He said not one word—only stared and stared at the dead man on the floor, and at the abject living creatures standing over him; and then he crept away like a sliding shadow, and the sunlight brightened the place again. But in that grim room Haidee had fallen face downward, stark and stiff, and her wild scream as she sank echoed and re-echoed in my ears for days.
I brought water, I bathed her face, I chafed her hands; but the moments passed and she did not revive, and twilight fell, as alone, in the presence of death I wrestled with the stupor that held her. And there they found me—the sheriff and old Lundquist.
“For God’s sake, lend a hand here,” I cried imploringly. And then I stood up. “Gentlemen,” I said, “this—dead man is Mrs. Batterly’s husband. I believe this to be a suicide—I found him lying just as you see him a short while ago. Mrs. Batterly had just discovered him, I believe. She is—as you see—in no condition to be questioned.”
The sheriff hesitated. I had known the man for years, and I saw a swift scepticism darken his keen eyes as they searched my face. He glanced at Haidee and then at the revolver lying on the table. He reached over, picked up the weapon and examined it.
“This revolver is loaded in only four of its chambers. The fifth has a discharged cartridge. Was this lying on the table when you came in, Dale?”
I spoke hoarsely. “I put it there. It had fallen to the floor.”
Old Lundquist crawled closer. “That ban Mrs. Batterly’s revolver,” he mumbled, “I see her have it—it ban on the table most o’ the time. Thar be a letter on it—to mark it like.”
The sheriff’s finger traced the outline of the shining letter on the polished surface of the weapon. He stood irresolutely, ruminating.
“Come!” I ordered brusquely. “This lady must be seen to.” And as neither man made a move to assist me, I lifted Haidee in my arms. I felt her stir. Her eyes opened suddenly. She looked at old Lundquist and the sheriff, then up at me affrightedly. Her hand clutched my arm. She cowered, and a tremor shook her from head to foot.
“These men—why are they here?” she asked faintly.