Isabel Ostrander

“ McCarty crooked his finger at the waiter. "Mrs. Creveling was there with the family tree and so was Mrs. Waverly according to Jimmie Ballard, but they both married plain upstarts and bounders for their money as far as I can make out, and look at the rest of the lot! Mrs. Kip, a climber and God knows what else besides, the Fords as common as bog Irish and hanging on by their eyelids, and George Alexander a has-been in spats and a goatee! What is it makes them all hang together? It's not love of each other's company for there never were birds of such different feathers, Denny. ”

“ Creveling a long time?"
"Since he left the university, but only casually in those earlier years. He was having his fling in the bright lights and my tastes drew me in quite another direction; it was only after his marriage and through a mutual friend that I really came into contact with him and discovered that we had an interest in common which rendered us congenial."
"And what was that interest, Mr. Cutter?" McCarty asked quickly.
"A love of the beautiful in all things: textiles, books, paintings, porcelains, sculpture. ”

“ The jewels don't matter, but I tell you, Denny, I'd like a few words with her!"
"Let her go," advised Dennis, quite as though the elusive Ilsa were within reach of their hands. "'Tis not a thieving housemaid you're after but the man that shot Creveling."
"The man that shot him may never be found," McCarty remarked and then at his companion's stare of incredulity he added hastily: "Cutter is the smoothest proposition of them all. ”

“ Fool she may be, but she knew that the Frost woman wouldn't talk unless it was dragged out of her for fear that notoriety would spoil her chances with another sucker; one hint of scandal and her graft would be gone. As it was, when I put it up to her she cleaned her own skirts by blackening the other woman's. What was it that took Mrs, Kip out of her house at all hours almost against her will? Blackmail, or something like drink or dope that she couldn't keep away from? What kind of investments is her money tied up in, that she's flush one minute and broke the next? ”

“ If it's all the one thing they're working together to keep dark, then 'tis better organized they are than Tammany itself was in the old days, but if they've each got their own private reasons—outside an aversion to notoriety—for warding off an investigation, they must be a fine bunch of crooks! There's something queer about the lot, Denny, something I don't understand. I told you the dope I got on them from Jimmie Ballard; now, leaving out my old friends the O'Rourkes—though God only knows how they come to be mixed in that crowd!—take the Kip woman. ”

“ The ex-roundsman realized that nothing further was to be gained at the present interview without showing his own hand and reluctantly dropping the stub of his cigar upon the ash-tray he got up from his chair.
"Well, sir, I'll not say the tip came from you, but I'll look into this matter of Mr. Creveling being maybe off his head. I don't mind telling you that it's the first idea I've got hold of that might bear out the medical examiner's report. Young and rich and popular and all as he was, it stands to reason that he must have been nutty to do a thing like that. ”

“ McCarty agreed noncommittally. "But until I do see you, sir, for the love of the saints keep the newspaper boys of the same opinion as the medical examiner! Don't let them know but that the case is closed as far as we are concerned and it might be a nice little diversion for them if you dropped a hint about there being insanity in the family and our late friend having showed signs of going bugs himself. Don't put it too strong, sir; a whiff is enough for them news hounds to get on the scent and 'tis being laid careful for them and for us too, if I'm not mistaken." ”

“ Our bird is too wise to lead you to his covey, but when he's trailed his broken wing before you long enough, pull him in again and come down here with him. Understand? I've got something to talk over with you. ”