The Second Nick Carter MEGAPACK®, page 27
After this conversation, it would not be safe to leave the negro there. The doctor would, of course, discover that some trick had been played upon him as soon as he mentioned the events of the night to Cleary.
The results which would follow such a discovery Nick wished to avoid.
He, therefore, with great caution, accepted the proposal, and received a large sum as the first installment of the blackmail.
As to the doctor’s real intentions, Nick was in some doubt. It seemed probable that he meant to sacrifice Cleary to secure his own safety in case it became necessary.
If Cleary ran away, it would be easy to divert suspicion to him.
The case against Dr. Jarvis looked very plain. Innocent men do not take such desperate measures. And yet Nick was far from reaching a definite opinion in the case.
He returned to Cleary’s room; and it required a good deal of skill to keep the doctor out of it. If he had entered, and had seen two Cleary’s, it is hard to say what desperation would have led him to do.
For an instant Nick had an idea of letting him do it, and then attempt to secure a true statement of the case with the aid of the shock which the doctor would have sustained on discovering how he had been duped.
But second thought showed him the necessity for a different procedure.
From Cleary’s window he signaled for Chick, who was in waiting near the wall, and to him he delivered the unconscious form of the negro.
Then he returned to take his leave of the doctor—a difficult business, which he managed with great skill.
This done, he secretly left the hospital.
What had been the true meaning of the night’s events? It puzzled him to say.
Was the body on the slab that of Patrick Deever, or had the doctor gone through in his sleep the act which he intended to perform later with the real body?
Nick thought that the latter was more probable. He was inclined to believe that the body of Deever might be concealed about the building. If so, he would find it.
Reflecting thus, he passed outside the hospital walls.
Three men were approaching along St. Nicholas avenue. Two of these he quickly recognized as Chick and Lawrence Deever. The other was unknown to him.
Evidently Chick had sent Cleary away in a carriage which they had kept waiting near the hospital during the evening. How he had met Deever, Nick could not guess.
He went forward to meet the three men.
He had removed the disguise in which he had deceived the doctor, and was now as Deever had seen him before.
Deever recognized him at once, and started forward, saying:
“You ask for proof of my brother’s death. I will give it to you. Here is a man who saw him buried.”
And he pointed to the stranger.
CHAPTER IV.
WHAT WAS FOUND IN THIS GARDEN.
Nick received Deever’s startling intelligence with every evidence of satisfaction.
“You are doing great work, Mr. Deever,” said he. “We shall soon have this affair straightened out.”
As Nick pronounced these words he signaled to Chick in their sign language as follows:
“What do you think of this witness?”
Chick promptly returned the answer:
“He seems to be telling the truth.”
Then Deever turned toward the new witness.
“Mr. Haskell, Mr. Colton,” said he, in hasty introduction. “Now, Haskell, tell what you know.”
“Wait,” said Nick, “who is this man?” And he pointed to Chick.
“He’s a fellow that knows my brother. We met him just below, and brought him along to help in the identification. There are two more coming.”
“Then you purpose to disinter your brother’s body at once?”
“Of course I do.”
“You have no tools.”
“The others will bring them. That’s what they’re after.”
“Where is the place?”
“The hospital garden. Haskell, tell your story. But, no; I’ll tell it for you to save time.”
He took Nick by the arm and led him along the hospital wall on the southern side of the ground. They followed the wall in the direction of the river, until they came to the corner.
Between them and the river was a large piece of ground nearly as wild in appearance as it was a hundred years ago. Many trees and bushes grew upon it.
“This place,” said Deever, “is a sort of lovers’ walk. Any pleasant evening in summer you can see dozens of couples walking down that path.
“Haskell was here Monday evening with a young lady. They sat for a while on the trunk of a fallen tree, looking off toward the river.
“It was nearly eleven o’clock when Haskell walked home with her. Then he discovered that he had lost his knife. He had been whittling the tree-trunk with it.
“It was a good knife, and he thought it worth while to go back and try to find it. He went back, and after quite a hunt, found it beside the tree.
“By this time it was after midnight. On his way home he passed the spot where we are now standing.
“Just as he got here, he heard a peculiar noise on the other side of the wall. It seemed strange that anybody should be at work in the garden at that hour, but the sound was as if somebody was using a shovel.
“Haskell has more curiosity than a woman. He resolved to find out what was going on inside that garden.
“The wall here is pretty high, as you see, but with the help of a piece of board he climbed up so that he could look over. Now, Haskell, tell us just what you saw.”
Chick and Haskell had come up just as Deever finished his introduction to the story.
“I saw Dr. Jarvis digging,” said Haskell.
“How did you know it was he?” asked Nick.
“He had on his dressing-gown and cap,” Haskell replied. “I guess pretty near everybody who lives up this way knows those things.”
“What did you do?”
“I watched him a couple of minutes. He seemed to be hard at work digging a hole. I never thought then that it was a grave.”
“Could you see how big a hole he was making?”
“No; he was under the shadow of the trees. I could hardly see him at all there, but just as I got on the top of the wall, he came out for a second or two into the moonlight. Then I saw the old cap and dressing-gown.”
“Did you see any object lying upon the ground which looked like a body?”
“No; it was dark under the tree. The body was probably there.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, it couldn’t have been anywhere else.”
“How do you know there was any body ?”
