The House Opposite Part 9

"Your husband has been out of town, I hear?"

"Yes."

"When did he leave the city?"

"On Tuesday morning."

"When did he return?"

"Last night."

"At what time?"

"Half-past one."

"Where did he come from?"

"Boston."

"But surely the Boston train gets in a good deal earlier than that!" the Coroner exclaimed.

"Yes, there had been a delay owing to a slight accident on the line,"

she reluctantly explained.

"Is Mr. Atkins often away?"

"Yes; he's out of town every week or so, on business."

"Thank you, Mrs. Atkins, that is all," the Coroner concluded, politely.

But the lady was not so easily appeased, and flounced out of the room without deigning to glance at any of us.

The detective slipped out after her--to call the maids, as he explained, but it was five or six minutes before he returned with the waitress.

After answering several unimportant questions, the girl was asked whether she had ever seen the deceased before. "No, sir," she replied, promptly.

"Did anyone call on your mistress on Tuesday evening?"

"I can't say, sir; I was out."

"At what time did you go out?"

"At about a quarter to eight, sir."

"Where did you go to?"

"We went to a party at me sister's."

"Who do you mean by 'we'?"

"The cook and me, sir."

"Ah, the cook went out, too?"

"Yes, sir."

"Do you usually go out together?"

"No, sir."

"How did it happen that you did so on Tuesday?"

"Mr. Atkins, he was away, so Mrs. Atkins she said we might both go out."

"Mr. Atkins is often away from home, isn't he?"

"Yes, sir."

"How often?"

"About once a fortnight, sir."

"Has Mrs. Atkins ever allowed you both to go out together before?"

"No, sir."

"Where does your sister live, and what is her name?"

"Mrs. Moriarty, 300 Third Avenue."

The Coroner paused to scribble down the address, then resumed:

"At what time did you get back from the party?"

The girl tugged at her dress in some embarra.s.sment. "It might have been after eleven," she reluctantly admitted.

"How much after--quarter past, half-past?" he suggested, as she still hesitated.

"It was almost half-past, sir."

"And when you returned, did you see your mistress?"

"Oh, yes, sir."

"Was she alone?"

"Yes, sir," the girl answered, with some surprise.

"Did you notice anything unusual about her?"