Natalie Sumner Lincoln

“ La Montagne in his astonishment stepped backward on the narrow platform and but for Maynard would have lost his balance and fallen off the step and down the circular staircase to the floor below. “Mon Dieu! you are not sane!”
“Yes, I am,” responded Mitchell, nettled by La Montagne’s contemptuous smile. “Mr. Burnham preferred the charges against you.”
At Burnham’s name La Montagne’s surprise changed to indignation. “And does he dare to go to such lengths in his hatred as to accuse me, a cadet of a noble house, of a crime so base!” With a violent effort La Montagne controlled his temper. ”

“ Burnham’s animosity is suppressed it is all the more dangerous. Take a friendly tip from me; do not trust him, and remember, he has great influence over his wife.”
“If Evelyn will but marry me, we need not heed Burnham,” exclaimed La Montagne.
“And what have you to live on if you married without Mrs. Burnham’s consent?” asked Marian dryly. “Ah! forgive me,” as La Montagne colored hotly under his tan. “By the terms of her father’s will Evelyn can only inherit her fortune by marrying to suit her mother. If Mrs. Burnham disapproves, the fortune goes to her instead of to Evelyn.” ”

“ Burnham was honestly devoted to her husband and admired him, Palmer had come to believe. She was not a woman given to concealing her thoughts, her habit of plain speech frequently landing her in hot water. Peter Burnham was well read, polished in manner, a born raconteur, and a devoted chess player; he cared very little for out-door sports and his greatest hardship was being dragged to horseshows of which his wife was inordinately fond, having inherited her love for horses from her Kentucky ancestors. ”

“ When called on the telephone about six o’clock that afternoon Burnham had given Palmer to understand that he was alone in Washington; and yet his young step-daughter was also in the city. It was of course possible that Evelyn was visiting Marian Van Ness. Palmer frowned; he disliked few people, but he most heartily disliked brilliant Marian Van Ness; their natures were too utterly foreign for them ever to be congenial. ”

“ Were you hiding in the house when I arrived at ten o’clock?” gasped Evelyn.
“No. I was stunned by my discovery, but half awake, and my first thought was that I had inadvertently given Von Eltz an overdose of hyoscine and killed him,” explained Maynard. “In my confused state of mind, I dressed immediately and left the house, taking my suit case, which I had brought with me, as well as the six chess problem diagrams; first, however, I searched Von Eltz’ body and found nothing—not even a pocket handkerchief. I overlooked the string which you discovered later, Penfield.” ”

“ La Montagne’s face darkened. “But I like not to court you in secret, dear heart; surely your mother is one to see reason. I am not,” flushing, “objectionable; nor am I altogether without money.”
“I do not think it was mother who suppressed your letters,” exclaimed Evelyn. “I suspect my step-father——”
An exclamation interrupted her. “I cannot understand a nature so complex,” declared La Montagne. “Mr. Burnham on the surface, perhaps, is the most gracious host——” He paused abruptly. “But do not let us waste the precious hour talking of him; what of yourself?” ”

“ Just because I stopped before a strange door does not mean I am a criminal!” La Montagne jerked out his sentences. “Even in this mad America!”
Maynard was silent for a second. “Burnham fainted from excitement,” he said. “However, he caught a glimpse of you before Palmer closed the door and called out that you had ‘tried to kill him’.”
La Montagne gazed at Maynard in blank astonishment. “Mon Dieu! Is the man possessed?”
“It would seem so,” agreed Maynard. “But I think another word fits the case better, ‘obsessed’,” and as the Frenchman looked puzzled, he added, “Burnham appears to hate you.” ”

“ The importance of time figured very little in Mrs. Burnham’s indolent sheltered life; her contention that prompt people wasted a great deal of time was frequently borne out by those who waited in impotent wrath for her to keep her engagements.
Evelyn changed into her dressing gown and then, sometimes colliding against furniture in the darkened house, made her way through her mother’s bedroom and boudoir, her step-father’s suite of rooms and into the library which opened from his bedroom, pulling up window shades and letting in fresh air and sunshine as she went. ”

“ Evelyn shivered. “Men don’t sleep with their eyes open,” she said dully, rising. “I’m coming with you,” and she quickened her pace to keep up with Mrs. Ward as the latter led the way upstairs to the library. Mrs. Ward faltered just inside the room as her eyes fell on the quiet figure near the fireplace; then, repressing all emotion, she strode over to the figure and bent, as Evelyn had done, and placed her hand on the dead man’s wrist. When she turned back to Evelyn, who lingered near the doorway, her face rivaled the young girl’s in whiteness.
“I’d better go for Dr. Hayden.” ”

