Isabel Ostrander

“ If the motive for suicide can be established—well and good. Mr. Terhune can potter around with his microscope and his little scientific machines as long as it pleases him and Mrs. Creveling will authorize him, but the matter will be dropped from the records of the department. If, however, no reason for Mr. Creveling's killing himself can be found and no actual proof that he did do it beyond the opinion of the medical examiner, then the inspector'll have to have everybody that knew him up on the carpet. ”

“ She made a slight gesture as if about to rise and terminate the interview, but McCarty stayed her.
"It's more than that, ma'am. I was with the inspector when he talked with Mrs. Creveling and, as I said, she won't have it that he killed himself, not even by accident. If a motive can't be proved for suicide it's apt to make a lot of trouble for the Department" and bring notoriety on all their friends."
"You don't mean that Mrs. Creveling fancies some one actually killed her husband!" cried Mrs. O'Rourke in shocked amazement. "She must be hysterical, the blow has come so suddenly—!" ”

“ Mr. O'Rourke came forward frankly. "There doesn't seem to be a reason in the world why the old boy should have done himself in. But why have you come to us?"
His tone was friendly and McCarty smiled broadly in response.
"Well, sir, your name was given to the inspector together with the Waverlys and Fords and several more as being among Mr. Creveling's closest friends and those most likely to know if he was in any trouble. ”

“ There was no trace of the childish treble in her low, softly vibrating tones, no suggestion of the rosy, tousle-headed baby in this well-poised woman with the colorless, brunette beauty of Ireland's highest type, and yet somehow he saw again, in her the little companion of far-off days. ”

“ Mrs. O'Rourke observed. After a pause she added: "No one can blame her for wanting to be sure, to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that her husband was responsible for his own death when it occurred in such a dreadful, mysterious way, but if the medical examiner as you say has proved that it was a case of suicide she is only harrowing herself needlessly. Why should she think that any one would want to take Mr. Creveling's life?"
"For the same reason that you say the idea of his killing himself is almost incredible, as far as I can make out, ma'am ”

“ McCarty responded. "My experience before I retired, though, taught me that there's many a trouble in a man's life that no one knows anything about. However, since this is a case of suicide the sooner the inspector establishes a motive for it the quicker the thought of its being anything else will die out of Mrs. Creveling's mind and the more ready she'll be to drop an investigation that's bound to bring annoyance to a lot of innocent people. Your name and Mr. O'Rourke's being mentioned as among their best friends, the inspector sent me to ask you in confidence if Mr. ”