"He went there to raise money on some local gas company bonds which he owned. Mr. McBride had agreed to buy them from him. I was able to tell North that I knew McBride could let him have the money in spite of the fact that it was a holiday and the banks were closed."
"How did you happen to know that, Langham?" asked Moxlow.
"Earlier in the day one of my clients had placed in McBride"s hand a much larger sum of money than North expected to receive from him."
"You told North that?" asked Moxlow eagerly.
"I did. Perhaps you are not aware that McBride and North were on friendly terms; for years it had been North"s habit to go to Mr. McBride whenever he had a sudden need of money. This I know to be a fact."
He glanced about him and could see that what he had said was making its impression on his hearers.
"When did you see McBride, at what hour?" asked Moxlow.
"A little before two."
"Do you feel at liberty to state the sum paid by your client?"
"It was three thousand and fifty-seven dollars, all in cash."
"There are one or two more questions I should like to ask you," said Moxlow. "You saw the money paid into Mr. McBride"s hands before two o"clock yesterday afternoon?"
"Yes."
"Do you know what disposition he made of the money?"
"No, I do not."
"I mean, did he put it in his safe--in his pocket--"
"He did neither in my presence, the bundle of bills was lying on his desk when I left."
"You were not interrupted while you were transacting this business, no customer happened into the store?" asked Moxlow.
"So far as I know, we three were absolutely alone in the building."
"Afterward, when North called at your office, you mentioned this transaction?"
"Yes."
"Do you know how many shares Mr. North expected to dispose of?"
"Five, I think."
Langham paused and glanced again in the direction of the gambler, but Gilmore seemed to have lost all interest in what was pa.s.sing.
Moxlow turned to Conklin.
"You found no such sum as Mr. Langham mentions, either on the person of the dead man, or in the safe?"
"No, the safe doors were standing open; as far as I am able to judge, the valuable part of its contents had been removed," replied the sheriff.
"How about McBride himself?"
"We found nothing in his pockets."
"Of course, if he bought North"s bonds, that would account for a part of the sum Mr. Langham has just told us of," said Moxlow. "But where are the bonds?" he added.
"They were not among McBride"s papers, that"s sure," said the sheriff.
"Probably they were taken also, though it"s hardly conceivable that the murderer waited to sort over the papers in the safe. I tell you, gentlemen, his position was a ticklish one." It was the coroner who spoke.
"It would seem a very desirable thing to communicate with North,"
suggested Moxlow.
"I guess you are right; yes, I guess we had better try and find Mr.
North," said the coroner. "Suppose you go after him, Mr. Conklin. Don"t send--go yourself," he added.
Again Langham dragged himself forward; the coils of this hideous thing seemed to be tightening themselves about John North. Langham"s face still bore traces of his recent debauch, and during the last few minutes a look of horror had slowly gathered in his bloodshot eyes. He now studiously avoided Gilmore"s glance, though he was painfully aware of his presence. The gambler coolly puffed at a cigar as he leaned against the casing of the long window at Doctor Taylor"s back; there was the faint shadow of a smile on his lips as he watched Langham furtively.
"I doubt if North will be found," said the latter. "I doubt if he is in Mount Hope," he continued haltingly.
"What?" It was Moxlow who spoke.
"This morning I received a brief communication from him; it was written late last night; he informed me that he should leave for the West on the Chicago express. He inclosed the keys to his rooms."
Marshall Langham glanced at Gilmore, who seemed deeply absorbed. The coroner fidgeted in his seat; dismay and unspeakable surprise were plainly stamped on Colonel Harbison"s face; Moxlow appeared quite nonplussed by what his partner had last said.
"I was aware that he contemplated this trip West," said Langham quickly.
"He had asked me to dispose of the contents of his rooms when he should be gone."
"Did he tell you where he was going, Marshall?" asked Moxlow.
Langham raised his bloodshot eyes.
"No; he seemed in some doubt as to his plans."
"For how long a time have you known of Mr. North"s intention to leave Mount Hope?" asked Moxlow.
"Only since yesterday, but I have known for quite a while that he planned some radical move of this sort. I think he had grown rather tired of Mount Hope."
"Isn"t it true that his money was about gone?" questioned Moxlow significantly.
"I know nothing of his private affairs," answered Langham hastily. "He has never seemed to lack money; he has always had it to spend freely."
"It would appear that Mr. North is our star witness; what do you think, gentlemen?" and Moxlow glanced from one to another of the little group that surrounded him.
"At any rate he is a most _important_ witness," emphasized the coroner.