Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-27
ABOVE SUSPICION
ByROBERI ORR CHIPPERFIELD
Copyright

a laugh, If you know what l mean,
sir. AS for Mr.. Bernhard, he had a
look on his face that was dangerous!
I've seen 1t few times since. but
never before then, and it gave me a
queer feeling. II couldn't quite
pantry / left the door ajar and
listened. and 1t seemed to me Mr..
Bernhard was purposely working the
/ young gentleman up into frenzy,
dcfying him and asking what he
could prove. Mr.. Shirley said he
could prove enough to drive Mr..
Bernhard out of Wall Street, even
If he couldn't take him behind the
bars with him, and that he wasn't
going to wait until the accounting
was made: he was going straight
to the head of the firm the next day
with the whole story. and he'd only
come to Mr.. Bernhard then to give
him last chance to keep his word
and make good the loss. "A last
chance?' Mr.. Bernhard repeated
after MIN, and I knew somehow
from his voice that the end of it
was coming. All right. you young
fool, I'll take that chance!
, came the sound, Of that shot and
and I realized in a flash what he
must have done"
Henry" Geoff stepped to the side
Of the bed beside the doctor, did
you see Mr.. Bernhard slip that there
revolver into the pocket Of his
lounging-robe afore you left his
room when you went to tell him Mr..
Shirley had Gomez"
NO, but it was his. He'd had it
since before | came to him and l
think he must have bought 1t sec
ond-hand in some other city, for
there were no marks on it that could
be traced. | searched the pawn
shops quiet like, for week after
that happened, to find another just
Ike it in case there should be some
thing said and Mr.. Bernhard have
to produce his but there wasn't, not
Il whisper! Not until now"
"You didn't hear Mr.. Bernhard call,
thou-h?"
no. Godfrey. didn't. That was
the beginning of the story we fixed
up between us afterward that fooled
everybody. even Mr.. Newbury here"
Henry gave the stunned attorney a
deprecating glance. After the shot,
there was a horrid sort of stiffness
and it seemed hours before l could
get my legs to working under me.
don't know however in the world 1
stood Mr.. Bernhard hunched up over
the table with the revolver in his
hand, staring at Mr.. Shirley's dead
body on the floor"
"Why didn't you call the police ."
demanded NcVbury sharply.
Il never thought of it, sir" the
cid man replied simply. Il was in
service to Mr.. Bernhard, and no mat
ter who had the right or wrong of
the quarrel. nothing could bring Mr..
Shirley back to life again. I made
sure of that. and then | saw there
was powder marks around the
wound on his temple--it was his
right temple and I'd noticed that Mr.
Shirley was right handed. sir-so
knew that Mr.. Bernhard must have
been close up to him when he fired,
and then backed away across the
room. 1t came to me then what we
had TO do, and do quickly. in case
somebody in the neighborhood had
heard the shot and sent to investi-
gate. | walked up to Mr.. Bernhard
and took the revolver out of his
| hand; he was like man in dream
Mr.. Bernhard. SIR | said to him.
Mr.. Shirley killed himself. Do you
hear, sir? He did it himself! Try to
think quick of n reason He Just
Z tIllth SLOW ara stirred at me. as II
, he was trying to understand and
when | went over to whore Mr..
Shirley was lying and slipped the re-
Nolvcr under his hand. When
turned. Mr.. Bernhard was pouring
himself drink of Scotch. neat, and
then he asked me what YOU did
Just now. Mr.. Newbury, and gave
him the same answer. When he
saw he could trust me his brain be-
San to work like lightning. and with
in five minutes | was tclcphoning to
the police. and to YOU, sir. if YOU re-
call. hut we had everything arranged
then between us and we neither of
us had to change a word of the
story"
"GeoEf. DO YOU want to ask him
any more queStions"" DR.. Hood
turned to his deputy as Henry
| ceased speaking. and when the latter
shook his head. he added: Then
We'll let him rest now until the
notary comes
Fut n slight hustle and commotion
below as they started to leave the
/ room indicated the prompt arrival Of
that official with his stenographer,
and while Henry's statement was
being taken down and sworn to, Mr..
Newbury sought his client. The
matter was briefly concluded. and
when they descended the stairs it
was To find whitefaced and trembl-
ing Mrs. Cayley waiting beseeching-
| ly in the hall.
Doctor. may I speak to YOU and
Godfrey for a moment after these
others have gomez She drew the
medical examiner aside. Can they