United States or Australia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
For a moment Harley's suspicions were almost dispelled, and, observing an empty cab approaching, he signalled to the man to pull up. "Where do you want to go to?" he inquired, opening the door. "I am due at Doctor McMurdoch's," she replied, stepping in. Paul Harley hesitated, glancing from the speaker to the driver. "I wonder if you have time to come with me," said Phil Abingdon.
Doctor McMurdoch's expression remained utterly blank, and he slowly shook his head. "I haven't an idea in the world," he declared. "A patient, perhaps?" "Possibly," said Harley, conscious of some disappointment; "yet from the way he spoke of him I scarcely think that he was a patient.
He met the glance of violet eyes, and understood something of Doctor McMurdoch's helplessness. He found his thoughts again wandering into strange, wild byways and was only recalled to the realities by the dry, gloomy voice of the physician. "Go on, Mr. Harley," said Doctor McMurdoch. "She has grand courage." Paul Harley crossed the room and stood in front of the tall Burmese cabinet.
"Kindness is a spiritual investment," he said, "which returns us interest tenfold. If I can be sure of Mrs. McMurdoch's acceptance, I will request permission to take my leave now, for I have an urgent business appointment to keep, after which I will call for you. Can you be ready by noon?" "Yes, we shall be ready." Phil Abingdon held out her hand in a curiously hesitant manner.
Does the term Fire-Tongue convey anything to your mind?" Doctor McMurdoch's eyebrows shot upward most amazingly. "I won't insult you by supposing that you have chosen such a time for joking," he said, dourly. "But if your third question surprised me, I must say that your fourth sounds simply daft."
"I am afraid, Miss Abingdon," he replied, quietly, "that the matter is not one in which I am entitled to express my opinion." She continued to look at him challengingly, but: "Quite right, Mr. Harley," said Doctor McMurdoch, "but if you were, your opinion would be the same as mine." Mrs. McMurdoch's glance became positively beseeching, but the physician ignored it.
On returning to his office Paul Harley found awaiting him the report of the man to whom he had entrusted the study of the movements of Nicol Brinn. His mood was a disturbed one, and he had observed none of his customary precautions in coming from Doctor McMurdoch's house. He wondered if the surveillance which he had once detected had ceased.
She alighted, and Harley dismissed the cabman and followed the girl into Doctor McMurdoch's house. Here he made the acquaintance of Mrs. McMurdoch, who, as experience had taught him to anticipate, was as plump and merry and vivacious as her husband was lean, gloomy, and taciturn. But she was a perfect well of sympathy, as her treatment of the bereaved girl showed.
Psychically, he was very close to her at that moment; and when he replied he replied evasively: "I have absolutely no scrap of evidence, Miss Abingdon, pointing to foul play. The circumstances were peculiar, of course, but I have every confidence in Doctor McMurdoch's efficiency. Since he is satisfied, it would be mere impertinence on my part to question his verdict."
Word Of The Day