Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-06

plLE.oINTMENT
Mr.. Benkard% DR.. Hoods tone was
sympathetic.
Seven years, doctor. Seven
years." Dunn repeated in whisper,
like a man in a dream. Il was a
broker, myself in good standing once.
but l met with reverseS. Do they
know who-who killed him?"
The doctors reply was lost In the
closing of the dining room door, and
Geofr made his way out to the ter
race once more. 1t was deserted.
but retrieving his pipe which he had
left to cool on the pile of boards. he
seated himself and was proceeding to
refill it when a bulky shadow ap-
peared on the newly dried concrete,
and he looked up to find the county
detective confronting him.
you the guy that's been doing
this work around here?" He gestur-
ed comprehensively and Geoff nod
ded. I'm Detective Sergeant Eliot
from the Homicide Bureau OF the
Office of the District Attorney"
He Tipped open the lapel of the
light gray coat for an instant, dis
playing his badge, but the stone
mason merely nodded again and went
on retilling his pipe.
Heard tell you was a-comin', and
I seen you when you stopped the
cook from leavin'," he remarked.
Il thought 1T was you in the
kitchen! What were you doing
there?'
"Gittin' some coffee" Geoff cup
ped his hands over the match he had
lighted and then drew the cool
fragrant smoke in contentedly.
80 you were going to let her make
her getaway, were you?" Sergeant
Eliot adopted bullying tone, and
the other squinted up at him quiz
I Zically.
Nobody hadn't p'inted me deputy
nor told me to stop her, and l aim to
,, mind my own business" he drawled
in perfect good humor. my job is
to finish this here terrace and the
garage soons l git a chance"
Been working here long?' the de-
tective demanded.
"Off and on ever since the founda-
tons was laid"
Inside as we'll as out? Any OF
that plaster stuff around the foun-
tain and the balcony?".
"All O the 1inishin' off, only il
! amt plaster" explained Geoff. Its
Stucco and"
Never mind what it is: I'm nc
bricklayer." Sergeant Eliot had
dropped his bullying tone and his
manner was heavily facetious. III
you've been here working on the in
, side from the beginning. you're the
! man I'm after to tell me how the
laid InIyn q aird Hoy
instance, what's this long one here
, at the left that runs from the
library all the way back?"
, ITS a-goin' to be the conservat'ry
| when Mis- Cayley gifts round to put
tin in the plants and such, as you
could have told from the windows il
you'd been a-paSt 'em outside.
There was the barest suspicion of a
twinkle in the bovine brown eyes.
And on this side there's the
kitchen and the pantry and dining
room, and then another room that
stretches across the front to the en-
trance hall, about as big as the par
lor opposite, but it seems to be shut
up" the detective pursued. whats
it used for, anyway"
"Nothin'. now. Mis- Cayley's eoin'
to have the ceilin' handpainted and
move the piano in from the parlo:
and call it a music ROOM but l
heard dat they was eXpectin' to
have lots O gay society doin's,
dancin' and card parties and private
play actin"
Are the windows of that and the
conservatory always fastened?"
Reckon So" Geoff smoked on
with elaborate nonchalancc. Henry
tends to that-Henry Carp, the but
ler."
and the doors of both OF these
unfinished rooms; are they kept
locked?"
Gcoff squinted up once more.
"Dunno's l can tell you that,
Mister-Sergeant. l amt had oc-
casion to go in either of 'em since
the family moved here, and that's
been about u month. There was lots
o sets o. keys made to every room in
the house but I never heard tell who
had 'em, 'cept Mis- Cayley and
Henry-and O. course Mr.. Bernhard"
whats your Nance" asked the
detective suddenly. after pause.
"Geoffrey Peters,
Got your card with you?"
Geoff thrust out his lantern Jaw a
trihe.
Il don't belong to no union. and
| don't need to; everybody round
here knows me like they knew my
father before me, and he was the
lest carpenter and mason IN The
county. 1 git more odd jobs and
steady ones than I can tend to- and
l hope you and the constable
mean, the lieutenant-wiIl ketch the
Teller soon that killed Mr.. Bernhard
SOS I can git on with my work."
Sergeant Elicit ChuCk1ed
Guess you won't be idle long.
them" he boosted; then added quick
ly in a lowered tone: who is this?''
Geoff gancdl toward the path
which led around the west side
of the house from the newly laid out
garden. and rose.
Young lady visitin' here: Miss
Sherwood, her name is" he replied.
Friend O. Mis- Cayley and her
daughter. from the city. Reckon I'll
git on down to- the beach and see