CHAPTER XI Clues
It was after luncheon, in the library, that Pennington Wise began hisreal business of the investigation of the Varian mysteries.
First of all, he desired to look over the papers in Mr Varian's desk, andwith the assistance of Granniss, he was soon in possession of theprincipal facts to be learned that way.
Moreover, he discovered some things not yet taken into consideration bythe local detectives, and he read with interest a number of letters thatwere carefully filed, apparently for preservation.
Rapidly he scanned them and tossed them aside, retaining a few forfurther consideration.
"I think, Mrs Varian," he said, at last, "that a most important fact inthe case is the strange bequest of the Varian pearls to your husband'sniece instead of to his daughter. Can you explain this?"
"I cannot," said Minna, "it seems to me absolutely unexplainable. Forgenerations those pearls have descended from parent to child,--sometimesa mother owned them, sometimes a father, but they were always given tothe oldest daughter, or, if there were no daughter, then to a son. Onlyin case of a childless inheritor did they go to a niece or nephew. Why myhusband should so definitely bequeath them to his niece,--I cannotimagine. I've thought over that for hours, but I can't understand it Iwill say frankly, that Betty and her father frequently had differences ofopinion, but nothing more than many families have. They were reallydevoted to one another, but both were of decided, even obstinate nature,and when they disagreed they were apt to argue the matter out, and as aresult of it, they did sometimes lose their temper and really quarreled.But it always blew over quickly and they were good friends again. I neverpaid any attention to their little squabbles, for I knew them both toowell to think they were really at enmity. But this matter of the pearlslooks as if my husband had a positive dislike for the child, and as amark of spite or punishment left the pearls away from her. It makeslittle difference, if--if----"
"Don't think about that, Mrs Varian," said Wise, kindly; "I'm consideringthis strange clause of Mr Varian's will from the viewpoint of the wholemystery. It may prove a clue, you see. I want to say, right now, that thewhole affair is the greatest and most baffling puzzle I have ever knownof. The disappearance of your daughter and the death of your husbandoffer no solution that seems to me possible,--let alone probable. I canset up no theory that does not include a secret passage of some sort. Andthough I am emphatically informed there is none, yet, as you may imagine,I must investigate that for myself."
"I've found the house plans," said a low, thin little voice, and thestrange girl, Zizi, appeared in the room. That slender little wisp ofhumanity had an uncanny way of being present and absent, suddenly, andwithout explanation. She was there, and then she wasn't there,--but hergoings and comings were so noiseless and unobtrusive that they were nevernoticed.
Pennington Wise held out his hand without a word. Zizi gave over a bulkyroll of papers and subsided.
Unrolling the time-yellowed sheets, they saw that they really were theold contractor's plans of the house.
With a sigh of satisfaction Wise commenced to study them,--Grannisslooking over his shoulder.
Minna sat quietly, her nervousness lost in her eager anticipation of thenew detective's successful quest.
The two men studied the plans carefully.
"I wish North could see these," Rodney said; "he's of an architecturalbent, Mr Wise, and he measured the house all over, trying to find anunexplained bit of space. According to these plans, North is right, andthere isn't any."
"I'm of an architectural bent myself," Wise smiled, "and I agree, there'sno foot of room left unaccounted for on these papers. Of course a secretpassage could have been built in, in contradiction of the plans, but Ican't think there is any such, after your own search. It might beout-of-doors?"
"But we would have seen anyone going in or out of the house," Minnaexplained. "We were all watching."
"The back doors?"
"There's only one," Rodney told him. "And that was locked on the inside.Locked and bolted. No, whatever happened, nobody came in through thekitchen."
"Do you assume an intruder, then, Mr Wise?" Minna asked.
"I am obliged to, Mrs Varian. To begin with the only fact we canpositively affirm, Mr Varian was shot,--and not by his own hand. This weassume because of the absence of the weapon. Now, either Miss Betty shothim or someone else did. I can't think the daughter did it, for it'sagainst the probabilities in every way,--though, of course, it's apossibility. But the difficulties in the way of explaining what the girldid with herself afterward, seem to me greater than the objections toassuming an intruder from outside. I mean from outside the family,--notfrom outside the house. The explanation of his entrance and exit is nomore of a puzzle than the explanation of Miss Varian's exit. And I thinkwe must dismiss the idea that the girl concealed herself in thishouse,--whether alive or--a suicide."
