In the Onyx Lobby Part 20

"I will tell that," exploded Bates, "only I won't tell where I was through the evening, and, you know yourself, that has nothing to do with the case."

"I know, and, nine times out of ten, it doesn't matter what the people were doing who refuse to tell. But it might make a difference, and it's always a bother to be worrying about it."

"Why worry?"

"Because it may pay. According to Corson's hunch, two of those chorus chicks don't want to tell where they were at the time of the crime----"

"Oh, well, they wouldn't----"

"I know; but it's an uncertainty. Now, take your aunt. She falsified about hearing your front door close just now. I've a full belief that was merely because of a piffling vanity about her deafness,--a thing n.o.body wants to admit,--but, I wish she hadn't, for it proves that she is not above prevarication."

"I don't think she would fib in any serious matter," vouchsafed Richard.

"You don't think so because you don't want to think so. That can't cut any ice with me, you know."

The elevator stopped and the three went down.

In a business-like way, Gibbs rounded up all the girl employees available and put them through a rigid investigation.

They were a voluble lot, and it was easier to get information than to prevent it.

Daisy Lee was among the most vindictive. Although a frail, pale little thing, she was full of indignation at the late Sir Herbert's ways, and expressed herself without reserve.

"He was an old nuisance!" she averred; "he was free with his presents and he was a gentleman,--I'll say that for him,--but he thought he could pat any girl on her shoulder or even s.n.a.t.c.h a kiss, without making her mad. He made me so mad I wanted to kill him,--and I told him so, lots of times. I didn't, and there's no way I could have done it, so I am not afraid to say that I would have stabbed him myself if I'd had a good chance!"

"You don't mean that, Miss Lee," said Gibbs, coolly, "and you're only saying it to make a sensation."

"Why, what a story!" and Daisy turned on him. "Well, that is, I don't suppose I really would have done the actual killing, but I'd have the will to."

"Quite a different matter," said the detective, "and your will would have fizzled out at the critical moment."

"Of course it would," put in Julie Baxter, the telephone girl. "Daisy's an awful bluffer. None of us girls would kill anybody. But one and all we are glad to be rid of Sir Herbert, though I can't help being sorry he's killed."

"You mean you'd have been glad to be rid of him in some more peaceable fas.h.i.+on?"

"That's exactly what I mean. He was insufferable----"

"In what way?"

"Not only, as Daisy says, because he had free manners, but he was silly, beside. Always saying, 'Well, little one, how do you like my new necktie?' or some foolishness like that."

Richard Bates looked uncomfortable. "Need I stay?" he inquired. "You must realize I dislike to hear this talk about my uncle."

"Stay, please," returned Corson, briefly; "and, young ladies, don't give us any more of your opinions of Sir Herbert, but tell, if you know, of any circ.u.mstance bearing on his death."

Apparently none knew of any such, and the girls looked at each other in silence.

"And now, tell me where you were at two A. M., each of you, and then you may be excused."

Every one declared that she had been home and in bed at that hour, except Julie Baxter. She, with a fine show of independence, refused to disclose her whereabouts at that time.

"There it is again," said Corson in despair. "Now, Miss Baxter, I don't think that your reticence necessarily incriminates you at all, but it leaves room for doubt. Take my word for it, it would be wiser and far better for you to tell frankly where you were, even if it calls for criticism from your mates."

"But I won't tell," and Julie looked very stubborn.

"You'd rather be arrested and held on suspicion?"

"You can't arrest me without a speck of evidence! Nor you can't scare me by such threats."

"It isn't an idle threat, and you can be held for further inquiry, if I say so."

"You won't say so, and anyway I won't say where I was last night. But I will say I was up to no harm, and had no hand in the death of Sir Herbert Binney."

"I don't, as yet, think you did; but let me remark that if you _were_ implicated in the matter you would act and speak just as you do now. You would, of course, a.s.severate your innocence----"

"Of course I should. So, now, Mr Smarty-Cat, what are you going to do about it?"

Julie's eyes snapped with anger that seemed almost vicious, and she tossed her head independently, while the other girls showed little or no sympathy. She was not a favorite with her fellow-workers; they called her stuck-up, and she not only refused to take them into her confidence as to her amus.e.m.e.nts and entertainments, but she often whetted their curiosity by mysterious hints of grand doings of which she never told them definitely.

She lived in herself during her hours on duty, and even in the rest room she was never chummy or chatty like the rest.

Wherefore, there were surprised glances and nodding heads in her direction, and Daisy Lee sniffed openly.

"Huh," she said, "Julie Baxter, you're too smart. You were more friendly with Sir Binney than any of us. He gave you twice the candy he did any one else, and I know you've been out to dinner with him!"

"I have not!" declared Julie, but a flush on her cheeks and a quiver of her eyelids left room for doubt as to her truthfulness.

"Also," and Corson flung this at her, "also, on the paper was written 'get B-a-' and _also_, we've been told that the dying man tried to articulate a name beginning with J!"

"Now, Miss Baxter, do you still deny all implication in the affair?"

Gibbs leaned forward and stared into her eyes.

"I do!" she cried, but her voice was hysterical and her manner agitated.

Vainly she strove to keep her self-control, but, unable to do so and broke into a fit of uncontrollable weeping.

"Oh, I say, Corson," said tender-hearted Bates, "you oughtn't to bully her! That's nothing short of third degree!"

"Well, I'll put it through, if I can get the truth that way. Now, Miss Baxter, if you'll tell us, in your own self-defense where you were that night, you may go. If not, I think we'll have to ask you to go away with us to----"

"Don't take me away!" moaned Julie, "and don't ask me about last night!

I didn't kill him--truly, I didn't!"

"But you know something about it,--you must be detained as a material witness----"

"Wait till I talk to somebody--ask somebody's advice----"

"She means Bob Moore," Daisy informed them; "they're engaged, and Julie'll say just what Bob tells her to."

"Oho! You're engaged to Moore, eh?" and Gibbs gazed at her with fresh interest.