The Mystery of St. Agnes Hospital | Page 9

had struck something more solid than the soft earth.
All sprang forward, and the doctor uttered a cry as of terror.
Hastily the earth was removed from the buried object, until it could be
lifted to the surface.
Chick stepped forward, and brushed the last of the earth from the face
with his handkerchief. Then it was dragged to where the moon shone
full upon it.
A murmur arose from the little party. The face of the dead man was cut
and mangled with many wounds.
"It's Pat," said one of those who had assisted in the digging. "There's no
doubt about it."
"Yes," said Haskell, who was shivering with fear, "I recognize the
clothes he had on."
"He's got no coat," said one of the men; "where's that?"

"It was hanging on a tree in this garden," said Deever.
Then he bent forward over the corpse, and took from around the neck a
string to which a little cheap locket was attached.
"He always wore that, poor boy," said one of the men.
Deever turned to where Dr. Jarvis stood. The face of the doctor was
whiter than paper, as the moon shone down upon it.
"What do you say now, Jarvis?" said Deever, coldly. "Do you confess
your crime?"
The doctor recovered himself with a mighty effort.
"No," he cried. "I deny all responsibility for this man's death."

Chapter V
The Body on the Slab
Nobody seemed to be much impressed by Jarvis' declaration of
innocence.
The finding of the body in the exact spot indicated by Haskell looked
like conclusive proof. Added to this was the doctor's presence beside
the grave in the dead of night.
"It's a plain case," said Deever, turning toward Nick. "Will you make
the arrest now?"
Dr. Jarvis shuddered as these words were spoken. It was easy to see
that he was on the verge of despair.
"Let's not go too fast," said Nick.
"What stronger proof can you possibly desire?" exclaimed Deever.

He seemed to be dazed with surprise at Nick's delay, but Dr. Jarvis
plucked up his courage.
"I wish first to examine the body," said Nick.
He bent over the corpse which lay in the bright moonlight. The cause of
death was evident at a glance. The head had been beaten and cut in a
frightful manner.
"See," said Deever, bending over the body, "these wounds were made
with a spade."
"They have that appearance," said Nick.
"Why, it's as plain as the nose on your face," exclaimed Deever, utterly
losing patience.
He seized a spade from the ground and applied it to the wounds.
"The first blow, the one which killed him," said Deever, "was struck
with the side of the spade on the top of the poor boy's head. It was a
terrible blow."
Nick examined the wound. It was plain that no person could live a
minute after receiving such a fearful injury.
"The other blows," Deever continued, "were some of them made with
the side, and some with the tip of the spade.
"I can see just how it happened. Pat angered Jarvis with the words that
Klein heard. Jarvis rushed upon him, knocked him down with the spade,
and then beat him like a maniac in his rage."
"And then buried him, eh?" said Nick, in a doubtful voice.
Chick looked inquiringly at his chief. He had never seen Nick conduct
a case in that way before.
Instead of taking the lead in the investigation, the great detective

seemed to wait for suggestions. After his first glance at the body, he
had stood irresolute, as if he could not make up his mind about the
value of the evidence.
This conduct of his chief interested Chick deeply.
"Watch Nick Carter," he said to himself, "and you'll always be learning
something."
"Of course he didn't bury him then," Deever replied to Nick's question.
"Haskell saw him digging the grave after midnight."
"Where do you suppose your brother's body was in the meantime?"
asked Nick.
"Hidden in the garden somewhere."
Nick shook his head.
"There is no place in the garden where it could have been hidden. I
have searched the place thoroughly."
"He may have taken it into the hospital; into his laboratory, perhaps."
"That can't be," said Nick. "You remember that Burns met the doctor
coming in from the garden. If he had already brought in the body he
wouldn't have come out again. On the other hand, the body couldn't
have been in the garden, or Burns would have seen it. He looked all
around for your brother."
For the first time Deever looked puzzled. He hesitated a long time
before he replied. Then he said:
"Jarvis must have thrown Pat's body over the wall. He must have
hidden it among the bushes in the