Epoch the Fourth
CHAPTER XVII
THE MYSTERY

AFTER AGNES had consulted with the lawyer, who was glad to go into the case, and agreed to engage a worthy assistant, she returned to Baptiste and said:

“Now, Jean. Don't you think that if I secured a good detective to look into it this case, it would be the proper thing?"

“Why yes, Agnes," he said. He could hardly accustom himself to her in such a situation.

“I think that would be best," she resumed. “As I was coming downtown on the car I observed the Pinkerton Office on 5th Avenue and now, Jean, if you think that would be a practical .move, I will go there at once and have them send a man to you. I'll bring him."

“That would be practical, Agnes. Yes," he said thoughtfully, “since you insist”

“No more, please," and she affected a little smile. “Just let me work until we arrive somewhere," and she was gone, returning in due time with a man.

“I represent the Pinkerton agency, Mr. Baptiste," he said, after greeting the prisoner, " and now if you will state just where you were ; what time, as near as you can recall, that you reached home ; also what time you turned into this place where the murder was committed, I shall be glad to get down to work on the case."

Since Baptiste had observed the time by the clock in the Keystone before leaving there, he was quite accurate in fixing the time he reached his room. Since we have followed him to his room, we know this phase of the case.

“Well, I'll hike over there and squint around a little. Hope I'll get there before the inquest is held." And so saying, he was gone.

“I will go back to where I am staying, now, Jean.' said Agnes, after the detective had departed, “and you may expect me at any time. I want to see you out of here as soon as possible, and I will do all in my power to get you out," and she dashed away.

The detective went to the McCarthy home forthwith. The bodies had been removed and were then at the morgue. He looked into the room where the tragedy had been committed, and then sought Glavis.

“Who discovered the murder, Mr. Glavis? “ he inquired when they stood in the death room.

"Why myself and another fellow returned home just after it had been committed."

“How did you know it had just been committed?”

“Well why, my wife was in the hallway, and when we entered she had just discovered the bodies."

“But that doesn't prove that they had just been murdered."

“But my wife says she was awakened by her sister's scream."

“I see. So it was your wife who first discovered the bodies, or that they had just been murdered."

“Yes."

“Where had you been, and what time did you return home?"

“I had been around town, to the Keystone where Baptiste was until shortly after midnight."

“You saw this Baptiste leave the hotel?"

“I did."

“How long after Baptiste left was it, before you followed?"

“Perhaps fifteen minutes."

“Perhaps fifteen minutes; but you are not positive?”

“No, but I am quite certain."

“When you left the hotel, where did you go?”

“I came here."

“You came directly here. Didn't stop on the way anywhere?"

“I did not",

“And when you arrived, what happened? Did you meet anybody on the way?"

“I passed people of whom I took no notice on the way here, of course. The only person I took notice of was Jean Baptiste."

“Where did you meet him?"

“Coming out of the house upon my arrival."

''' You met him coming out of the house upon your arrival?"

“Well, out of the yard. I saw him come down the steps that leads up to the house."

“But you didn't see him come out of the house?"

“Well, no, I didn't see that."

“Did you exchange any words with him when you met him? Did you stop and talk? "

“No. But I heard him mutter something."

“Did you understand the words or any words he muttered?"

“I thought he said something about having turned in at the wrong place."

“How do you account for him having done so if so?"

“Well, the house where he stops is just a few doors about a half dozen up the street."

“On the same side or the opposite?"

“The same side. And he was stopping there."

“Did you have any conversation with Baptiste after the trial in which he sued your father-in-law?"

“No; but I tried to have him settle the case before going to court."

"What did he say to it?"

“Refused to consider it."

“Did he give reasons?"

“Yes. He said he wanted vindication."

"Anything else?"

“That he would have killed the Elder if it had not been that he was an observer of the law."

"Where were they murdered?"

“She lay near the door, while he lay in bed."

"Any evidence of a struggle?"

“No, not as I could see."

“With what were they murdered?”

“With a knife that has been in the room here for two or three years."