“Mr. Deever has told me about his brother. I take it for granted that the doctor was burying him.”
“Did you tell anybody about this occurrence?”
“No.”
“Why not? It was strange enough.”
“I didn’t think it was strange for him. Everybody knows that the doctor is a sort of crank. When I saw who it was, I just slid down off the wall and went home. I never would have thought of it again if Mr. Deever hadn’t spoken to me about his brother.”
“You can point out the spot where the doctor was digging?”
“Sure.”
“We will make an examination at once.”
“I thought you’d find out that murder had been done,” said Deever. “You’ll find out, if you stick to me, that I pretty generally know what I’m talking about.”
“That’s right,” said Haskell.
“Here come your friends,” said Chick, who had not spoken up to that time.
Two men were seen coming from St. Nicholas avenue. They carried spades and pickaxes.
Thus reinforced, the party proceeded to scale the wall. Just as they did so, the moon, which had been very bright, was obscured by a heavy cloud.
It was in darkness, then, that they descended into the garden.
But Haskell seemed to be in doubt about the direction to be followed. He started off at once.
They had gone less than a hundred feet when suddenly Haskell shrank back. Deever, who was next to him, ran against him violently.
“What’s the matter?” whispered Deever, in an anxious tone.
“There’s somebody here ahead of us.”
All looked where Haskell pointed, and they were able to make out the figure of a man standing in one of the numerous paths which wound through the garden. He appeared not to have noticed the advancing party.
“He isn’t ten feet from the grave,” whispered Haskell. “It’s under that tree right beside him.”
At this moment the moon broke through the cloud. Its light fell round the figure in the path.
It was Dr. Jarvis.
Nick’s first thought was that this was another sleep-walking wonder, but in a second this idea was dispelled.
The doctor saw the intruders. He uttered an exclamation, and seemed about to retreat in the direction of the hospital. Then summoning up his courage, he paused, and confronted them as they came forward.
“Who are you?” he asked, in a trembling voice.
“I’ll soon show you who I am?” cried Deever, angrily, “and I’ll show these gentlemen what you are, in a few minutes.”
“Lawrence Deever!” cried the doctor.
“Yes; I’m Lawrence Deever,” was the reply, “and I’ve come to find my brother.”
“You are a fool and a knave,” the doctor exclaimed. “Your brother is not here.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“I order you to leave this garden.”
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” said Nick, stepping forward. “I have the proper authority, and what we shall do here will not harm you.”
In a few words he showed Dr. Jarvis the futility of resistance. Nick explained in a few words the evidence of Haskell, and made no attempt to conceal its true bearing upon the case.
He spoke with his customary calm and steady tone, and his words seemed to reassure the doctor.
“The fellow is a liar and the tool of a liar,” said the doctor, glaring at Deever. “I shall challenge you to find that body in this garden.”
“It’s here, unless you’ve taken it away,” said Deever, roughly. “Now, Haskell, show us the spot, and we’ll go to work.”
Thus urged, Haskell, who had hung back, as if afraid, stepped forward with no sign of hesitation, and pointed to the ground under one of the trees.
“He was at work just under this long limb,” said Haskell.
Nick bent down to examine the ground. It was a flower-bed which looked as if it had recently been sown.
The spot was excellently chosen for concealment. It was impossible to tell whether the earth there had recently been disturbed.
Deever seized a spade and began to dig. He was a man of enormous strength, and he worked furiously.
The two men who had brought the tools joined in the work, but they did less than half as much as Deever alone.
In an incredibly short time the hole was four feet deep. Then Nick suggested that they proceed with greater caution.
“The body,” he said, “was probably buried without protection. If you strike it with your spades you may increase the difficulty of identification.”
Thus warned, Deever’s two assistants worked with care, but Deever himself continued to ply his spade like a madman.
Not knowing the exact spot, they dug a hole much larger than a grave, and thus the three men were able to work at the same time with advantage.
Suddenly Deever cried:
“Here it is!”
His spade 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 direction of the river.”
“Yes,” Nick rejoined; “that seems probable.”
“Well,” cried Deever, “will you make the arrest?”
“I think not. The evidence does not seem to warrant it.”
Deever threw up his hands in utter amazement.
“Not sufficient!” he exclaimed. “What remains to be proved?”
“I should like some evidence bearing on the question where the body was hidden during the evening, and how it was got back to the garden.”
“You don’t mean to say that you will wait for that before taking this man into custody?”
“Yes,” said Nick, slowly; “I shall wait for that.”
“But, meanwhile, how will you guard against his escape?”
“I will take him back to the hospital, where one of my assistants is waiting. I will put him in charge of that officer, who will remain with him until I feel justified in taking him to headquarters.”
“Then you practically put him under arrest,” said Deever, with evident satisfaction.
“Yes; but it will not be known except to us who are here. I expect your friends to be silent for the present.”
“I’ll answer for them,” said Deever. “I know them all well, except that man—where is that man?”
He looked around for Chick, but that individual had disappeared. He had caught a glance from Nick when the latter had spoken of his assistant at the hospital, and had immediately slipped away under the shadow of the trees.
“That fellow will give it away,” cried Deever. “That’s what he sneaked for. He’ll sell the news to the papers.”
“If he does we can’t help it,” said Nick. “And as for you, I judge that you would not be sorry if he did.”
