The Siamese Twin Mystery by Ellery Queen Read Free Book Online

fixedly; one flashing side glance from her remarkable eyes, a polite smile. … “Miss Forrest, Mr. Queen; Mr. Queen. … Miss Forrest is the guest I spoke of.”
    “Charmed,” said the young woman instantly. Did a glance of warning pass from the doctor’s deep-set eyes? She smiled. “You’ll have to forgive our bad manners. It’s a—a ghastly night and we were taken rather by surprise.” She shivered; a genuine shiver.
    “Can’t say I blame you, Miss Forrest,” said the Inspector genially. “I guess we didn’t realize what sane people would think at having somebody pound at their front door at night in a place like this. But that’s my son—impulsive scoundrel.”
    “There’s an introduction for you,” smiled Ellery.
    They all laughed, and then silence again.
    “Ah—my brother, Mark Xavier,” said the surgeon hastily, indicating the tall blond man with the sharp eyes. “And my colleague, Dr. Holmes.” The young man smiled in a strained fashion. “There! Now that we’re all met, won’t you sit down?” They found chairs. “Mr. Queen and his son,” Dr. Xavier murmured casually, “were brought here more by circumstances than inclination.”
    “Lost your way?” said Mrs. Xavier slowly, looking at Ellery directly for the first time. He felt a physical shock; it was like peering into a furnace. And she had a throbbing husky voice as passionate and baffling as her eyes.
    “Not that, my dear,” said Dr. Xavier. “Don’t be alarmed, but the fact is there’s something of a forest fire down below and these gentlemen, returning from a holiday in Canada, were forced into Arrow road in self-protection.”
    “Fire!” they all exclaimed; and Ellery saw that their surprise was genuine. This was undoubtedly the first intelligence they had had of the conflagration.
    And so the gap was bridged, and for some time the Queens were occupied answering excited questions and repeating the story of their narrow escape from the flames. Dr. Xavier sat quietly by, listening and smiling courteously, as if this were the first time he, too, had heard the story. Then the conversation petered out and Mark Xavier went abruptly to one of the French windows to stare out at the darkness. The ugly Thing that lurked in the recesses reared its head again. Mrs. Xavier was biting her lip and Miss Forrest was studying her rosy fingers.
    “Now, now,” said the surgeon suddenly, “don’t let’s pull such long faces.” Then he had seen it, too. “It’s probably not very serious. Communication’s cut off temporarily, that’s all. Osquewa and the neighboring villages are well equipped for fighting forest fires. There’s one almost every year. Remember the blaze last year, Sarah?”
    “Indeed I do.” The glance Mrs. Xavier flung at her husband was enigmatic.
    “I suggest,” said Ellery, lighting a cigaret, “that we discuss pleasanter things. Dr. Xavier, for example.”
    “Now, now,” said the surgeon, flushing.
    “That’s an idea!” cried Miss Forrest, jumping from her chair suddenly. “Let’s talk about you, Doctor, and how famous and kind and miraculous you are! I’ve been dying to for days, but I haven’t dared for fear Mrs. Xavier would tear my hair out, or something.”
    “Now, Miss Forrest,” said Mrs. Xavier grimly.
    “Oh, I am sorry!” cried the young woman, swinging about the room. Her self-control seemed to have deserted her; her eyes were extraordinarily bright. “I guess I’m just all nerves. With two doctors in the house, perhaps a sedative … Oh, come on, Sherlock!” and she pulled at Dr. Holmes’s arm. The young man was startled. “Don’t stand there like a stick. Let’s do something.”
    “I say,” he said quickly, almost stammering. “You know—”
    “Sherlock?” said the Inspector, smiling. “That’s an odd name, Dr. Holmes. … Oh, I see!”
    “Of course,” said Miss Forrest, dimpling. She clung to the young physician’s arm to his evident embarrassment. “Sherlock