The Coolidge examiner., 1936-03-06

and there you are"
what did he kill him with?" per
sisted Stone.
Poison, | suppose, as we find
no signs of shooting or stabbing.
Yet we may find those things when
we get around to a real eXamina-
ton. Stebbins, you call up the
morgue and let's get started"
You don't agree to natural
death, then?" Stone looked straight
at him. "Well, I'm glad you're to
have an autopsy; I'm curious about
some points. And l certainly want
to be present"
"You may, of course. Are you
medical man, Mr.. Stone?"
"Not quite, but my calling brings
me up against medical matters more
or less, and 1 can't help learning a
bit here and there"
81 see. And are you looking for
anything definite as result of the
post mortem?"
well, yes, I think I may say
am. That is, I'm looking for cor
rOboration."
''Of your own theories?"
"Of my own deductions. I have
small use for theories in a murder
case"
81 see. l suppose, now, Mr.. Stone,
you know who did this murder?"
"Yes, l suppose 1 do"
And you know the motive?
"Oh, that, Of course"
"And the method used?"
81 think so, but that must be
corroborated by the results of the
autopsy"
Doctor Merritt's eyes had grown
larger and rounder as this CONVEX
sation went ON, but these three
statements were more than he could
swallow. Sarcasm crept into his
voice. "Then, sir, if you know the
murderer, the motive and the meth
cd, why not divulge your secrets
and let us make an arrest?"
Proof, my dear sir; proof is lack
ing. My deductions and conclusions
are so improbable, so difficult of be-
lief, that l dare not declare them
until l can merge them into one
perfect statement, and prove it. If
the autopsy carries out my beliefs
positively, l will explain. l don't
mean to be mysterious. That sort
Of thing is silly. But 1 can't risk
spelling my discoveries by hand
ing them out half-baked. You must
) see that for yourself"
Il see." Stone knew he would
say that, even though he saw moth
ing whatever. "I'll get over to the
: morgue now," Merritt added. "You
: come along in about an. hour"
When Stone went down the street
!: to the morgue he was admitted to
the operating room. Without SEEM
ing to give orders he issued explicit
directions about the care of the re-
mains, and made sure his advices
would be carried out.
Photographs and X-rays were
made, and much minutiae was list
ed. At last the unpleasant task was
over, and full results promised by
late evening.
Fleming Stone looked perplexed
but Doctor Merritt seemed satisfied
II told you So" he said. Nothing
to hint at poison Of any sort"
The doctor had told him nothing
of the sort, but he had no wish to
rouse a controversy.
The sheriff had been persuaded
not to order an inquest.
"You see," Stone said to him, "it
isn't case for a coroner at all.
Both Doctor Crane and the rledical
examiner report that nothing was
learned or discovered at the autop-
Sy which pointed to anything but
death from natural causes. They
have both given certificates to this
effect. Therefore, sheriff, you have
no crime, no criminal, and no victim.
This somewhat garbled statement
had the desired effect, owing, doubt
less, to its source. Fleming Stone
had no intent of wrong-doing on
the contrary, he was working, and
rather rapidly, toward his own ends.
He wanted to get back to New York,
where he felt he had his work cut
out for him.
He sought out Perilla and had a
talk with her. Malcolm was with
her, and Garth. 1t seemed to Stone
Garth was always with her, but that
was none of his business.
"You want to go homer" he asked
the girl.
Just tell me when we can start" "
"We are sending Bob's body on in
charge of Fairfax" Stone went on,
"and 1 assume you'll want to go by
train. All Of you"
, 81 shall go by train, of course"
said Perilla. "Mr. Stone, 1 hope
you'll go with me, and the rest of
you can go as you prefer"
For no definite reason Stone had
wanted another look at Bob's room,
so he went up to the third floor
| again.
There he saw BOb's luggage. a