His eyes were staring at the face that had aroused his fury. His voice was rising to a cracked scream.
"You — you — " His exclamation was broken and incoherent. "You dare to come here!
You'll pay for this you'll — " A flash shot from the revolver. The old man, poised forward, toppled headlong. His head struck the edge of the chair. His body seemed drawn after it.
The long, skinny arms were spread, one along the floor, the other reaching up to the chair. The tassel of the nightcap lay in a straight line, away from the bed. A pool of blood was forming on the floor. Silence dominated as a man stooped over the inert form of Grant Chadwick. Satisfied that the old man was dead, the murderer laid the revolver on the floor beside the outstretched hand. The motionless fingers seemed clutching for the weapon — just as they had done in life. Soft footsteps shuffled toward the door. The murderer left as silently as he had come. Once more, Grant Chadwick was alone in his solitary room. But the two papers were gone. One had disappeared from the chair; the other from the bed.
The hand that had slain Grant Chadwick had plucked away the old man's documents!
Chapter VIII — The Death Unsolved
"Thank you, Mr. Chadwick. We appreciate the cooperation that you have given us." The speaker was a tall, gaunt man, whose face showed marks of weariness. He formed the central figure of a group assembled in the office of a county courthouse. The corner of a silver badge peered from beneath his coat, proclaiming him a detective.
"I'm glad to help you in any way, Mr. Davidson," replied the young man who had been addressed as Chadwick. "It — it was rather a surprise to have you quiz me the way you did — so soon after the shock of my uncle's death. It was — "
"It was necessary," interrupted Davidson. "It should at least assure you that we intend to use every effort in solving this murder case. I am sorry to have inconvenienced you and these other persons, but it was my duty."
"There's some reporters outside, chief," said a man from the door. "Shall I tell them you'll see them later on?"