The Classic Mystery Collection - Arthur Conan Doyle [5911]
"Will you, Colonel?" the big blonde woman asked eagerly.
"I will - and here's my hand on it!"
He reached out in the darkness, but there was no answering clasp. The woman seemed to shrink away. And then she said:
"I don't believe it would be of any use. I guess I'm too far down to crawl up. But I'll help you all I can."
"Don't give up, Kate!" said the detective gently. "I've seen lots worse than you - you notice I'm not mincing words - I've seen lots worse than you start over again. All I'll say is that I'll give you the chance if you want it. There's nothing in this life you're leading. You know the end and the answer as well as I do. You've seen it many a time."
"God help me - I have!" she murmured. "Well, I - I'll think about it."
"And, meanwhile, tell me about this Jean Carnot," went on the colonel. "You were married to him?"
"I thought I was."
"What sort of man was he? Come, sit down on this sand dune and tell me all about it. I think I want that man."
"No more than I do," she said fiercely. "He left me as he would an old coat he couldn't use any more! He cast me aside, trampled on me, left me like a sick dog! Oh, God - "
For a moment she could not go on. But she calmed herself and resumed. Then, by degrees, she told the whole, sordid story. It was common enough - the colonel had listened to many like it before. And when it was finished, brokenly and in tears, he put forth his hand on the shoulder of Morocco Kate and said:
"Now, Kate, let's get down to business. Are you willing to help me finish this up?"
"I'll do all I can, Colonel Ashley. But I don't see how we're going to find this devil of a Jean."
"Leave that to me. Now where can I find you when I want you - in a hurry, mind. I may want you in a great hurry. Where can I find you?"
"I'm stopping in the village. I'll arrange to be within call for the next few days. Will it take long?"
"No, not very. If I can I'll clean it all up tomorrow. Things are beginning to clear up. And now allow me the pleasure of walking back to town with you. It's getting late and beginning to rain. I have an umbrella, and you haven't."
And through the rain which began to fall, as though it might wash away some of the sordid sin that had been told of in the darkness, the strangely different couple walked through the dark night, Morocco Kate as an ally of Colonel Ashley.
The clean, fresh sun was shining in through the windows of Colonel Ashley's room at The Haven when he awakened the next morning. As he sprang up and made ready for his bath he called toward the next apartment:
"Are you up, Jack?"
"Just getting. Any rush?"
"Well, I think this may be our busy day, and again it may not. Better tumble out."
Just as you say. How you feeling, Colonel?"
"Never better. I feel just like fishing, and you - "
"'Nough said. I'm with you."
And then, as he started toward his bath, the colonel saw a dirty slip of paper under the door of his room.
"Ha!" he ejaculated. "Another printed message. The writer is getting impatient. I think it's time to act."
And he read:
"Why does not the great detective arrest the poisoner of her father? If he will look behind the book case he will find something that will prove everything - the poison book and - something else."
The printed scrawl was signed: "Justice."
"Well, 'Justice,' I'll do as you say, for once," said the colonel softly, and there was a grim smile on his face.
And so it came about that after his bath and a breakfast Colonel Ashley, winking mysteriously to Jack Young, indicated to his helper that he was wanted in the library.
"What is it?" asked Jack, when they were alone in the room. "A new clew?"
"No, just a blind trail, but I want to clean it up. Help me move out some of the bookcases."
"Good night! Some job! Are you looking for a secret passage, or is there a body concealed here?" and Jack laughed as he took hold of some of the heavy furniture and helped the colonel move