Natalie Sumner Lincoln

“ The mended cuff link broke and made a tinkling noise as it struck on the hearth of the open fireplace; and then, with the evil ingenuity which sometimes possesses inanimate objects, it rolled far out of sight under a suit of chain armor which hung to the left of the chimney. Dick sprang in pursuit; Mrs. Macallister had given the set to him that Christmas, and he was determined not to lose the button. ”

“ With bated breath they listened to his thrilling account of de Smirnoff’s vengeance.
“Some of the unfortunate story has to come out in the papers,” ended Dick. “It cannot be hushed up, altogether, as justice has to be done the living.”
“My poor father!” cried Beatrice. “Where is he!”
“At his house completely prostrated by the news.”
“I must go to him at once.” Beatrice sprang to her feet. “Will you call a cab, Don?”
“Mine is waiting; but, dearest, you cannot go without a coat,” as Beatrice, forgetful of everything, hastened to the door. Quickly Peggy ran upstairs to collect her belongings. ”

“ I must go. Good-by, dear Mrs. Macallister, such a delightful afternoon. Good-by, everybody, don’t get up?” She waved her hand to them all and tripped out of the room.
“‘The wicked flee when no man pursueth,’” quoted Mrs. Macallister, a naughty twinkle in her eye.
“Have you heard of the dinner the Gleasons gave at which they separated the goats from the sheep?” asked Captain McLane. “They served Veuve Cliquot at one table, and American champagne at the other.”
“Oh, why do we put up with such ill-bred behavior?” cried Peggy, impulsively.
“My dear, you are wrong,” said Mrs. Macallister. ”

“ THE INQUEST The dastardly murder created a tremendous sensation not only in Washington, but in every State of the Union as well. The Trevors were bombarded with telegrams and special delivery letters, and their house besieged by reporters.
Mrs. Macallister was right; all fashionable society turned out to attend the inquest, and fought and struggled for admittance, rubbing shoulders with the denizens of Southeast Washington and Anacostia as they pushed their way into the Trevor mansion. ”

“ Dick pondered a moment. Should he take [Pg 236] de Smirnoff into his confidence? He looked earnestly at the Russian’s face; the broad brow and clever, handsome eyes, the slightly aquiline nose, and the firm, thin-lipped mouth—he looked what he was: a keen, brilliant officer of the Secret Service, brave to a fault, secretive perhaps, but withal a gentleman. Quickly Dick made up his mind to trust him.
“Because the fourth masked man was an American,” he answered, slowly. Long, as well as de Smirnoff, glanced at him in surprise. “It was Alfred Clark.” ”

“ The callers had thinned out by the time Dick arrived, only about a dozen people, mostly men, were sitting comfortably around the table. His heart sank when he saw de Morny in close attendance upon Peggy. To his jealous eyes they appeared to be on very confidential terms indeed, which completed his misery. Mrs. Macallister beckoned to him to sit by her, so, casting a lingering glance at Peggy, he obediently carried his cup and saucer to her side of the table.
“Any further developments in the Trevor murder, Dick?” Mrs. Macallister asked him, after a few minutes’ chat about other matters. ”

“ Macallister was the first to break the silence.
“Peggy, look at me.”
Slowly the deep blue eyes were raised to hers, but the dearly loved face was blurred by the tears that filled them.
“Granny, Granny, I cannot leave you. Why need we speak of marriage, we are so happy, we two?”
“Nonsense, child,” Mrs. Macallister’s tone [Pg 200] was husky, and she cleared her throat of a suspicious lump. “Do you think I want you to be a lonely old maid? No, dear heart, I wish you to marry a man worthy of you. ”

“ Curtis,” said Beatrice, politely but positively. “Mrs. Macallister is a woman of the world, not a worldly woman. She is devoted to her granddaughter, and would not let money considerations interfere with Peggy’s future happiness.”
“Still, my dear, Count de Morny is a matrimonial prize. Perhaps he will win her after all, the diplomats have such charming, delightful manners—a great contrast to our men.”
“Quite true, Mrs. Curtis; but personally give me an American every time. Our men may not know parlor tricks, but they are tender, loyal and brave.” Beatrice spoke with unwonted feeling. ”

“ Only the night before the murder, Mrs. Trevor had given a large theater and supper party, and Peggy remembered that she had never seen her hostess appear more animated or more beautiful; and now—“In the midst of life we are in death”; the solemn words recurred to Peggy as she watched the coroner and the jury file into the room and seat themselves around the large table which had been brought in for their use.
To one side, representatives of the Associated Press and the local papers were busy with pad and pencil. Among the latter Peggy recognized Dick Tillinghast. ”

