The Tragedy of Z by Ellery Queen Read Free Book Online Page B

be sold for the unemployed of the county.”
    â€œThat was pretty well exploded by the Leeds Examiner,” interrupted Hume dryly. “Cut out the non-essentials. What’s the box to do with the bazaar?”
    â€œWell, the Senator secured the consent of the State Prison Board and Warden Magnus, and visited Algonquin on a tour of inspection,” continued Carmichael. “This was about a month ago. He arranged with the warden to have samples of prison manufactures sent to him, here, to be used for advance publicity.” Carmichael paused, and his eyes gleamed. “And in a carton of toys made by the prison carpentry shop was this little piece of chest!”
    â€œSo,” muttered father. “How do you know this, by the way?”
    â€œI opened the cartons.”
    â€œThis thingamajig was just stuck in with the rest of the gewgaws?”
    â€œNot quite, Inspector. It was wrapped in a filthy piece of paper addressed in pencil to the Senator, and there was a note inside the package in an envelope, also addressed to the Senator.”
    â€œNote!” shrieked Hume. “Why, man, that’s of tremendous importance! Why didn’t you tell us all this before? Where is this note? Did you read it? What did it say?”
    Carmichael looked sad. “I’m sorry, Mr. Hume, but since the box and letter were addressed to Senator Fawcett, I couldn’t … You see, when I found them, I turned them over to the Senator, who was at the desk examining the things as I opened the cartons. I didn’t know what was in the package at all until he opened it after I turned it over to him. All I caught was a glimpse of the address. The Senator turned deathly pale when he caught sight of the box and opened the envelope with shaking fingers. I’ll swear to that. And at the same time he told me to get out—he’d open the other cartons himself.”
    â€œToo bad, too bad,” snapped Hume. “So you’ve no idea where the letter is, or if Fawcett destroyed it, eh?”
    â€œAfter I had transshipped the toys and the other cartons to the bazaar headquarters in town, I noticed that the piece of chest wasn’t in the toy carton. And then one day, about a week or so later, I happened to see it in that top drawer of the desk. As for the letter, I never saw it again.”
    Hume said: “Wait a minute, Carmichael,” and whispered something to Kenyon, who looked bored and growled an order to three policemen. One of them immediately went to the desk, squatted on his hams, and began to rifle the drawers. The other two went out.
    Father studied the tip of his cigar with a thoughtful squint. “Say, Carmichael, who delivered that carton of toys? Did I hear you say anything about that?”
    â€œDid I? Prison trusties, you know, from each department. Naturally, I don’t know the men.”
    â€œTell me this. Was the toy carton sealed when this trusty delivered it to you?”
    Carmichael stared. “Oh, I see. You think the messenger might have opened the carton and slipped the package in on his way to the house? I don’t think so, Inspector. The seal was perfect, and I’m sure if there’d been signs of tampering I’d have detected them.”
    â€œHa,” said father, smacking his lips. “Swell. That would tighten ’er up, Hume. The prison, by God. I thought you said that little jigger wasn’t important!”
    â€œI was wrong,” confessed Hume; there was boyish excitement in his dark eyes. “And you, Miss Thumm—do you think it’s important, too?”
    There was a smiling condescension in his tone that made me boil. Patronizing me again! I thrust my chin forward and said, with venom: “My dear Mr. Hume, surely it doesn’t make any difference what I think?”
    â€œOh, come now. I didn’t mean to offend you. What do you really think about this business of the wooden chest?”
    â€œI