The Homesteader: A Novel

by Oscar Micheaux

  CHAPTER XVII

  THE MYSTERY

  After Agnes had consulted with the lawyer, who was glad to go into thecase, and agreed to engage a worthy assistant, she returned to Baptisteand said:

  "Now, Jean. Don't you think that if I secured a good detective to lookinto it--this case, it would be the proper thing?"

  "Why--yes, Agnes," he said. He could hardly accustom himself to her insuch a situation.

  "I think that would be best," she resumed. "As I was coming downtown onthe car I observed the Pinkerton Office on 5th Avenue and now, Jean, ifyou think that would be a practical move, I will go there at once andhave them send a man to you. I'll bring him."

  "That would be practical, Agnes. Yes," he said thoughtfully, "since youinsist--"

  "No more, please," and she affected a little smile. "Just let me workuntil we arrive somewhere," and she was gone, returning in due time witha man.

  "I represent the Pinkerton agency, Mr. Baptiste," he said, aftergreeting the prisoner, "and now if you will state just where you were;what time, as near as you can recall, that you reached home; also whattime you turned into this place where the murder was committed, I shallbe glad to get down to work on the case."

  Since Baptiste had observed the time by the clock in the Keystone beforeleaving there, he was quite accurate in fixing the time he reached hisroom. Since we have followed him to his room, we know this phase of thecase.

  "Well, I'll hike over there and squint around a little. Hope I'll getthere before the inquest is held." And so saying, he was gone.

  "I will go back to where I am staying, now, Jean," said Agnes, after thedetective had departed, "and you may expect me at any time. I want tosee you out of here as soon as possible, and I will do all in my powerto get you out," and she dashed away.

  The detective went to the McCarthy home forthwith. The bodies had beenremoved and were then at the morgue. He looked into the room where thetragedy had been committed, and then sought Glavis.

  "Who discovered the murder, Mr. Glavis?" he inquired when they stood inthe death room.

  "Why myself and another fellow returned home just after it had beencommitted."

  "How did _you_ know it had just been committed?"

  "Well--why, my wife was in the hall-way, and when we entered she hadjust discovered the bodies."

  "But that doesn't prove that they had just been murdered."

  "But my wife says she was awakened by her sister's scream."

  "I see. So it was your wife who first discovered the bodies, or thatthey had just been murdered."

  "Yes."

  "Where had you been, and what time did you return home?"

  "I had been around town, to the Keystone where Baptiste was untilshortly after midnight."

  "You saw this Baptiste leave the hotel?"

  "I did."

  "How long after Baptiste left was it, before you followed?"

  "Perhaps fifteen minutes."

  "_Perhaps_ fifteen minutes; but you are not positive?"

  "No, but I am quite certain."

  "When you left the hotel, where did you go?"

  "I came here."

  "You came directly here. Didn't stop on the way anywhere?"

  "I did not."

  "And when you arrived, what happened? Did you meet anybody on the way?"

  "I passed people of whom I took no notice on the way here, of course.The only person I took notice of was Jean Baptiste."

  "Where did you meet him?"

  "Coming out of the house upon my arrival."

  "You met him coming out of the house upon your arrival?"

  "Well, out of the yard. I saw him come down the steps that leads up tothe house."

  "But you _didn't_ see him come out of the house?"

  "Well, no, I didn't see that."

  "Did you exchange any words with him when you met him? Did you stop andtalk?"

  "No. But I heard him mutter something."

  "Did you understand the words or any words he muttered?"

  "I thought he said something about having turned in at the wrong place."

  "How do you account for him having done so--if so?"

  "Well, the house where he stops is just a few doors--about a halfdozen--up the street--"

  "On the same side or the opposite?"

  "The same side. And he was stopping there."

  "Did you have any conversation with Baptiste after the trial in which hesued your father-in-law?"

  "No; but I tried to have him settle the case before going to court."

  "What did he say to it?"

  "Refused to consider it."

  "Did he give reasons?"

  "Yes. He said he wanted vindication."

  "Anything else?"

  "That he would have killed the Elder if it had not been that he was anobserver of the law."

  "Where were they murdered?"

  "She lay near the door, while he lay in bed."

  "Any evidence of a struggle?"

  "No, not as I could see."

  "With what were they murdered?"

  "With a knife that has been in the room here for two or three years."

