Chapter XI
Jimmy stayed in Lentone while Professor Brierly went on to hisown camp. Jimmy called up his office where he knew that a dogwatch would be kept all night.
The sleepy voice that identified itself as Duke Wellington becamecrisp when Jimmy gave his name. The entire office was now a throband expectant of news from the Canadian border.
"Just a flash, Duke. I'll file a story in time for the firstedition tomorrow morning. They picked up 'Chicago' Boyle here nearthe New Hampshire border; Boyle was in a job in Yonkers some timeago where he got into a house the same way the killer got intoMiller's Folly; chimney, rope and climbing irons. Boyle's alibi isfishy, Duke, awfully weak.
"A member of this Tontine group, William Flynn, who lives inPleasantville decided he had to go home. There was quite a sceneabout it in Judge Higginbotham's camp. This thing is getting onthe nerves of most of them. They're all up in the air. Theyweren't going to let him go. Finally they compromised by lettinghim go under escort, get me. A policeman from Lentone and atrooper are going to escort him to the Massachusetts line, wheresomeone else will take it up.
"McCall, the D.A., arranged with the police authorities to watchhim while he's in New York, to see that nothing happens. Bettercover that, Duke, have a man pick him up with escort when he getsoff the train. Any news at the New York end?"
"Naw, police handing out a lotta applesauce about soon having thebird who bumped off Schurman. I think they picked up aboutthirty-five assorted crooks on this Schurman killing. I'll say this for'em, I never saw 'em so busy since that bird bumped off a couplecops and a kid. That all, Jim?"
"Yep. Think I'll go up to Professor Brierly's camp and if hehasn't got anything to say, I'll hit the hay. Tell Hite, if hecalls, that I'll file a full story, will you?"
Jimmy's eyes glinted with amusement when he came to the wharf ofMcCall's camp. It was still daylight and he had no difficultyrecognizing some of the high lights in his profession on the porchand on the wharf. A number of them had simultaneously arrived atthe conclusion that they would fare better perhaps camping onProfessor Brierly's trail than they would in following theHigginbotham group and the meager information that the police werewilling to divulge.
They surged about him when he stepped off the boat. He soonconvinced them he would share with them every bit of news he gotfrom Brierly, the police, or the Tontine group as it was nowcalled. All of them now had the story of Boyle's arrest.
Jimmy listened with a grin as they told him of their experiencewhen they tried to pump Professor Brierly. One of them sported ablack eye. He had used language that Matthews did not like and theblonde young giant had punched him in the eye and threatened toclean out the entire group if they didn't let the Professor alone.Jimmy assured them earnestly that Matthews meant what he said.After convincing themselves that they could get no more news atthis source the crowd melted and the camp was left to the peace ofa Canadian summer night.
Professor Brierly was fingering Boyle's watch with a perplexedfrown on his fine features as Jimmy stepped into the living-room.The old man looked up as the reporter entered the large room withits soft lights.
"What about the watch, Professor? Can you tell as much about it asyou can about the rope and twine?"
Professor Brierly snapped at him:
"Are you trying to be funny, young man? Are you trying to conveythe impression, are you implying that you do not believe what themicroscope showed me when--"
"Pardon me, Professor. I worded my question wrong. No, remarkableas it sounds, I believe every word you say, of course. But--"
"There is nothing specially remarkable about it, Mr. Hale. Thetrue value of the microscope in scientific criminal investigationis just now beginning to be appreciated. The watch, now--" Oncemore the puzzled frown that had appeared several times creased hisbrows. He continued slowly:
"There is nothing in the watch that places it in or near the farmor farmyard from which the heavy rope, the twine and the fish lineseem to have come. There is certainly nothing that places it in adepartment of a hat factory where dyed particles of felt hats maybe found in great profusion."
"You mean, Professor," broke in McCall, "that a microscopicexamination of the watch didn't show those characteristics?"
"Yes."
"Provided, Professor, Boyle is telling the truth about when hiswatch was cleaned. If the watch were thoroughly cleaned it wouldobscure--"
"Boyle told the truth, or the approximate truth about the time hiswatch was cleaned last. The watch shows evidence of that."
"What do you say about, Boyle, Professor?" pursued Jimmy.
"There is not a single shred of evidence against him. As I haveheard you say, Mr. Hale, I would not convict a yellow dog on suchevidence."
"Did you hear his alibi, Professor? It's certainly a flimsyexcuse, if I ever heard one."
