The House Opposite Part 3

CHAPTER III

A CORONER'S INQUEST

We took our places at the foot of the corpse, with our backs to the light and silently awaited developments. In a few minutes McGorry returned, followed by the electrician, and during the rest of the time remained in the room checking off the men as they came in. It is needless for me to repeat all the testimony, as a great deal of it was perfectly irrelevant; suffice it to say that the electrician, engineer, and janitress all pa.s.sed the ordeal without adding an iota to our information. The watchman when called persisted, after the severest cross-questioning, in his first a.s.sertion that neither on Wednesday night nor last night had he seen or heard anything suspicious. The only person he had admitted on either night was Mr. Atkins, who had returned at about half-past one that very morning; he was sure that he had seen no stranger leave the building.

At last Jim, the elevator boy, was called in. He appeared still very much frightened, and only looked at the corpse with the greatest reluctance.

"Have you ever seen this man before?" demanded the Coroner.

"No, sah," answered Jim, in a shaking voice.

"Now, my lad, take another look at him. Are you still so sure that you have never seen him before," gently insisted Mr. Merritt; "for, you see, we have reason to believe that you have." Jim began to tremble violently, as he cast another glance at the dead man.

"Lord-a-ma.s.sy, sah; p'raps I did, p'raps I did; I dunno, he looks some like--not 'zactly----"

"Do you know his name?"

"No, sah."

"When did you see him last?"

"Tuesday ebenin', sah." Here the boy glanced apprehensively at McGorry.

"Come, come, my lad," the Coroner exclaimed, impatiently; "tell us all you know about the man. The truth, now, and the whole truth, mind you; and don't you look at any one to see how they are going to like what you say, either."

"No, sah." Jim hesitated a moment, then burst out: "I do think as he's the same gem'man as come to see Miss Derwent last winter, and he come to call on her about half-past six on Tuesday."

"Miss Derwent--" exclaimed McGorry, taking a step forward.

"McGorry," said the Coroner, severely, "don't try to interfere with justice and intimidate witnesses. Now, my boy, tell us how long did the gentleman stay with Miss Derwent."

"Dey went out togedder 'most immedjutely, and den dey come back togedder."

"At what time did they return?"

"Must have been 'bout eight, sah."

"Did he go upstairs with the young lady?"

"Yes, sah."

"When did he leave?"

"I can't say, sah; I didn't see him leave."

"How was that?"

"Well, you see, sah, in de summer, when de house is mos' empty, we's not so partic'lar as we are in de winter, and we takes turn and turn about oftener, 'specially in de ebenin'."

"I see," said the Coroner.

"An' so dat ebenin I goes off at half-past eight and Joe he run de elevator till eleben."

"Did any one call on Miss Derwent yesterday?"

"I see n.o.body, sah."

"Did the young lady go out during the day?"

"Yes, sah."

"Tell us all you know of her movements."

Jim rubbed his woolly pate in some perplexity: "Well, sah, yesterday de young lady she went out mighty early, little before eight, maybe, and den she come back about ten; but she don't stay long; goes out again mos' right away."

Here Jim paused, evidently searching his memory.

"'Pears to me she come in 'bout half-past twelve; at any rate 'twasn't no later, and she goes out again immedjutely. Yes, sah, and den I seed her come in 'bout seven, and I aint seen her again," he ended up with a sigh of relief.

"And you are sure that she was alone each time you saw her?"

"Yes, sah. A good many parcels come for her in de afternoon," he added.

"Well, Jim," said the Coroner, "you may go now; but mind you, don't say a word about this business to any one; do you hear? If I find out you have been gossipping I'll know how to deal with you," and he looked so threatening that I'm sure the unfortunate boy expected capital punishment to follow any incautious remark.

"Pardon me," said Mr. Merritt, with a slight bow towards the Coroner, "but I should like to ask Jim how this man was dressed when he saw him last."

"Just so 's he is now, sah," replied Jim, pointing to the Tuxedo coat, which had been thrown over the body.

The negro lad who next appeared, bowing and sc.r.a.ping, was not at all intimidated by the scene before him, and seemed to think himself quite the hero of the occasion.

"Your name is Joe Burr, I believe," began the Coroner, consulting a small paper he held in his hand, "and you run the elevator here?"

"Yes, sah."

"Now look carefully at this body and tell me if you recognize it as that of anyone you know."

The boy looked at the dead man attentively for some moments and then answered: "Yes, sah."

"Who is he?"

"I dunno his name, sah; he wouldn't send up his card."

"Have you seen him often?"

"No, sah; just dat once."