"Mrs. Pell screamed out, Miss Iris, and when I went to see what was the matter, I found the door locked, and we can"t get in."
"She screamed?" said Iris. "Perhaps it"s just one of her jokes."
"That"s what Purdy thinks, but it didn"t sound so to me. It sounded like she was in mortal danger. Here"s Purdy now. Well?"
"I can"t see in the windows," was his retort, "the shades is all pulled down, "count o" the sun. She always has "em so afternoons. And you well know, n.o.body could get in them windows, or out of "em."
Ursula Pell"s sitting room was also her storehouse of many treasures.
Collections of curios and coins left by her husband, additional objects of value, bought by herself, made the room almost a museum; and, in addition, her desk contained money and important papers. Wherefore, she had had the windows secured by a strong steel lattice work, that made ingress impossible to marauders. Two windows faced south and two west, and there was but one door, that into the living room.
This being locked, the room was inaccessible, and the drawn shades prevented even a glimpse of the interior. The windows were open, but the shades inside the steel gratings were not to be reached.
There was no sound now from the room, and the listeners stood, looking at one another, uncertain what to do next.
"Of course it"s a joke," surmised Purdy, "but even so, it"s our duty to get into that room. If so be"s we get laughed at for our pains, it won"t be anything outa the common; and if Mrs. Pell has had a stroke--or anything has happened to her, we must see about it."
"How will you get in?" asked Iris, looking frightened.
"Bust the door down," said Purdy, succinctly. "I"ll have to get Campbell to help. While I"m gone after him, you try to persuade Mrs. Pell to come out--if she"s just trickin" us."
The old man went off, and Polly began to speak through the closed door.
"Let us in, Mrs. Pell," she urged. "Do, now, or Purdy"ll spoil this good door. Now what"s the sense o" that, if you"re only a foolin"? Open the door--please do--"
But no response of any sort was made. The stillness was tragic, yet there was the possibility, even the likelihood, that the tricky mistress of the house would only laugh at them when they had forced an entrance.
"Of course it"s her foolishness," said Agnes, who had joined the group.
She spoke in a whisper, not wanting to brave a reprimand for impertinence. "What does she care for having a new door made, if she can get us all soured up over nothing at all?"
Iris said nothing. Only a faint, almost imperceptible tinge remained of the ink stains on her face. She had used vigorous measures, and had succeeded in removing most of the disfigurement.
Campbell returned with Purdy.
"Ah, now, Mis" Pell, come out o" there," he wheedled, "do now! It"s a sin and a shame to bust in this here heavy door. Likewise it ain"t no easy matter nohow. I"m not sure me and Purdy can do it. Please, Missis, unlock the door and save us all a lot of trouble."
But no sound came in answer.
"Let"s all be awful still," suggested Purdy, "for quite a time, an" see if she don"t make some move."
Accordingly each and every one of them scarcely breathed and the silence was intense.
"I can"t hear a sound," said Campbell, at last, his ear against the keyhole, which was nearly filled by its own key. "I can"t hear her breathing. You sure she"s in there?"
"Of course," said Polly. "Didn"t I hear her screamin"? I tell you we _got_ to get in. Joke or no joke, we got to!"
"You"re right," and Campbell looked serious. "I got ears like a hawk, and I bet I"d hear her breathing if she was in there. Come on, Purdy."
The door was thick and heavy, but the lock was a simple one, not a bolt, and the efforts of the two men splintered the jamb and released the door.
The sight revealed was overwhelming. The women screamed and the men stood aghast.
On the floor lay the body of Ursula Pell, and a glance was sufficient to see that she was dead. Her face was covered with blood and a small pool of it had formed near her head. Her clothing was torn and disordered, and the whole room was in a state of chaos. A table was overturned, and the beautiful lamp that had been on it, lay in shattered bits on the floor. A heavy-handled poker, belonging to the fire set, was lying near Mrs. Pell"s head, and the contents of her writing-desk were scattered in mad confusion on chairs and on the floor. A secret cupboard above the mantel, really a small concealed safe, was flung open, and was empty. An empty pocket-book lay on one chair, and an empty handbag on another.
But these details were lost sight of in the attention paid to Mrs. Pell herself.
"She"s dead! she"s dead!" wailed Polly. "It wasn"t a joke of hers--it was really robbers. She called out "Thieves!" and "Help!" several times.
Oh, if I"d got you men in sooner!"
"But, good land, Polly!" cried Campbell, "what do you mean by thieves?
How _could_ anybody get in here with the door locked? Or, if he was in, how could he get out?"
"Maybe he"s here now!" and Polly gazed wildly about.
"We"ll soon see!" and Campbell searched the entire room. It was not difficult, for there were no alcoves or cupboards, the furniture was mostly curio cabinets, treasure tables, a few chairs and a couch.
Campbell looked under the couch, and behind the window curtains, but no intruder was found.
"Mighty curious," said old Purdy, scratching his head; "how in blazes could she scream murder and thieves, when there wasn"t no one in here?
And how could anyone be in here with her, and get out, leavin" that "ere door locked behind him?"
"She was murdered all right!" declared Campbell, "look at them bruises on her neck! See, her dress is tore open at the throat! What kind o"
villain could "a" done that? Gosh, it"s fierce!"
Iris came timidly forward to look at the awful sight. Unable to bear it, she turned and sank on the couch, completely unnerved.
"Get a doctor, shall I?" asked Campbell, who was the most composed of them all.
"What for?" asked Purdy. "She"s dead as a door nail, poor soul! But yes, I s"pose it"s the proper thing. An" we oughta get the crowner, an" not touch nothin" till he comes."
"The coroner!" Iris" eyes stared at him. "What for?"
"Well, you see, Miss Iris, it"s custom"ry when they"s a murder----"
"But she couldn"t have been murdered! Impossible! Who could have done it? It"s--it"s an accident."
"I wish I could think so, Miss Iris," and Purdy"s honest old face was very grave, "but you look around. See, there"s been robbery,--look at that there empty pocket-book an" empty bag! An" the way she"s been--hit! Why, see them marks on her chest! She"s fair black an" blue!
And her skirt"s tore--"
"Good Lord!" cried Polly, "her pocket"s tore out! She always had a big pocket inside each dress skirt, and this one"s been--why it"s been cut out!"
There could be no doubt that the old lady had been fearfully attacked.
Nor could there be any doubt of robbery. The ransacked desk, the open safe, the cut-out pocket, added to the state of the body itself, left no room for theories of accident or self-destruction.
"Holler for the doctor," commanded Purdy, instinctively taking the helm.
"You telephone him, Campbell, and then he"ll see about the coroner--or whoever he wants. And I think we"d oughter call up Mr. Bowen, what say, Miss Iris?"
"Mr. Bowen--why?"
"Oh, I dunno; it seems sorter decent, that"s all."