"The girl didn't do it," came Zizi's low murmur. She was sitting on anottoman, near Minna, and now and then she caressed the hand of herhostess. "There's a big mind at the back of all this. And you'reoverlooking the death of the maid last night Why, Penny, it's all of apiece."
"Yes"; and Wise roused himself from a brown study. "It is all of a piece,and it hinges on that bequest of the Varian pearls."
"Hinges on that?" said Zizi.
"I mean that's a key to the situation. When we learn _why_ Mr Varian madethat strange arrangement, we'll be on our way to a solution of themystery. But the first thing is to find Miss Varian."
"Oh, Mr Wise," Minna cried out, "you think she is alive----"
"I very much hope so, and though I don't want to give you falseencouragement, I can't help feeling that she may be,"
"Yes, she is," came Zizi's quiet assurance, and Minna impulsively kissedher.
"What a comfort you are!" she exclaimed; "elf, pixie,--I don't know whatto call you,--but you bring me courage and hope."
Zizi's great dark eyes gave appreciation, but she only said, "You're upagainst it, Penny."
"I am, indeed," Wise said, very gravely; "and my first work must be adeep investigation of all Mr Varian's affairs. You were entirely in hisconfidence, Mrs Varian?"
"Oh, yes; we had no secrets from one another. He told me all hisfinancial ventures or business worries. There were none of those of late,but years ago, there were some. Yes, I may say I know everything thatever happened to my husband."
"Then who has been blackmailing him of late, and what for?"
"Blackmail!" Minna looked blank. "Never such a thing as that has happenedto my husband!" She spoke proudly and positively.
"You know of no one who had a hold over Mr Varian,--or thought hehad,--and who wrote him threatening letters?"
"Most assuredly not! And I know that nothing of the sort ever did occur,for he would most certainly have told me. We were more confidential thanmost married people, and we never had secrets from one another."
"Well, perhaps I am over-imaginative."
"What made you think it?" asked Minna, curiously; "if you have found anyletters you can't explain, show them to me,--I can doubtless tell youabout them."
After a moment's hesitation, Wise handed her a letter.
It bore neither date nor address, but it read,
"Unless you accede to my demands, I shall expose you, and the woman you robbed will claim redress or return of her property."
This brief message was signed "Step." and Minna read it with a look ofutter perplexity.
"I don't know what it means," she said, handing it back, "but I'm sureit's of no importance. Mr Varian never robbed a woman in his life! Thevery idea is too absurd to consider. You are at liberty to hunt it down,Mr Wise, but you will never find it has a meaning that will reflect on myhusband's stainless honor! You may refer to any of his friends, hisrelatives or his business associates. All will tell you that FrederickVarian and dishonesty are contradictory terms!"
"That may all be true,
Mrs Varian, and doubtless is true, but you knowblackmailers are not so scrupulous, and they sometimes find a peg to hangtheir demands on even in the case of the most upright. This note isundated, but the envelope shows it was mailed less than six months ago.Therefore the matter may be still unsettled, and may have a bearing onthe whole case. Could there have been any family reason that wouldinfluence him to leave the pearls away from his daughter?"
"Oh, no! His brother and sister-in-law were quite as much surprised as Iwas to learn of that. But, Mr Wise, what do you think about this matterof the kidnappers asking for ransom? Do you think it is all a fraud?"
"I'm going to look into that as soon as I can. At first glance, it seemsfraudulent, but the wonder is that you haven't had similar letters fromother fakers. However, I am going to work backward. I want, first of allto look about a bit, for evidences or clues regarding last night'stragedy. I am sure the whole string of horrors is a connected one, and tofind out who killed poor Martha, will in my opinion be a stepping-stoneto the solution of the other mysteries."
"There's a clue for you, then," Zizi said, not moving from her seat, butpointing to a spot on the rug near the safe.
Wise's eyes followed her finger's direction and saw a slight mark, as ofa dusty footprint.
In a moment, he was on his knees near it, and scrutinized it carefully.
"I've heard of footprint clues," said Granniss, interested, "but that isso vague and imperfect, I don't think you can deduce who made it,--canyou?"
"Not from the print,----" Wise said,--thoughtfully, and then addednothing to his unsatisfactory statement.
