Actors and actresses -- Fiction; Boardinghouses -- Fiction; Detective and mystery stories; Murder -- Fiction
Defense called Jonathan Alexander, a druggist who testified that on
the night in question he had been roused at half past three by the
prisoner, who had said his wife was ill, and had purchased a bottle of
a proprietary remedy from him. His identification was absolute.
The defense called Jennie Brice's sister, and endeavored to prove
that Jennie Brice had had no such scar. It was shown that she was on
intimate terms with her family and would hardly have concealed an
operation of any gravity from them.
The defense scored that day. They had shown that the prisoner had told
the truth when he said he had gone to a pharmacy for medicine that
night for his wife; and they had shown that a woman, answering the
description of Jennie Brice, spent two days in a town called Horner,
and had gone from there on Wednesday after the crime. And they had
shown that this woman was attired as Jennie Brice had been.
That was the way things stood on the afternoon of the fourth day, when
court adjourned.
Mr. Reynolds was at home when I got there. He had been very much
subdued since the developments of that first day of the trial, sat
mostly in his own room, and had twice brought me a bunch of jonquils
as a peace-offering. He had the kettle boiling when I got home.
"You have had a number of visitors," he said. "Our young friend Howell
has been here, and Mr. Holcombe has arrived and has a man in his
room."
Mr. Holcombe came down a moment after, with his face beaming.
"I think we've got him, Mrs. Pitman," he said. "The jury won't even go
out of the box."
But further than that he would not explain. He said he had a witness
locked in his room, and he'd be glad of supper for him, as they'd both
come a long ways. And he went out and bought some oysters and a bottle
or two of beer. But as far as I know, he kept him locked up all that
night in the second-story front room. I don't think the man knew he
was a prisoner. I went in to turn down the bed, and he was sitting
by the window, reading the evening paper's account of the trial--an
elderly gentleman, rather professional-looking.
Mr. Holcombe slept on the upper landing of the hall that night, rolled
in a blanket--not that I think his witness even thought of escaping,
but the little man was taking no chances.
At eight o'clock that night the bell rang. It was Mr. Howell. I
admitted him myself, and he followed me back to the dining-room. I had
not seen him for several weeks, and the change in him startled me. He
was dressed carefully, but his eyes were sunken in his head, and he
looked as if he had not slept for days.
Mr. Reynolds had gone up-stairs, not finding me socially inclined.
"You haven't been sick, Mr. Howell, have you?" I asked.
"Oh, no, I'm well enough, I've been traveling about. Those infernal
sleeping-cars--"
His voice trailed off, and I saw him looking at my mother's picture,
with the jonquils beneath.
"That's curious!" he said, going closer. "It--it looks almost like
Lida Harvey."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account