"Wasn"t your own watch under your pillow?"
"Yes."
"Oh, all right. I haven"t a word to say."
"But it wasn"t any watch I heard--it was a different sort of tick."
"Yes, of course it was. Ghosts" watches have a peculiar tick of their own--"
"Alvord, stop! It"s mean of you to poke fun at me!"
"Forgive me, do; I apologize. It was mean, and I"ll stop. What else happened?"
"Nothing," Aunt Abby was clearly piqued.
"Yes, tell me. What became of the--the figure?"
"Why, it disappeared. Gradually you know--just seemed to float away into nothingness."
"He gave you no message?"
"Not in words, no. They rarely do. But the appearance, the visibility is the usual way of manifestation. I"m glad it occurred. Oh, I"m awfully sorry Sanford is dead--I didn"t mean that but, since he had to go, I"m glad he bade me good-by, as he pa.s.sed on."
"Well, I"m glad, too, if it is any comfort to you. Are you sure Eunice had no such experience?"
"Oh, no--if she had she"d have told me. She hates all such ideas. I suppose if she had seen Sanford--as I did--she would have become a believer--but I"m sure she didn"t."
"Poor Eunice. She is terribly broken up."
"Yes, of course. They were so devoted. They had a tiff now and then, but that was because of Eunice"s quick temper. She flares up so easily," Aunt Abby sighed. "San couldn"t manage her at times."
"I know. Poor girl, I don"t blame her for those spasms of rage. She can"t help it, you know. And she"s improving every day."
"That"s what Sanford said. He thought he helped her, and I dare say he did. But sometimes he had to speak pretty sharply to her. Just as one would to a naughty child."
"That"s what she is, bless her heart! Just a naughty child. We must be very considerate of her now, Aunt Abby, mustn"t we?"
"Yes, indeed. She is sorely to be pitied. She adored Sanford. I don"t know what she will do."
CHAPTER VIII
THE EXAMINER
When after the autopsy, Dr. Harper announced that it was necessary to send for the Medical Chief Examiner, Eunice cried out, "Why, what do you mean? He"s the same as a Coroner!"
"He takes the place of the Coroner, nowadays," rejoined Harper, "and in Dr. Marsden"s opinion his attendance is necessary."
"Do you mean Sanford was murdered?"
Eunice whispered, her face white and drawn.
"We can"t tell, Mrs. Embury. It is a most unusual case. There is absolutely no indication of foul play, but, on the other hand, there is no symptom or condition that tells the reason of his death. That is your finding, Dr. Marsden?"
"Yes," agreed the other. "Mr. Embury died because of a sudden and complete paralysis of respiration and circulation. There is nothing we can find to account for that and by elimination of all other possible causes we are brought to the consideration of poison. Not any known or evident poison, but a subtle, mysteriously administered toxic agent of some sort--"
"You must be crazy!" and Eunice faced him with scornful glance and angry eyes. "Who would poison my husband? How could any one get at him to do it? Why would they, anyway?"
Dr. Marsden looked at her curiously. "Those questions are not for me, madame," he said, a little curtly. "I shall call Examiner Crowell, and he will take charge of the case."
"He"s the same as a coroner! I won"t have him!" Eunice declared.
"It isn"t for you to say," Dr. Marsden was already at the telephone.
"The course of events makes it imperative that I should call Dr.
Crowell. He is not a coroner. He is, of course, a Civil Service appointee, and as such, in authority. You will do whatever he directs."
Eunice Embury was silent from sheer astonishment. Never before had she been talked to like this. Accustomed to dictate, to give orders, to have her lightest word obeyed, she was dumfounded at being overruled in this fashion.
The men took in the situation more clearly.
"Medical Examiner!" exclaimed Hendricks. "Is it a case for him?"
"Yes," returned Marsden, gravely. "At least, it is a very mysterious death. Mystery implies wrong--of some sort. Had Mr. Embury been a man with a weak heart, or any affected organ, I should have been able to make a satisfactory diagnosis. But his sound, perfect condition precludes any reason for this sudden death. It must be looked into.
It may be the Examiner will find a simple, logical cause, but I admit I can find none--and I am not inexperienced."
"But if he were poisoned," began Hendricks, "as you have implied, surely, you could find some trace."
"That"s just the point," agreed Marsden. "I certainly think I could.
And, since I can"t, I feel it my duty to report it as a mysterious and, to me, inexplicable death."
"You"re right," said Elliott. "If you can"t find the cause, for heaven"s sake get somebody who can! I don"t for a minute believe it"s a murder, but the barest suspicion of such a thing must be set at rest once and for all! Murder! Ridiculous! But get the Examiner, by all means!"
So Eunice"s continued objections were set aside and Dr. Crowell was called in.
A strange little man the Examiner proved to be. He had sharp, bird-like eyes, that darted from one person to another, and seemed to read their very thoughts. On his entrance, he went straight to Eunice, and took her hand.
"Mrs. Embury?" he said, positively, rather than interrogatively. "Do not fear me, ma"am. I want to help you, not annoy you."
Impressed by his magnetic manner and his encouraging handclasp, Eunice melted a little and her look of angry scorn changed to a half-pleased expression of greeting.
"Miss Ames--my aunt," she volunteered, as Dr. Crowell paused before Aunt Abby.
And then the newcomer spoke to the two doctors already present, was introduced to Elliott and Hendricks, who were still there, and in a very decided manner took affairs into his own hands.
"Yes, yes," he chattered on; "I will help you, Mrs. Embury. Now, Dr.