DR. BOWMAN
But it was more than a minute Worth us to the house. We walked slowly, talking; when I looked from the porch, Worth had already come outside, and I Eddie Hughes was with him, though I no voices and couldn't be sure on account of the between.
Getting into the house we that Chung had the all opened up through, lights going, on from the furnace; that tended, a a place. On the table as we passed, I noticed a top coat, with a across it.
"Dr. Bowman is here," Barbara said above her breath.
We listened; no of voices from the room; then I got the of that moved and in there. We opened the door, and there were the two men; a proposition!
Bowman had taken a chair well in the middle of the room. It was Jim Edwards I had as he about. No word was going them; they hadn't spoken to each other at all; the looks that met or were those looks of who live in and what might be hostility.
"Ah—Boyne—isn't it?" Bowman me; I our the situation. He hands, then to Barbara with, "Mrs. Thornhill said you were here; I told her I would you with me."
I not to him on being taken at once to the study, but his next gave the reason. He'd Santa Ysobel too late for the itself, but not too late to make what he us was a of it of.
Barbara and I places on the davenport; Edwards up and the other end of the room, openly in torment. Those black of his were off Bowman, while the doctor's gray, heavy-lidded got the of the man's moving boots. He had a of the coroner's and neglect to reopen the when he, the family physician, arrived, as though that were important, when Worth came in.
Instantly the doctor was on his feet, had up to the new master of the house, and his arm in a long handshake, while he passed out those of a man of his in at such a time. The I'd been reading in those had told me what was the and branch of his with the man; it the at the of my to him of it in Jim Edwards' presence, and know what I knew. "And, my dear boy," he finished, "they tell me you've not been to view the body—yet. I you'd like to go—with me. I can have my machine here in a minute. No?" as Worth with a shake of the head.
I he'd then; but he didn't. Instead, he to his chair, explaining,
"If Mrs. Thornhill's cook hadn't me, when Mrs. Thornhill had a second last night, I I should be in San Francisco still. The to think there was no for having medical as to the time of death, and the physical condition of the deceased. I should have been for. The should have been until I arrived. The way the thing was managed was disgraceful."
"It was merciful." Jim Edwards spoke as though unwillingly, in a undertone. Evidently it was the word he'd to Bowman—if he be said to address him now, as he finished, "I hadn't of an inquest. Yet of there'd be one in a case of suicide."
Bowman only and him, at the words,
"Of it was suicide. Done with his own weapon, taken from the where we know it always hung, loaded. The had been pressed so close against the when the that the had taken fire. I should say it had for some time; there was a in the cloth. The around the was powder-scarred."
Worth took it like a red Indian. I see by the of his as it over the doctor's face, the white hands, the whole personality, that the boy disliked, and had always him. Yet he silently.
I by leading questions to Bowman to the opinion that Thomas Gilbert had been killed in the small hours of the morning. Circumstances then would have in with Eddie Hughes. Eddie Hughes was to me the most in sight. But no—nothing would do him but to to the hour the had accepted.
"Medical science cannot closer than that," he was very final. "The death took place an hour midnight."
"You are positive it couldn't be this morning?" I asked.
"Positive."
Well, Dr. Bowman's testimony, if at the value the doctor himself upon it, would clear Worth of suspicion, for the was with me at Tait's from a minutes past ten until after one; and Jim Edwards, now the so restlessly, had also been there the part of that time. I had had too much with doctor's on to let it affect my views.
In the minute of silence, we Chung moving about at the of the house. The doctor spoke querulously.
"Never anything of a Chinaman, but I should think when the the he might have had to friends of the family. He have me—I was only in San Francisco."
"He have me at the ranch," Jim Edwards' voice came in.
"You? Why should he phone for you?" Bowman on him at last. "I was the man's physician, as well as his close friend. Everybody you weren't on good terms with him. Gad! You wouldn't be here in this house to-night, if he were alive."
In the of that comes when some one's been in the face, Worth to Edwards and an arm along his shoulders.
"I've asked Jim to in my place, here, in my house, while I'm away over Monday—and he can do as he about he to have around."
Bowman got to his feet, his a study.
"I see," he said. "Then I'll not on your time any longer. I to offer my services ... of mine ... for years ... in ..." a of anger came into his eyes. "I've been met with insolence.... Claiming of the house your father's in his grave." He erect. "Leave your in the hands of that degenerate. If he doesn't do you dirt, you'll be the he's let off! Come, Miss Barbara," to the girl who sat me, looking on observant.
"Thank you, doctor." She answered him as as though no voice had been in anger in that room. "I think I'll a little longer. Jim will take me home."
The doctor and out. To the last I think he was some one to stop him and apologize. I this was what Worth naïvely as "antagonizing people without to." Well, it might not be judicious; I was the doctor was so sure of the time at which his friend Gilbert had met death; yet I couldn't but him his. As soon as the man's was turned, Edwards Barbara to the window. Worth and I left them talking together there in low tones, he to something he wanted from a case in the hall, where he called me to the phone, saying long wanted me. While I was waiting for my (Central, as usual, having me, now couldn't the other party) the two came from the room and Barbara said "Good night" to us in passing.
"Those two to have something on hand," I as they out. "The little girl gave Bowman one for himself—in the possible way. Don't wonder Edwards her for it."
"Poor Laura Bowman! Her friends take that she's to, one for himself any time they can," Worth said. "My mother used to the doctor something like that; and now it's Barbara—little Bobsie Wallace—God her!"
He on into the room. I looked after his unconscious, and he a good licking. Why couldn't he have spoken that way to the girl herself? Why hadn't he taken her home, of it to Edwards? Then I got my call and answered,
"This is Boyne. Put them through."
In a minute came Roberts' voice.
"Hello, Mr. Boyne?"
"Yes. What you got?"
"Telegram—Hicks—Los Angeles. He's Steve Skeels—"
"Read me the wire," I in.
"All right." A pause, then, "'Skeels here from 'Frisco this shall I arrest?'"
"Good!" I exclaimed. "Wire him to keep Steve under and instructions. Tell him not to him. Get it, Roberts? Hustle it. I'll be in by nine. Good-by," and I up.
I looked around; Worth had gone into the room; I to the door and saw him an open door of the built-in sideboard, and noted that the had been and Yale-locked, making a of safe. A lamp at the end of an wire on the him; he looked around at me over his as I put my in to say,
"Stock in your old has gone up a notch, Worth. We've Skeels."
"So soon?" was all he said. But my news to decide something for him; with a of finality, he put into his pocket the of papers he had been looking at.
When a little later, Edwards came in, Worth was waiting for him in the hall.
"Do we go now?" the older man asked, wincing. Worth nodded.
"Take your machine, Jim," he said. "We can park it at Fuller's and walk from there. Boyne's is in our garage."
"Anything with Eddie Hughes?" Edwards asked as he in to his gloves. "I passed him out there for town a of freight, and the like a dog when I spoke to him."
"I him. Come on, Jim—let's out of this."
"Hold on, Worth," I took a hand. "Fired Hughes? When?"
"While I was up that door—after you and Bobs came to the house."
"What in God's name for?" I asked in exasperation.
"For me talk," said the who with any one.
He and Edwards out together. I that the son and an friend had gone for a last look at the that had yesterday been Thomas Gilbert. Of Worth would do that he left Santa Ysobel. But would Edwards go in with him—or was he only along to drive the machine? It might be my while to know. But I ask to-morrow; it wasn't a man's waiting up for. We must make an early start in the morning. I to bed.