He then took a paper-cutter from the desk, and scraped onto a bit ofsmooth paper what dust he could get from the footprint, and carefullyfolded it up and put it in his pocketbook.
"What shoes were you wearing when you visited the safe last night, MrsVarian?" he asked.
"Bedroom slippers," she replied.
"Had you walked anywhere except to traverse the halls and stairs, fromyour bedroom down here?"
"No, nowhere else."
"And you took that package of money up to your room with you?"
"Yes."
"Had you not done so, it would have been stolen," Wise said, calmly. "Athief visited this safe after you were here,--he thought the money washere. He was surprised by the maid, Martha, coming down to spy onhim,--and in order to get rid of her,--and save himself, he strangledher."
All present stared at him, and Rodney Granniss flushed a deep red.
"To a disinterested observer, Mr Wise," he said, "it might easily appearthat I was that thief. I knew the money had been put in the safe. I didnot know Mrs Varian had removed it. I----"
"Look here," interrupted Zizi, "you talk too much! If you're going to besuspected, for the love of cheese, let somebody else do it! Don't meettrouble half way, and sing out, 'Pleased to meetcha!' Be careful, MrGranniss."
"Hush up, Zizi," Wise counseled her. "Children should be seen and notheard."
"All right, Penny, I'll be good. Now, here's a present for you."
She gave him the yellow beads given her by the cook.
"Divulge," he said, briefly, as he stared at the tiny objects in hispalm.
But Minna Varian had caught sight of them and had recognized them. "Oh!"she cried, "Betty! _Betty!_ Those are the beads she had on that day!Where did you get them? Where did they come from?"
And then, before they could answer her, her over-wrought nerves gave way,her calm broke through the constraint she had put upon it, and she becamehysterical.
Granniss went at once for Mrs Fletcher, and the nurse took her patientlyaway.
"She'll be all right with Fletcher," Rodney said, returning after he hadassisted Minna to her room; "it won't be a very bad attack, nurse thinks.Really, I've been surprised that Mrs Varian has kept up as well as shehas. Now, Mr Wise, tell me what you suspect regarding Mr Varian? Andalso, tell me if you suspect me--in any way. I plead not guilty,--and Iwant to add that Miss Varian and I are sweethearts. We couldn't call itan engagement for her father wouldn't hear of such a thing. But we hopedto persuade him in time,--and truly, I thought he would finally consent.I'm telling you this, so you can see what a deep interest I have in therecovery of Betty,--for I am not willing to believe she is dead. In fact,I believe she has been kidnapped, and though I'm not sure those lettersMrs Varian has received are in good faith,--yet I believe she is beingheld for ransom."
"By whom?" asked Wise.
"By the kidnapper----"
"Who also is the----"
"Blackmailer!" said Zizi, in an awestruck voice. "Oh, Penny Wise, how youdo jump at a solution! You just clear all intervening obstacles, and landon the truth!"
"I'm far from having landed," said Wise, ruefully; "that's alltheory,--with very little fact to back it up."
"Well, these beads are facts," Zizi said. "They're two more, Penny, fromthe same string that you already have a few from. You see, Mr Granniss,"she said, turning to Rod, "Mr Wise discovered a few of these beads in thekitchen this morning, and a little later, I found that the cook hadpicked up two in the kitchen the day after Miss Betty's disappearance.The string of them that she wore was not a long one, but still there wereat least a dozen or so more than we have found. Where are they?" She hadturned again to Wise as she put this question.
"I know the beads well," Granniss said, "but how did they get in thekitchen?"
"It may be a simple matter," Wise responded. "Perhaps the string brokewhen she was out there getting the lemonade. I understand all theservants were away."
"But, Penny," Zizi reminded him, "in that case the other beads would beabout, somewhere. She would have picked them up and put them in a box orsomething."
"Yes, she would," Rodney agreed, "for Betty loved that necklace. Sheloved anything yellow. You've heard about the yellow pillow?"
"No," said Wise. "Do try, Mr Granniss, to tell me everything. I wascalled to this case altogether too late. Much could have been done had Ibeen here sooner. But, now tell me every little thing you can think of."
So Granniss told them of the finding of the yellow satin sofa-pillow inthe middle of the kitchen floor. He obtained the pillow from the hall andshowed it to them.
