Carolyn Wells

“ It might be,” and Barham looked hopeful. “It would be awful enough, but I’d liefer that, Nick, than to know that somebody really wanted Maddy’s life.”
“Well, the thing to do is to get Locke. Then, if he’s the good sort that Jarvis thinks him, and if he didn’t do it, he can doubtless help us a whole lot.”
“But if he didn’t do it, why is he hiding?”
“There you go again—round the circle! I don’t know, I’m sure—but there could be reasons. Say he’s innocent, but there’s circumstantial evidence against him. Say he’s innocent, but he’s shielding somebody else. Say he met with foul play himself.” ”

“ Nelson hung up the receiver, and turned to Barham with a troubled face. He repeated his whole conversation with Hutchins, and said:
“I begin to think, Drew, that it was something to do with all that, that brought about Maddy’s fate.”
“But how, how, Nick, could any of our crowd be mixed up with that painter? You don’t think he was a gambler, do you?”
“Oh, Lord, no. Jarvis says he doesn’t think Locke knows one card from another. Those people never play cards.” ”

“ Drew. You can fix Claudine more easily than any one else.”
“This explains a horrible note I got from a Mrs. Gibbs—saying she is a creditor of Maddy’s.”
“Well, ask her for a statement. Those women will be glad to keep still for fear something might come out about themselves. What I’m worried about is this murder trial.”
“Trial? How can there be a trial with no one to try?”
“I mean the murder inquiry. The plans of the police include only two main issues; to find Locke and to learn all about Madeleine’s past.” ”

“ They seem not to know much about one another. As Jarvis says, they keep pretty much to themselves and when they get together for an occasional hobnob, they just talk shop.”
“I see.” Barham didn’t appear deeply interested.
“And then, too, it seems this Locke is in the habit of going off on sketching trips or something and staying for days at a time.”
“I suppose all that’s in my stenographer’s report—I’ve not had time to read it yet. Now, Nick, as to hushing up this miserable business of Maddy’s. Shall I go to see the women, and beg or bribe them to keep still about it?” ”

“ I don’t suppose they’re Hottentots.”
“No; but they seem really interesting. Seem to have more—personality, more brains, than some of our own crowd.”
“They wouldn’t have to be overburdened at that.”
“I know it. And they say—that is, Mr. Jarvis told me, that Locke is a very worth-while chap.”
“Not a heavy villain, then?”
“No; sort of a dreamer, and rather intellectual. Says he’s a good pal——”
“Look here, Nick,” Barham interrupted him, “if Locke didn’t kill Maddy, who did? ”

“ You see, he flung the robe to the Chinese servant as he left, and they afterward found a smear of blood on the front of it.”
“What do the Square people think about their fellow artist? Do they suspect him?” ”