The Crime of the French Café and Other Stories

  CHAPTER IX.

  HAMMOND'S STORY.

  The effect of this statement can hardly be exaggerated.

  It shook the very foundation of the case against the prisoner. IfGaspard's identification could be disproved, it seemed almost sure thatJones was saved.

  Even though it could be shown beyond a doubt that Corbut had beenmurdered in a flat which was rented by Jones, that would not prove thatJones had done it.

  The murderer was evidently the man who had ridden in the cab withCorbut. And Harrigan, the only witness, had failed to recognize Jones asthat man.

  The suspicion must instantly arise that a plot had been carefully laid,with the purpose of putting the crime upon Jones.

  Some enemy had signed his name on the register, and the same cruelwretch had decoyed Corbut to the vacant flat and murdered him there. Itwas easy to suppose that the criminal knew the flat to be empty and hadobtained a key.

  It might have been by this secret enemy's connivance that the trunkswere removed and sent to Gaspard.

  But if Hammond was the wretch who had done all this, why had heconfessed?

  All these and many other thoughts must have rushed through the mind ofthe superintendent, in the pause which followed Hammond's declaration.

  Byrnes looked at Nick for an explanation.

  "This is an extraordinary statement, Mr. Hammond," said Nick. "Have youany evidence to support it?"

  "I have ample evidence. I was seen in the company of the woman nowdead, not fifty yards from the restaurant on the night when she met herdeath. I can call one of the most prominent and respected men in thiscity to prove that. The Rev. Elliot Sandford is the man."

  This name produced a great impression.

  "Why has he kept silence?" asked Nick.

  "He promised me that he would do so as long as his conscience wouldpermit. I called upon him on the morning after the crime.

  "He believed me when I asserted my innocence. He agreed to be silent forthe sake of my family."

  "But who is the dead woman?" asked Nick.

  "I have not the least idea."

  "You did not know her!"

  "No. Let me tell the full story. It was a chance acquaintance. I met heron the street that afternoon.

  "I was walking behind her on Twenty-third street. You know whatwonderful hair she had. I was admiring it.

  "Suddenly I saw her drop a little purse. I picked it up and handed it toher, and somehow we fell into conversation.

  "Her manner mystified me. Sometimes she seemed to be laboring under somesecret grief which nearly drove her to tears. In another moment shewould be apparently as merry as a schoolgirl.

  "She showed no reserve whatever, but something in her manner warned methat she was a lady, and I did not presume upon her confidence.

  "We walked together a long while, and at last we found ourselves nearthat restaurant. How we came there I do not know. I paid no attention towhere we were going. T was too much fascinated by my companion.

  "Suddenly she said: 'It is late and I am hungry. Let us go to dinner.'

  "I thought it a strange thing to say, but I was glad enough to comply.We went into that restaurant because it was right before us.

  "I signed the first name that came into my head, and then Corbut showedus into the private dining-room.

  "I ordered a dinner, but before it was served, I began to be a good dealsurprised at my companion's behavior. She paced up and down the room,and every now and then she listened at the door which was between us androom A.

  "'I have all a woman's curiosity,' she said, 'I'd like to hear whatthose people are saying over their dinner.'

  "I tried to make her sit down, and playfully took hold of her. Then Imade a discovery which frightened me.

  "The woman had a pistol in her pocket.

  "Suddenly she turned upon me and exclaimed:

  "'What shall we do after dinner? I'll tell you what I'd like. I want togo to the theater. Let's see something real funny. Yes, I must go. Yourun out now and get the tickets. There's a place just down the streetwhere they're sold. You can get back before your dinner is cold.'

  "Of course, it was perfectly plain that she was trying to get rid of me.Well, I had no objection. That pistol had scared me badly. I didn't wantto be mixed up in a scandal.

  "So I took my hat and cleared out. But once on the street, my couragecame back, and also my curiosity. I wanted to know more of that strangewoman.

  "I bought the theater tickets and hurried back. I opened the door ofroom B.

  "You know what I saw. She sat there dead, with the pistol by her side.She had committed suicide.

  "I rushed out with the intention of calling for help, but fear overcameme. I looked around into the hall. This man Gaspard was at the desk.

  "I dared not summon him. I turned and ran."

  Hammond ceased, and a sigh ran around the room. Nick could read reliefin all the faces. The mystery was solved. The innocent man was no longerto suffer under unjust suspicion.

  That was what could be seen in the faces. Hammond's words had the ringof truth. Neither the superintendent nor Nick nor any other person theredoubted a single statement of his story.

  "When Gaspard identified me as the man in room A," Hammond continued, "Ithought I saw a chance to save Mr. Jones very easily, and so I told afalsehood."

  "It was a foolish thing to do," said Nick. "The truth is always best. Ifwe had known at the outset what we know now, Mr. Jones might have beenspared a great deal of trouble. Since the woman committed suicide--"

  "Hold on!" cried the superintendent. "How do you account for the murderof Corbut?"

  "He must have found the body and robbed it. Probably he took some moneyand a diamond ring. There was the mark of a ring on her finger, but thering was gone.

  "Corbut fled with these things. He engaged Harrigan's cab. He wasdecoyed to that flat by some woman, probably, who knew that nobody wasin it, and was there murdered.

  "Of course, neither Mr. nor Mrs. Jones had anything to do with it. Now,if Mr. Jones would only explain how he happened to be at thatrestaurant, the case would be clear. We know positively that he wasthere."

  A great light of hope had shone in Jones' face while Hammond was tellinghis story, and when Nick added his explanation of Corbut's death, theprisoner nearly laughed for joy.

  "It's true I was there," he said. "My wife and I dined in room A, and--"

  "Fool!" exclaimed the woman, in a terrible voice. "Don't you see thatthis is a trap?"

  In her wild excitement, she covered Jones' mouth with her hand toprevent his speaking further.

  "That is true," said Nick. "It was a trap, and the wretch has falleninto it. Jones, you have put the halter around your neck."

  "No! It is a lie!" exclaimed Jones, freeing himself from the woman'sgrasp. "I tell you that I was in room A. The crime, if there was acrime, was committed in room B."

  "No, it wasn't," said Nick. "It was committed in room A."