Detective and mystery stories; England -- Fiction; Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction
"He knows," said the Greek, keeping well behind Calvert, "that it was
you who suggested the idea of getting Mrs. Brand to make the will in
my favour. It was you who put me up to getting the key stolen and
duplicated. It was you who wrote those letters luring Mr. Calvert and
Miss Mason to the villa so that you might put the blame on them. I
never knew you meant murder, Jasher," said Bocaros, stepping forward,
"or I should not have joined with you."
"This is all lies," said Jasher faintly.
"It is true. And it was arranged when we found that the woman was dead
that I should engage you as a detective so that you might be able to
manipulate the case at your will. Owing to the change which Mrs. Brand
made in her will, Calvert stood in my way and in yours. It was then
that you proposed to fix the guilt of the murder on him."
"And had I not overslept myself," said Calvert, his eyes on Jasher, "I
should have fallen into your trap."
"Let me out of this," said the detected scoundrel, and made a dash for
the door. He was met by Tracey, revolver in hand. With an oath he
slipped round his hand for his own weapon.
"Hold up your hands or I shoot!" said the Yankee. "Now get back to
your seat and tell the truth if it's in you."
Sullenly and with all his surface good-nature gone, Jasher, with his
hands held over his head, sat down. "It's a lie--a lie!" he said
vehemently, finding his voice in the extremity of his danger. "Bocaros
lured the woman to the villa. I came later--a few minutes after ten. I
was admitted by him."
"That's a lie!" said Bocaros. "You told me you let yourself in with the
key of Mrs. Brand."
"I didn't. I was not at the villa till after ten--the woman was killed
before. I found you standing by the dead body. You killed her."
"I did not. From the fact that you had the key to enter, I guessed you
must have seen Mrs. Brand earlier. You met her, I swear--not I. It was
you who stabbed her, and with the dagger which she brought with her to
threaten Fane. You arranged all these plans so that you could lay the
blame on others. If I did not pay up, you arranged--as you told me--to
hunt me down in your character of detective. It was you who killed the
woman to get control of the money."
Jasher had kept his eyes steadily on the face of the professor. When
the man finished, he flung up his hands with a wild cry and pointed to
the window. "Look! Look! A face!" he shrieked.
The others involuntarily turned. In a moment Jasher whipped out his
revolver and dashed out of the door. As he passed Bocaros he fired,
and the Greek fell to the floor. "Judas! Judas!" cried the other man,
and fled into the darkness.
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.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account