The Silent Bullet | Page 9

even by hearsay evidence. This red-haired young lady
interests me. Not a very definite description, but better than nothing at
all. I wonder who she is. Ah, well, what do you say to a stroll down the
White Way before I go to my laboratory? I'd like a breath of air to relax
my mind."
We had got no further than the first theatre when Kennedy slapped me
on the back. "By George, Jameson, she's an actress, of course."
"Who is? What's the matter with you, Kennedy? Are you crazy?"
"The red-haired person--she must be an actress. Don't you remember
the auburn-haired leading lady in the 'Follies'--the girl who sings that
song about 'Mary, Mary, quite contrary'? Her stage name, you know, is
Phoebe La Neige. Well, if it's she who is concerned in this case I don't
think she'll be playing to-night. Let's inquire at the box-office."
She wasn't playing, but just what it had to do with anything in
particular I couldn't see, and I said as much.
"Why, Walter, you'd never do as a detective. You lack intuition.
Sometimes I think I haven't quite enough of it, either. Why didn't I
think of that sooner? Don't you know she is the wife of Adolphus Hesse,
the most inveterate gambler in stocks in the System? Why, I had only
to put two and two together and the whole thing flashed on me in an
instant. Isn't it a good hypothesis that she is the red-haired woman in
the case, the tool of the System in which her husband is so heavily
involved? I'll have to add her to my list of suspects."
"Why, you don't think she did the shooting?" I asked, half hoping, I
must admit, for an assenting nod from him.
"Well," he answered dryly, "one shouldn't let any preconceived
hypothesis stand between him and the truth. I've made a guess at the

whole thing already. It may or it may not be right. Anyhow she will fit
into it. And if it's not right, I've got to be prepared to make a new guess,
that's all."
When we reached the laboratory on our return, the inspector's man
Riley was there, waiting impatiently for Kennedy.
"What luck?" asked Kennedy.
"I've got a list of purchasers of that kind oil revolver," he said. "We
have been to every sporting-goods and arms-store in the city which
bought them from the factory, and I could lay my, hands on pretty
nearly every, one of those weapons in twenty-four hours--provided, of
course, they haven't been secreted or destroyed."
"Pretty nearly all isn't good enough," said Kennedy. "It will have to be
all, unless--"
"That name is in the list," whispered Riley hoarsely.
"Oh, then it's all right," answered Kennedy, brightening up. "Riley, I
will say that you're a wonder at using the organisation in ferreting out
such things. There's just one more thing I want you to do. I want a
sample of the notepaper in the private desks of every one of these
people." He handed the policeman a list of his 9 "suspects," as he called
them. It included nearly every one mentioned in the case.
Riley studied it dubiously and scratched his chin thoughtfully. "That's a
hard one, Mr. Kennedy, sir. You see, it means getting into so many
different houses and apartments. Now you don't want to do it by means
of a warrant, do you, sir? Of course not. Well, then, how can we, get
in?"
"You're a pretty good-looking chap yourself, Riley," said Kennedy. "I
should think you could jolly a housemaid, if necessary. Anyhow, you
can get the fellow on the beat to do it--if he isn't already to be found in
the kitchen. Why, I see a dozen ways of getting the notepaper."

"Oh, it's me that's the lady-killer, sir," grinned Riley. "I'm a regular
Blarney stone when I'm out on a job of that sort. Sure, I'll have some of
them for you in the morning."
"Bring me what you get, the first thing in the morning, even if you've
landed only a few samples," said Kennedy, as Riley departed,
straightening his tie and brushing his hat on his sleeve.
"And now, Walter, you too must excuse me tonight," said Craig. "I've
got a lot to do, and sha'n't be up to our apartment till very late--or early.
But I feel sure I've got a strangle-hold on this mystery. If I get those
papers from Riley in good time to-morrow I shall invite you and
several others to a grand demonstration here tomorrow night. Don't
forget. Keep the whole evening free. It will be a big story."
Kennedy's laboratory was brightly lighted when I arrived early the next
evening. One by one his "guests" dropped in. It was evident that they
had little