The Greatest Works of Earl Derr Biggers (Illustrated Edition). Earl Derr Biggers

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СКАЧАТЬ A good idea, Bob Eden decided.

      In a recumbent position on his bed, he found that time passed more swiftly. In fact, he didn't know it was passing. Toward evening he awoke, hot and muddled of mind, but a cold shower made him feel human again.

      At six o'clock he crossed the patio to the living-room. In the yard before the barn he saw Madden's big car standing ready for action, and remembered. The millionaire was no doubt about to meet his daughter in town, and the haughty Evelyn was not to be affronted with the flivver.

      But when he reached the living-room, Eden saw that it was evidently Thorn who had been selected for the trip to Eldorado. The secretary stood there in his gloomy clothes, a black slouch hat accentuating the paleness of his face. As Eden entered, what was obviously a serious conversation between Thorn and the millionaire came to a sudden halt.

      "Ah, good evening," said Eden. "Not leaving us, Mr. Thorn?"

      "Business in town," returned Thorn. "Well, Chief, I'll go along."

      Again the telephone rang. Madden leaped to it. For a moment he listened and history repeated itself on his face. "Bad news all the time," Eden thought.

      Madden put his great hand over the mouthpiece, and spoke to his secretary. "It's that old bore down the road, Doctor Whitcomb," he announced, and Eden felt a flash of hot resentment at this characterization. "She wants to see me this evening—says she has something very important to tell me."

      "Say you're busy," suggested Thorn.

      "I'm sorry, Doctor," Madden began over the phone, "but I am very much occupied—"

      He stopped, evidently interrupted by a flood of conversation. Again he put his hand over the transmitter. "She insists, confound it," he complained.

      "Well, you'll have to see her then," said Thorn.

      "All right, Doctor," Madden capitulated. "Come about eight."

      Thorn went out, and the big car roared off toward the road and Evelyn Madden's train. Mr. Gamble entered, refreshed and ready with a few apt quotations. Eden amused himself with the radio.

      At the usual hour, much to Eden's surprise, they dined. Thorn's chair was empty and there was, oddly enough, no place for Evelyn; nor did the millionaire make any arrangements regarding a room for his daughter. Strange, Eden thought.

      After dinner, Madden led them to the patio. Again he had arranged for a fire out there, and the blaze glowed red on the stone floor, on the adobe walls of the house, and on the near-by perch of Tony, now empty and forlorn.

      "This is living," remarked Gamble, when they had sat down and he had lighted one of Madden's cigars. "The poor fools cooped up in cities—they don't know what they're missing. I could stay here forever."

      His final sentence made no hit with the host, and silence fell. At a little past eight they heard the sound of a car entering the yard. Thorn and the girl, perhaps—but evidently Madden didn't think so, for he said:

      "That's the doctor. Ah Kim!" The servant appeared. "Show the lady out here."

      "Well, she doesn't want to see me," Gamble said, getting up. "I'll go in and find a book."

      Madden looked at Bob Eden, but the boy remained where he was. "The doctor's a friend of mine," he explained.

      "Is that so," growled Madden.

      "Yes—I met her yesterday morning. A wonderful woman."

      Doctor Whitcomb appeared. "Well, Mr. Madden?" She shook hands. "It's a great pleasure to have you with us again."

      "Thanks," said Madden coolly. "You know Mr. Eden, I believe?"

      "Oh, hello," smiled the woman. "Glad to see you. Not very pleased with you, however. You didn't drop in today."

      "Rather busy," Eden replied. "Won't you sit down, please."

      He brought forward a chair; it seemed that Madden needed a hint or two on hospitality. The guest sank into it. Madden, his manner very haughty and aloof, sat down some distance away, and waited.

      "Mr. Madden," said Doctor Whitcomb. "I'm sorry if I seem to intrude—I know that you are here to rest, and that you don't welcome visitors. But this is not a social call. I came here about—about this terrible thing that has happened on your place."

      For a moment Madden did not reply. "You—mean—" he said slowly.

      "I mean the murder of poor Louie Wong," the woman answered.

      "Oh." Was there relief in Madden's voice? "Yes—of course."

      "Louie was my friend—he often came to see me. I was so sorry, when I heard. And you—he served you faithfully, Mr. Madden. Naturally you're doing everything possible to run down his murderer."

      "Everything," replied Madden carelessly.

      "Whether what I have to tell has any connection with the killing of Louie—that's for policemen to decide," went on the doctor. "You can hand my story on to them—if you will."

      "Gladly," replied Madden. "What is your story, Doctor?"

      "On Saturday evening a man arrived at my place who said his name was McCallum, Henry McCallum," began Doctor Whitcomb, "and that he came from New York. He told me he suffered from bronchitis, though I must say I saw no symptoms of it. He took one of my cabins and settled down for a stay—so I thought."

      "Yes," nodded Madden. "Go on."

      "At dark Sunday night—a short time before the hour when poor Louie was killed—some one drove up in a big car before my place and blew the horn. One of my boys went out, and the stranger asked for McCallum. McCallum came, talked with the man in the car for a moment, then got in and rode off with him—in this direction. That was the last I've seen of Mr. McCallum. He left a suitcase filled with clothes in his cabin, but he has not returned."

      "And you think he killed Louie?" asked Madden, with a note of polite incredulity in his voice.

      "I don't think anything about it. How should I know? I simply regard it as a matter that should be called to the attention of the police. As you are much closer to the investigation than I am, I'm asking you to tell them about it. They can come down and examine McCallum's property, if they wish."

      "All right," said Madden, rising pointedly. "I'll tell them. Though if you're asking my opinion, I don't think—"

      "Thank you," smiled the doctor. "I wasn't asking your opinion, Mr. Madden." She too stood. "Our interview, I see, is ended. I'm sorry if I've intruded—"

      "Why, you didn't intrude," protested Madden. "That's all right. Maybe your information is valuable. Who knows?"

      "Very good of you to say so," returned the doctor, with gentle sarcasm. She glanced toward the parrot's perch. "How's Tony? He, at least, must miss Louie a lot."

      "Tony's dead," said Madden bruskly.

      "What! Tony, too!" The doctor was silent for a moment. "A rather memorable visit, this one of yours," she said slowly. "Please give my regards to your daughter. She is not with you?"

      "No," СКАЧАТЬ