“ Pleasant car sail serenely by. A second, third, and fourth car, their passengers clinging like ants to steps and even fenders, rounded the curve without stopping and continued up Connecticut Avenue. In despair Marian turned about and tucking the papers she carried more securely under her arm, set out for the Burnham house. She had walked but a third of the way when a man fell into step with her and looking around she found René La Montagne by her side. ”

“ Burnham was about to comply when Hayden held up a protesting hand.
“Go easy, Palmer, or you will have another attack,” he cautioned.
Palmer grinned sheepishly at Maynard. “Take my advice,” he said. “Don’t invite your physician to share your apartment if you want to enjoy life. Hayden finds fault every time I forget I am on the water-wagon.”
“Some people have peculiar ideas regarding their welfare,” retorted Hayden. “Your heart won’t stand many more attacks; so go easy.” Observing Palmer’s obstinate expression, he added, “Move the decanter out of Palmer’s way, Maynard, there’s a good fellow.” ”

“ Maynard felt himself on delicate ground; widening the breach between the Burnhams and Evelyn would be like applying a match to a keg of gunpowder. “It didn’t strike me that Burnham was such a bad sort when I first knew him.”
[150] “You haven’t got him in the family,” exclaimed Evelyn shrewdly. “It makes all the difference between tolerance and active dislike. I wish Mother wasn’t so under his influence.”
“You think she is?”
“I do. I left her fretting about him because his temperature had gone up and sending frantically all over town for Dr. Hayden.” ”

“ His idea of being of aid to Detective Mitchell by a quiet examination of the room was a failure; no new viewpoint of the crime had presented itself.
Penfield turned restlessly about and faced the massive carved mantel which added much to the attractiveness of the library. The high brass andirons, their globe-shaped tops reaching almost to his chest, were badly in need of polishing, and the fire irons and screen were equally dingy. They were the only furnishings of the room which showed the result of closing the house during the summer months. ”

“ Slowly her meaning dawned on Maynard.
“Good God! Marian, do I understand you accuse me of stealing a blotter with the imprint of a decoded message from the State Department on it?” he demanded.
“Yes.” The monosyllable cost her an effort which Maynard’s indignation blinded him to.
“You think me a spy, a traitor—you?” he stammered, his face gone white.
[280] “What else am I to think?” she retorted drearily. “Your unexpected and unexplained return—oh, I know ‘war work’; war work, these days, like charity sometimes covers a multitude of sins.” ”

“ From his vantage point behind the ticket seller’s window, James Palmer smiled at friends and acquaintances as they pressed forward to buy tickets for the “Tableaux of the Allies,” or secure those already engaged. Not only would the Red Cross reap a rich harvest from the tableaux, but the amateur performance would be viewed by a representative Washington audience, judging from the presence of high Government officials, members of the Foreign Missions detailed to Washington, diplomats; and army and navy officers among the men and women who thronged the lobby of the theater. ”

“ Maynard held up a protesting hand. “Let us talk reasonably,” he said. “There is no occasion for excitement. What induces you to think I am working for the Kaiser?”
“Your fondness of the German people;” she stopped and spoke more slowly. “Were you not born in Germany?”
“Surely.” Maynard’s smile showed his strong white teeth. “Accidents do happen, Marian, even in the selection of a birth-place. My parents were Americans, and my ancestors were Norman-French and Anglo-Saxon. You cannot question my loyalty to Uncle Sam on those grounds.” ”

“ La Montagne laughed at the question. “Pouf! why waste time discussing his death? Let us congratulate ourselves and this fortunate lady in being free of him,” and he bowed low to Marian.
“That’s all very heroic,” remarked Mitchell ironically. “But we have laws in this country, Captain; and we’ve got to abide by them. Somebody’s got to be punished for murdering Von Eltz.”
A sudden shout from the next room startled Evelyn and she swung about just as Mrs. Burnham, her face ashen, started for the door leading into her husband’s bedroom. A premonition of impending evil made Evelyn follow her. ”

“ Hayden borrowed her opera-glasses. “Why, it’s Maynard!”
“It’s an excellent tableau!” exclaimed Burnham, taken out of himself, and he applauded vigorously. “No mistake about it, Lillian, Maynard makes a magnificent soldier. Strange, as handsome and fascinating as he is, that he has never married!” ”

