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

prominent law firm, or a stockbroker."
    "In what form was the money?"
    "Tens and twenties, sir."
    "Were the numbers taken?" Lee put in.
    "No, sir. They were mixed old bills. Just put in with our cash, sir."
    "Would you be able to recognize the man who deposited them?"
    "Yes, sir. A very handsome young fellow, sir."
    "Please say nothing about this for the present."

    On his return to New York, Lee reported the result of his mission to Inspector Loasby, and convinced him of the necessity of keeping the discovery to themselves until they could trace the source of Hawkins' bonus.

Chapter 5
    On Sunday mornings Mr. Mappin permitted himself an extra half hour in bed, no more. If he had been up late on Saturday night, he found it refreshing to take a cat nap or a couple of cat naps later in the day. Having finished his breakfast by the fire, he was leaning back thoughtfully smoking a cigarette. Today the dressing gown was orange faced with black; the scarf and slippers scarlet. There was a line between his brows and he was not thinking serenely of his big book. What he termed to himself "that infernal Gartrey case" had driven it out of his head. He admitted, however, that l'affaire Gar-trey was not as obvious and common as it had seemed at first. It had become a puzzle.
    He heard the distant sound of the doorbell without concern. He kept his home address a secret so far as was possible and it, of course, did not appear in the telephone book. All sorts of nuisances occasionally came to the door, but he could depend on the efficient Jermyn to protect him. He was therefore surprised to see Jermyn enter, wearing an odd expression which suggested that something had turned up which was too much for him.
    "What is it?" asked Lee a little sharply.
    "If you please, Mr. Mappin, there's...there's a young lady calling."
    "Good gracious, Jermyn! At nine o'clock on Sunday morning! What's her excuse?"
    "She didn't say what she wanted, sir, but she wrote her name on a piece of paper." Jermyn extended the paper.
    Taking it, Lee read: "Mrs. Alastair Yohe."
    "Jehu, Kingdom come!" he exclaimed. "This is impossible!...This is a practical joker, Jermyn, or a newspaper woman in disguise!"
    Jermyn shook his head. "No, sir! A very personable young lady, sir, and appears to be in great trouble."
    Lee noted that he had twice spoken of her as a lady. Jermyn was never the one to apply the term lightly. Lee was divided in his mind; curiosity was working powerfully; on the other hand, "great trouble" promised the kind of emotional scene that he detested. He said: "You'd better go into the kitchen where you can't be overheard, and call up Inspector Loasby. You'll find him at his home. Tell him who our caller is, and let him take what action seems best."
    Jermyn's generally inexpressive face betrayed the keenest distress. "Oh, no, Mr. Mappin! If you please, sir! Oh, Mr. Mappin, you can't go for to do that!"
    "Why can't I?"
    "She has a baby, sir!"
    Lee stared, openmouthed. "A baby, did you say?"
    "Yes, sir, a fine, pretty child."
    "What's a baby got to do with it?"
    "You wouldn't have the heart to turn them over to the police, sir."
    "Well...well..." said Lee pettishly, "you needn't telephone to Loasby...But I won't see her! The baby is just an excuse for sob stuff. No sensible woman would bring a baby! Send them away!"
    As Jermyn turned, Lee heard a gentle voice from the door saying: " Please , Mr. Mappin, I won't make a nuisance of myself. I won't stay but five minutes!"
    Lee jumped up in great perturbation, drawing his dressing gown around him like a woman caught in her wrapper, and saying: "Really, young lady! Really! This is too much!" He looked around for Jermyn, but Jermyn had slipped incontinently through the dining-room door, leaving him to face the monster alone. Finding himself trapped, Lee looked the intruder straight in the eye.
    "I know this is dreadful of me," she was saying imploringly, "but I felt desperate!"
    She was a pretty thing, small and young.