The Mystery Girl

by Carolyn Wells

  CHAPTER V THE TRAGEDY

  That same Sunday evening the Waring household dined alone. Oftener thannot there were guests, but tonight there were only the two Peytons,Lockwood and John Waring himself.

  Ito, the butler, had holiday Sunday afternoon and evening, and Nogi, thesecond and less experienced man, was trying his best to satisfy theexactions of Mrs. Peyton as to his service at table.

  Helen Peyton was in a talkative mood and commented volubly on the callerof the afternoon, Miss Austin.

  She met little response, for her mother was absorbed in the training ofthe Japanese, and the two men seemed indisposed to pursue the subject.

  "Don't you think she's odd looking?" Helen asked, of Doctor Waring.

  "Odd looking," he repeated; "I don't know. I didn't notice herespecially. She seemed to me a rather distinguished type."

  "Distinguished is the word," agreed Lockwood. "What about the lecturetomorrow night, Doctor? Will Fessenden take care of it?"

  "No; I must lecture myself tomorrow night. I'm sorry, for I'm busy withthat book revision. However, I'll look up some data this evening, and Ishall be ready for it."

  "Of course you will," laughed Mrs. Peyton. "You were never caught unreadyfor anything!"

  "But it means some work," Waring added, as he rose from the table.

  He went into the study, followed by Lockwood, whose experience made himaware of what books his chief would need, and he began at once to takethem from the shelves.

  "Right," Waring said, looking over the armful of volumes Lockwood placedon the desk and seating himself in the swivel chair.

  "Bring me Marcus Aurelius, too, please, and Martial."

  "The classic touch," Lockwood smiled.

  "Yes, it adds dignity, if one is a bit shy of material," Waring admitted,good-naturedly. "That's all, Lockwood. You may go, if you like."

  "No, sir. I'll stay until eleven or so. I'm pretty busy with the reports,and, too, some one may call whom I can take care of."

  "Good chap you are, Lockwood. I appreciate it. Very well, then, don'tbother me unless absolutely necessary."

  The secretary left the room and closed the study door behind him.

  This door gave on to the end of the cross hall, and the hall ended then,in a roomy window seat, and also held a book rack and table; altogether acomfortable and useful nook, frequently occupied by Gordon Lockwood. Thewindow looked out on the beautiful lake view, as did the great studywindow, and it also commanded a view of the highroad on which stood, notfar away, the Adams boarding-house.

  Lockwood lodged there, as being more convenient, but most of his wakinghours were spent in his employer's home. A perfect secretary he hadproved himself to be, for his prescience amounted almost to clairvoyance,and his imperturbability was exceedingly useful in keeping troublesomepeople or things away from John Waring.

  So, he determined to stay on guard, lest a chance caller should come todisturb the Doctor at his work.

  But Lockwood's own work was somewhat neglected. Try as he would toconcentrate upon it, he could not entirely dismiss from his mind acertain mysterious little face, whose meaning eluded him. For once,Gordon Lockwood, reader of faces, was baffled. He couldn't classify thegirl who was both rude and charming, both cruel and pathetic.

  For cruelty was what this expert read in the knowing eyes and firm littlemouth of Miss Mystery. And because of this indubitable element in hernature, he deemed her pathetic. Which shows how much she interested him.

  At any rate he thought about her while his work waited. And, then, hethought of other things--for he had troubles of his own, had thissupercilious young man. And troubles which galled him the more, that theywere sordid--money troubles, in fact. His whole nature revolted at themere thought of mercenary considerations, but if one is short of fundsone must recognize the condition, distasteful though it be.

  At nine-thirty, Nogi came with a tray bearing water and glasses. Underthe watchful eye of Mrs. Peyton the Japanese tapped at the study doorand, in response to the master's bidding, went in with his tray. He leftit punctiliously on the table directed, and with his characteristic bow,departed again.

  At ten-thirty, Mrs. Peyton and Helen went upstairs to their rooms, thehousekeeper having given Nogi strict and definite instructions, whichincluded his remaining on duty until the master should also retire.

  And the night wore on.

  A clear, cold night, with a late-rising moon, past the full, but stillwith its great yellow disk nearly round.

  It shone down on what seemed like fairyland, for the sleet storm that hadcovered the trees with a coating of ice, and had fringed eaves and fenceswith icicles, had ceased, and left the glittering landscape frozen andsparkling in the still, cold air.