“ FORGING THE FETTERS Dick sat back in his chair and glowered at Hardy.
“Do you know that your informant is at present a fugitive from justice?” he asked.
“What!” cried the detective, springing to his feet in his surprise.
“It’s a fact,” declared Dick. “The Secret Service men are after him. I expect to hear of his arrest at any moment.”
Hardy sank back in his chair and mopped his red face. He had very much the appearance of a pricked gas balloon.
“Would you mind putting me wise?” he asked, finally. “I’ve been so busy shadowing Miss Trevor, I am all in the dark about Clark. ”

“ In a few terse sentences Dick told him of his interview with Chief Connor, and of the evidence he had collected against Clark. At the end Hardy swore with fluency and ease.
“What a blank—blank—fool I’ve been to be taken in by that scoundrel,” he gasped. “Then this handkerchief business is only a plan to throw dust in my eyes.”
“I think so,” agreed Dick. “Clark evidently wanted to turn suspicion against Miss Trevor, so manufactured this evidence. It was probably an easy matter for him to pick up one of Miss Trevor’s handkerchiefs; as a rule women shed them wherever they go. ”

“ Gordon, who is an old friend of hers. Bobby was very nasty about it. Yesterday when we were all walking up Connecticut Avenue from St. John’s, Martha remarked how mortified she had been at being left without a partner during the first part of the cotillion.
“‘Serves you jolly well right,’ snapped Bobby. ‘That’s what comes of dancing with a murderer!’”
“Oh, the coward!” exclaimed Beatrice. “The coward!”
“That’s what we all thought, and I left Martha telling Bobby what she thought of him. Result—the broken engagement. As to Mr. Gordon, we all believe in his innocence,” declared Peggy, stoutly. ”

“ Macallister’s piercing ones, that astute dame, deeply touched by their wistful appeal, then and there registered a vow to do everything within her power to help her. “There’s some man in the case,” thought she, watching Beatrice covertly. “And what on earth ails Peggy? She hasn’t been herself since the night I found her in a dead faint.”
All through dinner Peggy had eaten nothing. She sat, pale and preoccupied, making bread balls and leaving her grandmother to entertain Beatrice. The hat-pin was weighing heavily on Peggy’s mind, taking away both appetite and sleep. ”

“ Why aren’t you dining at the White House to-night?”
“Not sufficiently urged. Nothing under a Major-General was invited to meet his Imperial Highness, the Grand Duke. The Russians are a mighty fine looking race of men, Dick, and the Grand Duke’s staff is no exception to the rule.”
“Is that so? I met a very distinguished looking Russian last night, a Count de Smirnoff. He spoke our language much better than most foreigners.” ”

“ Haven’t I a dear old bear at home, whom I’d positively hate if he wasn’t an American. Mercy on us, it’s nearly six o’clock, I must run along. Good-by, my dear,” kissing Beatrice with unusual tenderness. “Keep a good heart.” And she bustled out of the house.
Beatrice walked rather slowly back to the library. She was deeply touched as well as surprised by Mrs. Curtis’ blunt kindness. “From those we expect the least, we get the most,” she thought bitterly, while gathering up her workbag preparatory to going to her room. ”

“ What made him do such a mad action?”
“I don’t believe he is guilty,” said Dick, slowly. “He isn’t that sort. He wouldn’t kill a man in cold blood, let alone strike a woman.”
“I agree with you, Dick. There has been some dreadful mistake,” chimed in Peggy.
“Is it the Trevor murder of which you speak?” asked de Smirnoff. He spoke English perfectly, but for a slight accent.
“Yes, Monsieur. Even the District Attorney thinks someone has blundered; he is furious because the coroner’s jury brought in that verdict against Gordon.” ”

“ Never saw such a man for work,” grumbled Tom. “He told me he was on the point of coming to Washington, when he read in the papers that I was at the Bellevue-Stratford. Therefore, he decided to consult me instead of you.”
“What did he consult you about?”
“The Trevor murder.”
Dick straightened up in his chair. “What on earth induces him to take a particular interest in that?”
“In the first place he knows you are investigating the murder, having read your signed despatches to the Inquirer. Secondly, he feels that he is holding back some information which may help to elucidate the mystery. ”

“ She had been an interested listener, and had also seen that Dick’s glass was never empty. “It has something to do with the Trevor murder.”
“Yes,” acknowledged Dick, gravely. “I am doing my best to prove Gordon’s innocence; and, hang it all! every shred of evidence I turn up, is against him.”
“It was a shocking murder of a defenseless woman. I do not believe a Gordon could have done it,” declared Mrs. Brisbane. ”

“ Dick waited in silence, a good deal perturbed in spirit. What was to pay? The President had but time to gather up some loose papers [Pg 119] and put them in his desk when the door opened and admitted his Secretary of State, James Bowers, a man known throughout the length and breadth of the land as representing all that was best in America and Americans.
“Your attendant caught me just as I was leaving, Mr. President,” he said. “I am entirely at your service,” and he bowed gravely to Dick, who had risen on his entrance.
“I won’t detain you long. You know Mr. Tillinghast?” ”

