“Not at all, not at all,” Mrs. Ogden, having summoned her maid a few seconds before, was bustling into the wraps brought her. “Ethel, wrap yourself up warmly. What about your husband?” suddenly recollecting Dr. McLane, and wheeling on Lois. “Will you leave word for him to join you at the Morgue?”
“I think he is already there,” broke in Ogden impatiently. “Now, Jane, don’t keep everyone waiting,” and driving his nervous wife and Professor Norcross ahead of him, Ogden made his noisy way to the street, leaving Ethel and Lois to follow more leisurely.
The speedier touring car of the Ogdens’ brought them and Professor Norcross to the Morgue some moments before Lois’ slower electric brougham put in an appearance, and they waited outside the weather-stained stuccoed building with some impatience. Their arrival, however, was observed from inside the Morgue, and Leonard McLane joined them.
“The inquest has commenced,” he said, and Mrs. Ogden wondered at his constrained manner. “Your name has been called as a witness, Mr. Ogden; I think you had better go in at once.”
“What about Ethel and Mrs. McLane?” Mrs. Ogden halted on the lower step of the building. “They are coming in your electric.”
“I will wait for them,” volunteered Professor Norcross, and turned back to the cobble-stoned pavement which did duty for a sidewalk. The Ogdens, preceded by Leonard McLane, filed through the hall and into the outer room.
“This room is reserved for witnesses,” observed McLane, pulling forward a chair for Mrs. Ogden, and the men present rose; Ogden recognized among them the fire chief and several of his servants. “Ogden, this is the Morgue Master,” added McLane, as a heavily built man stepped toward them.
“Mr. Walter Ogden?” inquired the latter interrogatively. “Then, sir, kindly step into the court room with me.” He turned back at the door to address the others. “Just sit down, all of you, and your names will be called in due time,” and the door closed behind him.
Taking but a cursory glance about the court room, Ogden followed the Morgue Master to the witness stand, pausing a moment at the base of the platform to permit the first witness to descend. Ogden, while waiting for the Morgue Master to administer the oath to “Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth,” gazed curiously at the six men composing the jury, who sat upright or lolled back in their chairs, as each man’s nature inclined him to take his brief publicity.
The Morgue Master’s authoritative voice brought Ogden’s attention back to him with a jump, and after taking the oath he turned to face Coroner Penfield.