Then the hands spread out the clippings. One by one they came under inspection of the invisible eyes; then all attention was directed to the front-page story that had appeared in the Sphere — the report of the last interview with Jonathan Graham.
The finger moved from word to word, as though ferreting the thoughts that had been in the mind of the millionaire when he had given the interview.
Had young Stevens been an experienced reporter, or one gifted with imagination, he might have presented a skillfully changed story, emphasizing certain details and subordinating others.
But as it was, his account was an accurate description of exactly what had transpired in Jonathan Graham’s office at four o’clock the preceding afternoon.
The hands suddenly folded the clipping and thrust it, with the report, back in the envelope. The other clippings were also put away. Then the hands produced a sheet of paper and a pencil.
Slowly and carefully the right hand wrote, and the words were so carefully marked that they seemed like spoken thoughts as they came on the paper.
Jonathan Graham’s death is classed as suicide. There are hints of motives. Every life has possible motives for suicide. Jonathan Graham did not contemplate suicide when he gave the interview. Nothing that occurred in the following hour could have made him decide to end his life. Therefore Jonathan Graham was murdered. Only one man’s testimony disputes that fact — the testimony of the secretary, Stanley Berger. Berger claims that he saw Graham leap from the window. Graham did not leap from the window. Therefore Berger did not see him leap. Why did he make his statement? To aid the murderer. Why did he wish to aid the murderer? Because he was the murderer.
The hand stopped writing. Then it began again, and the words that it inscribed came as a revelation that told exactly what had transpired in the office of Jonathan Graham.
It was a perfect reconstruction of the crime — formed by a master mind that had the uncanny ability to picture the thoughts and actions of another person.
Jonathan Graham had a habit of standing by the window, which had a low sill. This fact appeared in the account of his last interview. Berger and Miss Smythe were in the office with Graham at five o’clock. Graham turned to look out of the open window, as Miss Smythe left. Berger was gathering a few letters. He was standing close to Graham as the door closed behind Miss Smythe. It was an opportunity. Like a flash, Berger pushed Graham through the window, catching him off balance, sending him to his doom. Berger left the room immediately. It was done so rapidly that he seemed to come out right behind Miss Smythe. That was to be his alibi. Yet he must have had qualms. When Miss Smythe turned to go back to the private office, Berger gained a sudden opportunity. Staring directly into the office, he screamed a warning as the stenographer opened the door. Then he yielded to his shaking nerves.