Isabel Ostrander

“ To McCarty's keen gaze it seemed that a glance of warning shot from the eyes of Creveling's late partner to the valet, but the latter's demeanor did not change even as Inspector Druet turned wrathfully upon the author of the suggestion.
"I am conducting this inquiry, sir!" he thundered. Then to the man before him he added: "Your employer has been found dead, shot through the heart. Do you still persist in your refusal—?"
"Mr. Creveling dead!" The valet started back a step or two. "I—I overheard Mr. Alexander say something about 'murder' as I stopped at the door just now, but I didn't think—! ”

“ The valet's shoulders and eyebrows lifted expressively.
"I never asked him and he didn't tell me, but I suppose he liked the club better than an empty house; any gentleman would." For the first time Hill looked squarely at his inquisitor. "Who are you? A detective?"
"I'm a special officer on this case and my name's McCarty," the ex-roundsman replied. "You'll be only saving yourself trouble—"
"'McCarty!'" Hill interrupted and there was something very like consternation in his tones. "You're the McCarty who was in all the papers in connection with the Hoyos case and the Glamorgan affair?" ”

“ Creveling was in his room; he usually slept home instead of going back to the club when he'd had any one here for a late supper, and when I found nobody there I supposed maybe his guest hadn't gone yet and I'd better come down and see if they wanted any more wine or anything. Mr. Creveling's private cellar is stocked up for two or three years yet to come. I went down the front staircase and heard voices in the room where I'd laid out the supper table, so I knocked."
"You thought Mr. Creveling was still in there?" McCarty queried blandly. ”

“ Ash-blonde hair above deep violet eyes peeped from beneath her motor hood and her tall, statuesque form, swathed in a long satin coat which revealed rather than concealed its splendid lines, was drawn up to its full height as she regarded them for a long minute in a silence which none of them seemed inclined to break. ”

“ Creveling entertained here, then?" the inspector continued. "What were their names?"
"Rollins can tell you that better than I can, sir," Hill temporized. "He usually waited upon them, it was only occasionally that I took his place and then the gentlemen were sometimes strangers to me, business acquaintances of Mr. Creveling's."
"You don't know the name of a single gentleman who ever had supper here with Mr. Creveling alone?" The inspector's tone had sharpened again. ”

“ Creveling ever did that, sir; I mean, purposely. He frequently had one or more gentlemen here to supper when Mrs. Creveling was away. Sometimes the butler waited upon them, sometimes I did. I think he gave Rollins and his wife a holiday before I asked permission to have the night to myself on this occasion."
Inspector Druet evaded the issue of the valet's own movements during the hours which had passed since eleven by asking:
"Did Mr. Creveling ever entertain ladies also on these occasions?" ”

“ Hill. No hedging!"
"Rollins, the butler, told me that Mr. Creveling had given him and his wife a holiday, but they were to be back early this morning, to prepare for Mrs. Creveling's homecoming."
"'Homecoming'?" repeated Inspector Druet sharply. "You said just now—"
"I beg pardon, sir." The quiet voice forestalled him. "I meant to say that the house was not to be reopened again with the staff this season. In a manner of speaking, it is never closed when the caretakers are here, and some one is always left in charge. I understood that Mrs. ”