No! the doctor took the remaining steps at a bound. Who?
For answer, Landon conducted him inside the hall, and in an instant Varian was on his knees beside the stricken man.
My God! he said, in a hoarse whisper, Fredericks dead!
A stroke? asked Landon, while Claire Blackwood stood by, unable to speak at all.
No, man, no! Shot! See the blood, shot through the heart. What does it what can it mean? Wheres Betty?
We dont know, Claire spoke now. Doctor Varian, are you sure hes dead? Can nothing be done to save him?
Nothing. He died almost instantly, from internal hemorrhage. But how unbelievable! How impossible!
Who shot him? Landon burst out, impetuously; or, is it suicide?
Wheres the pistol? said the doctor, looking about.
Both men searched, Landon trying to overcome his repugnance to such close association with the dead, but no weapon of any sort could be found.
I I cant see it, Varian wiped his perspiring brow. I cant see any solution. But, this wont do. We must get the others up here. Oh, heavens, what shall we do with Minna?
Let me go down, and take her home with me, suggested Claire Blackwood, eager to do anything that might help or ease the coming disclosure of the tragedy.
Oh, I dont know, demurred Varian. You see, shes got to know, of course, she must be told at once, and then, shell have to look after Betty, where is the child? Anyway, my wife is a tower of strength, shell be able to manage Mrs Varian, even if she has violent hysterics, which, of course, she will!
Command me, Doctor Varian, said Landon. I will do whatever you advise.
All right; Ill be glad of your assistance. Suppose you go back to the people down there on the rocks, and then, let me see, suppose you tell my wife first what has happened; then, ask her to break the news to Mrs Varian, shell know how best to do it. Then, oh, Lord, I dont know what then! Theyll have to come back here, I suppose, what else can they do? I dont know, Mrs Blackwood, but your idea of taking Mrs Varian away with you is a good one. If shell go.
She wont go, said Claire, decidedly, if she knows the truth. If I take her, itll have to be on some false pretense,
Wont do, said Varian, briefly. Weve got no right to keep her in ignorance of her husbands death. No; she must be told. That girl of mine, too, Eleanor, she hasnt her mothers poise, shes likely to go to pieces, always does, in the presence of death. Oh, what a moil!
Heres another thing, said Landon, a little hesitantly. What about the authorities?
Yes, yes, the doctor spoke impatiently, I thought of that, who are they, in this God-forsaken place? Town Constable, I suppose.
I dont know myself, said Landon. County Sheriff, more likely. But Clarks a good, sensible sort. Say we send him down to the village
Oh, must it be known down there right away? cried Claire. Before even Mrs Varian is told! Or Betty. Where is Betty?
Betty is somewhere in the house, said Doctor Varian in a low voice. We know that. Now, let that question rest, till we decide on our first move. I think, Landon, youd better do as I said. Go and tell my wife, and, while shes telling Mrs Varian and my daughter, Eleanor, you can take Mr Clark aside and tell him. Then, then, I think, youd all better come back here to the house. Well send Clark on that errand later, or, we can telephone.
Landon started on his difficult descent and on his even more difficult errand.
Cant you, cant you put Mr Varian somewhere somewhere Claire began, incoherently.
Im not supposed to move a body until the authorities give permission, said Doctor Varian, slowly. It would seem to me, that in this very peculiar and unusual case, that I might, but, thats just it. Ive been thinking, and the very mysteriousness of this thing, makes it most necessary for me to be unusually circumspect. Why, Mrs Blackwood, have you any idea what we have ahead of us? I cant think this mystery will be simple or easily explained. I dont
What do you think
I dont dare think! Isnt there a phrase, that way madness lies? Well, it recurs to me when I let myself think! No, I wont think, and I beg of you, dont question me! Im not a hysterical woman, but there are times when a man feels as if hysterics might be a relief!
Then lets not think, said Claire, tactfully, but let me try to be helpful. If Mrs Varian is coming here, do you advise that we cover Mr Varian with
Then lets not think, said Claire, tactfully, but let me try to be helpful. If Mrs Varian is coming here, do you advise that we cover Mr Varian with
With a sheet, I suppose, do you know where to find one?
No, Ive never been upstairs, and then, after all, isnt a sheet even more gruesome than the sight as it is at present? How about a dark cover?
Very well, find one. The Doctor spoke absorbedly, uncaring.
Glancing about, Claire noticed a folded steamer rug, on the end of the big davenport in the hall, and fetching that, she laid it lightly over the still form.
Now, about Betty, said the doctor, coming out of his brown study. She is in the house, probably hiding, from fear,