  "Was Baptiste aware that such a knife was in the room?"

  "Not that I know of."

  "When, to your knowledge, was Baptiste last in the house?"

  "He has not been in the house for more than three years."

  "Then he couldn't have known the knife was there."

  "Well, unless he discovered it when he entered the room."

  "Providing he _entered_ the room. Was he aware also that the preacheroccupied this particular room? Is it not reasonable to suppose that hewould not know where the preacher slept if he had not been in the housefor three years?"

  "But he could have looked around."

  "Possibly. But how do you account for the girl's body being here in theroom also. Where did she sleep?"

  "Downstairs near her mother. It is my theory that she was disturbed bythe sound of some one walking, went upstairs, and was in time to see thetragedy of her father, and was in turn murdered by her husband."

  "That is your _theory_. But why was there no evidence of a struggle? Ithardly seems reasonable that she would have allowed herself to bestabbed without some effort to save herself."

  "Well, that is beyond me. Jean Baptiste acted suspicious in my opinion,and it is certainly strange that he should have been in the position hewas at such a crucial time."

  "May I consult with your wife?"

  Glavis looked around, uneasily. "She is very much torn up by theincident," he suggested.

  "But this is a very grave matter."

  "Well," and he turned and entered the room wherein Ethel had enclosedherself.

  "Ethel, an officer has called and wishes to consult with you."

  "No, no, no!" she yelled. "Send him away. Didn't I tell you I didn'twant to see no police," and she fell to crying. The detective hadentered the room in the meantime, and when she looked up, she saw him.

  "What are you doing in here?" she fairly screamed. He did not flinchunder the glare she turned upon him. Indeed, the day was at last comewhen she could frighten no one. The one she had been able to drive toany lengths with such a propaganda, lay stiff at the morgue. Thedetective regarded her searchingly, and upon realizing he was not goingto jump and run, she ceased that unseemly noise making and began crying,woefully.

  "You discovered this tragedy, madam?" he inquired calmly, but with anote of firmness in his tone.

  "Yes, yes!--oh, my poor sister! My poor father--and that low down man!"

  "When did you discover this, madam?"

  "Just as soon as it was done, oh me!"

  "How did you come to discover it, lady?"

  "By my sister's scream. She screamed so loud it seemed everybody musthave heard it. Screamed when he stuck that knife into her breast!"

  "How long after you heard her scream was it before you came out of theroom--your room?"

  "I came at once," she said sulkily,
and tried to cry louder. Thedetective was thoughtful.

  "So you came at once! And what did _you see_ when you came out?"

  At this she seemed overcome, and it was some moments before he could gether answer, and that was after he had repeated.

  "My sister and father lying murdered in the room there."

  "Is _that all_ you saw?"

  She was sulky again. After a time she muttered. She wrinkled her facebut the tears would not come. Presently she said, and the detectivecaught an effort on her part to say it.

  "Yes. But I think I heard a door slam downstairs."

  "You _think_ you heard a door slam? What happened next?"

  "My husband came."

  "How long after the door slammed was it before your husband came?"

  "Not long."

  "Is it not possible that when you heard the door slam, that it was yourhusband coming in?"

  "No. I heard the door slam behind him, too." Again he thought hedetected something singular in her manner, as if she were not tellingall she knew....

  The detective went downstairs and talked with Mrs. McCarthy a fewminutes, and then took his leave. He called up Agnes, and made anappointment and met her some hours later.

  "What have you discovered?" she inquired anxiously, her eyes searchinghis face.

  "Well," said he, slowly, "a few things, I think."

  "And Jean--Mr. Baptiste?" He looked up sharply and searched her face.

  "He is innocent."

  "Thank God!" And she clasped her hands and looked down in great relief.Quickly, she looked up, however, and cried: "But the proof. Willyou--can you _prove_ it?"

  He toyed idly with a pencil he held in his hands, and after a time,drawled: "I think so. _When the proper time comes._"

  "The _proper_ time? And--when will that be?" Her voice was controlled,but the anxiety was apparent.

  "Well, we'll say at the preliminary hearing tomorrow morning."

  "And--and--you have no more to report?"

  "Not today. I shall attend the inquest, of course. And where may I seeyou--say, tomorrow?"

  "At the hearing."

  "Very well, then. Good day."

  "Good day."