“Quick work,” commented the coroner.
“It would have been extinguished quicker but for the discharge of the cartridges,” explained McLane, “And also it had gained frightful headway before we awoke to the fact that the house was on fire.”
“Did you find any bullets in the walls, Doctor, and examine them?”
“I pried out several, and also picked up some brass shells.” McLane took them from his pocket and passed them over to the coroner. “They are for rifles, and are thirty-eight caliber.”
“Thanks.” Penfield added them to the ones left by Walter Ogden. “You took charge of Patterson’s body, did you not?”
“I did, until the arrival of the police.”
“Did you turn over Patterson’s personal effects to the police also?”
“I did.”
“Was there a miniature of Miss Ethel Ogden among his belongings?”
“A miniature of Miss Ogden?” repeated McLane, blankly. “No. I gave Detective Mitchell all I found in Patterson’s pockets; a leather wallet, a bunch of keys, gold cigarette case, watch and fob. I feel sure I would have remembered a miniature if it had been with the other things.”