The Wooden Hand: A Detective Story — David Hume — John Shaqi
The Wooden Hand: A Detective Story
David Hume · en
"No, Allen, the body was not robbed." She rose and paced the room. "I
can't understand my dream. I wonder if, when I slept, my soul went to
the Red Deeps and saw the crime committed."
"You did not see the crime committed?"
"No; I saw the body, however, lying in the position in which it was
afterwards found by Jacobs and the others. And then the laugh--that
cruel laugh as though the assassin was gloating over his cruel
work--the man who murdered my father was laughing in my dream."
"How can you tell it was a man?"
"The laugh sounded like that of a man."
"In your dream? I don't think a jury will take that evidence."
Eva stopped before the young man and looked at him determinedly.
"I don't see why that part of my dream should not come true, if
the other has already been proved true. It's all of a piece."
To this remark young Hill had no answer ready. Certainly the dream had
come true in one part, so why not in another? But he was too anxious
about Eva's future to continue the discussion. "What about you,
darling?" he asked.
"I don't know," she replied, and sat down beside him again. "I can
think of nothing until the inquest has taken place. When I learn
who has killed my father, I shall be more at ease."
"That is only right and natural; but----"
"Don't mistake me, Allen," she interrupted vehemently. "I saw so
little of my father, and, through my mother, knew so much bad about
him, that I don't mourn his death as a daughter ought to. But I feel
that I have a duty to perform. I must learn who killed him, and have
that person sent to the scaffold."
Allen coloured and looked down. "We can talk about that when we have
further facts before us. Inspector Garrit, you say, is making
inquiries?"
"Yes; I have given him the telegram, and also the address of my
father's lawyer, which I found in a letter in his pocket."
"Mr. Mask?"
"Yes; Sebastian Mask--do you know him?"
"I know of him. He is my father's lawyer also, and so became Mr.
Strode's man of business. Yes, it is just as well Garrit should see
him. When your father arrived in London he probably went to see Mask,
to talk over business. We might learn something in that quarter."
"Learn what?" asked Eva bluntly.
Allen did not answer at once. "Eva," he said after a pause, "do you
remember I told you that my father said Mr. Strode might not arrive.
Well, I asked him why he said so, and he declared that from what he
knew of your father, Mr. Strode was a man likely to have many enemies.
It struck me that this crime may be the work of one of these enemies.
Now Mask, knowing all your father's business, may also know about
those who wished him ill."
"It may be so," said Eva reflectively; "my father," from what Mrs.
Merry says, "was a most quarrelsome man, and would stop at nothing to
make money. He doubtless made enemies in Africa as your
father suggests, but why should an enemy follow him to England to
kill him? It would have been easier to shoot him in Africa."