  And when, some hours later, the sun rose on the same chill scene its raysmade no perceptible impression on the cold and the mercury stayed down atits lowest winter record.

  And so even the stolid Japanese Ito, shivered, and his yellow teethchattered as he knocked at Mrs. Peyton's door in the early dawn of Mondaymorning.

  "What is it?" she cried, springing from her bed to unbolt her door.

  "Grave news, madam," and the Oriental bowed before her.

  "What has happened? Tell me, Ito."

  "I am not sure, madam--but, the master--"

  "Yes, what about Doctor Waring?"

  "He is--he is asleep in his study."

  "Asleep in his study! Ito, what do you mean?"

  "That, madam. His bed is unslept in. His room door ajar. I looked in thestudy--through from the dining-room--he is there by his desk--"

  "Asleep, Ito--you said asleep!"

  "Yes--madam--but--I do not know. And Nogi--he is gone."

  "Gone! Where to?"

  "That also, I do not know. Will madam come and look?"

  "No; I will not! I know something has happened! I knew something wouldhappen! Ito, he is not asleep--he is--"

  "Don't say it, madam. We do not know."

  "Find out! Go in and speak to him."

  "But the door is locked. I tried it."

  "Locked! The study door locked, and Doctor Waring still in there? How doyou know?"

  "I peeped from the dining-room window--and I could see him, leaning downon his desk."

  "From the dining-room window! What do you mean?"

  "The small little inside windows. Madam knows?"

  The study had been added to the Waring house after the house had beenbuilt for some years. Wherefore, the dining-room, previously with a lakeview from its windows, was cut off from that view. But, the windows,three small, square ones, remained, and so, looked into the new study.

  However, the study, a higher ceiling being desired, had its floor sunkensix feet or more, which brought the windows far too high to see throughfrom the study side, but one could look through them from thedining-room. The original sashes had been replaced by beautiful stainedglass, opaque save for a few tiny transparent bits through which apersistent and curious-minded person might discern some parts of thestudy.

  The stained glass sashes were immovable, and were there more as adecoration than for utility's sake.

  And it was through these peepholes that Ito had discovered the presenceof Doctor Waring in his study at the unusual hour of seven o'clock in themorning.

  The Japanese, true to his tribal instinct, showed no agitation, and hiscalm demeanor helped to soothe Mrs. Peyton. But as she hastily dressedherself, she decided upon her course of action.

  Her first impulse was to call her daughter, but she concluded not todisturb the girl. Instead, she telephoned to Gordon Lockwood, and askedhim to come over as soon as he possibly could.

  Old Salt took the message, and transmitted it to the secretary.

  "What's the matter over there?" asked Lockwood.

  "Don't know. Mrs. Peyton seemed all on edge, 's far's I could judge fromher voice--but she only said for you to come over."

  "All right, I'll go as soon a
s I can get dressed."

  Once out of doors, Lockwood couldn't fail to be impressed with the beautyof the morning landscape. One of the most beautiful bits of New Englandscenery, it was newly lovely in its sheath of ice.

  Lockwood's hasty steps crunched through the crusted snow, and he hurriedover to the Waring house.

  Ito opened the door for him and Mrs. Peyton met him in the hall.

  "Something has happened to Doctor Waring," she said at once; "he stayedin the study all night."

  "Why? What do you mean?" asked the secretary.

  "Just that. His room door is still open, and his bed hasn't been sleptin. Also, Ito says he can see him in the study, through the dining-roomwindow. I--I haven't looked--"

  "Why don't you go in?"

  "The study door is locked."

  "Locked! And Doctor Waring still in there?"

  "Yes; I think he must have had a stroke--or, something--"

  "Nonsense! He's just asleep. He's overworked of late, anyway."

  "Well, I'm glad you're here." And Mrs. Peyton looked relieved. "You seeabout it, Mr. Lockwood, won't you?"

  The secretary went first to the study door. He rapped, and then he triedthe door, and then rapped again, very loudly. But no response came, andLockwood returned to the dining-room.

  "Can you see through that glass?" he asked in surprise, noting the thick,leaded mosaic of pieces.

  "Yes, sir, through this corner," Ito directed him, and, peering through,Lockwood discerned the figure of John Waring. He sat at his desk, hisbody fallen slightly forward, and his head drooped on his breast.

