The Dime Museum Murders by Daniel Stashower Read Free Book Online Page B

side he arranges purchases for collectors
such as Mr. Wintour."
    "A
fine fellow," offered Hendricks. "I deal with him myself on
occasion. You mean to say Josef sold Le
Fantôme to
Bran without offering it to me first?"
    "In
the circumstances," Lieutenant Murray said, "I should think
you'd be grateful."
    "You
don't suspect old Graff of having a hand in this?" Mr. Hendricks
appeared genuinely dismayed. "I've known the man for years!"
    "As
have I," Harry said quietly.
    "He
sold the doll to Wintour," the Lieutenant said flatly. "Now
Wintour is dead. I think it's reasonable to ask him a few questions."
    "Is
he being detained?" Hendricks spoke as if dealing with
an impertinent houseboy. "Has Josef Graff been placed under
arrest in this matter?"
    I
glanced at Harry. His face had gone deathly pale. "So far as we
know, he was last to see the murdered man alive," Lieutenant
Murray said. "We would be remiss if we did not treat him with
some measure of suspicion."
    "See
here!" Hendricks was on his feet now. "Graff is a feeble
old man! You can't just bung him in jail because—''
    "With
respect, sir," Lieutenant Murray interrupted, "there are
elements of this investigation with which you are not familiar. I
would ask that you defer to my judgement for the time being."
The policeman's tone was even and deferential, but there was no
mistaking the core of iron.
    Hendricks
studied Lieutenant Murray's face for a moment and saw that it was
pointless to argue. "I just don't understand the point of
detaining Mr. Graff, that's all," he said, sitting down beside
his wife. "He's a harmless old man."
    My
brother had been silent during this exchange. Now he rose from his
contemplation of the floor and carefully brushed at the knees of his
trousers. "'I have completed my examination of the carpet,"
he announced.
    "Have
you?" Lieutenant Murray turned to face my brother, his lips
pressed together in amusement.
    "I
am prepared to announce my conclusions," Harry continued.
    "Your
conclusions?" The lieutenant was smiling broadly now. "Look,
Mr. Houdini, as I said before, we just want you to show us how the
automaton works." "I will do so, of course. At the same
time, I will also demonstrate
that Josef Graff had nothing whatever to do with Mr. Wintour's
death."
    "I
beg your pardon?"
    "Josef
Graff had nothing whatever to do with Mr. Wintour's death. He may
have sold Le
Fantôme to
the dead man, but he is completely innocent of any wrongdoing. I
promise you that on my mother's life."
    "And
how can you be so certain of that?"
    "Because Le
Fantôme did
not kill Branford Wintour."
    All
traces of amusement drained from Lieutenant Murray's face. His eyes
became very still, the way a terrier's will when he's about to take a
chunk out of your hand. "May I ask how you arrived at that
conclusion, Mr. Houdini?"
    "Because
there is no red dot," said my brother.
    Dr.
Peterson, the police physician, perked up at this. "No blood,
you mean? There was a bit, if you looked closely, but the puncture
wasn't deep enough to cause any serious bleeding."
    Dr.
Blanton, Mr. Wintour's friend, nodded his head in vigorous agreement.
"In some cases, the poison need not even enter the bloodstream
directly. The smallest scratch is sufficient to—"
    "I
did not mean blood," Harry said. "I refer to a red dot of a
very different kind. A red dot that only Houdini would think to look
for. I have made an exhaustive search, gentlemen, and there is no red
dot on the body, or on the floor, or on the desk."
    Lieutenant
Murray locked his hands behind his back. "I think you'll have to
explain yourself for us, Mr. Houdini."
    "Of
course," my brother said, warming to the role. "You and
your men cannot be faulted if you are slow to
grasp this. It is a matter where only the rarefied knowledge of
Houdini can be of service."
    "Uh,
Harry—?" I began.
    "That's
all right," Lieutenant Murray said to me. "Please, Mr.
Houdini, we'd be ever so grateful if you could put us on the right
track here." He held up his