Read Online The New Adventures of Ellery Queen by Ellery Queen - Free Book Online

said the fat man, taking her hand gently. “Don’t excite yourself. This isn’t Olivia, Sarah. It’s Alice—Alice Mayhew, Sylvester’s girl, come from England. You remember Alice, little Alice? Not Olivia, Sarah.”
    â€œNot Olivia?” The old woman peered across the banister, her wrinkled lips moving. “Not Olivia?”
    The girl jumped up. “I’m Alice, Aunt Sarah. Alice—”
    Sarah Fell darted suddenly past the fat man and scurried across the room to seize the girl’s hand and glare into her face. As she studied those shrinking features her expression changed to one of despair. “Not Olivia. Olivia’s beautiful black hair … Not Olivia’s voice. Alice? Alice?” She dropped into Alice’s vacated chair, her skinny broad shoulders sagging, and began to weep. They could see the yellow skin of her scalp through the sparse gray hair.
    Dr. Reinach roared: “Milly!” in an enraged voice. Mrs. Reinach popped into sight like a jack-in-the-box. “Why did you let her leave her room?”
    â€œB-but I thought she was—” began Mrs. Reinach, stammering.
    â€œTake her upstairs at once!”
    â€œYes, Herbert,” whispered the sparrow, and Mrs. Reinach hurried downstairs in her wrapper and took the old woman’s hand and, unopposed, led her away. Mrs. Fell kept repeating, between sobs: “Why doesn’t Olivia come back? Why did they take her away from her mother?” until she was out of sight.
    â€œSorry,” panted the fat man, mopping himself. “One of her spells. I knew it was coming on from the curiosity she exhibited the moment she heard you were coming, Alice. There is a resemblance; you can scarcely blame her.”
    â€œShe’s—she’s horrible,” said Alice faintly. “Mr. Queen—Mr. Thorne, must we stay here? I’d feel so much easier in the city. And then my cold, these frigid rooms—”
    â€œBy heaven,” burst out Thorne, “I feel like chancing it on foot!”
    â€œAnd leave Sylvester’s gold to our tender mercies?” smiled Dr. Reinach. Then he scowled.
    â€œI don’t want Father’s legacy,” said Alice desperately. “At this moment I don’t want anything but to get away. I—I can manage to get along all right. I’ll find work to do—I can do so many things. I want to go away. Mr. Keith, couldn’t you possibly—”
    â€œ I’m not a magician,” said Keith rudely; and he buttoned his mackinaw and strode out of the house. They could see his tall figure stalking off behind a veil of snowflakes.
    Alice flushed, turning back to the fire.
    â€œNor are any of us,” said Ellery. “Miss Mayhew, you’ll simply have to be a brave girl and stick it out until we can find a means of getting out of here.”
    â€œYes,” murmured Alice, shivering; and stared into the flames.
    â€œMeanwhile, Thorne, tell me everything you know about this case, especially as it concerns Sylvester Mayhew’s house. There may be a clue in your father’s history, Miss Mayhew. If the house has vanished, so has the gold in the house; and whether you want it or not, it belongs to you. Consequently we must make an effort to find it.”
    â€œI suggest,” muttered Dr. Reinach, “that you find the house first. House!” he exploded, waving his furred arms. And he made for the sideboard.
    Alice nodded listlessly. Thorne mumbled: “Perhaps, Queen, you and I had better talk privately.”
    â€œWe made a frank beginning last night; I see no reason why we shouldn’t continue in the same candid vein. You needn’t be reluctant to speak before Dr. Reinach. Our host is obviously a man of parts—unorthodox parts.”
    Dr. Reinach did not reply. His globular face was dark as he tossed off a water goblet full of gin.
    Through air metallic with defiance, Thorne talked in a