  "Sound asleep," said Lockwood, but his tone carried no conviction.

  Mrs. Peyton well knew the man's disinclination to show any emotion, andin spite of his calm, she was almost certain he shared her own beliefthat John Waring was not merely asleep.

  "We must get to him," Lockwood said, after a moment's pause. "Can you getthrough one of these windows, Ito, and unbolt the door?"

  "No, sir; these windows do not open at all."

  "Not open? Why not?"

  Save to remark the beauty of their color and design, Lockwood had neverbefore noticed the windows, especially, and was genuinely surprised todiscover that they could not be opened at all.

  "Of what use are they?" he mused, aloud; "They give very little light."

  "They were outside windows before the study was built," Mrs. Peyton toldhim, "and when the stained glass was put in, it was merely for decorationand the panes were not made movable."

  "Well, we must get in," said Lockwood, almost impatiently. "How shall wedo it? You, Ito, must know how."

  "No, sir, there is no way. Unless, the long window is unfastened."

  The long French window--really a double door--was on the other side ofthe study, exactly opposite the useless high windows that gave into thedining-room.

  To reach it one must go out and around the house.

  "It is very bad snow--" Ito shrugged.

  "You heathen!" Lockwood exclaimed, scornfully, and himself dashed out atthe front door and around to the side of the house.

  Mrs. Peyton started to follow, but the secretary bade her go back lestshe take cold.

  He reached the French window only to find it locked on the inside. Hecould not see in through its curtained panes, and impulsively he raisedhis foot and kicked through the glass at a point high enough to allow ofhis putting in a hand and turning back the latch.

  He went into the room, and after the briefest glance at the man by thedesk he went on and unbolted the door to the hall.

  Helen had joined her mother and Ito, and the three stood cowering on thethreshold.

  "He is dead," Gordon Lockwood said, in a calm, unemotional way. "But notby a stroke--he has killed himself."

  "How do you know?" Mrs. Peyton cried, her eyes staring and her facewhite.

  "Go away, Helen," Lockwood said; "go back into the living-room, and stayaway."

  And willingly the girl obeyed.

  "Come in, Mrs. Peyton," Lockwood went on. "You must see him, though itwill shock you. See, the flow of blood is dreadful. He stabbed or shothimself."

  Conquering her aversion to the sight, Mrs. Peyton, from a sense of duty,drew nearer, and as Lockwood had said, the condition of the body wasterrible indeed.

  Wounded, apparently in the side of the head, Waring had fallen forward insuch a way that the actual wound was concealed, but the fact was only tooapparent that he had bled to death. The blotter on the desk and many ofthe furnishings were crimsoned and there was a large and dark stain onthe rug.

  "He is positively dead," said Lockwood, in cool, even tone, "so I advisethat we do not touch the body but send at once for Doctor Greenfield. Hewill know best what to do."

  "Oh, you cold-blooded wretch!" Mrs. Peyton burst forth, uncontrollably."Have you no feelings whatever? You stand there like a wooden image, whenthe best man in the world lies dead before you! And you, Ito!" She turnedon the awe-struck butler. "You're another of those impassive, unnaturalcreatures! Oh, I hate you both!"

  The housekeeper ran from the room, and was soon closeted with herdaughter, who, at least showed agitation and grief at the tragedy thathad occurred.

  The two she had called impassive, stood regarding one another.

  "Who did it, Master?" inquired the Japanese, calmly.

  "Who did it!" Lockwood stared at him. "Why, he did it himself, Ito."

  Otherwise immovable, the Oriental shook his head in dissension, butLockwood was already at the telephone, and heeded him not.

  Doctor Greenfield consented to come over at once, and Lockwood going tothe living room, advised the Peytons to have breakfast, as there was aterrible ordeal ahead of them.

  "I'll have some coffee with you, if I may," he went on. "Brace up, Helen,it's pretty awful for you, but you must try to be a brave girl."

  A grateful glance thanked him for the kindness, and Lockwood returnedquickly to the study.

  "What are you doing?" he said sternly, as he saw Ito bending over thedead man.

  "Nothing, sir," and the butler straightened up quickly and stood atattention.

  "Leave the room, and do not return here without permission. Servebreakfast to the ladies. Where is Nogi?"

  "He is gone, sir."

  "Gone where?"

  "That I do not know. Last night he was here. Now he is gone. I know nomore."

