, andthat we may proceed with the funeral arrangements," begged the sister ofthe dead man.
"I will do so, Miss Carwell."
Captain Poland, anticipating the maid, went into the hall and himselfopened the door for the medical men.
"Oh! I'm glad you're here!" exclaimed the rather gruff voice of Dr.Lambert. "Yes, I'm glad you're here."
The captain was on the point of asking why, when Dr. Lambert motionedto him to step into a little reception room off the main hall. Somewhatwonderingly, Captain Poland obeyed, and when the door had closed,shutting him in with the two doctors, he turned to the older physicianand asked:
"Is anything the matter?"
"Well, we have completed the autopsy," said Dr. Lambert.
"That's good. Then you are ready to sign a certificate, or at least getDr. Rowland to, so that we can proceed with the arrangements. Miss MaryCarwell is anxious to have--"
"Well, I suppose the funeral will have to be held," said Dr. Lambertslowly. "That can't be held up very long, even if it was worse than itis."
"Worse than it is! What do you mean?" cried Captain Poland sharply. "Isthere any suspicion--"
"There is more than suspicion, my dear sir," went on Dr. Lambert, ashe sank into a chair as though very, very tired. "There is, I regret tosay, certainty."
"Certainty of what?"
"Certainty that my old friend, Horace Carwell, committed suicide!"
"Suicide!"
"By poisoning," added Dr. Baird, who had been anxious to get in a word."We found very plain evidences of it when we examined the stomach andviscera."
"Poison!" cried Captain Poland. "A suicide? I don't believe it! Whyshould Horace Carwell kill himself? He hadn't a reason in the world forit! There must be some mistake! Why did he do it? Why? Why?"
And then suddenly he became strangely thoughtful.