“Was Baptiste aware that such a knife was in the room?”

“Not that I know of."

“When, to your knowledge, was Baptiste last in the house?"

“He has not been in the house for more than three years."

“Then he couldn't have known the knife was there."

“Well, unless he discovered it when he entered the room."

“Providing he entered the room. Was he aware also that the preacher occupied this particular room? Is it not reasonable to suppose that he would not know where the preacher slept if he had not been in the house for three years?"

“But he could have looked around."

“Possibly. But how do you account for the girl's body being here in the room also. Where did she sleep? "

“Downstairs near her mother. It is my theory that she was disturbed by the sound of someone walking, went upstairs, and was in time to see the tragedy of her father, and was in turn murdered by her husband."

“That is your theory. But why was there no evidence of a struggle? It hardly seems reasonable that she would have allowed herself to be stabbed without some effort to save herself."

“Well, that is beyond me. Jean Baptiste acted suspicious in my opinion, and it is certainly strange that he should have been in the position he was at such a crucial time."

“May I consult with your wife?”

Glavis looked around, uneasily. “She is very much torn up by the incident," he suggested.

“But this is a very grave matter."

“Well," and he turned and entered the room wherein Ethel had enclosed herself.

“Ethel, an officer has called and wishes to consult with you."

“No, no, no!" she yelled. “Send him away. Didn't I tell you I didn't want to see no police," and she fell to crying. The detective had entered the room in the meantime, and when she looked up, she saw him.

“What are you doing in here?" she fairly screamed. He did not flinch under the glare she turned upon him. Indeed, the day was at last come when she could frighten no one. The one she had been able to drive to any lengths with such a propaganda, lay stiff at the morgue. The detective regarded her searchingly, and upon realizing he was not going to jump and run, she ceased that unseemly noise making and began crying, woefully.

“You discovered this tragedy, madam?" he inquired calmly, but with a note of firmness in his tone.

“Yes, yes! oh, my poor sister! My poor father and that low down man! "

“When did you discover this, madam?”

“Just as soon as it was done, oh my!”

“How did you come to discover it, lady?”

“By my sister's scream. She screamed so loud it seemed everybody must have heard it. Screamed when he stuck that knife into her breast! "

“How long after you heard her scream was it before you came out of the room your room?"

“I came at once," she said sulkily, and tried to cry louder.
The detective was thoughtful.

“So you came at once! And what did you see when you came out? "

At this she seemed overcome, and it was some moments before he could get her answer, and that was after he had repeated

“My sister and father lying murdered in the room there."

"Is that all you saw?"

She was sulky again. After a time she muttered. She wrinkled her face but the tears would not come. Presently she said, and the detective caught an effort on her part to say it.

“Yes. But I think I heard a door slam downstairs."

“You think you heard a door slam? What happened next?"

“My husband came."

“How long after the door slammed was it before your husband came?"

“Not long."

“Is it not possible that when you heard the door slam, that it was your husband coming in?"

“No. I heard the door slam behind him, too." Again he thought he detected something singular in her manner, as if she were not telling all she knew. . . .

The detective went downstairs and talked with Mrs. McCarthy a few minutes, and then took his leave. He called up Agnes, and made an appointment and met her some hours later.

“What have you discovered?” she inquired anxiously, her eyes searching his face.

" Well.' said he, slowly, " a few things, I think."

“And Jean Mr. Baptiste?” He looked up sharply and searched her face.

“He is innocent."

“Thank God!” And she clasped her hands and looked down in great relief. Quickly, she looked up, however, and cried: "But the proof. Will you can you prove it? "

He toyed idly with a pencil he held in his hands, and after a time, drawled: “I think so. When the proper time comes."

"The proper time? And when will that be?" Her voice was controlled, but the anxiety was apparent.

"Well, we'll say at the preliminary hearing tomorrow morning."

“And and you have no more to report?”

“Not today. I shall attend the inquest, of course. And where may I see you say, tomorrow?"

“At the hearing."

“Very well, then. Good day."

“Good day."