  "You don't know anything. Get out."

  "Yes, sir."

  Left to himself, Gordon Lockwood gazed thoughtfully about the room. Hedid not confine his attention to the bent figure of his late employer,nor even to the desk or its nearby surroundings. He wandered aboutlooking at the windows, the floor, the furniture.

  One chair, standing rather near the desk, he looked at intently. Anexpression of bewilderment came into his face, followed by a look ofdismay.

  Then, after a cautious almost furtive glance about him, he passed hishand quickly over the plush back of the chair, rubbing it hard, with ascrubbing motion.

  Then he looked about the room even more eagerly and carefully, andfinally sat down in the same plush chair, to await the Doctor's arrival.

  Helen Peyton came timidly to the door to ask him to come to breakfast.

  "No, Helen," he answered. "My place is here until the Doctor comes. Eatyour breakfast, child, and try to throw off your distress. It will do youno good to brood over it. You can be of real help if you keep brave andcalm, but it will be quite otherwise if you get hysterical."

  He did not see the adoring glance she gave him, nor did he realize howmuch effect his words had on her subsequent behavior. For Helen Peytonwas suffering from shocked nerves, and only Lockwood's advice would havebeen heeded by her.

  She returned to the dining room, saying, quietly, "Gordon will come aftera while. Let us eat our breakfast, mother, and try to be brave andstrong."

  It was not more than fifteen minutes later that Lockwood joined them.

  He took his seat at the table and as he shook out his breakfast nap
kin hesaid,

  "Doctor Greenfield is there now. He says Doctor Waring was stabbed notshot. He says the instrument was round and pointed--not flat, like aknife."

  "Who did it?" asked Helen, wide-eyed.

  "It must have been suicide, Helen, for, as you know, the room was locked.How could any one get in or out?"

  "But how absurd to think of Doctor Waring killing himself!" The girllooked more amazed than ever.

  "He never killed himself," stated Mrs. Peyton. "Why, you know that manhad everything to live for! Just about to be married, just about to bePresident of the College--full of life and enthusiasm--suicide!Nonsense!"

  "I'm only telling you what the doctor said. And you know yourselves, theroom was all locked up."

  "Yes, that's so. Ito, leave the room!"

  Mrs. Peyton spoke sharply to the butler, who was quite evidently drinkingin the conversation.

  "He must not hear all we say," she observed after the butler haddisappeared.

  "What's this about Nogi being gone?" asked Lockwood, suddenly.

  "Yes, he's gone," Mrs. Peyton said, "and I can't understand it. I didn'tthink he'd stay, he didn't like the duties at all--you know he's justlearning to be a butler--but queer he went off like that. His wages aredue for three weeks."

  "He'll be back, then," surmised Lockwood. "Now, what shall we do first?The faculty must be notified of this tragedy and also, Mrs. Bates must betold. Which of you two will go and tell Mrs. Bates about it?"

  "You go, Helen," said her mother after a moment's thought. "I ought to behere to look after the house, and anyway, dear, you can do it wisely andgently. Mrs. Bates likes you, and after all, it can be soon told."

  "Oh, I can't!" cried Helen, dismayed at the thought of the awful errand.

  "Yes, you can," and Lockwood looked at her with a firm kindliness. "Youwant to be of help, don't you Helen? Well, here's one thing you can dothat will be of great assistance to your mother and to me. For on us twomust fall most of the sad duties of this day."

  "But what can I say? What can I tell her?"

  "Just tell her the facts as far as you know them yourself. She will guessfrom your own agitation that something has happened. And then you willtell her, as gently as you can. Be a true woman, Helen, and remember thatthough your news must break her heart, yet she'd far rather hear it fromyou than from some less sympathetic messenger."

  "I'll do it," said Helen, struggling bravely to keep her tears back.

  "That's a good girl. Run right along, now, for ill news flies fast, andrumors may get to her before you reach there."

  "Now about that Nogi," Lockwood said, thoughtfully. "Call Ito back,please, Mrs. Peyton."

  "When did you see Nogi last?" the secretary asked of the butler.

  "When I came home last night, sir. Sunday is my holiday. I returned aboutten, and as I found Nogi with his duties all properly done, and at hispost, I went to bed. I found this morning that he had not been in his bedat all. His clothes are gone, and all his belongings. I think he will notcome back."