The Herapath PropertyFletcher, J. S. (Joseph Smith)
General
The Herapath Property
Fletcher, J. S. (Joseph Smith)
Detective and mystery stories
At that point of his surmisings and questionings Selwood heard himself
called by Barthorpe Herapath, and he turned to see that gentleman
standing in the hall dangling a bunch of keys, which Selwood instantly
recognized.
"We have just found these keys," said Barthorpe. "You remember the
inspector said he found no keys in my uncle's pockets? We found these
pushed away under some loose papers on the desk. It looks as if he'd put
them on the desk when he sat down, and had displaced them when he fell
out of his chair. Of course, they're his--perhaps you recognize them?"
"Yes," answered Selwood, abruptly. "They're his."
"I want you to come with me while I open his private safe," continued
Barthorpe. "At junctures like these there are always things that have got
to be done. Now, did you ever hear my uncle speak of his will--whether
he'd made one, and, if so, where he'd put it? Hear anything?"
"Nothing," replied Selwood. "I never heard him mention such a thing."
"Well, between ourselves," said Barthorpe, "neither did I. I've done all
his legal work for him for a great many years--ever since I began to
practice, in fact--and so far as I know, he never made a will. More than
once I've suggested that he should make one, but like most men who are
in good health and spirits, he always put it off. However, we must look
over his papers both here and at Portman Square."
Selwood made no comment. He silently followed Barthorpe into the
private room in which his late employer had so strangely met his death.
The body had been removed by that time, and everything bore its usual
aspect, save for the presence of the police inspector and the detective,
who were peering about them in the mysterious fashion associated with
their calling. The inspector was looking narrowly at the fastenings of
the two windows and apparently debating the chances of entrance and exit
from them; the detective, armed with a magnifying glass, was examining
the edges of the door, the smooth backs of chairs, even the surface of
the desk, presumably for finger-marks.
"I shan't disturb you," said Barthorpe, genially. "Mr. Selwood and I
merely wish to investigate the contents of this safe. There's no
likelihood of finding what I'm particularly looking for in any of his
drawers in that desk," he continued, turning to Selwood. "I knew enough
of his habits to know that anything that's in there will be of a purely
business nature--referring to the estate. If he did keep anything that's
personal here, it'll be in that safe. Now, which is the key? Do you
know?"
He handed the bunch of keys to Selwood. And Selwood, who was feeling
strangely apathetic about the present proceedings, took them mechanically
and glanced carelessly at them. Then he started.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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