The Curved Blades

hold in the library, and the task was not an easy one. The two girls were distinctly at od

e experience of you police people. Now, I think the wisest plan is to call in a big detective,-no off

such suggestion would come better from me. I am now mistre

hed, "but you know Carr Loria is equally in a

arr's absence gives

out for the interests of her heirs, at least, for the absent one. I'm

en notified yet?" a

to the city to be sent to him in Egypt. But I don't k

re i

r somewhere, so much that sometimes he is away from communicati

d you te

killed by a blow on the head by a burglar, which fractured her skull. I asked him if he would

o w

ria has been begging us to make the trip, and at last Aunt Lu

now

can be found, and punished, I see no reason why I, at least, shou

ched air, as if now they were no longer members of

in the same capacity I served Miss Carrington. He'll need a representative in this countr

ho was half engrossed looking over his memoranda,

Gray were looking, amazed, at a man who came into the room. He was the detective

it?" crie

r, just under the edge of the tassel trimmin' of the lounge. The

was rudely made, of black cloth, a mere bag

there is no further doubt that Miss Carrington was murdered by a burglar. This is a burglar's weapon; this it was that crushed the sh

id Detective Hardy,

in the same room and not deduce a burglarious assault that proved fatal? The thief may have been scared off or decided he didn't want the loot, but that doesn't affect th

have been a maniac or an eccentric to put that snake round my aunt's neck after he ki

-excuse me, Mr. Brunt, but I can't think it such a simple case as you do,-t

been disturbed by the discovery of the black-jack. "Will you now please give me some det

areful precautions against burglary. She had a house full of valuable furniture, curios, and art works

is it to loo

wife, who is the cook, had

l me, any of you, why Miss Carrington was ar

rror, except when necessary, to have her hair dressed. It is almost unbelievable that she should delibera

ewels during the ev

heard her say, pearls must be worn occasionally to keep them in condition. But she a

you mea

n her room, to say good-night to h

hat t

n't it, Anita? We went upstairs about midnight,

uline looked up in surprise. Then, recollecting the last word

iss Stuart and myself that it would be our last night beneath this roof! Th

did she thu

e eyes looked straight at the Inspector with a patheti

n it," put in P

before, but never so earnestly. She meant it last night, I am sure. And

what'

Pauline; "those fooli

yne," and the Insp

said I little knew what was going to happen to her, and she said 'to-

ily, "they merely meant that she

her, "she distinctly said somethi

iously! If we are to repeat idle conversations, suppose I say

!" shriek

e killed, too. I know you didn't mean to kill her, but I've just a

ho killed poor Miss Lucy, why rake up our foolish words spoken under the intense provocation of her exhibiti

learning some points from the conversation not addressed to him.

, "was, as you know, found clasped in

of the glove he handed it back; "no, it is a size smalle

can be? It is highly impro

. "But if it was not left by the intruder, where co

y was awfully fond of anything of his. She kept one of his

eory points to a sort of gentleman burglar, a 'Raffles,' you know, and I think he

ry idea!" and Paulin

se explain

urglar persuade her to wear that pap

roomy pocket-book; "In the bedroom we noticed a glass of milk and bes

In case of insomnia, she had ready a ligh

uched," said Brunt, "but the pla

t is what Estelle usually prepared for

ington's l

act as maid for Miss Stuart and myself also, at such

the breakfast tray, that

rly cup of tea, before she dress

this morning? Did she not t

says she saw Miss Lucy at the mirror, and thinking her eng

She took that tray, probably, about eight. Pauline went up at nine. What was Estelle doing all that time? Why didn't she go in to dress Miss Carrington? I tell you, Mr. Inspector, there's a lot of queer work to be explained, and with all due respect to the force, I'm prett

said Miss Stuart; "we can't ass

e small legacies, and there are a few charities. That, Mr. Brunt, is the gist of the will. Do you not agree with me, that as I was the man of business for

cided by them. Now, here's another point. I noted in the course of our investigation in the boudoir a quantity of powder fallen on the floor nea

bit of using face powder,-even cosmetics. It is not strange

, on the hard floor, near the rug, was a muddled spot, as if some one

that you began to say something bearing on this while we were in th

ing. When I went to my aunt's room, and found what I did find,-I was so excited and nervous I scarce knew what I di

h wh

rely slapped at it, and the

d you d

eal reason. I was not thi

e one from possible suspicion?" The words wer

ou mean? Was it not t

foot that you saw, the

stockinged foot I could not judge. Might not the burg

stairs, and there is no doubt that the tracks are those of the assailant of Miss Carrington. With your permission, Mis

the room, Haskins appeared to announce