"True, it is flimsy. But I am half inclined to believe it becauseit is so flimsy. I watched him very carefully, as you no doubtdid. I was impressed with the belief that the charge of murdersurprised him. And it did not appear the surprise of a murdererwho thought he had his trail well hidden.
"Boyle is rather above the average criminal. The murderer as wehave seen, is a man of considerable resource. If caught, he iscertain to have a better alibi than Boyle had, a more plausiblealibi. Does Boyle strike you like the kind of man who, if hemurdered a man, would not have a more plausible story? No, I tellyou, its very lack of plausibility almost convinces me of itstruth.
"Boyle is in a desperate situation and he knows it. He showed itby readily admitting that he was engaged in the illicit traffic ofliquor, when apparently, the police were not at all concerned withthis phase of his activities.
"But aside from all this, there is the watch; the watch is veryimportant. It may be negative, it is true, but it is neverthelessvery convincing. The rope and the twine and the fish line werepositive evidence. Not evidence that the murderer owned the farmor farmyard perhaps, but evidence that the articles in questionwere at that farmyard a considerable time; evidence that the twinewas in a hat factory.
"Place the rope, twine and fish line in Boyle's possession; placeBoyle in a hat factory and you may convince me of his guilt ofMiller's murder. Not otherwise."
He snapped shut the watch case, with an emphatic click. His browcleared.
"Negative evidence is often very important, is it not? It helpsclear one's mind. I think I am beginning to see. What a gorgeousplan it was. Did I say that I took back what I said about the man,responsible for these deaths not being subtle? I did? Well he issubtle, dangerously so."
"Do you mean, Professor," Jimmy leaned forward eagerly, "that youknow the man who--"
"Not so fast young man. I do not know who it is, but I ambeginning to think I know who it might be; who it can be. Is thatdubious?" His eyes were now gleaming. The three men watching himknew the signs. His small shapely hand was pounding the arm of hischair softly. He became suddenly grave. He spoke to McCall:
"Did we hear Flynn say that he told his comrades when he came herethat he would have to leave on an important errand today?"
McCall and Jimmy nodded. Professor Brierly's gravity became moreprofound. He sprang to his feet. He said emphatically:
"Call New York at once, Mr. McCall. Do not waste a minute. Tellthem to take extreme precautions in watching Flynn. I believeFlynn is in the greatest danger. Oh, fool that I am! Why did I notthink of it? At once, Mr. McCall, at once." He pounded the tableimpatiently. As McCall was turning the small crank to ring theoperator, Professor Brierly added:
"After you've done that, McCall, see if you can get in touch withthe train that Flynn took. Warn his guards."
When McCall came back to the table looking inquiringly toward thewhite-headed old scientist, the latter smiled slowly. "Thinkingthat I am getting into my dotage, young man? Flynn is in deadlydanger. I will feel at ease about him only when he gets back heresafely. His greatest danger is when he arrives in New York. He isprobably safe on board the train but I do not k
now, I am afraidfor him."
Jimmy went outside to see to the comfort of his youthful pilot.Harry Stoy had made his bed on the ground near the wharf. He saidhe liked to sleep outdoors under the sky. When he returned Jimmytook his portable typewriter to his room where he wrote far intothe night.
The entire household was wrapped in slumber when the telephonebell awoke them with its insistent buzz. McCall, cursing theimpulse that had made him install a telephone in this out of theway camp, arose sleepily and took down the receiver.
The growling voice at the other end of the wire identified itselfas that of Hite, of the New York Eagle. McCall profanely told thevoice that he would get Jimmy, when Hite stopped him.
"Never mind Jimmy, you'll do. I was at a night club when I gotword that you sent out word to guard Flynn. Is that right?"
"Yes. Is that what you woke me up for. Can't a newspaper respectanother man's--"
"Aw, boloney, save that for the jury. I called you up to tell youthat I did something for you. A souse got in a fight with Flynn onthe train. The cop and the trooper staved off trouble. I got intouch with someone up there and now there's two secret service menon the train with him. They got on the train at Brattleboro. Tellyour friends and tell Jimmy. Good night."
When McCall turned away from the telephone, Jimmy was standingthere watching him. When he heard what the District Attorney, withconsiderable heat, had to say, Jimmy grinned.
"Save it, Mac, save it. You ought to thank the old grouch forcalling you up. He put two secret service men on the train withFlynn? Just like Hite. You'll have to admit that it takes anewspaper man to do things."
McCall glared at him. Jimmy returned the glare with his mostimpudent grin, and they returned to their beds.