notify them on the arrival of the divisional-surgeon and the ambulance.
âThatâs them,â the sergeant said with complete certitude, and an equally complete lack of grammar.
McCarthy made a dart up the stairs, taking three at a time.
âQuick with that back-door key,â he snapped, âbefore they start rubbing out every footprint between the door and the back gate with their Number Tenâs! And when you go out,â he added, âwatch that you step well to one side of the path clear of any possible spoor.â
One glance the divisional-surgeon gave at that portion of the murdered Harperâs back which was lit by the torch.
âI donât know what the devil Iâm supposed to do here,â he was beginning, when McCarthy interrupted him.
âNow, Doctor, darlinâ, donât start bellyaching the minute you get here,â he said, a whimsical note in his voice. ââTis the prerogative of the medical profession called from their warm, downy beds I know, but thereâs quite a point or two that you can put me right on for a start.â
âDamme if I see what they are,â the slightly mollified medico said, âas I understand it, you found the man within a few minutes of his murder, so you know the time of death as well as I do. That heâs been stabbed is as plain as a pikestaffâeven a C.I.D. man could see that.â
âAh,â McCarthy said, âbut what with, Doctor? Thatâs the point.â
âWhat do you think it would be withâa safety razor blade?â
âIf youâll take a look and not a cursory glance at whatâs to be seen of that wound,â McCarthy went on, taking no notice of the gibe, âyeâll notice that itâs three-cornered, that shows most definitely in the cut in the heavy cloth of the tunic.â
âI can see that,â the medical man said, still grumpily. âWhat about it?â
âIâd be glad to know just what class of weapon, in your opinion, the poor fella was killed with.â
From his pocket the doctor took a magnifying glass and made a closer inspection of the wound.
âA three-edged dagger, undoubtedly,â he said positively. âThatâs clear enough. I should say that it carried a well-sharpened point which punctured the heart and caused death instantly.â
From the pocket of his dressing-gown, McCarthy produced carefully the dagger he had found in the front of the house.
âCould this be the weapon, Doc?â he asked quietly.
The medical man took the stiletto gingerly by the haft and examined it. âIt could be,â he pronounced, âand I should be inclined to say it is.â
McCarthy shook his head. âTaking events chronologically as they happened, Doctor, it couldnât very well be the actual weapon,â he said. âI found this a good half an hour, approximately, before Harper, here, was stabbed.â
âThen if not that particular weapon, he was killed with one as like it as possible,â the doctor said. âBy the way, would you like me to take a test from the blood on that weapon?â
âThatâs an idea,â the inspector said. âIâll have it fingerprinted and sent on to you right away. Thereâs no need to keep you here any longer, Doctor. Get the body away to the mortuary as soon as youâre ready. Will you do the P.M. to-nightâor rather this morning?â
âI may as well,â the medical gentleman growled. âGet it done with, and if Iâve any luck I may get a bit of breakfast in peace, even if I canât get any sleep.â
âWell, Sergeant, I think Iâm about through here for to-night,â McCarthy said, as they watched the rear light of the ambulance, followed by the divisional-surgeonâs two-seater, disappear out of the alley. Put a couple of men on here, back and front, and by that I mean two at each point, with
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