Vance lay back indolently and sent along regular
series of smoke-rings toward the ceiling. Drukker died last night of heart failure.
The girls voicefaltered, and she put her handkerchief to her eyes.
Menzel wassitting where we had left her, in an
attitude of horrifiedexpectancy. We want toask him about the necessry arrangements
in regard to theDrukkers. There are no clews;and even if there were, theyd probably
point in the wrongdirection. The door may have been slightly open, and I think she
sawthe intruder and recognized him. Markham had seated himself facing the professor.
Pardee was hornlocked with Rubinstein over a chess-board fromeleven to
one.
Drukker saw it, and at the same time she probably
saw Drukker. Then thestairs creaked, and pretty soon the front door
shut.
You say he met Professor Dillard and Drukker at the
very spotwhere Drukker fell over the wall?
It doesnt strike me as a particularly unfavorable
position forPardee, ventured Vance. Shame he was toldoff before hed put his data in
shape.
Wed better ask Arnesson to help us explain that
point. Arnesson rose jerkily and went to the little chess table in
thecorner.
Wed better ask Arnesson to help us explain that
point. Your sorrows leave me cold, retorted Markham. Youve probably spent the
afternoon inspecting arquebuses andpetronels at the Metropolitan
Museum.
So I left him alone by the wall, and came
home.
Makin four distinct episodes in the
murderersextravaganza. She shook her head and gave me a look that sent a
chillthrough me.
Suppose you bring them here and let me question
them.
The Sergeant had risen, alert and energetic. The
play began at eleven: six moves before thecombination started. AndRubinsteins moves
during that time took forty-nine minutes longerthan Pardees.
Pardee stopped to visit with them; and I naturally
kepton going.
Theres not even asuspect against whose possible
culpability reason doesnt revolt. Drukker died last night of heart failure. As I
told you, she died from dilatation of the heartbrought on by shock.
The professor broke up the contretemps by taking
Drukker for anairing. The murderer took Drukkers key and came here immediately
afterthe crime. Vance had ledthe way toward the wall gate, and we now stepped down
on the range.