Zizi scrutinized it with her eager black eyes, and carefully extractedfrom its embroidered design a small fine hairpin.
"An invisible," she said, holding it up to the light. "Betty's,--Idaresay?"
"Yes," and Granniss looked at it. "She wore dinky little ones like thatin her front hair. All girls do, I guess."
"It may mean something or nothing," Wise said, musingly. "If Miss Varianwas in the habit of lying on the hall sofa, the hairpin may have beencaught in the cushion some time ago."
"I don't know," Granniss said; "I never was here while--when Betty washere."
"Well, aside from the hairpin, what about the yellow pillow, on thekitchen floor, Penny?" Zizi asked, looking up into the detective's faceas at an oracle.
"It's a clue, all right," Wise said; "oh, if I'd only been here that veryday! A most astounding case, and every possible evidence wiped out!"
"Oh, no, not that," Zizi spoke cheerfully. "And now, as you say, you mustget busy in the matter of poor Martha. What about the green streak?""Yes," the detective spoke to Rodney. "There was a dull green smearacross the palm of that girl's left hand. I see no freshly paintedfurniture in this room."
"No, there wouldn't be," Zizi ruminated. "And it wasn't paint,--you knowit wasn't."
"It looked like paint, and what else would remain there so indelibly?"
"What could it be anyway?" queried Granniss. "What do you suggest?"
"I can't think, myself," and Wise looked nonplussed. "I smelled it, butthere was no odor of paint. Nobody around the house uses water colors, Isuppose?"
"No," said Granniss.
"It was such a smear as might have been made by a paint brush filled witha dull green watercolor pigment,--but I don't say it was that."
"It was more like a vegetable stain," Ziz
i suggested. "A mark like thatcould have been made, by grasping a dish or saucepan that had heldspinach."
"Oh, come now, Zizi, that's a little far-fetched."
"Not if we find cold spinach in the refrigerator," Zizi persisted."Martha might have been getting something to eat."
"In that case the green smear doesn't count for much," Wise said. "But wehave accumulated some clues. We have the yellow beads, the yellow pillow,the green streak, and last, but by no means least, the dust I scrapedfrom the floor in this room."
"Explain the significance of that, won't you?" asked Granniss. "Or areyou one of those secretive detectives?"
"Not at all. That dust is, to my mind, from the shoe of the man who triedto rob this safe last night, thinking that money was in it. Now, I admit,Mr Granniss, that you knew, or thought you did, that the money was there;you knew the combination; you are quite strong enough to have strangled awoman who surprised you at your job; yet I know you didn't have anythingto do with the attempted robbery, because----"
"Because you love Betty!" Zizi said, softly, her eyes shining withsympathy and understanding. "Right you are, Wise, go on."
"Also, because," Wise went on, "because, I'm sure that is the footprintof the would-be burglar, and while the footprint as a print is tooindistinct to be a clue to the man who made it, yet the dust that formsthe print is indicative. It is a fine dust made up of particles ofcement. I mean such dust as would adhere to a shoe that had traversed acement floor, and, more likely an imperfect cement floor."
"That means the cellar!" Rodney cried; "I've been down there a lot oflate, poking around for that everlasting secret passage, and there's alot of loose cement."
Wise gave him a quick glance, but his enthusiasm was so genuine, that thedetective dismissed a sudden qualm of suspicion.
"Slip down and get me a sample, will you?" he said, and Granniss went atonce.
"Big case, Zizi," Wise said, as the two were left alone.
But he spoke heavily, almost despairingly, and with no show of his usualexultant interest in a big case.
"Yes, but," the black eyes turned hopefully to his own, "there aretangible clues. And those of Betty's can wait. Do you chase those thathave to do with Martha first."
"I certainly shall. Martha was killed by the burglar. Did he kidnapBetty?"
"And kill Mr Varian?" Zizi added, and then Granniss returned.
He brought a little cellar floor dust in a paper, and, as Wise hadexpected, that and the particles he had scraped from the library rug,were indubitably the same.
"Well, then," Wise remarked, "the burglar came up from the cellar."
"Where he had been hiding, goodness knows how long!" Rodney exclaimed."For we locked the house securely before we went upstairs."
"I think it's time I took a look at the cellar," said Wise, and all threestarted down.