“ He gave me this copy of the marriage certificate for you.” He took the paper out of his notebook and handed it to Dick. The printed lines danced before the latter’s eyes as he studied them.
“Whichever way I look at it, Gordon’s guilt seems certain,” he said, finally.
But Tom shook his head in doubt. “I still don’t see where the motive comes in,” he argued. “Just because he married Beatrice in secret he didn’t have to kill her stepmother.”
“It happens that Gordon was an old lover of Mrs. Trevor’s,” answered Dick, shortly. ”

“ Then, as he saw Dick’s look of incredulity, he added: “I never can remember the complicated numbers; so for convenience I wrote the word ‘safe’ and the numbers of the combination down in a small memorandum book when I first took this house. I seldom open the safe as Clark attends to it for me.” ”

“ Trevor has been murdered!”
“Mrs. Trevor—murdered!” Peggy nearly dropped her teacup on the floor.
“I really wish, Peggy, you would stop your habit of repeating my words. It’s very uncomfortable living with an echo under one’s nose.”
“Oh, Granny, please tell me all about it right away.”
“Well, according to the Evening Star— What is it, Hurley?” as that solemn individual entered the room.
“Mr. Tillinghast, to see you and Miss Margaret, ma’am.”
“Show him in. Now, Peggy, we will probably get the news at first hand. Good evening, Dick.” ”

“ Trevor did everything in her power to force me to accept you.”
Under his breath, Clark muttered a remark that was not complimentary to the dead woman.
“Beatrice,” he said, gently, “in your sheltered life you know little of the temptations, of the evil of this world. Before I came to your father, I had knocked about from pillar to post and been thrown with all sorts and conditions of men and women. The least said about the latter the better.” He smiled unpleasantly. “Then I met you, so kind, so courteous to the poor secretary. Is it any wonder that I lost my head, and built castles in the air? ”

“ I served three years on board the same cruiser with Donald Gordon, and there isn’t a more honorable, lovable fellow in the Service. It is absolutely unbelievable that he could perpetrate so ghastly a crime.”
As Dick looked across at Peggy he caught Count de Smirnoff’s eye. The Russian was sitting between his hostess and Miss Gleason. For the first time he joined in the conversation.
“Your theory is weak, Henri,” he said, mildly. “Why should a young and beautiful woman, who enjoys health, wealth, and a happy home, kill herself?” ”

“ But if he does it will go hard with Beatrice Trevor. Suspicion already points to her.”
“Oh! no, no!” cried Peggy, in horror, and she looked appealingly at Dick.
“I’m afraid so,” he said, sorrowfully, answering her unspoken thought. “You see, it’s very obvious that she has some secret to conceal.”
Peggy actually jumped as her mind flew to the box which was at that moment safely hidden in the secret drawer of her bureau. Beatrice guilty—never—never—she put the thought from her, but it would return. ”

“ Long shook his head. “It’s a black business, Dick, whichever way you look at it. If she jilted Gordon and married Trevor, it might be a reason for the crime; or if Gordon really married her first, then there is a still greater motive for the murder.”
“Bigamy?” ejaculated Dick.
“Perhaps. Gordon is poor—Trevor rich; apparently the balance dipped in the latter’s favor. It is not the first time souls have been bought and honor lost by the desire for filthy lucre. Mind you, Dick, this last is all surmise. I may be entirely wrong. You can use the information I have given you if you think best ”

“ He may have been bribed to hold his tongue; money can do much these days. Again, fear of the murderer may force him to silence.”
“That’s true, too; yet fear of the gallows would make most people talk.”
“Ah, but he does not stand in very much danger there, for has not another man already been arrested, charged with the crime? No, no, depend upon it, he is holding something back.”
“What, for instance?” inquired Dick, eagerly.
“The weapon,” suggested de Smirnoff. “It is quite within the possible that he found it. According to his testimony, he was the first to find the body. ”

“ It has given me infinite satisfaction to see Hélène’s wicked past revealed gradually to the world she had fooled so long.
“Monsieur Tillinghast—” he turned directly to Dick—“I am glad, glad I was of service to you the other night, for you remind me of Sacha.” His voice quivered on his son’s name.
[Pg 304]
“Count—Count—what can I say,” faltered Dick.
“Say nothing. It is Kismet. In my grief for my son I have never given the loss of my lucky coin another thought; but I hated to be without my chain, a present from Sacha when a lad; so I asked Henri to send it to a jeweler’s to be mended. ”

“ Suddenly he thought of the skylight Allan had built into the roof of the barn to obtain a better light. If he could climb up there he could see all that was going on inside the studio. To think was to act with Dick; his blood was up and he was determined to see the adventure through, whatever the consequences. Taking off his coat and shoes and hiding them behind a large bowlder, he proceeded to climb a tree whose limbs stretched out close to the roof of the barn. He hated to trust his weight to the slender limb, but there was no other way to accomplish his object. ”