Detective and mystery stories; Stone, Fleming (Fictitious character) -- Fiction
"It seems, Miss Clyde," Hughes stated, "that Young has part of some
directions or something like that, as to where to find the jewels; and
he made it up with Bannard to get the pin, which he claims is a key to
their hiding-place, and the two men were to share the loot."
"I never heard such absurdity!" Iris' eyes blazed with anger. "Mr.
Stone, won't you go and interview this Young, and tell him he lies?"
"I'll assuredly interview him, Miss Clyde, but suppose Mr. Bannard did
have that paper--that receipt----"
"He didn't! Why, if he had, why would he confer with that bad man? Why
not by means of his paper, which is, you know, lawfully his, and my pin,
which was bequeathed to me, why not, those two things are all that is
necessary, find the jewels by their aid?"
"That's the point," Stone said. "It does seem as if Young possesses some
information of importance."
"Well," Iris went on, angrily, "now they've got the two of them there,
why can't you confront Winston with Young and let them tell the truth?"
"Perhaps they won't," Hughes put in, "you know, Miss Clyde, we didn't
arrest Mr. Bannard without thinking there was enough evidence against
him to warrant it."
"You did! That's just what you did! There wasn't any evidence--that is,
none of importance! Mr. Stone, you don't think Win guilty, do you?"
Here Iris broke down, and shaking with convulsive sobs she let Lucille
lead her from the room.
"Of course she's upset," Hughes said, with sympathy in his hard voice.
"But she's got trouble ahead. I think she's in love with Winston
Bannard----"
"Oh, _do_ you!" chirped Fibsy, unable to control his sarcasm. "Why, what
perspicaciousness you have got! And you are quite right, Mr. Hughes,
Miss Clyde is so much in love with that suspect of yours that she can't
think straight. Now, looky here, Mr. Bannard didn't kill his aunt."
"Is that so, Bub? Well, as Mr. Dooley says, your opinion is interestin'
but not convincin'."
"All right, go ahead in your own blunderin' way! But how did Mr. Bannard
get out of the locked room?"
"Always fall back on that, son! It's a fine climax where you don't know
what to say next! I'll answer, as I always do, how did any other
murderer get out of the room?"
"He didn't," said Fibsy.
"Oho! And is he in there yet?"
"Nope. But I can't waste any more time on you, friend Hughes, I've
sumpthing to attend to. Mr. Stone, I'll go and get that dime now, shall
I?"
"Go ahead, Fibs," Stone returned, absently, "and I'll go along with you,
Hughes, and see if I can make anything out of your new prisoner."
Fibsy went first in search of Sam, and having found that
defective-minded but sturdy-bodied lad, undertook to inform him as to
their immediate occupation.
"See," and Fibsy showed Sam a dime, "you find me one like that in the
grass, and I'll give you two of 'em!"
"Two--two for Sam!"
"Yes, three if you find one quick! Now, get busy."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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