The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-01
CHAPTER VII.
MIR. MERRITT 1NsrRUcTs ME.

Fred's letter was a great relief 10 me.
l had not dared to allow my thoughts to
dwell on the man whom 1 had seen in
May Derwent's apartment on that eventful
night. The superstition, however, that 1t
was her brother explained everything salts
factorily. Nothing could be more likely
than that this angel of mercy should give
shelter to this returned prodigal and try
to save him from the punishment he so
richly deserved. But what cared 1 what
he had done? She-she-was immaculate.
AT the hospital that morning 1 was in
such good spirits that had some difficulty
in keeping my elation within bounds. AS
IL was, L noticed that several nurses eyed
me with suspicion.
My preoccupation about Miss Derwent's
affairs had been so great that had hardly
given thought to the mysterious murder,
and was consequently very much surprised,
on returning home that afternoon, to find
the detective patiently awaiting me.
well. Mr.. Merritt" L exclaimed; glad
to see you; what can do for you? Any
thing wrong with your heart, or your liver.
or your nerves, eh?'
We'll. doctor, / guess my nerves are
pretty near all right" he answered. with
a slow smile.
I'm glad to hear it. Won't you sit
DOWN.
He selected comfortable chair, and we
sat down facing one another. 1 wondered
what could be coming next.
Now, DOCTOR" he began, in matter-of-
fact voice. I'D like you to tell me all you
know of the MURDER
He had taken me completely by surprise.
but L am learning to control my features
and fiatter myself that 1 did not move a
muscle as l quietly replied:
This is a very strange question, and 1
can only answer that know nothing"
"Oh, hardly as little as that" the de-
tective rejoined, with irritating compla-
cency.
Just little as that I. asserted, with
some warmth.
well. doctor, IL that is the case, you
can, no doubt, explain a few things that
have been puzzling me. In the first place,
will you tell me why, If you were not ex-
pecting another victim, you showed such
surprise at the sight of the corpse? What
reason could you have had for being so
deeply interested in the relative positions
of your roof-not your Office, mind you, but
your roof-and the room in which the body
was found, unless you had noticed some
thing unusual from that poit of observa-
ton? Why were you so sure that the
Derwent's fiat occupied, If you had
not seen some person or persons there?
By the way, noticed that from your roof
l could look directly into their windows.
Again, you betrayed great surprise when
Miss Derwent lifted her VEIL Why did you
do so, except that you had previously seen
a very different looking person in her
apartment? And why did you select the
Atkins's two servants out of all the people
in the building TO question about certain
noise, but that you yourself had heard a
scream coming from their premises? And.
lastly. you showed unexplained interest
in the back door Of the Rosemere, which Is
particularly suggestive in view of the fact
that this window is exactly opposite to it..
1 need only add that your presence on the
roof during some part of Wednesday night,
or early Thursday morning, is attested by
the fact that / found some pipe-ash near
the chimney. You smoke a pipe, / see"
pointing to rack full of them; ''your
janitor does not, neither do your two fell
low-lodgers. Besides that, all the other oc-
cupants of this house willing to swear
| that they have not been on the roof re-
| Gently, and those ashes could not have been
long where 1 found them; the wind would
have scattered them. You see, know very
| little, but L know enough to be sure that
| you know more.
was perfectly dumfopnded, and gazed
at the detective for some moments without
| speaking.
well, granted that l was on the roof
| during a part of Wednesday night, what
of it? And If did hear or see anything
nfnfn hon a.xI
| above all, how can you make me tell you
II can't" rejoined Mr.. Merritt, cheer
fully. Il can only ask you to do So"
And If / refuse?"
"Then / shall have to delay satisfying
my curiosity till we meet in court, but
| do not doubt that my. patience will then
! be adequately rewarded, for a skillful law
| yer will surely be able to get at many de-
| tails that would escape me, and / hardly
| think that you would resort to perjury TO
| shield two women whom l am convinced
| you never laid eyes on before yesterday,
and have certainly not seen since" The
| detective paused.
| L still hesitated, for / felt an extreme
| reluctance to further compromise that poor
girl by anything | might say.
| Come, DOCTOR" he urged, leaning for
/ ward and placing his hand my knee,
| don't you think it would be better for all
| parties for you to tell me what you know?
| L am as anxious TO shield the innocent
| as you can be. BY Withholding valuable
| information you may force me to put a
| young lady through a very trying and pub
/ lie ordeal which i am sure might be easily
| spared her if 1 only knew few more facts
| of the case"
| This last argument decided me. and max
| ing virtue of necessity / gave him q
minute account of all had seen and heard
| When / came to describing the mans pro-
| longed search Mr. Merritt nodded several
| times with great satisfaction.
| Cant you tell me little more how this
| man looked?" he eagerly inquired. You
| must have seen him pretty clearly while
| he was moving around that lighted room
| Had he any hair on his face?
| We'll" / confessed, 1T is funny thing
but / can't for the life of me remember
| I've tried to. Sometimes L think he was
| clean-shaven. and again 1 am sure he had
| small moustache.
The detective glared at me for a mo.
/ ment; il was difficult for him to forgive
| such aggravating lack of memory. To be
| given such an opportunity and TO foozle ii
| He heaved a sign of resignation as he in
| CURED:
Can you remember how he was dressed?'
| "Oh, yes L replied with alacrity, anxious
! to retrieve myself The had white
| shirt and dark trousers, and his sleeves
were rolled back
Ibid he close the windows before he
| left?"
Eyes, and he pulled down the blinds also.
You sure that you saw one In
| the apartment resembling Miss Derwent?'
| "Qute sure; the woman / saw was taller
| and had fat. black hair.
| What do YOU mean by 'fat'?''
| why. nowadays girls wear their hail
| loose; il bulges away from their faces: bu
| hers law tight a her head i'm a fiat blacL