ALM06 Who Killed the Husband? by Hulbert Footner Read Free Book Online

all right."
    "How did your mistress bear herself, Hawkins?"
    "She was shocked, sir. She looked awful."
    "Hysterical?"
    "Not her, sir. She kept quiet. She had her wits about her."
    "Did she approach the body?"
    "No, sir. She told me to call a doctor. I said: 'Mr. Gartrey is dead, Madam.' She said: 'Call a doctor anyhow.' I did so. I then asked her if I should notify the police. She said: 'This is not a case for the police; he killed himself.' She indicated the gun. I pointed out to her that he still had the key in his right hand. There is a doctor's office in the building and he came immediately; Mrs. Gartrey's own physician a couple of minutes later."
    "Was there any other telephoning done?"
    "No, sir, not at that time. News of the shooting had spread through the house and all kinds of people were trying to get into the apartment. I had all I could do to keep them out. A policeman came in off the street and it was him who telephoned to his captain and the captain notified Headquarters. The confusion got worse and worse until Mr. Coler came. He straightened us out."
    Lee thought this over, stroking his chin. "Hawkins," he said finally, "I suppose there are many possible hiding places in that big apartment."
    "Oh, yes, sir. There is the coat closet in the foyer and there is the powder room, opening off. The rear hall is lined with cupboards which I have not indicated on the plan."
    "Was the apartment searched for a possible skulker?"
    "No, sir. We couldn't conceive how anybody could have got in without being seen."
    Lee said: "According to my recollection the entrance foyer is sparsely furnished. Is there any piece of furniture behind which an assassin could have concealed himself until Mr. Gartrey was well inside the door?"
    "No, sir. There is no furniture at all on that side of the foyer."
    "Hm!" said Lee. "This is a hard nut that you have given me to crack, Hawkins."
    "Yes, sir."
    "Is the entrance door a self-closing one?"
    "Yes, sir."
    Lee's further questioning elicited nothing material from the old man. When Lee finally got up to leave, Hawkins said:
    "What is your opinion, Mr. Mappin?"
    As Hawkins asked the question, Lee became aware that there was another, a sharper personality peeping from behind the benignant facade. But he could not be sure that it was evil.
    "I am completely at sea," he said.
    "If Mr. Yohe would only come back and clear himself !" sighed the old man.
    "So say we all of us!" agreed Lee.
    As Lee came down the stairs on his way out, the courteous landlady appeared below to open the door for him. Lee's eyes twinkled behind the polished glasses.
    "Mrs. Quimby, do you ever cash checks?" he asked. Naturally, she was astonished. "Why...why...why for my lodgers, sir, not for strangers."
    "Where does Mr. Hawkins bank?"
    She was so flustered that she answered without thinking. "At the Girard National, sir."
    "Thank you so much," said Lee. "Don't mention to anybody that I asked you."
    Out on the sidewalk he glanced at his watch. Being Saturday, the bank would be closed, but there might be somebody on the premises.
    He taxied into the city and found a vice president at the Girard National. Lee, introducing himself, stated his errand and the vice president sent for a bookkeeper with his ledger. This man said:
    "The account of Robert Hawkins was opened two days ago with a deposit of $2,500. This was a cashier's check from a New York bank. This morning Mr. Hawkins is credited with cash, $5,000, deposited here in the banking house."
    Lee's face was like a mask. "Is the teller who took the money available?"
    He was presently produced, a slender, pale young man with an expression of anxiety, wondering why he had been sent for from the front office.
    "This deposit in cash to the credit of Robert Hawkins," said the vice president, "do you remember who made it?"
    "Yes, sir, the circumstances being a little unusual. It was a young gentleman, sir; good-looking, extremely well dressed. I took him for a junior partner in a