“After I had notified Sam Hollister of Meredith’s death, I went back with him to the body,” he began. “Hollister left me to telephone to Coroner Penfield. While waiting for him to return, I ran my hands over Meredith’s body and found some hair, evidently from a woman’s head, caught around that jacket button.” He paused. “I may also state that when I first found Meredith he was lying partly on his right side, face pressed against the carpet and his arms outflung.”
“So I read in your printed testimony,” interjected McLane.
“But when I examined the body for the second time, it was lying on its back,” finished Curtis.
“It was?” McLane shot a questioning glance at his blind companion. “Why didn’t you mention it at the inquest?”
“I was not questioned on that point,” calmly. “If I am recalled at the next hearing I will speak of it. In the meantime—”
“Yes?” as Curtis paused.
“I want your advice, and, if need be, your aid.”
“Sure, go ahead.” McLane was listening with deep attention and with increasing impatience at his friend’s deliberation of speech.
“I unwound several of the hairs,” went on Curtis, “and put them in my wallet. Later that morning, that is yesterday, I showed them to Fernando and asked him their color. He said the hairs were white.”
“White!” echoed McLane in astonishment.