“ Maynard’s words tumbled over themselves. “It is forbidden by law to put a Maxim silencer on any weapon.”
“Laws are broken daily in America, mon ami; why so excited over trifles?”
“Trifles!” Maynard ruffled his hair. “René, the man who shot at Burnham used a revolver or pistol with a Maxim silencer on it.”
“Eh bien! What then?”
“This,” tersely. “You have an automatic equipped with a Maxim silencer; you were standing within a few yards of where the shooting took place—the door and window both open; and your engagement to Evelyn is opposed by her step-father.” Maynard drew a long breath. ”

“ THE FIFTH MAN DR. HAYDEN threw aside the magazine he had been reading and, making himself more comfortable on the big lounge, puffed contentedly at his cigar as he looked over to where Jim Palmer and Peter Burnham sat playing chess. ”

“ Burnham was exerting her superb self-control to keep her voice tranquil. “Without, however, satisfactory results; now he even dislikes my society.”
Hayden glanced at her keenly. “A morbid tendency very often makes people turn against those they love the most,” he said gently. “As Burnham’s physical condition improves he will shake off his mental depression. In my opinion, Mrs. Burnham,” he added more lightly, “half the murders and suicides to-day are the result of a torpid liver.” ”

“ Burnham, who was not noted for early rising, flushed at the housekeeper’s insolent air; she was a woman, however, who carried the war into Africa when occasion arose, and discourtesy from a subordinate or servant instantly aroused her resentment.
“I expected to find you up, Matilda,” she said. “Dr. Hayden told me last evening that he had crossed you off his list of sick patients.”
“I know how I feel better than Dr. Hayden,” responded Mrs. Ward sullenly. “I am not able to work; I am as weak as a kitten.”
“Staying in bed won’t strengthen you,” answered Mrs. Burnham practically. ”

“ Burnham had suggested your calling, not you personally,” coloring warmly as she remembered her use of the word “spy,”—“but James Palmer.”
“So you think James Palmer wouldn’t be above spying?” Maynard twisted about on the bench and faced her.
Evelyn nodded. “I don’t like him,” she admitted honestly. “I’ll admit I’m prejudiced, but I couldn’t think, no matter what happened, any worse of him than I do. He’s—he’s always under my feet.”
Maynard laughed outright. “And that’s what a man gets for being devoted to a girl,” he said. “I declare, Evelyn, you are a trifle discouraging.” ”

“ Maynard shot a questioning look at his companion who stood with one foot in the street and the other on the curb stone.
“But it seems unfair to Burnham not to warn him that Jones is a meddlesome, untrustworthy old fool,” objected Palmer. “After all, Burnham is our friend.”
“And we can prove our friendship by holding our tongues,” replied Maynard warmly. “Burnham seems laboring under a severe nervous strain; it won’t take much more excitement to break him down. The Secret Service will weed out the lies; Jones’ statements about his employer will be taken for what they are worth; so don’t worry.” ”

“ Mrs. Burnham’s repetition of the words was parrot-like in its mimicry. “Did the dead man have no papers in his pocket? Were his clothes unmarked?”
“They were,” replied Penfield. “The only article to be found in the man’s pockets was a string.” He turned abruptly to Maynard. “You recall seeing the string?” ”

“ Ward, the housekeeper.”
[17] “She doesn’t know anything,” declared Evelyn who, entering unperceived a few minutes before, had overheard the coroner’s request. “I came back to tell you all about everything.”
“Do you feel equal to it?” asked Hayden, pushing forward a chair. “Hadn’t you better wait, Evelyn? You have been under a fearful strain to have your friend die——” He paused in his rapid speech as if at a loss for words and Maynard, with intuitive quickness, detected the physician’s disquietude under his calm professional manner. “—your friend die so suddenly,” Hayden finished. ”

“ Connor’s reply took the form of a question. “What leads you to think the man was a German spy?”
“The fact that no inquiries have been made for [138] him looks to me as if his relatives and friends are in Germany,” explained Palmer. “If he had been of any nationality at peace with us, or an American citizen, his absence would have been reported and the aid of the police sought.”
Connor nodded slightly. “That is a reasonable argument, Mr. Palmer, but it is not evidence. Any one who dies suddenly these days is a German spy—in the public’s opinion.” ”

“ It would be an easy matter for a man to get a wax impression of the lock at night without attracting attention. The few people on our block who are home are at work all day and at the club at night; that is why,” added Burnham obstinately, “the dead man could have been brought at any hour to the house unknown to any one.”
“You mean brought in a cab?” inquired Maynard.
“Of course. A dead man couldn’t be carried [96] through the streets without being seen by some one,” replied Burnham. “Have a little sense!”
Maynard paid no attention to his companion’s irritability. ”