Samuel Hopkins Adams

“ There was no answering contempt in Chester Kent’s voice as he replied, “But a ring, constantly worn and then removed, leaves an unmistakable mark. Perhaps she gave you greater credit for powers of observation than you deserve. I’m afraid, Frank, that she is a married woman; and I’m sure, from reading between your lines, that she is a good woman. What the connection between her and the corpse on the beach may be, is the problem. My immediate business is to discover who the dead woman is.”
“And mine,” said Sedgwick hoarsely, “to discover the living.” ”

“ What kind of artist are you, not to recognize a man simply because he shaves his beard and affects a false voice?”
“But you’re so completely changed. And why this disguise?”
“Disguise?” returned the other, astonished in his turn. “I’m not in disguise.”
“Your clothes. They’re—well, except for being offensive, I’d call them foppish.”
“Not at all!” protested the other warmly. “Just because I’m a scientific man, is it to be assumed that I ought to be a frump? I’m fond of good clothes; I can afford good clothes; I wear good clothes. It’s a hobby of mine ”

“ Sedgwick is with me.”
The ex-sailor started. “Him?” he exclaimed. “Here?”
Kent nodded. “Why not?”
“No reason. No reason at all,” said the old seaman hastily. “It’s a public proceedin’.”
“But you’re surprised to see him here?”
“There’s been quite a lot o’ talk—”
“Suspicion, you mean.”
“We—ell, yes.”
“People are inclined to connect Mr. Sedgwick with the death of the woman?”
“What else can you expect?” returned the old man deprecatingly. “Iry Dennett’s been tellin’ his story. He’s certain the woman he seen talkin’ to Mr. Sedgwick is the dead woman. Willin’ to swear to it anywheres.” ”

“ And on one wrist only! Perhaps that is the very fact, though—Well, we shall know more when we’re older; two hours older, say. Whether we shall know all that Mr. Sheriff Len Schlager knows, is another question. I don’t like Mr. Schlager, either, for that matter.”
“Dennett has seen me,” said Sedgwick in a low voice.
Indeed, the narrator’s voice had abruptly ceased, and he stood with the dropped jaw of stupefaction. One after another of his auditors turned and stared at the two men in the motor-car.
“Stay where you are,” said Kent, and stepped out to mingle with the crowd. ”

“ The probability will be shown that she was killed before ten o’clock.”
Now, however, Doctor Breed was on his feet again. “Form in line, ladies and gentlemen,” said he, “and pass the coffin as spry as possible.” ”