"Well, since eight A.M. I"ve been holdin" up this door, waitin" for yer honor to pa.s.s by. An" I got you, didn"t I?"
"Yes, I"m here." I stepped inside and the boy closed the door. We went into the front bas.e.m.e.nt room, where there was a lighted gas stove.
"I camp here, "count o" the heats. There"s no use gettin" up the steam fer the few casual callers that drops in at present. Now, Mr. Calhoun, I don"t want to be stuffy nor nuthin", but Mr. Stone said I might ask you some few things, if I liked an" you can answer or not, as you like. This ain"t no orficial investigation, but I s"pose you"re as intrusted as anybody in findin" this here Victoria Van Allen?"
"I"m interested in finding the murderer of Mr. Schuyler," I replied.
"An" maybe they ain"t one an" the same. That"s so." He spoke thoughtfully and scanned my face with a quizzical glance. "But, of course, Mr. Stone"ll find out. Now, Mr. Calhoun, if you don"t mind, will you give me a line on that maid person, that Julia?"
"Julie, she is called."
"All right, Julie goes. Is she a young thing?"
"No; just this side of middle-aged. Probably thirty-five or so."
"Good looker?"
"Why, about average. Brown hair, brownish eyes--really, I never noticed her closely enough to think about her appearance. She is, I"m sure, a good servant and devoted to Miss Van Allen."
"But don"t you know anything special? Anything that would pick her out from a lot of other good servants?"
"In appearance, you mean?"
"Yes."
"I can"t think of anything. Let me see. She wears gla.s.ses--"
"What sort?"
"I don"t know. Just ordinary gla.s.ses, I guess."
"Spectacles or nose-riders?"
"I"m not sure. Spectacles, I think. And she has a great many gold-filled teeth."
"Front ones?"
"Yes, that is, they"re very noticeable when she speaks to you."
"Well, that"s sumpum. Is she quick and spry-like, or poky?"
I smiled at the boy"s eagerness. "She"s rather alert," I said, "but, of course, quiet and respectful. I never looked at her with any personal interest, so I can only give you my general impressions."
"You see, it"s this way," and the boy looked very serious, "wherever Miss Van Allen is, that Julie"s there, too. And when Miss Van Allen wants errands done, of course, she sends Julie. And, of course, said Julie is disguised. I dope out all this has to be so. For Miss Van Allen has mailed letters and--oh, well, of course she could mail letters in lots of ways, but sumpum tells me, that she depends on Miss Julie as an errand girl. So, I want to find out the look of the Julie person, and see if I can"t track her down, and so get at Miss Van Allen. Vicky Van, I believe her friends call her."
"They do," said I, looking sternly at the boy, "and I"ll say right here, that I"m one of her friends, and I won"t stand for any impertinence or any remarks of any sort about that lady. If she is suspected of this crime, let the law take its course, but until there is some direct evidence, don"t you dare to connect her name with it."
"I"m only obeying Mr. Stone"s orders. And, take it from me, Mr.
Calhoun, I ain"t so fresh as to make remarks about a lady. I"m a prevaricator of the truth, but only when it"s abserlutely necessary.
And on the other hand, I"m a born protector of women. Why, I"d be only too tickled to find a gentleman suspect. Or, at least, to clear Miss Van Allen from all s"picion."
"Why do you feel such a kindly interest in the lady?"
"This house, for one reason. You see, I"ve been all over it, at Mr.
Stone"s orders, and I ree"lize what a nice lady she is. I don"t have to see her, to understand her tastes and her "complishments. Why, jest the books on her centre tables and the records for her phonograph spell her out for me, in words of one syllable. And, though I"m hunting for her, it isn"t with a solid hunch that"s she"s the knife-sticker. Not by no means. But find her I"ve gotto! Because F.
Stone says for me to."
I looked at the boy more curiously. He was a strange admixture of street boy and sleuth. His quick, darting eyes were never still, but warily alert to catch the meaning of any sound or motion on my part. I felt as if he read me through, and would not have been surprised to have him tell me he knew of my recent communications with Vicky. But I only said, "You are, then, Mr. Stone"s right-hand man?"
"I put it that way, yes. But really, I"m his apprentice, and I"m learning his trade. I study his methods, and I add some gumption of my own, and if I can help him, I"m glad and happy. And anyway, I"m learning."
"And this talk about your lying? Is that straight goods?"
"If it is, how can you believe what I tell you?" he asked, whimsically. "But, I used to be a fierce liar. Then, gettin" in with F. Stone, made me see it"s wrong to lie--usuerly, that is. So I don"t, now--leastways, not much. Only when it"s jest the only thing to do to save game."
"How does Mr. Stone know when you"re telling the truth, then?"
"Good land, I don"t lie to him! I wouldn"t, and if I did, it wouldn"t be any use. He"d see through me, quicker"n scat! But, honest, I wouldn"t. You see, he"s my idol, yes sir, my idol, that"s what that man is! Well, Mr. Calhoun, as you"ve told me all you can pry loose from your stock of infermation, you an" me may as well make our adooses."
"How do you know I haven"t revealed all I know of the case?"
"Oh, I read from your mobile counternance that you"re keepin" sumpum back, but it don"t matter. F. Stone"ll nail it, when he gets good an"
ready. What I wanted from you was mostly the speakin" likeness of the Julie dame. An" I guess I got it. Oh, say, one other thing. Who among Miss Van Allen"s friends is an artist?"
"Miss Gale is one. Miss Ariadne Gale."
"Thank you, sir. And will you gimme her address?"
I did so, and then I went away, thinking Fleming Stone a queer sort of detective to have for a.s.sistant such an illiterate, uncultured boy as Fibsy. The name was enough to condemn him! But as I thought the little chap over, I realized that his talk had been clear-headed and to the point, besides showing sagacity and perspicacity.
It was growing late, but after this interview I felt I must see Ruth for a few minutes, so called at the Schuyler house.
She greeted me cordially and seemed glad to see me. Winnie was still acting as secretary for her, but the rush of notes of condolence was over, and as Ruth was not, of course, giving or accepting social invitations, there was not so much work for Win as at first. But the two had become fast friends, and Winnie told me how they sat together chatting often for pleasant half hours at a time.
I told Ruth about the strange boy at Vicky Van"s house.
"Yes," she said, "I"ve heard about him. Mr. Stone picked him up somewhere and he uses him as a sort of outside scout. He has all confidence in him, though I believe the little chap rejoices in the name of Fibber."
"Fibsy," I corrected. "He is certainly a bright youth. And he plans to hunt down Miss Van Allen by means of her maid, Julie."
"Are they together?"
"We only suppose so. It seems probable, that Miss Van Allen would want the help, if not the protection of her servant. Julie is a most capable woman, and devoted to her mistress."
"I"ve heard so. I have a kind, thoughtful woman, too, and I should miss her terribly were I without her."
"Oh, but your Tibbetts is a servant, and nothing more. This Julie was a real friend to Miss Van Allen, and looked after her in every way.
Housekeeper, maid, nurse, and general bodyguard."