“I am a fool,” he admitted abruptly. “But, Lord, it didn’t seem to me that you were getting anywhere. I had to take a hand in it. I thought the first thing to do was to find the radium.”
Corole’s slitted eyes flashed green fire.
“You nearly got it, too,” she said viciously. “But I got away from you.”
“Where did you hide it when Hajek turned it over to you immediately after stealing it from me?” asked O’Leary mildly.
Corole’s face was sullen but she replied, taking, I think, a certain pleasure in being the centre of the stage for a moment.
“I dug a hole under one of the trees out there,” she motioned with a long, brown hand, on which the topaz shone, toward the orchard. “I left it there all day yesterday—I mean, day before yesterday.” She glanced at the window, which was beginning to show a dim, gray light. “And then that night I got away from you,” she looked at O’Brien—“and you”—at Jim, this time—“and got it out and brought it here in my jewel case. I thought it would be safe in this room and Sarah was so excited”—she cast a malicious glance toward me—“she never noticed that I came out without my jewel case when she so thoughtfully took me to her room and locked me in! How did you find it?”
O’Leary did not reply.
“When Miss Letheny returned for the radium about eleven o’clock to-night I—er—detained her.” O’Leary glanced toward the closet from which she had emerged. “I am interested to hear that you admit to having the radium in your possession.”
“What can you do about it?” flashed Corole insolently. “And you are all wrong about Dr. Hajek. I know that he did not shoot Higgins and I know that he did not kill Louis for he was with me both times——”
“That will do, Miss Letheny. Or rather, Mrs. Hajek.”