"
Unexpected aid came to help him in this quarter, as Caranby
sent a note, stating that the rubbish and debris of the fire
would be removed next week, and inviting Jennings to be
present. Caranby added that Mallow had resumed his visits to
the "Shrine of the Muses," but that Mrs. Octagon still
continued hostile. Basil, however, was more friendly. "I
daresay," commented Jennings, on reading this last sentence,
"he has his own axe to grind over that money."
It was about this time that the detective received a visit
from Susan Grant. She looked as neat and timid as usual, and
appeared at his rooms one morning with a request for an
interview. "I said I would help Mr. Mallow if I could," she
said when seated.
"Oh, and have you anything likely to help him,-"
"Not exactly," said Susan, "but I found some old papers of
father's."
"I don't quite understand," said the detective, who did not
see what the girl's father had to do in the matter.
"Well, it's this way, sir. Father was poisoned five years
ago."
"Who poisoned him?"
"That we never knew," explained Susan. "Father's name was
Maxwell, but when mother married Mr. Grant she made me take
that name. It was supposed that father committed suicide, and
mother felt the disgrace dreadful. That was why she married
and changed the name. But I don't believe father, when on the
point of making us rich, would swallow so much arsenic as he
did."
"What's that--arsenic?" said Jennings, recalling the death
of Tyke.
Pages:
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250