CHAPTER X
KIRBY ASKS A DIRECT QUESTION
The story of the Cunningham mystery, as it was already being called,filled the early editions of the afternoon papers. The "Times" had thescoop of the day. It was a story signed by Chuck Ellis, who had seenthe alleged murderer climb down by a fire escape from the window ofCunningham's bedroom and had actually talked with the man as he emergedfrom the alley. His description of the suspect tallied fairly closelywith that of Mrs. Hull, but it corrected errors in regard to weight,age, and color of clothes.
As Kirby walked to the Equitable Building to keep his appointment withhis cousins, it would not have surprised him if at any moment anofficer had touched him on the shoulder and told him he was underarrest.
Entering the office of the oil broker, where the two brothers werewaiting for him, Kirby had a sense of an interrupted conversation.They had been talking about him, he guessed. The atmosphere waselectric.
James spoke quickly, to bridge any embarrassment. "This is a dreadfulthing about Uncle James. I've never been so shocked before in my life.The crime was absolutely fiendish."
Kirby nodded. "Or else the deed of some insane person. Men in theirright senses don't do such things."
"No," agreed James. "Murder's one thing. Such coldblooded deviltry isquite another. There may be insanity connected with it. But one thingis sure. I'll not rest till the villain's run to earth and punished."
His eyes met those of his cousin. They were cold and bleak.
"Do you think I did it?" asked Kirby quietly.
The directness of the question took James aback. After the fraction ofa second's hesitation he spoke. "If I did I wouldn't be going to lunchwith you."
Jack cut in. Excitement had banished his usual almost insolentindolence. His dark eyes burned with a consuming fire. "Let's put ourcards on the table. We think you're the man the police are lookingfor--the one described in the papers."
"What makes you think that?"
"You told us you were going to see him as soon as he got back from theSprings. The description fits you to a T. You can't get away with analibi so far as I'm concerned."
"All right," said the rough rider, his low, even voice unruffled byexcitement. "If I can't, I can't. We'll say I'm the man who came downthe fire escape. What then?"
James was watching his cousin steadily. The pupils of his eyesnarrowed. He took the answer out of his brother's mouth. "Then wethink you probably know something about this mystery that you'll wantto tell us. You must have been on the spot very soon after themurderer escaped. Perhaps you saw him."
Kirby told the story of his night's adventure, omitting any referencewhatever to Wild Rose or to anybody else in the apartment when heentered.
After he had finished, James made his comment. "You've been veryfrank, Kirby. I accept your story. A guilty man would have deniedbeing in the apartment, or he would have left town and disappeared."
The range rider smiled sardonically. "I'm not so sure of that. You'vegot the goods on me. I can't deny I'm the man the police are lookin'for. Mrs. Hull would identify me. So would this reporter Ellis. Allyou would have to do would be to hand my name to the nearest officer.An' I can't run away without confessin' guilt. Even if I had killedUncle James, I couldn't do much else except tell some story like theone I've told you."
"It wouldn't go far in a court-room," Jack said.
"Not far," admitted Kirby. "By the way, you haven't expressed anopinion, Jack. Do you think I shot Uncle James?"
Jack looked at him, almost sullenly, and looked away. He poked at thecorner of the desk with the ferrule of his cane. "I don't know whoshot him. You had quarreled with him, and you went to have another rowwith him. A cop told me that some one who knew how to tie ropesfastened the knots around his arms and throat. You beat it from theroom by the fire escape. A jury would hang you high as Haman on thatevidence. Damn it, there's a bad bruise on your chin wasn't there whenwe saw you yesterday. For all I know he may have done it before youput him out."
"I struck against a corner in the darkness," Kirby said.
"That's what _you_ say. You've got to explain it somehow. I thinkyour story's fishy, if you ask me."
"Then you'd better call up the police," suggested Lane.
"I didn't say I was going to call the cops," retorted Jack sulkily.
James looked at his cousin. Kirby Lane was strong. You could not denyhis strength, audacious yet patient. He was a forty-horsepower manwith the smile of a boy. Moreover, his face was a certificate ofmanhood. It was a recommendation more effective than words.
"I think you're wrong, Jack," the older brother said. "Kirby had nomore to do with this than I had."
"Thanks," Kirby nodded.
"Let's investigate this man Hull. What Kirby says fits in with whatyou saw a couple of evenings ago, Jack. I'm assuming he's the same manUncle flung downstairs. Uncle told you he was a black-mailer._There's_ one lead. Let's follow it."
Reluctantly Kirby broached one angle of the subject that must be faced."What about this girl in Uncle's office--the one in trouble? Are wegoin' to bring her into this?"
There was a moment's silence. Jack's black eyes slid from Lane to hisbrother. It struck Kirby that he was waiting tensely for the decisionof James, though the reason for his anxiety was not apparent.
James gave the matter consideration, then spoke judicially. "Betterleave her out of it. No need to smirch Uncle's reputation unless it'sabsolutely necessary. We don't want the newspapers gloating over anymore scandals than they need."
The cattleman breathed freer. He had an odd feeling that Jack, too,was relieved. Had the young man, after all, a warmer feeling for hisdead uncle's reputation than he had given him credit for?
As the three cousins stepped out of the Equitable Building to StoutStreet a newsboy was calling an extra.
"A-l-l 'bout Cunn'n'ham myst'ry. Huxtry! Huxtry!"
Kirby bought a paper. A streamer headline in red flashed at him.
HORIKAWA; VALET OF CUNNINGHAM, DISAPPEARS
The lead of the story below was to the effect that Cunningham had drawntwo thousand dollars in large bills from the bank the day of his death.Horikawa could not be found, and the police had a theory that he hadkilled and robbed his master for this money.