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she s a sideboard and wants to hold a tea-set.
Tell these gentlemen how cleverly you traced him, suggested
Brencherly.
Oh, I knew where he lived and what he was doing well enough.
She bridled with conscious conceit; I read the papers and I had it all
written down. So when I got out and stole the money, I knew just
where to go. But he s foxy, too. I knew I d have to make him see me.
So I stole some of the doctor s letterhead paper, and I wrote on it,
Important news from the Institution that s what he likes to call his
boarding house an institution. She laughed. It worked! she went
on as she regained her breath. I just sent that message, and they let
me go right in. Well, what is it what is it? Victor said, just like
that. Her tones of mimicry were ghastly. She paused a moment,
then broke out:
Now you won t believe it, but I hadn t the slightest idea what I was
going to kill him with when I went in there I really didn t. The
doctor will tell you himself that I m awfully forgetful. But there,
spread out before him, he had a whole collection of weapons, just as
if he should say, Mamie, which ll you have? I couldn t believe my
eyes; so I said first thing, Why, you were expecting me! He heard
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my voice, and his eyes opened wide; and I thought: If I don t do it
now, he ll raise the house. So I grabbed the big pistol and hit him!
I m telling you gentlemen all this, because I don t want anyone else
to get the credit. There was a woman I met on a bench, and I just was
sure she was going to take all the credit, but I told her that was my
business. I hate people who think they can do everything. There s a
woman across my hall who says she can make stars She broke off
abruptly as for the first time she became aware of Gard s presence in
the room. Why, there you are! she exclaimed delightedly. Now,
that s good! You can tell these people what you found.
But Mr. Mahr was stabbed, Mrs. Welles, Gard interrupted. You
said you struck him with a pistol.
Oh, I did that afterward. She took up the thread of her narrative. I
selected the place very carefully, and pushed the knife way in tight. I
hate the sight of blood, and I sort of thought that d stop it, and it did.
Then, dear me, I had a scare. There s a picture in that room as live as
life, and I looked up, and saw it looking at me. So I started to run
out, but somebody was coming, so in the little room off the big one I
got behind a curtain. Then this gentleman went through the room
where I was, and into the room where he was. But he shut the door,
and I couldn t see what he thought of it. After a while he came out
and said good-night to me, though how he knew I was there I can t
guess. So I waited a very long time, till everything was quiet, and
then I went back and sat with him. It did me good just to sit and look
at him; and every little while I d lift his coat to see if the little sword
was still there. The room was awful messy, and I tidied it up a bit.
Then when dawn about came, I got up and walked out. I had a sort
of idea of getting back to the institution without saying anything,
because I was afraid they d punish me.
Why did you rob Mr. Mahr? asked Mr. Field.
Rob nothing! she retorted.
But his jewels, his watch, the attorney continued, his eyes riveted
on her face with compelling earnestness. The woman gave an
inarticulate growl. But, interposed Brencherly, I found his wallet
in your package. He took from his pocket a worn and battered
leather pocketbook and held it toward her.
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Out of the Ashes
Oh, she answered indifferently, I just took it for a souvenir. In
fact, I came back for it last thing.
Brencherly shrugged his shoulders expressively. Gard sat far back in
his chair, his face in shadow.
How long has it been, Mrs. Welles, since you accomplished your
purpose? he asked slowly.
You know as well as I do, she cried angrily.
You were there. It was yesterday no, the day before.
It was just a week ago we found her, Brencherly said in a low
voice. I had to look up everything and verify everything.
You don t think I did it? she burst out angrily. Well, I ll prove it. I
tell you I did, and I thought it all out carefully, although the doctor
says I can t think connectedly. I ll show him. She fumbled in the
breast of her dress for a moment, and brought out her cherished
handful of newspaper clippings, which she cast triumphantly upon
the table. There s all about him from the papers, and a picture of the
house. Why, I d a been a fool not to find him, and I had to. Oh, yes,
I suppose, as the doctor says, I m queer; but I wasn t when he first
began sending me away no, indeed. I wasn t good enough for him,
that was all; and I was far from home, and hadn t a friend, and he
had money. Oh, he was clever but he s the devil. He used to file his
horns off so people wouldn t see, but I know. So, I ll tell you
everything, except how I got away. There s somebody else I may
want to find. She glanced with infinite cunning at Brencherly, and
began her finger signals as if practicing a dumb alphabet of which he
alone knew the key.
Where did you receive her from, Doctor? Field asked.
From Ogdensburg, sir. Before that they told me she was found
wandering, and put under observation in Troy. All I knew was that
somebody wanted her kept in a private institution. She d always
been in one, I fancy.
There was a pause as Field seemed lost in thought. Then he turned to
Gard.
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Out of the Ashes
May I ask you to clear one point? he asked You gave evidence
that he was alive when you entered the room. According to her
story
I lied, said Gard, his pale face suffused with color. I had to I was
most urgently needed in Washington. I would have been detained,
perhaps prevented altogether from leaving. Who knows I might
even have been accused. I plead guilty of suppressing the facts.
There was silence in the room. The attorney s eyes were turned upon
the self-confessed perjurer. In them was a question. Gard met their
gaze gravely, without flinching. Field nodded slowly.
You re right; publicity can only harm, he said at last. We will see
what can be done. I ll take the proper steps. It can be done legally
and verified by the other witnesses. The butler identifies her, you
say. It s a curious case of retribution. I can t help imagining Mahr s
feelings when he recognized her voice. Is your patient at all
dangerous otherwise? He addressed himself to the nurse.
No, she answered. We ve never seen it. Irritable, of course, but
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